How to Become a Psychologist in Iowa

Want to become a psychologist in Illinois? You’re looking at a career path that’s in high demand. The state faces a critical shortage of mental health workers. Right now, all but one of these counties lack enough psychiatrists. Illinois offers a unique advantage – it’s one of only five states where psychologists can prescribe medication. This gives you more treatment options than most other states.

The career prospects look great too. Clinical and counseling psychologists in Illinois make an average of $111,300 per year, which is higher by a lot than the national average. The job market keeps growing steadily. Psychologist jobs should increase by 13.3% through 2033. The number of clinical, counseling, and school psychologists in Illinois will likely grow by 2.4% by 2030. But getting your Illinois psychologist license takes several key steps. In this guide, we’ll cover everything you just need to know about meeting the Illinois board of psychologist standards to get licensed in 2026 and beyond. We’ll walk through educational requirements and supervised experience needed.

Educational Pathways

Starting your path to become a licensed psychologist in Illinois requires the right educational credentials. The Illinois Board of Psychologist Examiners sets strict standards. These standards make sure all practitioners are qualified to serve the public effectively.

A doctoral degree is the main requirement for psychology licensure in Illinois. You need either a Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) or a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in psychology or related fields like educational psychology. Your doctoral program must have accreditation from the American Psychological Association (APA), approval from the Council for the National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology, or recognition from the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.

Your doctoral program must exist as a clear entity within a regionally accredited institution. A qualified psychologist should lead the program with an on-site faculty of psychology professors and enrolled students. The doctoral training needs to cover seven core areas:

• Social basis of behavior
• Biological basis of behavior
• Cognitive-affective basis of behavior
• Individual differences
• Treatment modalities
• Assessment
• Scientific and professional ethics

The residency part of your education needs special focus. Illinois asks doctoral candidates to spend one year in residence. You can complete this requirement in two ways:

1. Complete 30 semester hours in residence either full-time or part-time within a 24-month period
2. Document 350 hours of face-to-face interaction in seminars or classes within an 18-month timeframe

The timeline to become a licensed psychologist in Illinois takes commitment. A bachelor’s degree usually takes four years of full-time study. Some students choose to get a master’s degree, which adds about two years. Doctoral programs typically take five to seven years. The whole educational process, not counting post-doctoral work, can take 10-12 years.

Your psychology program might not meet standard approval criteria but still be “psychological in nature.” You could still qualify for licensure with extra documentation. These “category 3” candidates must show three years of supervised experience instead of the usual two years. If your program has specific gaps, you can fix them by taking courses at a Board-approved university.

Some doctoral programs include a master’s degree, which eliminates the need for a separate master’s program. Many doctoral psychology programs use specific training models. These include the scientist-practitioner approach (Boulder Model) or the practitioner-scholar model. Each model emphasizes different aspects of research and clinical practice.

Research program accreditation status carefully before you start this educational path. The APA’s searchable database of accredited programs is a great way to get help during your program selection.

Supervised Experience Requirements

Your journey after completing your doctoral education includes meeting the supervised experience requirements set by the Illinois Board of Psychologist Examiners. This step will give you practical skills under proper guidance.

The state of Illinois asks for two years of supervised professional experience that adds up to 3,500 hours. You’ll need to split this between an internship and post-doctoral supervision, with each part taking 1,750 hours. A year of supervised experience means getting at least 1,750 hours over no less than 50 weeks.

The internship part needs you to finish a pre-planned training program. This program should give you a sequence of experiences with clear goals and objectives. You must complete it within 24 months and include:

• One hour minimum of face-to-face individual supervision each week
• Two more hours weekly in learning activities (case conferences, seminars, group supervision)
• Direct clinical psychology services to clients
• Supervision by a licensed clinical psychologist

The post-doctoral experience also needs 1,750 hours, which you should complete within 36 months. At least half your time should involve building ongoing, face-to-face relationships with the people you treat. You can count these activities:

Psychotherapy services, psychological assessments, neuropsychological evaluations, forensic evaluations, and comprehensive intake assessments. Phone-based intake assessments, crisis line work, or research data collection can’t make up most of your hours.

