How to Get Your New York Psychology License

A career as a licensed psychologist in New York opens doors to a faster growing field with excellent career potential. The psychology profession will grow 6% through 2034, and this is a big deal as it means that the growth rate of all occupations at 3%. Licensed psychologists in New York earn competitive salaries, averaging $107,377 per year as of May 2024, which is higher than the national median of $94,310.

The path to becoming a licensed psychologist in New York comes with its challenges. The New York psychology board sets strict standards for education, supervised experience, and examination. The higher salary potential looks attractive, but New York’s cost of living sits 23.3% above the national average. This piece walks you through each step of the licensure process and explains what you need to qualify as a licensed psychologist in the Empire State.

Educational pathways

Getting your New York psychology license starts with the right education. The New York State Education Department (NYSED) has set specific educational requirements that are the foundations of your professional qualifications.

You need to get a doctoral degree in psychology to qualify for licensure. This requirement can be met through two main paths:

Acceptable Doctoral Programs

Your doctoral degree must come from one of these sources:

• A program registered by the New York State Department of Education as licensure qualifying
• A program accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) as a program in health service psychology
• A program the Department calls “substantial equivalent” according to the Regulations of the Commissioner

The Office of Higher Education’s Inventory of Registered Programs helps you check if a New York program qualifies for licensure. You can also find this information in the program’s course catalog.

Core Educational Requirements

Your doctoral program needs these elements to meet the substantial equivalence standard:

• At least three years of full-time study or its part-time equivalent
• A minimum of 30 semester hours completed at the doctoral degree-granting institution
• Two years of full-time study (or equivalent) that includes seminars, tutorials, or other graduate-level coursework
• One year of supervised practicum, internship, field experience, or applied research that fits psychology practice

Required Coursework

Your doctoral program must cover these key areas of psychological study:

• Research, ethical and legal standards
• Individual and cultural diversity
• Professional values, attitudes, and behaviors
• Communication and interpersonal skills
• Assessment and diagnosis
• Intervention
• Supervision, consultation, and interprofessional/interdisciplinary skills

Programs that are substantially equivalent need at least three semester hours in each of these areas:

• Biological basis of behavior
• Cognitive-affective basis of behavior
• Social basis of behavior
• Individual differences
• Psychometrics
• History and systems of psychology
• Research design, methodology, and statistics

PhD vs. PsyD: Choosing Your Path

You’ll find two main degree options at the doctoral level:

PhD in Psychology: These research-focused programs usually take five to seven years. They emphasize data analysis, teaching, and publication – perfect if you’re interested in academia, scientific research, or specialized clinical practice.

PsyD (Doctor of Psychology): These programs typically take four to six years to complete. They focus on applied training and hands-on clinical experience instead of research, preparing you for direct patient care and therapeutic roles.

Both degrees can lead to licensure as a psychologist, but each offers a different educational experience and career path.

Additional Training Requirements

New York requires coursework or training in child abuse identification and reporting, as stated in Section 6507(3)(a) of the Education Law. This training is required for all license applicants in New York.

After completing your degree requirements, your university must send Form 2 (Certification of Professional Education) and official transcripts directly to the New York State Education Department.

Supervised Experience Requirements

Your path to a New York psychology license continues after your doctoral education with supervised experience. The New York State Board for Psychology wants you to complete two years of full-time supervised experience. This means 1,750 clock hours per year, or you can work part-time to get the equivalent hours.

Experience Timeline and Structure

Your doctoral internship can count as one year of supervised experience. You must complete the second year after you get your qualifying doctoral degree. Since January 1, 1998, full-time work means 35-45 hours each week. Part-time experience ranges from 16-34 hours weekly. The board won’t count any experience less than 16 hours per week toward licensure.

Supervision Requirements

Full-time positions need:

• One hour minimum of individual, face-to-face supervision each week that relates to your services
• Another hour of either face-to-face supervision, group supervision, seminars, or apprenticeship activities

If you work part-time, you need two hours of supervision every two weeks with similar requirements. You can use secure video-conferencing technology for face-to-face supervision to keep information confidential.

Supervisor Qualifications

The organization where you work must employ your supervisor, who needs a license in that jurisdiction. Your supervisor should have authority to give complete supervision. New York requires supervisors, even in exempt settings, to be licensed and registered psychologists or have qualifications that satisfy the department.

Acceptable Settings

You must complete your experience in authorized settings that offer psychology services. These settings include professional corporations, registered partnerships, government-run programs, federally authorized facilities, or New York law-approved entities.

Limited Permits

A limited permit (Form 5A) helps you get post-doctoral experience after your doctorate. The permit costs $70.00 and lasts three years. You might get one-year extensions in special cases. Your hours only count at exempt sites if you don’t have this permit.

Documentation

You and your supervisor need to fill out Form 4 (Report of Professional Experience) to record your supervised experience. Your supervisor should send this form to the State Education Department in a sealed official envelope. Make sure you keep detailed records of all supervision dates, times, and important information.

Licensing Examinations

The Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP) is a vital milestone to get your New York psychology license. New York requires candidates to pass only the EPPP Part 1 (Knowledge) examination with a minimum converted score of 75 or higher. The EPPP Part 2 (Skills) hasn’t been adopted by New York State.

