Missouri Psychology License Requirements: Step-by-Step Guide
Missouri currently meets only 14.2% of its mental health care needs. A psychology license in Missouri offers you an opportunity to help address this critical shortage and build a rewarding career in this growing field.
Becoming a licensed psychologist in Missouri requires 10-14 years of dedicated education and supervised experience. The State Committee of Psychologists (SCOP) oversees the licensing process, which requires 3,500 hours of supervised professional experience and a three-step examination process. The Missouri board of psychology mandates a minimum score of 500 on the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP).
The professional benefits make this challenging path worthwhile. Missouri’s clinical and counseling psychologists earn an average annual salary of $87,730. The field shows strong growth potential with a projected increase of 9.8% between 2023 and 2034. This piece provides detailed information about Missouri psychologist license requirements. You’ll find clear direction about educational pathways, supervised experience, examinations, and application procedures needed to start your psychology career in the Show-Me State.
Educational Pathways
More than 1,000 undergraduate students in Missouri start their psychology degrees each year. This marks the first step toward becoming a licensed psychologist in the state.
Bachelor’s Degree Foundation
A bachelor’s degree in psychology or related field starts your educational trip. Students typically complete this undergraduate program in four years. The program teaches fundamental knowledge about human behavior, research methods, and psychological principles. Missouri schools offer several bachelor’s programs that prepare students for advanced study.
Master’s Degree Consideration
Missouri psychology license requirements don’t mandate a master’s degree. Many future psychologists still choose to earn one. This extra step strengthens doctoral program applications and builds specialized knowledge. Students can also earn certificates or minors to improve their qualifications without completing a full degree.
Doctoral Degree Requirement
The Missouri Board of Psychology requires a doctoral degree for licensure. Your program must meet one of these criteria:
- Accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA)
- Designated or approved by the American Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB)
- Approved by the Council for the National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology
- Compliant with standards in Section 337.025 of state statute
Missouri doctoral programs use different models. The University of Missouri-St. Louis follows a scientist-practitioner approach and has held APA accreditation since 1977.
Program Structure Requirements
Doctoral programs must meet specific criteria for Missouri psychologist license requirements:
- Clear psychology labeling with psychologist leadership
- At least three years of graduate study
- One year minimum in residence
The curriculum requires at least three semester hours (or five quarter hours) in each area:
- Scientific methods and procedures
- Biological basis of behavior
- Cognitive-affective basis of behavior
- Social basis of behavior
- Individual differences
Program Options in Missouri
The Department of Psychological Sciences at University of Missouri offers several PhD programs:
- Clinical Psychology
- Cognition and Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Quantitative Psychology
- Social/Personality Psychology
Students usually finish in five to seven years. Most programs need about 80 semester credit hours of graduate coursework.
Health Service Provider Pathway
Students who want to provide health services should choose clinical or counseling psychology programs with ASPPB designation or APA accreditation in health service areas. These programs include detailed internship experiences. Graduates from other psychology branches need additional training through re-specialization programs to get health service certification.
Transfer Credits
Missouri State’s Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) program lets students transfer up to 21 hours of academic credit. This can shorten the time needed to complete your education.
Research and clinical skills development should be your primary focus. Missouri doctoral programs emphasize research as the core of graduate training. Students work closely with a faculty mentor and research lab.
Supervised Experience Requirements
Getting your supervised experience is a key step to meet Missouri psychology license requirements. The Missouri board of psychology requires 3,500 hours of supervised professional experience before you can qualify for licensure.
Your supervised experience has two main parts:
- You need 1,500 hours from a completed internship. This must take between 12 and 24 months.
- The other 2,000 hours can come from different professional experiences.
You can get these 2,000 hours through several paths:
- Pre-internship experience after your first year of doctoral program (or after getting a master’s degree in psychology)
- Up to 750 extra hours from your internship beyond the required 1,500 hours
- Post-doctoral professional experience completed within 24 consecutive calendar months
Keep in mind that you can’t work more than 50 hours per week. The professional activities must match your planned practice area.
Your supervision needs depend on your career path. Health service provider candidates need a licensed psychologist who is certified as a health service provider as their primary supervisor. All other candidates can work under a licensed psychologist or another qualified mental health professional approved by the committee.
Your post-internship and post-doctoral work must happen under your primary supervisor’s order, control, and full professional responsibility. Your supervisor will work closely with you and meet face-to-face for at least one hour monthly.
Clinical supervision often goes to one or more secondary supervisors who are qualified psychologists. These supervisors must meet with you face-to-face for one hour every week. When your primary supervisor handles clinical supervision too, you’ll need weekly one-hour meetings.
You’ll create a detailed supervision plan when you start. After completion, supervisors will review your work in seven categories and rate you from “very good” to “not acceptable”. This review plays a big part in the committee’s decision about your license.
Missouri’s requirements for supervised experience help you get enough practical training before you start practicing independently.
Licensing Examinations
Missouri has a unique three-part examination process to get your psychology license. Each part tests different skills you need as a professional psychologist.
You must pass all three exams set by the State Committee of Psychologists (SCOP). Here are the required components:
- Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP) This national board exam tests your psychology knowledge objectively. You’ll get an Authorization to Test (ATT) email after your application gets approved. The EPPP costs about $600, and you need to take the test within your assigned window. You must score at least 500 to pass. You can take this computerized test at any authorized Prometric testing center.
- Missouri Jurisprudence Examination After passing the EPPP, you’ll take the jurisprudence exam. This test covers Missouri Psychology Practice Act and Rules, focusing on Ethical Rules of Conduct. You’ll get three hours to answer 100 multiple-choice questions. A score of 70% or higher is needed to pass. The Division of Professional Registration in Jefferson City offers this exam monthly, usually in the second week.
