How to Become a South Dakota Licensed Psychologist

South Dakota struggles with a severe shortage of licensed psychologists. More than two-thirds of its residents can’t access the mental healthcare they need. This gap creates a great chance for anyone who wants to become a licensed psychologist in the state. The numbers tell a compelling story – just 59 mental health practitioners serve almost 800,000 residents. South Dakota needs to fill a 64% shortage of psychologists.

The financial rewards make this career path attractive. Licensed psychologists in South Dakota take home $87,000 to $121,000 each year—much higher than the state’s average salary of $53,230. The job outlook looks promising too. Clinical, counseling, and school psychologist positions should grow by 8.3% through 2030. The South Dakota Board of Psychologists has laid out specific requirements for licensure. This guide walks you through everything you need to know about becoming a licensed psychologist in this underserved market.

Educational Pathways

A career as a licensed psychologist in South Dakota starts with the right education. The state’s Board of Psychologists considers a doctoral degree the foundation of your qualifications. The path to licensure typically takes 12 years from beginning to end, including undergraduate studies.

Your first step is a bachelor’s degree, preferably in psychology or related behavioral science. Students need 120 semester hours, which takes four years of full-time study. This phase builds your knowledge base in statistics, research methods, and abnormal psychology—key elements needed for advanced study.

Students have two choices after their bachelor’s degree. They can then get a master’s degree in psychology, which needs 30-40 credit hours over 2-3 years. Many students skip this step since doctoral programs include master’s-level coursework in their curriculum.

The doctoral degree is the most important educational requirement. Students must choose between:

• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Psychology: Research-oriented, requiring a dissertation
• Doctor of Psychology (PsyD): Practice-focused, emphasizing clinical skills

Both paths work well, though PhD programs usually take 4-8 years based on specialization and research needs. Your doctoral program must come from a regionally accredited university or professional school recognized by the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada.

South Dakota has limited doctoral psychology education options. The University of South Dakota runs the state’s only APA-accredited doctoral psychology program—a Clinical Psychology PhD that has managed to keep continuous accreditation since 1975. Students complete 106 credit hours of core psychology coursework, a master’s thesis, electives, and a dissertation. USD’s program features a clinical/disaster psychology specialization needing 12 extra credit hours—one of just three such programs nationwide.

Students can now choose from several online doctoral programs. Schools like California Southern University, Fielding Graduate University, Walden University, and Capella University might meet South Dakota’s requirements. Notwithstanding that, any online program must line up with state regulations before enrollment.

Whatever your chosen path, your doctoral studies must cover these key areas:

• Biological bases of behavior
• Cognitive-affective bases
• Social bases of behavior
• Individual differences
• Professional ethics

The program includes supervised practical experience. South Dakota’s Board requires proof of 1,800 hours of pre-doctoral supervised internship completed within two consecutive calendar years. A licensed psychologist with a doctoral degree must supervise two-thirds of this time, with two hours weekly of formal face-to-face individual supervision.

After finishing your doctoral program and pre-doctoral internship, you need one year of post-doctoral supervised practice before applying for licensure. This requirement shows the state’s steadfast dedication to detailed training before independent practice.

Supervised Experience Requirements

Supervised clinical experience is a vital part of getting your psychology license in South Dakota. The state has a well-laid-out two-stage supervision model that builds your clinical skills step by step.

Your experience starts with a pre-doctoral internship of 1,800 hours. You must complete this internship within two consecutive calendar years. The program needs to be a formal training program rather than just supervised work. The South Dakota Board of Psychologists sets high standards. These internships must give you a planned sequence of quality training experiences.

Your internship requires at least 25% of your time to involve direct client contact and clinical services. You need two hours of weekly face-to-face individual supervision that focuses on your services. You also need an extra hour of supervised learning activities such as:

• Co-facilitating group therapy with staff
• Joint supervisor-intern clinical sessions
• Case conferences or treatment team reviews
• Group supervision sessions

Licensed psychologists at the doctoral level must provide at least two-thirds of your supervision. A doctoral-level licensed psychologist at the internship agency must oversee the training program’s quality. During this time, you should use titles like “psychological associate,” “psychology trainee,” or “intern” instead of “psychologist”.

