How to Get Your Minnesota Psychology License: Step-by-Step Guide

Minnesota psychologists enjoy impressive earnings. Clinical and counseling psychologists in the state make $98,260 per year or $47.24 per hour on average. The career path looks promising with Minnesota employing nearly 4,000 psychologists and more than 55,000 social service workers. Psychologists across the nation earn a median annual wage of $94,310.

Your journey to become a licensed psychologist takes commitment and determination. Most professionals spend 10-12 years completing their educational requirements, supervised work, and examinations in Minnesota. Mental health professionals just need to step up as more than 1.78 million Minnesota residents live in areas with limited mental health services. Success in your career depends on understanding the licensing process through the Minnesota board of psychology. Here, we guide you through licensing steps – from education and supervised experience to examinations and continuing education requirements.

Educational Pathways

Getting your Minnesota psychology license follows a clear path but needs a lot of dedication. The whole process takes around 10-12 years to finish all educational requirements and supervised work.

You’ll start with a bachelor’s degree that takes four years (120 credit hours) to complete. A psychology major gives you great preparation for graduate studies. You don’t have to major in psychology, but you’ll need to take some psychology courses before starting graduate programs if you choose a different major.

After your bachelor’s degree, you can choose to get an online master’s degree in psychology. These programs usually take two years (30-40 credit hours). This step works well if you didn’t study psychology in college or want more experience before starting doctoral studies. Most doctoral programs include master’s-level work, so this step is optional.

The basis of how to become a licensed psychologist in Minnesota is getting a doctoral degree with a psychology major from a regionally accredited institution. You can choose between two types of doctoral degrees: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Psychology and Doctor of Psychology (PsyD). These programs take 4-7 years depending on your research, coursework, and clinical requirements.

Programs with American Psychological Association (APA) or Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) accreditation meet all the Minnesota Board of Psychology’s educational requirements automatically. The University of Minnesota offers two APA-accredited programs: Clinical Science and Psychopathology Research program and Counseling Psychology program. Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota has an APA-accredited PsyD in Counseling Psychology program. It’s one of only two APA-accredited PsyD programs in the Midwest.

Students from non-accredited programs must complete these specific courses:

• 6 semester credits in research design, statistics, and psychological measurement theory (with at least 1 credit in each area)
• 3 semester credits each in: biological bases of behavior, cognitive-affective bases of behavior, social bases of behavior, personality theory and human development, human diversity, and professional ethics
• 6 additional semester credits in problem identification (assessment, evaluation, data collection)
• 6 additional semester credits in problem solution (psychological intervention, data analysis)

All doctoral programs require you to complete a residency of at least 24 semester credit hours or 384 clock hours. You’ll earn these through in-person psychological instruction with faculty and students over 12 consecutive months.

Your doctoral training includes a predoctoral internship that lasts one year (1,800 hours). You must finish this internship between 12 and 30 months, working at least 20 hours per week under supervision. You’ll need two hours of scheduled supervision each week (for up to 40 hours worked). One hour needs to be face-to-face with your primary supervisor.

This educational path will give you a complete knowledge base and practical skills you need to practice psychology in Minnesota. The strict accreditation standards give confidence to the public, licensing boards, and future employers that you have solid educational and scientific foundations for a successful psychology career.

Supervised Experience Requirements

Your Minnesota psychology license journey continues after completing your doctoral education with postdoctoral supervised psychological employment as a vital step. The Minnesota board of psychology requires candidates to complete a minimum of 1,800 hours of supervised experience. This typically takes at least one full-time year and must be finished between 12 to 30 months.

Quality training demands specific guidelines for supervised experience. Full-time professionals working 40 hours weekly need two hours of scheduled supervision. Your primary supervisor must provide one hour of individual, in-person supervision. A designated supervisor can handle the second hour. The board might approve exceptions when supervisors cannot provide weekly supervision due to illness.

Part-time workers have different supervision requirements:

• Twenty hours or less weekly work requires one hour of supervision
• More than 40 weekly hours need an additional supervision hour

The board limits creditable hours to 50 per week toward licensure.

Licensed psychologists must serve as primary supervisors. Master’s or doctoral-level mental health practitioners can take designated supervisor roles. Primary supervisors maintain responsibility for all supervised professional experience and must include discussions about ethical and practice standards.

Candidates can meet postdoctoral requirements through both volunteer and paid experience, as accepted by the Minnesota board of psychology. This option lets you gain experience from professional settings of all types.

Your supervisor should remain accessible and review your work regularly. They must either cosign your reports or provide a cover letter confirming their review and approval.

Professional boundaries matter – supervisors cannot have multiple relationships with you, such as being your employee or family member. This rule helps maintain objective evaluation of your progress.

The Minnesota board of psychology requires your supervisor to document your work experience in detail. This documentation proves you’ve met all supervised experience requirements on your path to becoming a licensed psychologist in Minnesota.

Licensing Examinations

Getting a Minnesota psychology license requires passing two key exams during the licensing process. The Minnesota board of psychology mandates all candidates to complete the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP) and the Minnesota Professional Responsibility Exam (PRE).

Pearson Vue Testing Services administers the EPPP, a nationally standardized test that reviews your knowledge in psychological domains of all types. This complete examination has 225 multiple-choice questions, and candidates must score at least 500 out of 800 to pass. Your first step involves applying for licensure to the board, which will review your credentials to ensure you meet state requirements. The board will then provide instructions to register and schedule your exam. You’ll need to pay a separate testing fee to Pearson Vue. The Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB) website provides practice materials to help you prepare better.

