How to Become a Psychologist in North Carolina
North Carolina’s mental health care system met only 11.4% of its needs by late 2024. A career as a psychologist in this state can help you make a real difference while earning $99,940 on average per year.
The North Carolina Board of Psychology has set specific requirements for licensed psychologists. These requirements apply whether you want to work in clinical, counseling, or school psychology. You’ll need a PhD or PsyD degree and must complete 3,000 hours of supervised experience. School psychologists have additional requirements – they need to finish a sixth-year level program and score well on the NTE/Praxis School Psychology Educational Testing Service.
This guide details each licensing step, from education paths to application steps. The path to becoming a psychologist takes up to 12 years, but it guides you toward a fulfilling career. The field shows promising growth with a projected 6% increase between 2024 and 2034.
Educational Pathways
Your experience to become a psychologist in North Carolina starts with the right educational credentials. The path takes 8-12 years based on your chosen specialty and program structure.
A bachelor’s degree serves as your foundation. This degree needs four years of full-time study and about 120 credit hours. Psychology is a popular undergraduate major, though other related fields can prepare you for graduate studies.
Two distinct pathways lie ahead:
Path 1: Master’s Degree (Optional but Common) A master’s degree in psychology requires:
- Two years of full-time study
- 30-45 semester credit hours
- Graduate Record Examination (GRE) for admission
- Foundational courses in research methods and statistics
North Carolina’s licensed psychological associate position needs a master’s degree with at least 45 semester credit hours and 500 hours of supervised experience.
Path 2: Doctoral Degree (Required for Full Licensure) A doctoral degree in psychology (PhD or PsyD) becomes essential for psychologist licensure from:
- An APA or CPA accredited program, or
- A program that meets North Carolina Psychology Board’s equivalent standards
Doctoral programs must include:
- A minimum of three academic years of full-time graduate study
- At least one year completed in residence at the degree-granting institution
- A minimum of 60 semester hours in standard psychology courses (excluding internship/practicum and dissertation)
- Coursework covering biological bases of behavior, cognitive-affective bases of behavior, social bases of behavior, and individual differences
- Supervised practicum, internship, or field experiences
School psychologists need a program at the sixth-year (specialist) level. This includes two years of coursework and one year (1,200 hours) of supervised internship.
North Carolina features several notable psychology doctoral programs. These include UNC Chapel Hill (ranked 2nd nationally for clinical psychology), Duke University, NC State University, UNC Greensboro, UNC Charlotte, East Carolina University, and Western Carolina University.
The state recognizes four specialties for health service provider credentialing: clinical psychology, counseling psychology, school psychology, and combined scientific-professional psychology.
Programs must cover psychopathology, assessment, diagnosis, and intervention methodologies that align with North Carolina Board of Psychology’s licensure requirements.
Supervised Experience Requirements
Supervised experience is the base of your training to become a licensed psychologist in North Carolina. You’ll need to meet strict supervision requirements after completing your doctoral degree to get full licensure.
The North Carolina Psychology Board requires two years with at least 3,000 hours of supervised practice. You must complete one calendar year (minimum 1,500 hours) at the postdoctoral level. This experience should align with your training and practice area.
Your postdoctoral year must include structured training in health services. The requirements are:
- You must finish within 24 consecutive months
- Direct health services should take up at least 25% of your time
- You need two hours of individual face-to-face supervision weekly
- Two additional hours each week go to group supervision, seminars, or other training
Licensed, certified, or license-eligible doctorally trained psychologists must handle at least 50% of your supervision. Qualified psychiatrists, social workers, or other mental health professionals can provide the rest.
North Carolina offers great internship options through UNC Hospitals, NC State University, UNC Charlotte, and the Durham VA Health Care System. These 12-month, full-time internships often include stipends. NC State University’s program pays USD 44,000 yearly.
You must submit a Supervision Contract Form within 30 days when you start practicing in North Carolina. This form shows whether you need supervision or not. Submit a new form within 30 days if your supervision arrangements change.
Licensed Psychological Associates (LPAs) have different supervision needs based on their experience. If you have less than 3 calendar years (4,500 hours) of post-licensure practice, you’ll need 1-4 hours of monthly supervision depending on your practice hours. The requirements decrease after 3 years of supervised practice.
The board allows psychologists who meet all permanent licensure requirements except the two years of supervised experience to get a provisional license. You’ll need at least one hour of face-to-face individual supervision weekly until you get permanent status.
Keeping detailed records of your supervised hours is crucial on your trip toward becoming a licensed psychologist in North Carolina.
Licensing Examinations
Becoming a psychologist in North Carolina requires passing two important exams. These exams are key steps to getting your license.
The Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP) comes first. This national test is created by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards. The detailed exam covers multiple areas such as biological bases of behavior, assessment, diagnosis, and treatment approaches. Your intended license determines the passing score:
- Licensed Psychologist: Requires a scaled score of 500 or higher
- Licensed Psychological Associate: Requires a scaled score of 440
The North Carolina Psychology Board must approve you before taking the EPPP. You’ll need to pay a $50 administrative fee to the Board. The testing service charges an additional $600 through the ASPPB website.
The North Carolina State Examination is your second test. This exam checks your knowledge of state rules and ethical guidelines. You’ll face 50 multiple-choice questions about the North Carolina Psychology Practice Act, Board rules, and APA Code of Ethics. The passing score is 78% (39 out of 50 questions). This exam costs $200.
