How to Become a Psychologist in Arkansas: 2026 License Requirements & Timeline
Want to know about becoming a psychologist in Arkansas? Arkansas psychologists make a good living with average annual salaries of $106,330. Clinical and counseling psychologists earn around the same, while other specialized roles can bring in up to $92,470 per year. Plus, the job market looks promising with an expected growth of 6% from 2024 to 2034, which means stable jobs and new opportunities.
The Arkansas Board of Psychology has laid out clear steps to get licensed. About 760 psychologists work throughout the state in different settings. They serve in more than 60 hospitals and 300 school districts. The state faces big challenges because it has 17% fewer mental health providers per 100,000 residents compared to national numbers. This shortage makes Arkansas’s psychologist requirements even more crucial. This piece will guide you through all the steps – from education and experience to exams and applications – that you’ll need to join this growing field in Arkansas.
Educational pathways
Getting your psychology license in Arkansas takes you from basic college courses all the way through advanced graduate studies. The Arkansas Board of Psychology sets clear guidelines that help future psychologists navigate their academic path.
Here’s how your education typically unfolds:
- Bachelor’s Degree: You’ll start with a four-year college degree in psychology or related field. This gives you the basics of psychological concepts and research methods.
- Master’s Degree: You’ll spend two to three years here, based on whether you study full-time or part-time.
- Doctoral Degree: A doctorate in psychology from a program that meets Arkansas Psychology Board’s standards is the foundation of getting licensed.
The Arkansas Board of Psychology likes programs with American Psychological Association (APA) accreditation best. Programs that meet their course requirements might work too. Your doctoral program needs at least 80 semester hours. APA accreditation tells licensing boards and employers you have solid educational and scientific training.
Money matters a lot as you plan your education. Arkansas residents pay between $7,000 and $10,000 yearly for undergraduate psychology programs. Students from other states shell out $15,000 to $25,000. Graduate programs cost differently too – state residents usually pay $6,000 to $15,000 each year.
Arkansas has 19 accredited schools offering psychology programs. The University of Arkansas runs a Ph.D. program in Clinical Psychology that follows the scientist-practitioner model. Students learn to be scientifically smart mental health providers and clinically informed researchers.
The University of Central Arkansas’s options include an APA-accredited Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology, a Master’s in Mental Health Counseling, and a Specialist in School Psychology program. UCA’s Department of Psychology and Counseling ranks among Arkansas’s largest and most varied psychology departments, dating back to 1967.
Arkansas doctoral programs focus on both classroom learning and hands-on training. Students learn scientific thinking, critical analysis, and research skills. Graduates can work in healthcare and educational settings of all sizes.
Look beyond accreditation as you pick your program. Check program specialties, what research faculty members do, and practical training opportunities. Your education’s quality shapes both your license eligibility and professional skills.
After finishing your doctoral program, ask your registrar to send official transcripts straight to the Arkansas Psychology Board. Students in their final semester can get a provisional license by sending unofficial transcripts with their Program Director’s letter about current courses. They’ll need to send the official transcript once they graduate.
Supervised Experience Requirements
A supervised experience plays a vital role in Arkansas psychologist licensure after you complete your doctoral degree. The Arkansas Board of Psychology mandates candidates to complete specific supervised hours before they qualify for full licensure.
You need to work under a licensed psychologist’s guidance for at least one year as part of your post-doctoral supervised experience. This period requires you to complete 2,000 hours of supervised practice, which typically breaks down into 40-hour work weeks across 50 weeks. The Board requires you to complete this requirement within four years to ensure your training stays current while giving you reasonable time.
