How to Become a Texas Psychologist: Complete 2026 License Guide

Want to become a psychologist in Texas? The field offers exceptional growth opportunities. Texas needs for psychologists will surge 65% by 2036. The state’s population will grow by 11.4% to over 32 million by 2023, which creates abundant career possibilities. The path takes 10-14 years to complete, but Texas psychologists earn $127,114 on average each year as of September 2025.

Psychologists stand out as the most trained mental health professionals. Most complete 6-8 years of education after their undergraduate degree. Texas psychologist license requirements follow clear stages that include advanced education, supervised experience, and examination. The Texas board of psychologists has specific rules you must follow to get full licensure. This piece guides you through each step to help you join this rewarding profession.

Educational pathways

A bachelor’s degree marks the start of your path to becoming a psychologist in Texas. While you can choose any undergraduate major, courses in psychology, statistics, and research methods create a strong base for graduate studies.

You need a doctoral degree in psychology to get licensed in Texas. The Texas Board of Psychologists lists this as a key requirement in their licensing regulations. You can choose between two doctoral paths:

• D. (Doctor of Philosophy): Research-focused with emphasis on quantitative methods and experimental designs, culminating in a dissertation based on original research
• D. (Doctor of Psychology): Practice-oriented with greater focus on clinical training and therapeutic techniques

These degrees usually take 4-6 years after undergraduate studies. Each doctoral program follows distinct training philosophies that shape your education:

The scientist-practitioner model (also called the Boulder model) merges research and clinical practice skills. Texas A&M University’s clinical psychology doctoral program uses this approach and emphasizes both scientific foundations and applied clinical skills. Students can build careers in academic settings, research institutions, or clinical practice.

UT Southwestern Medical Center’s program follows a clinician-researcher model that prepares students to excel as skilled clinicians and researchers. This approach gives clinical career seekers the knowledge to review scientific material, while research-oriented students gain strong clinical foundations.

The Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists favors degrees from American Psychological Association (APA) accredited programs. APA accreditation tells licensing boards and employers that you received quality education meeting high standards. Several Texas universities run APA-accredited programs, including Texas A&M University (accredited since 1988) and UT Southwestern Medical Center.

Your doctoral training includes coursework in these key areas:

1. Research and quantitative methods
2. History and systems of psychology
3. Affective, biological, cognitive, developmental, and social bases of behavior

On top of that, programs teach profession-wide skills in ethical standards, cultural diversity, assessment, intervention, supervision, and consultation. Most doctoral programs need full-time enrollment. Texas A&M accepts 5-7 students each year from more than 300 applicants.

Texas universities offer various specializations. Texas A&M’s program covers five psychology areas: Behavioral and Cellular Neuroscience, Clinical Psychology, Cognition and Cognitive Neuroscience, Industrial/Organizational Psychology, and Social and Personality Psychology.

Remember, if your doctoral program lacks a formal internship that meets Texas board’s requirements, you might need a re-specialization program before getting licensed. This highlights why choosing the right doctoral program that meets all Texas psychologist license requirements matters from day one.

Supervised Experience Requirements

Getting supervised experience plays a vital role in your trip toward Texas psychologist licensure. The Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council (BHEC) requires you to complete a minimum of 3,500 hours of supervised experience. This requirement has two main parts.

Your doctoral program must include a formal internship of at least 1,750 hours. This internship should follow a structured sequence of supervised training experiences. Texas standards require your internship to have:

• A designated staff psychologist who leads the program and spends at least 20 hours per week at the facility
• The core team must include two or more full-time licensed psychologists as primary supervisors
• You need to spend at least 25% of your time in direct patient/client contact
• You must receive two hours of formal face-to-face individual supervision each week plus at least four extra hours in learning activities

After you earn your doctoral degree, you need another 1,750 hours of post-doctoral supervised experience. The Texas board of psychologists will give you a provisional license valid for two years to help you get these hours.

