How to Become a Licensed Psychologist: State-by-State Requirements Guide

A doctoral degree is required to become a licensed psychologist in almost all US states. You must also pass the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP) with a scaled score of 500 in all states.

Each state’s psychologist licensure requirements can vary substantially. Some states need specific program-level accreditation, while others require fingerprint-based criminal background checks. Your doctoral program must include an American Psychological Association-approved pre-doctoral or post-doctoral internship or its equivalent. Many graduates fall under their Board’s jurisdiction right after graduation, even though full licensure might take one or two more years.

This complete guide explains what you need to know about becoming a licensed psychologist. Understanding these state-specific requirements will guide you toward professional practice with confidence, whether you’re beginning your education or preparing for licensing exams.

Types of Psychology Licenses in the U.S.

Psychology licenses in the United States come in several categories. Each category has specific requirements and limits on what you can do. Let’s learn about these differences to help you plan your education and career path.

Licensed Psychologist

A licensed psychologist credential lets professionals practice independently at the highest level. These professionals can observe, interpret, and record how people think, feel, and behave. Almost every state requires:

• A doctoral degree (PhD or PsyD) from an accredited institution
• A passing score on the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP)
• Supervised practice hours (hours vary by state)
• Oral or jurisprudence exams in some states

PhD programs prepare students to research or teach. PsyD programs focus on working with clients. Licensed psychologists can provide psychotherapy, psychological assessment, and diagnostic services independently in most states.

School Psychologist (Level I and II)

School psychology is a specialized field with its own credentials. Most states offer two levels of school psychology credentials:

Level I School Psychologist: This starting credential needs:

• A master’s degree in school psychology (at least 60 graduate semester hours)
• A passing score on the Praxis School Psychologist exam
• An internship (1,200 hours with 600+ in a school setting)

Level I school psychologists work only on school property as school board employees or contractors.

Level II School Psychologist: Some states call these “Independent Practitioners.” You need:

• All Level I requirements
• Two years of supervised work under a licensed school psychologist
• Extra exams in some cases

Level II practitioners can work both in and outside schools. They can also run their own practice. They face fewer restrictions and need less supervision.

The National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) offers the Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP) credential. Many states line up their requirements with this certification.

Provisional and permanent certificates

States use a step-by-step approach to psychology licensure through two types of certificates:

Provisional Certificates: These let new graduates start working while they complete other requirements. They:

• Need all degree requirements finished
• Last for a set time (usually 1-5 years)
• Limit what you can do or require supervision
• Help you get permanent licensure

To name just one example, New York’s Provisional Certificate in School Psychology can become a Permanent Certificate after you gain experience.

Permanent Certificates: These full credentials need:

• All educational requirements completed
• Passed exams
• Professional experience (usually 2-5 years)
• State-specific requirements met

West Virginia shows how this works. School psychologists start with a Provisional Professional Service Certificate. After five years of experience, they can get a Permanent Professional Service Certificate.

Your state’s path from provisional to permanent licensure matters. Understanding it helps you plan your career and grow as a psychology professional.

Education and Degree Requirements

Psychology licensure requirements change based on credential type and location. Each state sets its own standards for degrees, accreditation, and hands-on training experience.

Minimum degree by license type

Different psychology license categories need different academic credentials:

For Licensed Psychologists:

• A doctoral degree is mandatory in almost all states if you want to practice independently as a psychologist
• You can choose between two main doctoral paths:
  • Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) – This path focuses on scientific research and academic training
  • Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) – This one centers on clinical work and practice
• The whole journey takes 8-13 years, counting undergraduate studies

For School Psychologists:

• You need at least a master’s degree in school psychology
• Many jobs need an Education Specialist (Ed.S.) degree
• Some states let you work with doctoral degrees (Ph.D. or Psy.D.) in school psychology

For Industrial-Organizational Psychologists:

• A master’s degree usually gets you entry-level positions
• These programs teach workplace psychology and statistics

Most people start with a bachelor’s degree in psychology or related fields. This four-year degree builds a foundation for graduate studies.