- Missouri Oral ExaminationPassing both EPPP and jurisprudence exams qualifies you for the oral examination. This test asks questions about ethics, professional practice, and other psychology-related topics. The oral exam happens four times a year – March, June, September, and December.
You can retake the EPPP up to four times within 12 months of your first attempt if you fail. Your application will be denied if you don’t pass within two years of your first try. You’ll need to submit a new application then.
The Missouri Board of Psychology website lists both jurisprudence and oral exam dates for planning ahead. Always check the current dates before scheduling as they might change.
This complete exam process will give Missouri’s licensed psychologists the knowledge and ethical understanding they need to practice competently under state standards.
Application & Licensure Process
Getting your psychology license in Missouri requires several steps that you must follow carefully. You need to start by applying for a provisional license through the State Committee of Psychologists (SCOP) to complete your supervised experience.
Your provisional license application must include:
- A signed and notarized application with $150 fee
- One 2×2 passport-style photo
- Supervision Agreement form
- Post-Degree Supervision Plan
- Social Security Number Disclosure Notice
- Three mental health professional references
- Proof of fingerprint submission for background check
- Attestation of completing two hours of training in suicide assessment, referral, treatment, and management
The provisional license expires after one year and you cannot renew it. You’ll need to submit the “Attestation of Post-Degree Professional Experience” form after completing your supervised experience to advance your application to full licensure status.
The board will authorize you to take the required examinations once they approve your application. Your psychology license will be issued after you pass all three exams (EPPP, jurisprudence, and oral examination).
You must create a MOPRO account through the Missouri Division of Professional Registration portal starting January 14, 2025. This system will give a 24/7 access to apply for licenses, submit payments, update personal information, and track continuing education hours.
Missouri offers licensure through reciprocity under specific conditions. You might qualify if you:
- Are a diplomate of the American Board of Professional Psychology or listed in the National Register
- Hold a Certificate of Professional Qualification (CPQ) and are currently licensed
- Have been licensed for at least five years in a state that’s a member of the ASPPB Reciprocity Agreement with no disciplinary actions
- Have a degree from an APA-accredited program, held licensure for five years, and managed to keep a discipline-free history
The state statutes outline specific education and training requirements for health service provider certification through reciprocity.
Out-of-state psychologists who meet reciprocity requirements can get a temporary license to practice while preparing for state-specific examinations. This allows continuous service delivery during the licensure transition period.
Continuing Education
Missouri psychologists need to complete professional development after their original licensure. The state board requires 40 hours of continuing education (CE) credits every two years. Your reporting cycle runs from December 1 to November 30 in odd-numbered years. License renewals should be submitted by January 31 of even years.
The 40 CE hours fall into two categories:
- Category A (Formal Programs): You need at least 15 hours from accredited formal continuing education programs. These include postgraduate courses, professional publications, and teaching graduate-level psychology courses.
- Category B (Informal Programs): The other 25 hours can come from either Category A or B activities. Self-study, meetings, workshops, and seminars count toward this requirement.
The 2023-2025 reporting period introduces a new requirement of 3 hours in ethics as part of your total CE hours. This addition will give you ongoing ethical awareness throughout your career.
New licensees must complete 2 hours of training in suicide assessment, referral, treatment, and management. You can fulfill this requirement through graduate studies or self-study.
Keep detailed records of your CE activities. You don’t need to submit attendance records with your renewal, but you must confirm that you’ve met all CE requirements on your renewal form. The state requires you to keep CE records for five years after submission. Random audits may request these documents.
Missouri accepts CE credits from various providers, including American Psychological Association (APA) accredited sponsors. You can complete all 40 hours through online courses or distance learning if that works better for you.
The State Committee oversees the process, but you are responsible to track and verify your continuing education meets renewal requirements. This steadfast dedication to professional growth helps you stay current with the latest practices and standards in psychology.
Special State Variations
Missouri’s psychology licensure process stands out with several unique requirements that set it apart from other states. Learning about these differences plays a significant role in navigating the state’s regulatory landscape.
The state law provides a detailed definition of psychology practice in Missouri. The practice includes observation, description, evaluation, interpretation, treatment, and modification of human behavior through psychological principles. This definition covers psychometric testing, counseling, psychoanalysis, hypnosis, biofeedback, behavior analysis, diagnosis of mental disorders, and psychological aspects of physical conditions.
The state strictly prohibits unlicensed individuals from calling themselves psychologists. Nobody can use titles that contain words like “psychology,” “psychological,” or “psychologist” without a valid license. The restrictions extend to terms like “psychometry” and “psychotherapy,” though licensed counselors and psychiatrists may use some related terms if they avoid these specific protected titles.
Missouri has specific rules about recordkeeping. Licensed psychologists must keep records that include:
- Client identifying information and presenting problems
- Assessment results and test data
- Documentation of each service provided
- Nature and goals of psychological interventions
- Fee arrangements discussed prior to services
- Formal consultations and referrals
- Any releases executed by the client
Psychologists must make record entries within ten days after each consultation. They need written informed consent for all aspects of service. Provisional licensees must list their supervising psychologist on all informed consent forms.
Missouri belongs to the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact (PSYPACT). This interstate agreement lets qualifying psychologists practice telepsychology across state lines or temporarily work in-person in other compact states without extra licenses.
Missouri regulations require psychologists to limit their practice to areas where they have proven competence through education and supervised experience. The State Committee of Psychologists follows the Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct from the American Psychological Association to resolve ethical rule ambiguities.
The state gives school psychologists certified by the State Board of Education a special pathway. They don’t need licenses when working solely within their scope of employment as school board employees.