Time requirements change based on whether you work full-time or part-time during both experiences. Full-time means working at least 35 hours weekly in one setting for six months minimum. If you work part-time, you need at least 18 hours weekly for nine months minimum at one location.

Your supervisor must be a licensed clinical psychologist who’s in good standing. The supervision happens under the order, control, and full professional responsibility of this licensed professional. You can’t pay or compensate your supervisor while getting your supervised experience.

The supervisor needs to rate your work as satisfactory or better. You must get all supervised experience before your examination date.

Meeting these supervised experience requirements along with your educational qualifications moves you closer to getting your Illinois psychologist license.

Licensing Examinations

Getting your psychology license in Illinois starts with passing the required licensing exams. The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) wants all candidates to pass standardized tests that prove their competency.

You’ll need to pass the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP), which the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB) administers. Illinois candidates take this exam after completing their supervised experience requirements, not right after graduation. This timing is different from what other states require.

The examination process begins with IDFPR application approval. Your application must include:

• Official doctoral transcripts
• Documentation of completed supervised experience
• Other supporting materials the board specifies

The board provides examination registration details after approving your application. You’ll then register with the ASPPB and pay the required examination fee of $600. An Authorization to Test (ATT) comes next, letting you schedule your exam at a testing center.

Your ATT stays valid for 60 days only. Quick scheduling helps you avoid extra fees. The computerized EPPP has 225 multiple-choice questions that cover everything in psychology practice.

Illinois requires a scaled score of at least 500 to pass the EPPP, which means getting about 70% of the questions right. Practice tests and review materials are a great way to get ready for the exam. The ASPPB provides practice exams so you can learn the question format and testing conditions.

Illinois has specific rules if you don’t pass on your first try. You must wait for a set time before taking another test. The IDFPR needs information about all your EPPP attempts, whatever the outcome.

Your official score report must go straight from the ASPPB to the Illinois Department after you pass. This score verification becomes crucial especially when you have endorsement or examination acceptance applications.

Illinois doesn’t ask for a separate jurisprudence exam or oral assessment right now. Notwithstanding that, you need to know state laws, regulations, and ethical guidelines inside out to practice.

The final step toward your psychology license comes after passing the EPPP and meeting other requirements. You can then complete your application with the Illinois board of psychologist examiners.

Application & Licensure Process

Getting your Illinois psychologist license requires a final step through the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR). The IDFPR now uses CORE, a new online licensing system to process applications as of October 30, 2024.

You need to choose one of these five application methods based on your eligibility:

1. Examination – For first-time applicants who have not yet taken the EPPP
2. Acceptance of Examination – For those who passed the EPPP but aren’t licensed elsewhere
3. Endorsement – For actively licensed psychologists from other states
4. Senior Psychologist – For professionals licensed in other jurisdictions for at least 20 years with no disciplinary actions
5. Restoration – For previously licensed Illinois psychologists inactive for five or more years

Start by submitting your application with the required fee. Unlicensed applicants pay $50, while those licensed in other jurisdictions pay $100. Your application must include these essential documents:

• Professional Health Questionnaire (PHQ)
• Education Form (ED) completed by your doctoral program with official seal
• Official transcripts from all graduate-level psychology coursework
• Verification of Employment/Experience (VE-PSY) forms for both internship and post-doctoral experiences
• Certification of Licensure (CT) from other states (if applicable)

You’ll need course syllabi unless you graduated from an APA-accredited program. Proof of accreditation is enough in that case.

IDFPR keeps applications valid for three years from the submission date. You’ll get authorization to take the EPPP once your application gets approved.