Coursework and internship standards

Doctoral psychology programs must hit specific marks to prepare you for licensure:

Coursework requirements:

• Programs teach psychological theory, assessment, and intervention
• States often ask for extra pre-licensure courses beyond the basics
• California needs extra coursework in human sexuality (10 hours), substance abuse (15 hours), child abuse (7 hours), aging/long-term care (10 hours), and suicide risk intervention

Internship requirements:

• Every U.S. state requires supervised clinical experience
• You’ll need between 1,500-6,000 supervised hours depending on your state
• Most internships need at least 1,500 hours spread over 9 to 24 months
• Direct face-to-face psychological services must take up 25% of your time
• Your program needs two hours of teaching activities each week

Internships should give you varied experiences with proper supervision. The Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC) membership means a program meets quality standards, making these internships valuable for getting licensed.

Evaluating equivalency for non-APA programs

American Psychological Association (APA) accreditation matters a lot in psychology licensure:

Importance of APA accreditation:

• Students from APA-accredited programs have a 77% pass rate on licensing exams while non-accredited programs show 65%
• Many states only license graduates from APA-accredited programs
• APA accreditation means stable programs with quality checks and professional standards

Options for non-APA program graduates:

• States might check if non-APA programs are “good enough”
• They look at your curriculum, supervised work, and program structure
• You’ll need to show your program matches the required coursework and training
• You must prove your program measures up

For foreign degree holders:

• Foreign credentials need evaluation if they’re not from North America
• Your program should match U.S. accredited program standards
• APA only accredits U.S. programs and territories right now
• Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) accredited programs usually count as equal

Your best bet for getting licensed is picking APA-accredited programs, especially if you plan to work in different states during your career.

Exams You Must Pass

Getting your psychology license requires passing several standardized tests after you finish your education. These exams check if you’re ready to practice on your own by testing your knowledge and skills.

EPPP overview

The Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP) stands as the main licensing test for psychologists in the United States and Canada. This knowledge test has 225 multiple-choice questions. Only 175 questions count toward your score, while 50 are experimental items that don’t affect your results. You’ll get 4 hours and 15 minutes to finish this detailed assessment.

The EPPP tests eight key areas:

• Assessment and Diagnosis (16%)
• Biological Bases of Behavior (10%)
• Cognitive-Affective Bases of Behavior (13%)
• Ethical/Legal/Professional Issues (16%)
• Growth and Lifespan Development (12%)
• Research Methods and Statistics (7%)
• Social and Cultural Bases of Behavior (11%)
• Treatment, Intervention, Prevention and Supervision (15%)

You need a scaled score of 500 to pass in most places, which means getting about 70% correct. The first try costs $450 for the exam plus $65 for the testing center. Your chances of passing are better if you take the exam right after finishing your doctoral degree.

PRAXIS II for school psychologists

School psychologist certification needs a specific test – the Praxis School Psychologist exam. This test gives you 2 hours and 5 minutes to answer 125 questions.

The test lines up with the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) Model and covers four main areas:

• Professional Practices (32%)
• Direct/Indirect Student-Level Services (23%)
• Direct/Indirect Systems-Level Services (20%)
• Foundations of School Psychological Service (25%)

Each state sets its own passing score, usually between 147-158 points.

Oral and jurisprudence exams

Most Canadian provinces and 21 states ask for extra tests beyond the EPPP. These extra tests come in two forms:

Jurisprudence exams check your knowledge of local laws about psychological practice. The test might cover state mental health laws and APA ethics codes. Each state has its own format.

Oral exams look at your clinical knowledge, ethical thinking, and professional judgment. Some states give you cases to discuss, while others focus on ethics or use open-ended questions. You should plan to spend 30-40 hours preparing and practice with mentors helps.

These final tests help boards get a full picture of skills that multiple-choice questions can’t measure well.

Supervision and Practice Limitations

Getting the right supervised experience is a vital step toward psychology licensure. Your experience must meet specific requirements that change based on license type, practice setting, and state regulations.

Supervised hours by license type

Each jurisdiction and license category has different supervised professional experience requirements:

Most states ask licensed psychologists to complete 3,000 hours of supervised professional experience. Michigan needs 6,000 supervised hours, which shows how requirements vary by state. You must complete at least 1,500 of these hours after getting your doctorate.

