Wyoming Psychology License Guide

Qualified psychology professionals in Wyoming earn $84,350 on average each year, making this career path highly rewarding. The psychology field in Wyoming shows promising growth, with a projected 6% increase from 2022 to 2032. This rate surpasses the national average, and clinical, counseling, and school psychologist roles should grow by 15%.

The path to getting your Wyoming psychology license involves several key requirements that candidates often miss. You need three main components: a doctoral degree, extensive supervised experience, and a passing score on the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP). The Wyoming Board of Psychologists reviews these credentials before granting licenses. Licensed psychology professionals in Wyoming take home between $80,000 to $90,000 yearly. The field looks promising with about 12,800 psychologist job openings expected each year over the next decade.

This guide takes you through every step of the licensure process. You’ll learn about often-overlooked requirements and find a clear path to get your Wyoming psychology license.

Educational Pathways

Your Wyoming psychology license starts with the right educational credentials. A well-planned approach helps you meet all requirements through multiple stages.

A bachelor’s degree builds the foundation you need for advanced study. Students can choose psychology, related fields, or even different disciplines. Most students finish their 120-credit bachelor’s program in about four years of full-time study. Students without a psychology major might need extra foundational courses before moving to graduate programs.

After the bachelor’s degree, you have choices. You could join a master’s program in psychology that takes about two years with 30-40 credit hours. Notwithstanding that, many students apply straight to doctoral programs that combine both master’s and doctoral studies into a simplified program.

The Wyoming Board of Psychology wants all license applicants to have a doctoral degree—either a PhD or PsyD. Both degrees lead to licensure but differ by a lot in their approach. PhD programs focus on research methods, while PsyD programs emphasize clinical practice.

Your doctoral program must have regional accreditation to meet Wyoming psychology license requirements. The Wyoming Board of Psychologists likes American Psychological Association (APA) accreditation best. They accept other programs too if they meet specific standards.

Non-APA accredited programs need three academic years of full-time study with at least 40 semester hours (60 quarter hours) of graduate coursework. These programs must include at least three semester hours in each area:

• History and systems of psychology
• Biological, cognitive-affective, and social bases of behavior
• Diversity considerations
• Psychopathology and dysfunctional behavior
• Diagnosis theories and methods
• Psychological intervention and evaluation
• Professional standards and ethics
• Consultation and supervision
• Statistics, psychometrics, and research methodology

The doctoral program’s supervised pre-doctoral internship experience plays a vital part. The Board wants 1,500 hours of the total 3,000 hours of supervised professional experience during the doctoral program. Pre-internship activities like practicum or clerkship can make up 1,500 hours if the training follows a sequence and grows more complex over time.

The University of Wyoming’s APA-accredited Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program prepares students for licensure. Graduates must apply for licensure and pass the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP).

Success depends on careful attention to accreditation requirements, program content, and supervised experience. Missing any requirements could slow down your path to licensure or mean extra coursework later.

Supervised Experience Requirements

Getting your Wyoming psychology license requires significant supervised experience. The Wyoming Board of Psychologists requires 3,000 hours of supervised professional experience in psychology practice. You need to complete these hours over at least two years. A good understanding of these requirements will help you avoid delays that can get pricey during your licensure process.

Your supervised experience must include a pre-doctoral internship program. The program should be accredited by the APA Commission on Accreditation or be part of the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC). This aligns with national standards, as 72% of psychology licensing jurisdictions need internship hours.

You can get the remaining supervised hours from these sources:

1. Pre-internship Experience – Your doctoral program’s practicum or clerkship activities can count for up to 1,500 hours. These hours must meet specific criteria:
   • Direct client contact providing assessment and intervention services must be at least 60%
   • Licensed psychologists must provide 75% of supervision
   • Qualified psychiatrists, licensed mental health counselors, licensed marriage and family therapists, or licensed clinical social workers with appropriate post-license experience can provide the remaining 25%
2. Post-Doctoral Experience – You can complete up to 1,500 hours through post-doctoral supervised experience if you haven’t finished the full 2 years during your doctoral program. The Board requires proper documentation of this experience.

The Wyoming Board provides a provisional license option that’s worth considering. This option is available to candidates who have completed their doctoral degree and internship but still need to finish their supervised professional experience. The provisional status lets you work at community mental health centers in rural Wyoming where no other psychologists practice. This status lasts one year with a possible one-year extension.

Your supervising psychologist takes clinical and professional responsibility for your work during supervised experience. They must be available and keep detailed records of your activities. Required documentation includes:

• Quarterly supervision report forms kept for at least five years
• Records that verify the nature and number of supervised hours
• Your supervisor’s countersignature on all professional reports and communications

Finding the right supervisor is a vital part of the process. The required supervision may decrease to monthly face-to-face individual sessions after five years of supervised experience as a certified psychological practitioner.

The final step involves submitting a notarized Supervised Post-Doctoral Work Experience Verification form that details your supervised hours. This document shows you’ve met Wyoming’s psychology license requirements for supervised professional experience.

Licensing Examinations

Getting your Wyoming psychology license requires passing a mandatory examination. The Wyoming Board of Psychologists requires candidates to pass the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP). The Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB) administers this test.

You need the Wyoming Board’s approval before taking the exam. The Board will send you EPPP registration details after accepting your application. The examination fee is $600 which you’ll pay during registration.