Some candidates might find alternative documentation options helpful. The Certificate of Professional Qualification in Psychology (CPQ) from ASPPB can replace transcripts, syllabi, and experience verification.

IDFPR will issue your clinical psychologist license after you pass the EPPP and get your complete application approved. The IDFPR website’s ePay portal handles all applications and renewals.

Licensed psychologists from other states can practice in Illinois up to 30 days per calendar year without an Illinois license. This helps practitioners who provide telehealth services to clients temporarily in Illinois.

Illinois doesn’t have formal licensing reciprocity with other states right now. The state might join the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact (PSYPACT) in late 2025, which would help eligible psychologists practice across state lines.

Continuing Education

You need ongoing professional development through continuing education (CE) to keep your Illinois psychologist license active. The Illinois Board of Psychologist Examiners has set specific requirements that help practitioners stay up-to-date with field advancements.

Clinical psychologists must complete 24 hours of CE during each two-year renewal cycle. These hours must include key content areas:

• At least 3 hours on ethical practice of clinical psychology
• 1 hour on sexual harassment prevention
• 1 hour on implicit bias awareness
• 1 hour on Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias (once every three renewal periods)
• 1 hour on cultural competency (beginning January 1, 2025)

The requirements will change on September 30, 2026. At least 3 of the 24 hours must cover content related to diversity. Mandated reporters must complete training on child abuse reporting requirements within 3 months of their designation and every 3 years after that.

Prescribing psychologists have extra requirements. They need 20 hours of CE specifically on pharmacology, on top of the standard 24 hours. This additional training will give prescribing psychologists the specialized knowledge they need for their expanded practice scope.

The rules are different for new licensees. CE isn’t required for your first license renewal. In spite of that, you’ll need to meet all CE requirements for future renewals.

You can earn CE hours through several activities:

• In-person or remote courses from approved sponsors
• Postgraduate training programs
• Graduate-level psychology courses (15 CE hours per semester hour)
• Teaching in psychology programs (1.5 hours credit per hour taught, maximum 10 hours)

The approved CE sponsors include the American Psychological Association and its affiliates, National Register of Health Service Psychologists, Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards, American Medical Association, Illinois Psychological Association, accredited educational institutions, and state agencies.

You must certify your CE compliance when renewing your license. While you don’t typically need to submit documentation during renewal, keep your records for at least eight years. The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation randomly audits practitioners and may ask for proof of your CE completion.

You can request a one-time waiver for CE requirements in special cases. These include military service, physician-documented incapacitating illness, or temporary undue hardship. Submit your waiver request before your license expires.

Special State Variations

Illinois has several distinctive features in its psychology licensure process that set it apart from other U.S. states. Surprisingly, Illinois is one of only five states nationwide where psychologists can prescribe medication. Psychologists must meet additional qualifications beyond standard clinical psychology licensure to prescribe medication. These include a master’s degree in clinical psychopharmacology, specific undergraduate biomedical coursework, passing the Psychopharmacology Exam for Psychologists (PEP), and completing nine medical rotations over 14-28 months.

The Illinois psychology board provides alternative pathways that benefit experienced practitioners:

• Certificate of Professional Qualification (CPQ) holders can submit this credential instead of detailed education and experience documentation
• National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology registrants with five years of licensure can streamline their application process
• “Senior psychologist” pathway allows professionals licensed and practicing in the U.S. or Canada for 20+ years without disciplinary action to submit only their doctoral degree proof from a regionally accredited university

Illinois does not have official licensing reciprocity agreements with other states. However, out-of-state psychologists can practice in Illinois up to 30 days each calendar year without getting an Illinois license. This benefit helps telehealth providers whose clients temporarily stay in Illinois.

International applicants must meet extra requirements. They need certified English language translations for all required documents.

Licensed psychologists in Illinois must meet specific state requirements. The state’s special provisions make the licensure path more available for qualified candidates, especially those with recognized credentials and extensive experience.