After finishing your doctoral degree and internship, you need one year of post-doctoral supervised practice. This usually means working 40-hour weeks for 12 straight months. Right now, you need two hours of formal face-to-face supervision each month. The Board might change this rule soon.

Both supervision phases need proper documentation. Your post-doctoral experience requires a notarized Release and Waiver for Supervisors Form for each supervisor. Your supervisors will give information about the populations you served and recommend if you’re ready for licensure.

Students who finish both the pre-doctoral internship and post-doctoral supervised practice can move on to examination requirements. The Board might give you a provisional license for up to 12 months while you complete your post-doctoral supervised practice. This happens if you’ve met the educational requirements, passed the national examination, and finished your internship.

Psychology students looking for internships can check out the South Dakota Psychology Internship Consortium (SD-PIC). They offer structured placements with formal evaluations at 3-month, 7-month, and 12-month intervals. These evaluations make sure you develop skills in all required areas.

Licensing Examinations

Your next milestone after completing education and supervised experience requirements is passing mandatory examinations. The South Dakota Board of Psychologists requires you to pass two different tests: a standardized national exam and a state-specific oral assessment.

The Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP) measures your competency as the main assessment tool. The Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB) administers this national certification exam online to test your understanding of psychological theories and their practical applications. The exam has 225 multiple-choice questions split into two parts: Part 1 tests knowledge while Part 2 assesses skills. South Dakota currently needs only Part 1 of the EPPP.

You need to score at least 500 on the scaled score to pass the EPPP. You can take this exam only during your post-doctoral year, after the Board reviews your original application requirements and gives approval. The Board might waive this requirement if you have an APA-accredited degree and an active license in another state.

The next step is an oral jurisprudence examination with Board representatives. This face-to-face meeting tests your knowledge of professional ethics, psychological practice standards, and South Dakota’s relevant laws. You must score 75% to pass this exam. South Dakota specifically uses an oral interview format, unlike other jurisdictions that have written jurisprudence tests.

Psychology graduates in South Dakota show impressive examination success rates. The University of South Dakota’s Clinical Psychology doctoral program, the state’s only APA-accredited program, reports its graduates managed to keep a 100% pass rate on the EPPP from 2018 through 2021. Recent examination results show strong performance among the state’s aspiring psychologists.

Good preparation helps boost your chances of success. The ASPPB provides practice exams that help you get familiar with the subject matter and timed testing challenges. The oral examination’s cost comes with your original application fee, which removes extra financial hurdles at this stage.

After passing both examinations, you can move on to final licensure steps. Psychologists seeking licensure through reciprocity still need to verify their passing EPPP scores, though requirements might vary based on their licensed practice experience.

Application & Licensure Process

The application process is a crucial part of your experience to become a licensed psychologist in South Dakota. The South Dakota Board of Psychologists needs a detailed submission package that shows your qualifications.

You must submit the completed application form, cover letter, and supporting materials directly to the Board office. The application needs notarization and has questions about your legal and professional history. The original application fee totals $300, which covers the oral examination cost.

Timing plays a substantial role in this process. You must submit all materials at least ten weeks before your intended test date to qualify for an oral examination. The Board’s education review officer must approve your application file before you can proceed with examinations.

The provisional license becomes available after completing your pre-doctoral supervised internship and passing the EPPP examination. This time-limited credential lets you complete your required post-doctoral supervised practice. The provisional license:

• Cannot exceed 12 months
• Cannot be renewed
• Expires automatically upon receipt of full licensure

Professional identification remains vital during your post-doctoral practice period. You must use titles like “psychological associate” or “psychology trainee” instead of “psychologist”. You and your supervisor must submit the Post-doctoral Psychological Experience form after completion to document this requirement.