You must complete several steps before taking this examination. The process starts with submitting Form 1 along with your documentation and fee to apply for licensure. Your degree needs verification and approval from the New York State Education Department through Form 2. You also need at least one year (1,750 hours) of Department-approved experience, and your supervisor must submit Form 4 directly to the Department.

Your pre-doctoral internship usually meets the experience requirement needed for the examination. Post-doctoral experience can also meet this requirement if needed. Many candidates take the EPPP before finishing their post-doctoral supervised experience to speed up the licensure process.

The New York State Education Department will send you a notice of eligibility to take the EPPP after approving your credentials and supervised experience. You can then schedule your examination through Pearson VUE, which administers the test.

The examination process requires a substantial financial commitment. The EPPP Part 1 costs $687.50. Your original application fee of $294.00 covers application processing and the first three years of registration. Candidates needing a limited permit while completing requirements must pay an additional $70.00. These licensure-related fees total approximately $1,051.50.

New York offers a limited licensure program for psychologists licensed in other jurisdictions who don’t yet meet the state’s examination requirements. This option stays valid for one year or until you pass the EPPP with the required score. You can renew the limited license for up to two additional one-year periods while meeting all requirements.

Passing the EPPP ended up being one of the final steps to become a licensed psychologist in New York, setting you up to complete the application and licensure process.

Application & Licensure Process

Getting your New York psychology license starts with a crucial application and licensure process. You must submit Form 1: Application for Licensure and First Registration with the required $294.00 fee. This fee covers both licensure and your first three-year registration period. The New York State Education Department (NYSED) Office of the Professions will process your official request.

You need to meet simple eligibility requirements and be at least 21 years old with good moral character. Several supporting documents must accompany your application. Your school must send Form 2: Certification of Professional Education and your official transcripts directly to NYSED. Your supervisors should submit Form 4: Report of Professional Experience to the Department.

Recent graduates need post-doctoral experience and must apply for a limited permit (Form 5A) that costs $70.00. This permit lasts three years with possible one-year extensions under specific circumstances. Most post-doctoral hours count toward licensure only when obtained with this permit or at exempt settings.

Licensed professionals from other jurisdictions might qualify for licensure by endorsement. This faster path requires proof of at least five years of licensed practice in the ten years right before your application. If not eligible, you’ll need Form 5B for a limited permit valid for 12 months or until you pass the EPPP.

You can pay all fees by credit card for online applications, personal check, or money order payable to the New York State Education Department. International applicants must make payments through a United States bank in U.S. currency.

The online system lets you track your application’s progress. NYSED will issue your license number after approving your education, experience, and examination. A New York psychology license lasts for life unless the Board of Regents revokes, annuls, or suspends it. In spite of that, you must keep an active registration and renew it every three years to practice legally.

The path from graduate degree to licensure usually takes at least six years. Careful planning and attention to documentation requirements will help you get through New York’s psychology license requirements quickly.

Continuing Education

You need ongoing professional development through continuing education (CE) to keep your New York psychology license active. Licensed psychologists in New York must complete 36 hours of continuing education during each three-year registration period. This marks the most important change from previous years as CE wasn’t mandatory before January 1, 2021.

The New York psychology board only accepts CE hours from providers that the State Education Department has approved. You won’t meet your license requirements by taking courses from non-approved organizations, even if they’re accredited elsewhere. The board waives this requirement during your original registration period if you’re newly licensed.

Your CE experience must cover several specific topics. You need three hours focused on professional ethics, laws, rules, and regulations for practice in New York State. Three hours must cover appropriate professional boundaries for registration periods that start April 1, 2023 or later. New licensees must also complete two hours on child abuse identification and reporting.

The CE format gives you some flexibility. You can complete up to 12 of the 36 required hours through self-study options. The remaining hours need live in-person or online formats from approved providers. The State Education Department has a complete list of approved continuing education providers, which includes university programs and professional associations.

Keep all your CE certificates and related records for six years after completion. These records should show your name, license number, course title, provider information, completion date, and number of contact hours. The New York psychology board might ask you to show these records during their random audits.

The board rolled out CE requirements gradually. Psychologists had to complete a pro-rated number of hours if their registration period started between January 1, 2021, and January 1, 2024. Now, all licensed practitioners must complete the full 36 hours unless they have inactive status.

Your CE credits only count toward your New York psychology license requirements if you complete them during your current registration period. You can’t carry over credits from previous periods or bank them for your next renewal.

Special State Variations

New York has several alternative ways to get your psychology license besides the standard route. The state runs a limited licensure program for psychologists licensed in other jurisdictions who haven’t met New York’s examination requirements yet. Your limited license stays valid for one year or until you score at least 75 on the EPPP.

New York introduced licensure by endorsement rules in 2022 to create a faster path for practitioners from other jurisdictions. You’ll need at least five years of licensed practice experience in the 10 years right before your application. State psychology associations welcomed this change as it helps bring in more practitioners when mental health services are really needed.

Licensed out-of-state psychologists can practice temporarily in New York after submitting an attestation and paying a $10.00 fee to the Department. This permission lasts no more than 10 consecutive business days in a 90-day period, with a total limit of 15 business days.

New York law has specific exemptions for certain professionals. Licensed physicians, registered professional nurses, social workers, mental health practitioners, attorneys, rape crisis counselors, and certified substance abuse counselors can provide mental health services within their scope without psychology licensure.

Unlike some states, New York hasn’t joined the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact (PSYPACT). This means psychologists who want to practice across state lines must work with individual state requirements.