Here’s what you should know about taking these exams:
- Both tests are computer-based
- Prometric testing centers offer the EPPP
- PSI testing centers handle the state exam
- The state exam gives you one hour after a short tutorial
The retake process has specific rules:
- You must wait 60 days after failing the EPPP
- Each exam allows four attempts within 12 months[131]
- Your 12-month window starts when the Board approves your credentials
- After two failures, you can’t practice psychology without a license unless G.S. § 90-270.4 exempts you
The North Carolina Psychology Board suggests these study materials for the state exam:
- The North Carolina Psychology Practice Act (December 2013 version or later)
- The Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct (APA, 2002)
The North Carolina Board of Psychology will tell you about your license status after you pass both exams and meet all requirements.
Application & Licensure Process
The North Carolina Psychology Board requires careful attention to timing and details when you apply for your psychology license. You must submit your application within 30 days of beginning practice in the state.
Your licensure process begins with submitting these key documents:
- Completed application form
- Supervision contract form
- USD 100.00 non-refundable application fee
- Fingerprint card for background check with USD 38.00 fee
The Board will contact you about additional required documentation after receiving your original application materials. You have 90 days to submit the remaining items. The review typically happens by the last working day of the next month for applications completed by the last working day of the current month.
Applicants with doctoral degrees must have their official transcripts sent directly from their institution to the Board. You also just need three professional references who know your current work, and at least one must be from a doctoral-level psychologist.
North Carolina has no reciprocity agreements with other jurisdictions. All the same, qualified professionals can use an abbreviated application process if they hold these mobility credentials:
- Certificate of Professional Qualification from ASPPB
- Registration in the National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology
- Diploma issued by the American Board of Professional Psychology
You can apply for permanent licensure after getting a provisional license and completing all supervised experience requirements. Health service providers must also apply for certification at this stage with an additional USD 50.00 fee[172].
North Carolina plans to join the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact in 2025-2026. Qualified psychologists will be able to practice in participating states through this program. Applications should open in late summer or early fall 2025.
Note that practicing psychology in North Carolina without proper licensure is prohibited unless exempt. The Board clearly states that psychologists in North Carolina must have the state Board’s license regardless of their client’s location.
Continuing Education
North Carolina psychologists need to complete continuing education (CE) to keep their licenses active. The North Carolina Psychology Board requires licensed psychologists to complete 24 continuing education hours during each two-year renewal period. Licensed professionals must complete at least 15 hours through Category A program sponsors.
Approved Category A continuing education sponsors are:
- North Carolina Psychology Board
- American Psychological Association (APA) or APA approved sponsors
- National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) or NASP approved sponsors
- North Carolina Area Health Education Centers (NCAHEC)
- North Carolina Psychological Association (NCPA)
These Category A programs must dedicate 3 CE hours to professional psychology ethics. The program title must contain the word “ethics” or its derivative.
You can complete the remaining 9 hours through Category A or Category B activities. Category B activities let you attend colloquia, listen to invited speakers, join study groups, or engage in self-study like reading professional development articles.
Since 2022, psychologists must finish an online Ethics Refresher before their October 1st license renewal. This no-fail review counts as one Category A CE hour and costs $50 whatever number of attempts you need.
The CE submission process now runs exclusively online. CE BROKER serves as the Board’s official platform to submit documentation. The Board no longer accepts mailed, faxed, or hand-delivered documents. You’ll need to create a free CE BROKER account and upload all completion certificates before renewing your license.
License renewal happens every October 1st in even-numbered years. Missing CE documentation will block your license renewal and could trigger automatic suspension under the law.
Special State Variations
North Carolina stands out from other states with its unique licensing provisions. The state doesn’t participate in reciprocity agreements with other jurisdictions, unlike the growing trend of interstate compacts. This means psychologists from other states can’t simply transfer their licenses to North Carolina.
The Board makes things easier if you have specific mobility credentials:
- Certificate of Professional Qualification from ASPPB
- National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology registration
- American Board of Professional Psychology diplomate status
The senior psychologist pathway might be your best option if you’ve been licensed for at least 12 years in an ASPPB jurisdiction and practiced half-time for 10 of those years. This path skips certain requirements and speeds up the licensing process.
North Carolina plans to join the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact (PSYPACT). The PSYPACT Commission’s proposed rules now define residency requirements and explain grounds to deny or revoke authorization. Qualified psychologists will soon practice across state lines once this compact takes effect.
Psychologists with international education need their credentials reviewed by an agency from the National Association of Credentials Evaluation Services. This step confirms their education matches North Carolina’s standards.
The state’s location-based rule is quite specific. Any psychologist physically working in North Carolina must get licensed by the state’s Psychology Board, no matter where their clients live.
Licensed Psychological Associate (LPA) supervision rules will change on October 1, 2025, based on Session Law 2025-37/HB 67. The current rules stay in place until then.
School psychologists certified by the State Board of Education don’t need Psychology Board licenses while working as regular salaried public school employees. This rule applies only to their work in schools.
Next Steps
Getting licensed as a psychologist in North Carolina is one of the most important professional experiences you’ll undertake. You’ll have an edge if you start preparing early, especially when you have to choose your program and meet prerequisites.
The journey from starting college to getting licensed takes about 10-12 years:
- Bachelor’s degree: 4 years
- Doctoral program: 4-7 years
- Supervised experience: 2 years
The North Carolina Psychology Board should be your go-to resource for questions and official updates. Their website has everything you need – from application forms to rule changes and license verification tools. Professional groups like the North Carolina Psychological Association are a great way to get networking connections and educational resources.
Here are some practical tips to help you get licensed:
- Map out your timeline with application deadlines and exam dates
- Build relationships with licensed psychologists who can be your references
- Start saving money for all the costs – applications, exams, and continuing education
Note that most people need 3-6 months to study properly for the EPPP exam. Many students find commercial prep programs with practice tests and study materials helpful.
What you’ll find is that becoming a psychologist in North Carolina leads to amazing opportunities. You can work in clinical settings, research labs, schools, or private practice – all while helping meet the state’s mental health needs.