The Arkansas Board of Psychology requires you to get a provisional license before starting your supervised experience. This provisional status lets you practice psychology legally, but only under supervision. Getting this provisional license requires you to:
- Submit a Supervision Agreement and Plan with your Board-approved supervisor’s signature
- Verify your supervisor meets the Board’s qualifications
- Get written authorization from the Board before you start practice
Your supervisor must have these qualifications:
- A valid Arkansas psychology license
- At least three years of experience after getting licensed
- Proper training or experience in supervision
- Understanding of ethical principles and state laws that govern psychology practice
The supervisor takes on ethical and legal responsibility for your professional work during this period. You and your supervisor must keep detailed records of all supervision sessions. The Board’s Supervision Report form should document dates, time spent, and the nature of contact.
Your supervisor needs to sign and document that you’ve completed your supervised hours when you file your licensure application.
Note that supervision requirements vary for specialized roles. To cite an instance, Licensed Psychological Examiners who want independent practice status must complete 3,000 supervised hours. After completing these hours, candidates need to submit a Licensee Supervision Completion form and get Board approval before they can practice independently.
Note that practicing psychology outside your supervisory agreement violates Arkansas Code § 17-97-101. The only exception applies to psychological practice directly tied to formal coursework requirements.
This supervised period helps you apply your academic knowledge in practice. You develop clinical skills under experienced guidance as you prepare to become a licensed psychologist in Arkansas.
Licensing Examinations
Arkansas psychologist licensure requires you to prove your psychological knowledge through standardized testing. You can apply to take the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP) after completing your supervised experience.
The Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB) administers the EPPP. This exam helps measure a psychologist’s knowledge and competency in Arkansas. The test includes 225 multiple-choice questions. Out of these, 175 questions count toward your score while 50 are pre-test items. The EPPP (Part 1-Knowledge) tests you on:
- General knowledge of psychology, intervention, and assessment
- Your understanding of theories in cognition, affect, and development
- Your knowledge of research topics and what affects psychological functioning
The Arkansas Board of Psychology must approve you before you can schedule the EPPP. The board will send you an email with scheduling permission once they approve. You’ll need to pay $50 as an administrative fee to the board. The ASPPB charges about $687.50 for the exam itself.
You must score at least 500 on the scaled score to pass in Arkansas. You’ll see your results right after the exam. The examination service sends these results straight to the Arkansas Board of Psychology.
If you don’t pass on your first try, here are the rules for retaking:
- Wait at least 60 days before your next attempt
- You can take the EPPP up to 4 times in one year[154]
Arkansas also wants candidates to take an oral examination. This usually happens after you pass the EPPP. The oral exam looks at ethics, professional practice issues, and your specialty area.
The ASPPB’s EPPP practice exam is a great way to get ready. This exam marks a crucial step toward your licensure, so prepare well.
Keep in mind that Arkansas only requires the EPPP Part 1-Knowledge component and the oral examination. The state doesn’t need you to take the EPPP Part 2-Skills examination that some other places require.
After you pass both written and oral exams, you can move ahead with the final steps to get your license from the Arkansas Board of Psychology.
Application & Licensure Process
Getting your Arkansas psychologist license requires completing a detailed application and review process with the Arkansas Board of Psychology.
You need to submit an Application Request Form to the board office at to receive your applicant number. The complete application fee is $200. You can choose to pay a $50 deposit first and the remaining $150 when you submit your completed application.
Arkansas law requires a criminal background check that you must complete at the same time. New applicants should contact the Identification Bureau of the Arkansas State Police for state and national background checks. You’ll need to get fingerprinted and sign a release form that goes to the board. The state check costs $19.25 and the FBI check costs $25.
The board reviews complete applications at their next scheduled meeting. Your application must reach them by the 1st of the month to be considered. Your application should have:
- Official university transcripts sent directly from the registrar’s office
- Statement of Intent detailing your intended practice areas
- Three reference forms from qualified psychologists
- Letter from your academic program director
- Completed fingerprint process for background checks
The board will grant you Applicant Psychologist—Provisional License status after approving your credentials. This provisional license costs $100 for each six-month period. You can renew it up to 18 months and practice under supervision while completing other requirements.