School psychologists need supervised internships as part of their educational programs and supervised experience after graduation. To name just one example, see West Virginia, which asks school psychologist applicants to complete an additional two years of board-approved supervision from a licensed school psychologist after meeting basic requirements.

Licensed marriage and family therapists and clinical counselors must also complete 3,000 supervised hours in clinical settings before they can practice independently.

Independent vs. school-based practice

School-based and independent practice permissions have key differences:

School psychologists hired by local school boards with state education board certification might not need separate psychology licensure. These professionals cannot call themselves “licensed” and face practice limits – they can’t offer services under contract to other county school boards or provide psychological services through private practice.

Each setting has its own path to entry. School psychologists usually need a specialist’s degree with internship and certification from state educational authorities. Licensed psychologists must have doctoral degrees, year-long internships, and often extra post-doctoral supervised training before they can practice independently outside schools.

Who needs supervision and when

Supervision requirements follow specific timelines:

You can start pre-doctoral supervised experience after finishing 48 semester/trimester or 72 quarter units of graduate coursework. Post-doctoral experience starts once you meet all doctoral degree requirements.

Time limits are strict – you must complete pre-doctoral supervised experience within 30 consecutive months before getting your doctoral degree. Post-doctoral experience must be finished within 30 consecutive months after getting your degree.

A supervisor plays many vital roles: they protect the public, act as gatekeepers for the profession, and make sure supervisees are competent before independent practice. Supervisors take responsibility for quality control and are accountable for their supervisee’s professional services.

Note that supervision payment structure matters. Supervisees should not pay supervisors directly when getting experience for licensure as this could create conflicts of interest. Payment should come through educational programs or employing agencies instead.

State-by-State Licensing Guide

Understanding state-specific psychology licensure requirements needs close attention to detail. Each state, province, or territory determines its own legal basis to identify qualified practitioners.

How to guide your state’s requirements

Your state’s psychology board should be your first contact for current information. The Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB) provides detailed resources that include contact information for all state boards, licensing handbooks, and guidance for candidates. Psychology practice within each jurisdiction falls under its board’s oversight, which sets specific criteria for education, supervised experience, and examinations.

Examples from West Virginia and others

West Virginia shows how state systems can have multiple paths to licensure. Doctoral-level applicants with an 1,800-hour internship can take the oral examination after passing the EPPP. Those without qualifying internships must complete extra supervised practice. The state gives unique options such as reciprocity for out-of-state licensees and specialized School Psychologist Level I and II credentials with different practice permissions.

Tips for multi-state licensure

Psychologists now have more options to practice across states:

• The Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact (PSYPACT) – lets qualifying psychologists practice across state lines without multiple licenses
• Reciprocity agreements – help transfer licenses between participating states
• Credential banking – keeps your educational and supervised experience documentation with ASPPB for easier multi-state applications

Success in multi-state practice depends on knowing each state’s scope of practice definitions, continuing education requirements, and legal responsibilities.

State Licensure Guide List

Get Your Psychologist License Now

Getting your psychologist’s license requires proper planning and knowledge of your state’s rules. You must complete the right education, gain supervised experience, and pass licensing exams before you can practice on your own.

Most states just need a doctoral degree among other requirements like passing the EPPP with a minimum score of 500. You also need 1,500-6,000 supervised practice hours based on where you live. School psychologists have different requirements – they typically need specific credentials and must pass the PRAXIS II exam.

Your chosen specialty and practice setting will shape your path substantially. Licensed psychologists can practice more broadly compared to school psychologists who work only in educational settings. This difference helps you make smart career choices early in your educational experience.

Picking the right educational program – ideally APA-accredited – sets you up for success. You’ll need to complete supervised hours and pass all required exams. The process takes time and effort but guides you toward a rewarding career where you help others through psychological services.

PSYPACT and reciprocity agreements have made it easier for professionals to practice in multiple states. So keeping proper documentation of your credentials from day one will save you time later.

Note that licensing requirements keep changing. Regular contact with your state’s psychology board helps you stay updated with new regulations throughout your career.