How to Become a Licensed Psychologist in Oklahoma
The path to becoming a psychologist in Oklahoma has never been more relevant. All 77 counties in the state currently face a shortage of mental health providers. Many Oklahomans can’t access the help they need for mental health and substance abuse problems. This creates promising career opportunities for aspiring psychologists. The field projects an 11% employment growth from 2020 to 2030, despite requiring 10-14 years of education and training for Oklahoma psychology licensure.
The Oklahoma Board of Examiners of Psychologists oversees the licensing requirements. You’ll need to earn your degree, pass state and national exams, and meet other specific requirements. The experience might take time, but it pays off well. Oklahoma psychologists earn between $66,730 and $126,730 yearly depending on their specialty. Clinical and counseling psychologists make an annual mean wage of $88,070. On top of that, Oklahoma ranks among the top five states with the lowest cost of living, which helps balance out the potentially lower salaries.
This complete guide has everything you need to know about becoming a licensed psychologist in Oklahoma. You’ll find details about educational pathways, supervised experience requirements, examination specifics, and the application process.
Educational Pathways
A licensed psychologist’s career path in Oklahoma starts with a clear understanding of educational requirements. The Oklahoma Board of Examiners of Psychologists has set specific credentials that are the foundation of your professional development.
You need a bachelor’s degree as your first step. A psychology major gives you relevant basic knowledge, but other degrees work too. Students without a psychology background might need extra prerequisite courses before starting graduate studies.
After your bachelor’s degree, you have two choices. You can spend 2-3 years to get a master’s degree in psychology or a related field. Another option lets you enter doctoral programs that include master’s coursework, which speeds up your timeline.
Your doctoral degree in psychology is the most important educational requirement. Oklahoma requires your degree to come from a program accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) if you graduated after 1997. Your doctoral program should meet these key criteria:
- Clear identification as a psychology program
- Recognition as a coherent organizational entity
- Clear authority in core and specialty areas
- An integrated, organized study sequence
- Psychology faculty with a psychologist leading the program
- A clear group of enrolled students
Your doctoral degree must have at least 42 hours of psychology-focused coursework. You need a minimum of three graduate semester hours in each of these seven areas (21 hours total):
- Scientific and professional ethics and standards
- Research design and methodology
- Statistics and psychometrics
- Biological bases of behavior
- Cognitive-affective bases of behavior
- Social bases of behavior
- Individual behavior
The other 21 hours can focus on these areas or program-specific courses.
Doctoral psychology programs usually take four to seven years, depending on your program structure, specialty, and whether it includes a master’s degree. The total educational experience from bachelor’s through doctoral degree typically takes 10-14 years.
Oklahoma has specific residency rules. Most specialties require two years of full-time, on-campus graduate study in the three years before your doctoral degree (not counting internship). School psychology candidates only need one year of full-time, on-campus postmaster’s study, as defined by their school.
You’ll find several educational options in Oklahoma. The state has nearly 40 accredited psychology schools. For doctoral studies, leading schools include Oklahoma State University (APA-accredited and NASP-approved), the University of Tulsa (APA-accredited since 1991), the University of Oklahoma, and Oklahoma City University’s PsyD program.
After finishing your doctoral degree, you’ll move to supervised experience. This step bridges your academic knowledge with professional practice and prepares you for the licensing exams ahead.
Supervised Experience Requirements
Your next big step after finishing your doctoral education is to get supervised experience. This is a crucial milestone to become a licensed psychologist in Oklahoma. The Oklahoma Board of Examiners of Psychologists needs two full years of supervised professional practice before they grant full licensure.
Your supervised experience should line up with your doctoral program’s major area of study. It consists of two distinct phases: pre-doctoral internship and post-doctoral experience. Licensed psychologists trained in your major program or a closely related field must provide supervision throughout both phases.