You must pass the EPPP examination during your provisional period if you haven’t already. After completing all post-doctoral requirements and examinations, you can get your full license by:
- Submitting a revised Statement of Intent
- Paying the $200 certification fee
- Covering the pro-rated license fee (amount varies based on timing)
Psychologists from other states with five or more years of experience might qualify through mobility pathways. These options include reciprocity, Certificate of Professional Qualification, national register, or the senior psychologist mobility plan for those with 20+ years of practice.
The Arkansas Psychology Board will destroy your fingerprint card once they complete the background check. Make sure to keep copies of everything you submit for your records.
Continuing Education
Your Arkansas psychology license requires ongoing professional development through continuing education (CE) activities. Licensed psychologists must keep their knowledge and skills current by achieving specific CE requirements.
Licensed psychologists must complete 20 hours of approved continuing education annually according to the Arkansas Board of Psychology. Licenses expire on June 30th each year. Professional ethics must account for at least 3 of these 20 hours.
Psychologists can complete up to 10 hours (50%) of their annual requirement through approved home study courses. Some sources indicate all 20 hours could be completed through home study formats, though this varies. The Board temporarily lifted the requirement for in-person CE activities during certain periods.
The Arkansas Board of Psychology recognizes courses from these authorized providers:
- American Psychological Association (APA) approved programs
- Arkansas Psychological Association educational activities
- Workshops from state and nationally recognized training programs
- Programs from qualified professionals in relevant fields
You must confirm completion of required CE hours during renewal instead of submitting documentation upfront. The Board uses a random audit system to verify compliance. Selected licensees must provide documentation that proves completion of all CE requirements.
The Board’s optional “CE Capture” feature lets you log CE details throughout the year. This tool makes tracking your professional development activities easier until verification becomes necessary.
CE requirements pause when you choose inactive status for your license. Notwithstanding that, you must show evidence of completing 20 CE hours during the previous license year when reactivating.
The Arkansas Psychological Association are a great way to get these requirements. They offer workshops, conferences, and webinars approved for CE credit. These programs showcase your steadfast dedication to providing high-quality psychological services.
Regular visits to the official Arkansas Psychology Board website[221] will keep you updated about CE requirements and other licensure matters. This practice will give a clear understanding of requirement changes and help maintain compliance throughout your career.
Special State Variations
Arkansas gives qualified applicants several alternative paths to psychology licensure based on their backgrounds and credentials. The state makes the process faster for experienced professionals and those with military connections.
The Governor-appointed Arkansas Psychology Board offers four different mobility paths for psychologists who already hold licenses in other jurisdictions:
- Military Reciprocity – The board gives special attention to active duty military members, returning veterans, and their spouses when they apply for licensure. This path honors their service while upholding professional standards.
- National Register – This accelerated process works for psychologists who have held licenses in other jurisdictions for at least five years and are members of the National Register of Health Service Psychologists.
- Certificate for Professional Qualification (CPQ) – Licensed psychologists can use this path if they have five or more years of experience in a participating state and hold this credential from the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards.
- Senior Psychologist – This path serves doctoral-level psychologists who have 20 or more years of licensed practice experience and want Arkansas licensure.
All applicants must complete the standard mobility licensing application and pay required fees. The application costs $200, though applicants can pay a $50 deposit to get the original application packet.
Arkansas joined the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact (PSYPACT) recently. This lets qualified psychologists practice across state lines through telehealth or temporary in-person practice without extra licenses. The state’s participation helps more people access psychological services.
The Board can certify professionals without examination if they hold licenses from similar boards in other states. The standards must match Arkansas requirements, and the Board must decide this licensure benefits public interest.
Active duty military personnel or their spouses have a unique option. They can choose their Home State as their Home of Record, Permanent Change of Station location, or current residence if it differs. Both states must participate in the Compact.
The Arkansas Psychology Board created these alternative paths to protect the public from misrepresentation, unethical practice, and incompetence in psychology. The board values experienced professionals while maintaining its main goal of public protection.