The PRE tests your understanding of Minnesota’s Psychology Practice Act Rules of Conduct. The exam format changed on January 2, 2020, becoming an at-home, open-book test. Registration happens through the board’s online services website as part of your license application. The PRE requires just one fee paid directly to the board.

The Minnesota board of psychology suggests this application order:

1. EPPP Application
2. PRE Application
3. Licensure Application

Minnesota’s process of how to become a licensed psychologist lets you take these exams while completing your supervised postdoctoral hours. Your scores automatically go to the board after passing, so you won’t need extra documentation.

The board provides reasonable accommodations for special needs. Candidates with documented disabilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) can request special arrangements for either exam. Non-native English speakers can get extra time for the EPPP by submitting the English Language Learners (ELL) Request Form.

Retaking the exams doesn’t require additional board fees. However, you’ll still pay Pearson Vue’s testing fee for extra EPPP attempts. ASPPB currently allows four EPPP attempts within a 12-month period.

Application & Licensure Process

The final step to get your Minnesota psychology license requires submitting a formal application to the Minnesota board of psychology after completing your education, supervised experience, and passing both required examinations. The process has multiple components that need careful attention.

You can download the standard licensing application from the Board’s website or access it through their online portal. The application requires several essential documents:

• Official transcripts verifying your doctoral degree in psychology
• Documentation of 1,800 hours of supervised post-doctoral experience
• Verification of passing scores on both the EPPP and PRE exams
• Proof of good moral character with no pending disciplinary actions
• Information for two qualified endorsers who can vouch for your competence

The Board requires all license applicants to complete a criminal background check since June 1, 2015. Both the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and the Federal Bureau of Investigation conduct these checks. The background check costs $32.00 ($18.25 for FBI and $15.00 for BCA checks). You can submit fingerprints electronically at the Board offices or through ink cards at a law enforcement office. Your application may be denied if you don’t consent to this check.

The Board charges several non-refundable fees:

• Application for EPPP examination: $150.00
• Application for PRE examination: $150.00
• Application for licensure as a licensed psychologist: $500.00
• Criminal background check: $32.00

Psychologists from other states can request a guest license while pursuing permanent licensing. The request costs $150.00 and must reach the Board 30 days before intended practice. Guest licenses serve both those seeking permanent Minnesota licensure and those practicing in the state temporarily (up to nine months).

Psychology licenses remain valid for two years. The renewal fee is $500.00. A late renewal attracts an additional fee of $250.00.

Applicants with degrees from foreign institutions must meet extra requirements. Their degrees need evaluation by an organization from the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services. Document translation costs fall on the applicant.

The Minnesota board of psychology reviews applications with great attention to detail. Staff members check all documentation carefully. Applications may face denial if they find discrepancies or ethical concerns during the review. This full picture will give a clear understanding of whether applicants meet Minnesota’s high professional standards.

Continuing Education

Your Minnesota psychology license renewal depends on professional development after you get your original licensure. The Minnesota board of psychology requires licensed psychologists to complete 40 hours of continuing education (CE) every two years. This requirement will give a solid foundation for quality service and ongoing competence to Minnesota residents.

Professional development goes beyond just checking boxes—it helps protect Minnesota residents’ health and safety while they receive psychological services. It also strengthens practitioners’ professional abilities. In fact, psychologists must stay competent to help people from a variety of cultural backgrounds as part of their ethical duties.

Eligible continuing education activities include:

• Developing and teaching academic psychology courses (first-time teaching only)
• Attending presentations based on scientific or professional standards
• Completing home study and computer-based courses from approved vendors
• Finishing graduate-level psychology courses at accredited institutions
• Creating and presenting psychology-related content
• Authoring, editing, or reviewing psychological publications

You should keep original documentation of all CE activities for eight years after your renewal date. The board randomly checks CE compliance from a percentage of renewing psychologists each month and may ask you to submit documentation.

Minnesota psychologists have many CE options available. To cite an instance, the Minnesota Psychological Association (MPA) provides continuing education through Friday Forums, Lunch & Learns, Distinguished Scholar Lectures, conferences, and on-demand webinars. You can complete all 40 required hours through online providers.

Activities must meet Minnesota Rules’ definition and purpose to get CE approval. The American Psychological Association (APA), the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB), or other specified national professional organizations can automatically approve activities without additional steps.

Missing your continuing education requirements by the renewal date makes your license renewal late. You can ask for a time-limited variance that gives you up to six months after the renewal date to complete the previous period’s requirements.

Special State Variations

The Minnesota board of psychology makes it easier for out-of-state psychologists to practice through license reciprocity. Qualified candidates need a doctoral degree in psychology. They must also show proof that they managed to keep their out-of-state license active and in good standing for at least two years right before applying.

Psychologists can also ask for a guest license to practice short-term in Minnesota. This license lets them practice up to nine months straight each calendar year. The board needs guest license applications 30 days before the planned start date. Every practitioner, permanent or temporary, must clear Minnesota’s Professional Responsibility Examination.

Minnesota updated its telehealth rules to match modern healthcare needs. The state ended its emergency telehealth services on May 6, 2021, by canceling Executive Order 20-28 that started during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Psychologists with degrees from other countries need to get their credentials checked by a National Association of Credential Evaluation Services member organization. This step will give a clear picture of how their international degrees stack up against Minnesota’s standards.

The path to becoming a licensed psychologist in Minnesota might look different from your home state. The Minnesota board of psychology follows a fair approach – if other states limit Minnesota psychologists, they face similar restrictions.