Your psychology license will be issued after meeting all qualifications—including education, supervised experience, and examinations—and paying the $200 initial licensure fee.

South Dakota provides an endorsement pathway for psychologists licensed in other jurisdictions. Licensed psychologists with five years of practice may qualify for licensure without repeating all requirements. American Board of Professional Psychology certification can prove qualification requirements are met. This reciprocity applies to psychologists from other nations and U.S. jurisdictions.

Non-resident psychologists with licenses elsewhere can practice in South Dakota up to 20 days annually without a state license. Practice beyond ten consecutive days requires Board communication. On top of that, psychologists in organizational/industrial psychology, developmental psychology, and research design can provide consultation services without licensure.

South Dakota Board licenses expire annually on June 30. License renewal requires completing an application, paying the renewal fee, and showing proof of fifteen continuing education hours from the previous licensing period.

Continuing Education

South Dakota’s psychology license renewal requires ongoing professional development through continuing education. The state’s Board of Psychologists sets specific requirements that help practitioners stay current with evolving professional standards.

Licensed psychologists must complete 1.5 education units—equivalent to 15 contact hours—during each annual licensure period. This requirement applies to all but one group of psychologists: those who get their license after the first day of the annual period. The Board keeps detailed records of each licensee’s continuing education, which becomes a key part of the renewal application.

Your continuing education activities should directly connect to psychological practice. These activities should improve or maintain your professional skills or expand your knowledge of governing laws, rules, and ethical standards. The American Psychological Association (APA) offers many approved continuing education programs that meet these requirements.

South Dakota allows independent professional reading as part of continuing education, with some limits. You can earn and report up to five contact hours from professional reading each annual licensure period. The remaining hours require participation in structured learning activities.

Required documentation includes:

• Date of each activity
• Title and description
• Number of contact hours earned
• Certificates or other records of credit (except for professional reading)

You should keep original certificates or records for five years. The annual renewal deadline is June 30th, and you must submit copies of certificates that show completion of all fifteen contact hours from the previous licensure period.

South Dakota recognizes continuing education from many qualified providers. The state doesn’t require specific subject areas, but all content must align with a psychologist’s scope of practice. Providers like NetCE offer distance learning options that fulfill South Dakota’s requirements.

These continuing education standards become part of your professional identity after getting your full license. Understanding these ongoing requirements helps you plan your career success and comply with regulatory standards as you work toward becoming a licensed psychologist in South Dakota.

Special State Variations

South Dakota’s psychology licensure framework includes several unique pathways and exemptions that set it apart from other states. Licensed psychologists from other jurisdictions can practice in South Dakota for up to six months during credential review and application processing. You must submit your application to South Dakota’s Board of Psychologists within 30 calendar days of starting practice in the state.

The Board assesses whether your existing license meets South Dakota’s standards to grant endorsement licensure. You may qualify for licensure by endorsement if you’ve practiced for at least five years in another jurisdiction without any pending complaints. This efficient pathway comes with a $200 original licensure fee.

South Dakota provides several exemptions from psychology licensure requirements. These apply to:

• Academic institution employees performing teaching or research duties
• Psychology students, interns, and those completing post-doctoral practice
• Non-residents without established offices who practice less than 20 days annually
• Professionals in experimental psychology, industrial/organizational psychology, developmental psychology, and social psychology

South Dakota’s unique provisions include provisional licensing. The Board can issue a 12-month provisional license while you complete supervised post-doctoral practice, provided you meet other requirements. This temporary credential expires automatically upon full licensure and cannot be renewed.

South Dakota’s previous alternative pathways included an exemption from doctoral degree requirements. This applied to applicants who represented themselves as psychologists for one year before January 1, 1982, and held a master’s degree in psychology. This grandfather clause no longer applies to new applicants in 2025.

The state charges a special fee of $72.00. South Dakota stands apart from some other jurisdictions as it doesn’t require the EPPP part II examination.