The pre-doctoral internship needs a planned, programmed training sequence that meets these core requirements:
- At least 25% of your time dedicated to direct patient/client contact
- Full-time (40 hours weekly) for one year or half-time (20 hours weekly) for two years, totaling 2,000 hours
- Experience with three or more licensed psychologist supervisors (two or more in academic settings)
- Supervision averaging 10% of your weekly time (200 hours total)
- At least half of supervision (minimum 100 hours) must be regularly scheduled, formal, face-to-face individual supervision
Your second year of required supervised practice involves post-doctoral experience. This phase needs:
- 2,000 hours of experience (equivalent to 50 weeks full-time or up to three years part-time)
- 75 hours of individual, face-to-face supervision distributed throughout each 12-month period
- Face-to-face supervision reasonably distributed at approximately 90 minutes per week
Oklahoma now allows hybrid supervision. You can complete up to 50% of the required individual supervision hours virtually during both internship and post-doctoral experiences.
Clinical, counseling, and school psychology specialties have specific requirements. School psychology programs can base their experience on an academic year instead of a calendar year. The number of hours in a full-time contracted position might count as a year of experience in school psychology.
Health Service Psychologist (HSP) certification candidates should complete their post-doctoral practice where such services are delivered. Academic or clinical research settings require a minimum of two years to fulfill HSP requirements. You’ll need to spend 50% of your time performing direct service activities with at least five clients per week.
You’ll need a minimum of three references from licensed psychologists after completing your post-doctoral experience. These professionals must verify your character, professional ethics, moral conduct, and service quality.
Documentation remains crucial throughout your supervised experience trip. Your incomplete post-doctoral experience requires either the Institutional Practice Under Supervision Application or Private Practice Under Supervision Application with a $200 fee before starting clinical services. Post-doctoral experience in exempt settings (like state agencies or universities) needs the Post Doc in an Exempt Setting Form without a fee.
Licensing Examinations
The exam stage is a vital step in your trip toward Oklahoma psychologist licensure. The Oklahoma Psychology Board will notify you by email about scheduling required examinations after approving your application.
Oklahoma requires you to pass two tests that review your general psychology knowledge and state regulations:
- Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP) – A national standardized assessment that tests your understanding of psychological principles and practices
- Jurisprudence Examination (JP) – A state-specific test covering Oklahoma’s ethical standards and Board rules
After getting approval, you’ll register for the EPPP through the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards. You’ll need to pay a $600 exam fee and receive an Authorization to Test (ATT). This allows you to schedule your exam at any Prometric testing center. The computer-based test gives a full picture of your psychology knowledge. You need a scaled score of 500 to pass.
The Jurisprudence Examination tests Oklahoma’s code of ethics, Board rules, Psychologists Licensing Act, and state mental health laws[134]. You’ll answer 120 multiple-choice questions in two hours at the Board office, which happens four times a year[134]. The passing score is 70%. The Board offers study materials on their website, and your first attempt comes at no cost.
You can retake either exam if you don’t pass on your first try. In spite of that, you must wait between attempts and pay fees for additional tests. The Oklahoma Board allows up to four attempts for each exam[141]. Your application process ends if you hit this limit without passing. You’ll need to submit a new application to the Board.
Passing an exam component means you won’t need to retake that part. The Board keeps all exam scores confidential.
You’ll get your results by mail within 30 days after taking the exam. The Board can share specific details about your performance if you ask, while protecting test integrity.
Application & Licensure Process
The Oklahoma State Board of Examiners of Psychologists oversees the psychology licensure process in the state. Anyone who wants to work as a psychologist or provide psychological services must get proper licensure.
Oklahoma works with the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB) through their Psychology Licensure Universal System Application (PLUS). The process has three steps that start when you submit your paperwork to the state board:
- Submit to the Oklahoma Board:
- Applicant Information Form
- Citizens Affidavit
- Two passport photographs
- Application fee of $400 (non-refundable)
The Board will send your contact details to ASPPB after receiving these items. ASPPB then emails you login credentials to complete your online application.
You’ll need to pay ASPPB’s $200 processing fee and fill out their online application next. This includes sending official transcripts straight to ASPPB. The system stores all verified information in ASPPB’s Credentials Bank, which lets you access your professional credentials when applying for licenses in other states.
