United States

Professional title for a Practicing Psychologist: Psychologist

Criteria, Regulations and Procedures to obtain a License:

It is recommended to see the respective websites of each state in the U.S., as the licensing criteria for the different states are very detailed and differ greatly from one state to another. Most states in the U.S. require at minimum, a doctoral degree in psychology and a certain number of hours of practice, but the hours of practice vary by state. The National Register is a good source for information on requirements by state.

To practice psychology in a state, province or territory (jurisdiction) of the U.S. or Canada, an individual must be licensed or registered as a psychologist according to the laws and regulations in effect in that particular jurisdiction. The legal basis for licensure lies in the right of a jurisdiction to enact legislation to protect its citizens – in this case to identify qualified psychologists and to discipline or remove from practice incompetent or unethical psychologists. Licensure as a psychologist generally involves meeting requirements in three areas: education, examination(s), and supervised experience.

Education

Licensure for the independent practice of psychology requires a doctoral degree in psychology in most states, provinces, and territories of the U.S. and Canada. About half the states, provinces and territories also have a category of licensure for the practice of psychology under the supervision of a doctoral level licensed psychologist, often called Psychological Associate, which usually requires at least a master’s degree in psychology. Degrees must be obtained from programs that meet specific criteria, such as regional accreditation and certain course work requirements, set out in laws and regulations.

Examinations

Sixty two states, provinces and territories in the U.S. and Canada require licensure applicants to pass the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP). The content of the EPPP is based on results of a survey of practicing psychologists in the U.S. and Canada that was completed in 2010 and is used to determine the knowledge about the field of psychology that an entry-level psychologist should have to practice competently.

Many states and provinces require a jurisprudence examination (i.e., an examination covering the laws and rules governing the practice of psychology in that jurisdiction) and/or an oral examination in addition to the EPPP. Information on which jurisdictions require supplemental examinations, as well as other licensure-related information, is available in PSY|Book.

Supervised Experience

Psychology licensure requires supervised experience, in the majority of jurisdictions, one year during the doctoral program (internship in most cases) and another year after receipt of the doctoral degree (“postdoc”). Most states, provinces and territories have specific criteria that must be met for supervised experience to qualify.Any Supplemental Resources regarding procedures for Licensure:

The following website (http://psybook.asppb.org) has multiple resources and websites that detail the specific criteria for 50 states in the US.

Reciprocity of Licenses:

It depends. Each state is different. Please see the website of each respective state licensing board. PSYCPACT is currently working on allowing reciprocity across different states, but not outside of the country. Working in federal systems also allows reciprocity across different states, but more specific information can be inquired across systems.

Temporary/Short-Term Licenses (which are often needed for psychologists doing humanitarian work in foreign countries):

It depends on the state.