Graduates from APA, CPA, or Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System (PCSAS) accredited programs have some extra benefits. BHEC regulations let you count specific experiences toward your post-doctoral requirement:

1. Formal internship hours that go beyond the 1,750-hour minimum
2. Qualifying practicum hours that meet specific criteria

You must complete each supervised experience period at no more than two places within 24 consecutive months. Licensed psychologists with expertise in their supervision areas must oversee your work.

Industrial/organizational psychology graduates follow a slightly different path. They don’t need the formal internship but still need 3,500 total supervised hours, with at least 1,750 after getting their doctorate.

During your supervised experience, you must use titles that show your training status, such as “intern,” “resident,” “trainee,” or “fellow”. This practice will give transparency to your service recipients.

The Council might grant waivers for gaps in your supervised experience under certain circumstances if you can show good cause. To cite an instance, you might qualify for waivers if you can prove continuous employment in psychological services in exempt settings or ongoing professional development.

Meeting these supervised experience requirements is crucial. You might need extra training to qualify as a licensed psychologist in Texas if you don’t meet these criteria.

Licensing Examinations

Getting your psychology license in Texas means passing specific exams that show your psychology knowledge and grasp of state rules. Right now, you need to clear two main exams to become a licensed psychologist in Texas.

You must pass the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP), a national standardized test that checks core psychology skills. You’ll need a minimum passing score of 70% to qualify for licensure. The EPPP knowledge portion costs $800. It’s worth mentioning that professionals with an active specialist certification from the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP) don’t need to take the EPPP. They still need to complete the Jurisprudence Examination.

The Texas Jurisprudence Examination costs $39, and every license applicant must pass it. This open-book test checks your knowledge of:

• Texas Psychologists’ Licensing Act
• Board rules and regulations
• Other applicable laws governing psychology practice in Texas

You should take the Jurisprudence Examination within 6 months before submitting your license application. The passing score is 90%, which is much higher than the EPPP. The test has about 108 multiple-choice questions across seven areas. Patient Care Management takes up the largest part at 44%. Once you register, you get 14 days to finish this untimed exam.

Different licenses have different exam requirements:

• Licensed Psychologist: Both EPPP and Jurisprudence Exam required
• Licensed Psychological Associate: EPPP and Jurisprudence Exam required
• Licensed Specialist in School Psychology: Praxis School Psychology Examination and Jurisprudence Exam required

Texas has been working on its own licensing exam since 2025 as an EPPP alternative. This change came after the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards announced plans to add a $450 skills test to the existing $800 knowledge exam in 2026. The Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists worries these higher costs might limit new professionals in a state that already needs more mental health workers.

The new Texas exam aims to be cheaper and more available for new psychologists. Texas leads the way as the first state to create its own psychology licensing exam, with state budget approval. However, this state-specific exam might affect license portability. Psychologists who get licensed through the Texas alternative might face extra requirements when trying to practice in other states.

If you fail either exam, you’ll need to retake it and pay the fees again. Good preparation helps you avoid extra costs and delays in getting your license.

Application & Licensure Process

The Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council manages the psychologist licensure process in Texas. You can choose from three types of psychology licenses: Licensed Psychologist, Licensed Psychological Associate, and Licensed Specialist in School Psychology.

You should review all laws and rules before starting your application. This includes 22 TAC 882.1 (application processing), 22 TAC 882.2 (general application requirements), and your specific application packet checklist. International applicants must follow rule 22 TAC 882.11 for foreign degree evaluation.

Doctoral-level psychologists start with a Provisionally Licensed Psychologist status while they complete their post-doctoral supervised experience. This provisional license lasts up to two years. You’ll need to submit a Request for Issuance of Psychologist License application to get full licensure.

The application requires these documents:

• Official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended
• Documentation of supervised experience
• Examination scores
• Three professional references
• Criminal history record check via fingerprinting

The fees vary based on the license type. A Licensed Psychologist application costs $425, while Licensed Psychological Associate applications cost $144, and Licensed Specialist in School Psychology applications are $252. The jurisprudence examination costs an additional $39.