The final step focuses on postdoctoral supervision requirements. You must submit an Institutional Practice Under Supervision or Private Practice Under Supervision application with a $200 annual fee before starting clinical services. However, if your postdoctoral experience happens in an exempt setting like a state agency or university, you only need to submit a Post Doc in an Exempt Setting Form without extra fees.
Oklahoma also provides different paths to licensure through reciprocity. The Board can license applicants who have diplomate status from the American Board of Professional Psychology, hold a Certificate of Professional Qualification in Psychology, or are licensed in states with reciprocity agreements.
ASPPB sends your completed application to the Board, and the Application Review Committee determines if you qualify for licensure. After approval, you can schedule the Jurisprudence Examination that covers the Oklahoma Psychologists Licensing Act, Board rules, and relevant mental health laws.
The process ends with license issuance after passing all exams. You’ll need to complete 20 continuing education hours and pay a $400 renewal fee by December 31st each year to maintain your license.
Continuing Education
Your Oklahoma psychology license requires ongoing professional development through continuing education (CE). The Oklahoma State Board of Examiners of Psychologists created these requirements 20 years ago. This helps licensees keep their skills current and benefits the public.
Licensed psychologists need a minimum of 20 continuing education credits each year. At least 3 of these credits must focus on ethics, relevant laws, legal issues, or applicable professional practice guidelines. The CE year runs from January 1 through December 31, and all credits are due by December 31. You can carry forward up to 12 extra credit hours to next year’s renewal.
The Board must approve your CE activities or they should come from recognized sponsors. These organizations provide automatically qualified continuing education:
- Oklahoma Psychological Association (OPA)
- American Psychological Association (APA)
- Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB)
You can earn CE credits through workshops, seminars, university classes, online courses, and community service. Presenters get three credits for each hour they teach, which helps maximize their educational efforts.
Oklahoma makes it convenient for busy professionals by allowing all 20 required hours through online platforms or distance learning. You can log your CE credits online through the Board’s renewal portal throughout the year.
Organizations that want CE activity approval must submit applications 60 days before workshop dates. They need to include a completed sponsor application, agenda, speaker credentials, and a $150.00 application fee. Approved sponsors must display their approval number on brochures and attendance certificates.
The continuing education process needs attention to detail, but it will give Oklahoma psychologists a way to stay current with evolving professional standards. This benefits both practitioners and their clients.
Special State Variations
Oklahoma has several special pathways and special considerations beyond standard requirements for psychology licensure. The Oklahoma State Board of Examiners of Psychologists allows alternative routes to licensure in certain cases, which gives qualified professionals more flexibility.
Military service members get special treatment during the licensing process. The Board looks at education, training, and experience from service in the Armed Forces, Reserves, National Guard, Military Reserves, or Naval militias. They apply these credentials “in the manner most favorable toward satisfying the qualifications for licensure”. The Board can use determinations from higher education institutions based on the American Council on Education’s Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Services.
Oklahoma also makes it easier to get licensed through endorsement. You might not need to retake examinations if you have any of these credentials:
- Diplomate status through the American Board of Professional Psychology
- Certificate of Professional Qualification in Psychology (CPQ)
- License in a state with a formal reciprocity agreement (Oklahoma has signed the ASPPB Agreement of Reciprocity)
The reciprocity agreement needs five years of practice and a clean disciplinary record.
The state’s psychology board provides Health Service Provider (HSP) certification to identify psychologists qualified for public service. You can get this certification by either holding Board Certification from the American Board of Professional Psychology or completing two years of supervised experience in health services psychology.
Oklahoma keeps a list of criminal offenses that could stop applicants from getting psychology licensure. These offenses must relate to psychology practice and pose a reasonable threat to public safety. People with criminal histories can ask the Board if their specific offenses would disqualify them, though there’s a $95 fee.
The Board stays focused on its core mission: “to protect the public by regulating the practice of psychology in Oklahoma to ensure that only properly qualified psychologists practice psychology in the state”. This commitment to public safety shapes how special licensing variations work.