A minimum scaled score of 500 is needed to pass the EPPP. This standardized test checks your understanding and application of complex psychological theories, ideas, and practices. The exam sets a consistent knowledge standard that all licensed psychologists must meet.

Good preparation is vital. ASPPB provides a practice examination that helps EPPP candidates. This resource lets you learn the exam format and practice timed questions. Your chances of success on test day will improve significantly with proper practice.

Time limits apply strictly to this examination. The Wyoming Board gives you two years to pass the EPPP after granting permission. Missing this deadline means waiting another two years before you can reapply.

The Wyoming Board of Psychologists receives your EPPP scores directly. You can take this exam while completing your postdoctoral supervised experience as a provisional licensee.

The EPPP is one of three core requirements to get your Wyoming psychology license. Your doctoral degree and supervised professional experience are the foundations of the other requirements. Plan your exam preparation as part of your overall licensing strategy.

Note that candidates with documented disabilities might qualify for testing accommodations. Ask ASPPB about their accommodation request process and required documentation before scheduling your exam date.

Application & Licensure Process

Getting your psychology license in Wyoming requires several key steps after meeting educational and experience requirements. You need to submit a complete application package to the Wyoming Board of Psychology. The board protects Wyoming citizens by making sure only qualified professionals provide psychology services.

Your application package needs several important documents. These include a notarized Psychologist License application form, official transcripts, and verification forms that show your supervised professional experience. You also need proof of citizenship or lawful presence in the United States. The Board office follows strict rules and will only communicate with you about your application status.

Becoming licensed requires a significant financial commitment. The standard application fee is $275.00 plus $39.00 for the required criminal background check. Once approved, you’ll pay a pro-rated license fee based on when it’s issued. These fees range from $200.00 in July to $17.00 in June.

Fingerprint cards are a crucial part of the process. The Wyoming Board needs clear fingerprint cards from everyone who applies to get state and national criminal history information. This background check helps maintain high professional standards.

The Application Review Committee will evaluate your application once you submit all materials. After approval, you’ll receive an official wall document with your full name, discipline designation, and license serial number.

Wyoming offers a simpler path if you’re already licensed in another state. You can apply through licensure by endorsement with a current out-of-state license in good standing and five continuous years of professional practice right before applying. On top of that, the Board accepts several credentials that make endorsement easier, including Certification of Professional Qualification, National Register membership, or American Board of Professional Psychology membership.

A provisional license option exists for qualified candidates who have finished their doctoral degree and internship but still need to complete supervised experience or EPPP examination. This provisional status lasts one year, with a possible one-year extension. It lets you work specifically in rural community mental health centers where no other psychologists practice.

Continuing Education

Wyoming psychologists need 30 hours of continuing education (CE) every two years to keep their license active. These hours must come from the previous 48-month period before your renewal date.

You can get your CE hours through several approved providers and activities. The Wyoming Board of Psychology rules require at least 10 CE hours from program-designed activities with APA or NASP approval. The remaining 20 hours can come from activities approved by Wyoming’s Psychological Association (WPA) or School Psychology Association (WSPA).

Busy practitioners will appreciate that all 30 required hours can be completed through home study. This convenient option lets you meet CE requirements without traveling or spending time away from your practice. The Board accepts courses from any APA-approved provider.

The Board recognizes these major CE accrediting organizations:

• American Psychological Association (APA)
• National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC)
• Association for Addiction Professionals (NAADAC)
• Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB)

Wyoming psychologist licenses need renewal by June 30th of their expiration year. The state gives psychologists freedom to choose any course combination since there are no mandatory topics during a renewal cycle.

A one-year grace period exists if your license expires. You’ll need to submit a renewal application, pay the required fees (application, restoration, and current year license), and show proof of 30 CE hours from the previous 48 months.

You ended up being responsible to get proper documentation of completed CE hours from activity sponsors and submit them to the Board when asked. The Board may extend your CE completion period if you show good cause.

Questions about CE requirements? Contact the Wyoming Board of Psychology at (307) 777-5403 or check their official website.

Special State Variations

Wyoming has unique requirements that make it different from other states when it comes to psychology licensing. Aspiring psychologists need to pay close attention to these special variations.

The 57-year-old Wyoming Board of Psychology got expanded authority in 2022. The Board can now license behavior analysts and assistant behavior analysts. Psychology professionals have more career options beyond traditional clinical practice now.

The state joined the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact (PSYPACT), which lets qualified psychologists work across state lines. Rural practitioners benefit especially since they can serve patients through telepsychology without getting multiple licenses.

Licensed professionals from other states can take a simpler path through licensure by endorsement. You qualify if you’ve held a valid out-of-state license and practiced continuously for at least five years right before applying. The five-year qualifying period must lead directly to your application date.

Wyoming’s psychology license regulations include specific ethical standards about:

• Professional competence – Psychologists must limit practice to areas where they have gained proficiency through education, training, and experience
• Multiple relationships – Clear guidelines exist regarding previous or current relationships with clients
• Client confidentiality – Detailed requirements for protecting client information and maintaining records for at least five years
• Sexual relationships – Strict prohibitions against sexual intimacies with current clients, relatives of clients, or former clients within two years

Wyoming’s license holders must display their current license at their professional practice site. The Board requires detailed record-keeping too. Professionals must keep specific client information and communications for at least five years.

New applicants should know that Wyoming requires fingerprint-based criminal background checks. This screening maintains professional standards in the field effectively.