Application processing times depend on volume. The median processing time was 43 days as of September 2025. Some applications take just 1 day while others need up to 310 days. The staff sends deficiency notices within a few business days if they find missing documentation.

Texas provides alternative paths for specific applicants. Holders of an active Certificate of Professional Qualification in Psychology (CPQ) meet all requirements except the Jurisprudence Examination. People with active specialist certification from the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP) only need to complete the EPPP and Jurisprudence Examination.

Texas has a reciprocity agreement with Oklahoma that enables quick approval for Oklahoma-licensed psychologists. Military spouses might qualify for different requirements if their state’s licensure standards are equivalent.

Your success in this process depends on paying attention to details and responding to any board’s deficiency notices quickly. The board will mail your written notification and renewal permit once they issue your license.

Continuing Education

You need to complete specific continuing education requirements to keep your Texas psychology license active. The Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council requires 40 hours of professional development every two years when your license comes up for renewal.

Here’s what you need to know about these continuing education hours:

• You must complete 6 hours on ethics, rules, or professional responsibility
• Another 6 hours should cover cultural diversity topics
• The other 28 hours can focus on areas relevant to your practice
• If you provide direct patient care, you’ll need an approved human trafficking prevention course each renewal period
• Telehealth service providers need 2 hours of training in technology-assisted services

Note that qualified providers must deliver at least 50% of your required continuing education. These providers include:

1. Professional associations of medical, mental, or behavioral health professionals
2. Public school districts, charter schools, or education service centers
3. City, county, state, or federal governmental entities
4. Accredited institutions of higher education
5. Religious or charitable organizations focused on mental health
6. Hospitals or hospital systems
7. Any provider approved by one of the above organizations

The Texas State Board doesn’t pre-approve specific continuing education courses or providers anymore. Your certificates must show your name, topic covered, training dates, and hours earned.

Your license needs renewal every two years at the end of your birth month. The Council might audit your continuing education records to check compliance. They’ll notify you 60 days before your renewal deadline if you’re selected, and you’ll need to submit all documentation within their timeframe.

Your license will be suspended immediately if you don’t meet continuing education requirements. Late renewals cost extra – $500 if you’re within 90 days of expiration and $750 for 91-365 days. You might face fines up to $3,000 per violation if you practice with an expired license.

The Texas Psychological Association’s Science Committee reviews and endorses qualifying programs that meet ethics-related continuing education requirements. This helps ensure your courses meet the Texas board of psychologists’ standards.

Good record-keeping will make your life easier. Keep all certificates and documentation for at least five years after completion. It’s best to organize them by renewal period so you can respond quickly if you’re audited.

Special State Variations

Texas stands out with unique features in its psychology licensure process compared to other states. The Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council grants three types of psychology licenses:

• Licensed Psychologist (LP) – For doctoral-level practitioners
• Licensed Psychological Associate (LPA) – For master’s-level practitioners
• Licensed Specialist in School Psychology (LSP) – For school-based professionals

Texas has a reciprocity agreement exclusively with Oklahoma, which makes the approval process easier for Oklahoma-licensed psychologists. This remains the only formal reciprocity arrangement in place. Texas also participates in the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact (PSYPACT). This interstate agreement lets licensed psychologists practice telepsychology and provide temporary in-person services across state lines.

Texas has taken an innovative step by developing its own licensing examination as an EPPP alternative. This decision came after the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards announced its plan to add a $450 skills test to the existing $800 knowledge exam in 2026. Texas became the first state to create its own psychology licensing exam with state budget funding. While this alternative costs less, psychologists licensed through the Texas system might need to meet extra requirements when seeking licensure in other states.

Out-of-state practitioners can get temporary licenses in Texas. These licenses allow them to practice for specific purposes like transitional care or court-ordered evaluations. Practitioners can provide psychological services for up to 30 days within a one-year period. School Psychologists cannot get temporary licenses in Texas.

Military service members, spouses, and veterans might qualify for different requirements if their state’s licensure standards match Texas standards. Two regulatory bodies oversee Texas psychology practice: the Behavioral Health Executive Council (BHEC) and the Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists (TSBEP).