The Psychology License Map: A State-by-State Guide
Navigating psychology licensure requirements between states and specializations can be a complex and arduous process, but it is necessary to pursue your future career. Use this OMD guide to understand and meet your state’s requirements so you can begin practicing as a licensed psychologist.
You’ve decided that a career as a psychologist is in your future. You know you’ll need a formal education and practical training. And you also know you’ll need to obtain state licensure in the particular field of psychology in which you intend to practice.
Before you can even get started on your psychology career path, however, you’ll need answers to several important questions, like:
What type of psychology degree (and degree level) do I need to qualify for licensure in my chosen specialization?
What are the specific requirements for licensure in my state and for my specialization?
For that matter, what specialized area of psychology do I wish to pursue? Do I want a career in research, teaching, or providing treatment directly to patients?
To help you answer these questions and more, we’ve created a psychology license map with essential state-by-state information on education and licensure requirements for becoming a licensed psychologist. You’ll also discover additional information and advice on the professional practice of psychology, including a look at the various types of psychology licensure, the steps you’ll take on your path to qualifying for and obtaining your psychology license, and much more.
So if you’re ready to get started, chart out your professional career path using our psychology license map here.
Although every state has unique requirements for becoming a licensed psychologist, similar licenses are offered in most states. Below, we explore the most popular types of psychology licenses offered across state lines.
Licensed Psychologist
Licensed psychologists observe, interpret, and record cognitive, emotional, and social processes and behavior. Most states require students to earn either a PhD or a PsyD before they are eligible to apply for licensure. A PhD (doctor of philosophy) is generally for people who want to perform research or become a teacher, while a PsyD (doctor of psychology) is for people who want to work directly with clients.
School Psychologist
School psychologists work with students, teachers, families, and other school-employed mental health professionals (i.e., school counselors and social workers). They use their expertise to help children and youth succeed academically, socially, behaviorally, and emotionally. Most states require a master’s degree to apply for licensure as a school psychologist.
Becoming a psychological associate requires less education and fieldwork requirements than a licensed psychologist. For this reason, people with this credential generally find work within schools, hospitals, or elderly care homes. It’s important to note that different states may offer licenses that fall within the scope of a psychological associate under slightly different titles. For example, Alabama offers a psychological technician license that’s similar in scope.
State-Specific Licenses
In some cases, states may offer additional psychology licenses at the master’s or PhD level. For example, most states offer some type of behavioral analyst license for students who earn either a board-certified assistant behavior analyst (BCaBA) or board-certified behavior analyst (BCBA) credential. See each state for more specific details on additional licenses they may offer.
Initial Steps to Psychology Licensure
While the final steps to becoming a licensed psychologist vary by state, students often need to complete the same initial steps. Below are the more general conditions students can expect to fulfill before needing to complete state-specific requirements.
Step One: Earn Your Bachelor’s Degree
Every state requires, at minimum, a master’s degree in psychology to become a licensed psychologist. Before earning your master’s, however, you’ll first have to earn your bachelor’s degree. And for most master’s programs, you’ll need a bachelor’s degree in psychology or a closely related major. During your bachelor’s program search, you’ll notice that both Bachelor of Arts (BA) and Bachelor of Science (BS) psychology degrees are available. Most psychology master’s programs will accept applicants with either a BA or BS degree.
Generally speaking, BA in Psychology programs tend to be more broad-based in terms of curriculum. This means a smaller number of required psychology-specific and related coursework (math, science, statistics, research methods, etc.), and requiring more social science, arts, and humanities courses and electives. Conversely, BS in Psychology programs focus more on psychology and related subject courses and less on coursework in the broader liberal arts field.
Step Two: Choose Your Specialization
During your undergraduate studies, you’ll want to take a serious look at each of the areas of specialization within the psychology field and determine which one you intend to pursue in your graduate work and professional practice. Your choice of specialization will also determine whether you will need to obtain a master’s or doctoral degree.
Step Three: Earn Your Graduate Degree(s)
Obtaining your psychology license will require earning a master’s, doctorate, or possibly an educational specialist (EdS) degree, typically in (or with a concentration in) the specific area of the psychology field in which you intend to practice. The degree level that will apply to you will depend on the specific licensure requirements in your state for your chosen specialization.
Step Four: Complete Practicum/Fieldwork
Regardless of degree level or specialized area of practice, you will complete a substantial number of practice hours in one or more fieldwork experiences as part of your degree requirements. These experiences will typically come in the form of practicums, internships, or residencies, and are completed under the supervision of a licensed psychologist. Some states additionally require completion of post-doctoral practice hours to obtain licensure.
Step Five: Pass the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP) Exam
Developed by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB), the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP) is the licensing exam in the psychology field currently used by all U.S. states and most Canadian provinces. Passing the EPPP Exam’s Part 1 (Knowledge) is required to obtain licensure as a licensed psychologist. It may also be a requirement in some jurisdictions for obtaining other forms of psychology licensure. Some states require taking and passing the EPPP Part 2 (Skills) and/or additional exams for psychology licensure as well.
Step Six: Fulfill Additional Requirements
All states have additional requirements beyond formal education and licensure exams for obtaining a psychology license. These often include taking a jurisprudence exam, paying licensing fees, passing a criminal background check, and more. Specific requirements vary by jurisdiction, so it’s highly recommended that you familiarize yourself with the requirements for the jurisdictions in which you plan to practice before beginning your formal psychology studies. We’ve put together the following psychology licensure map to help get you started.
Psychology License Requirements by State
The map below was created to answer your psychology licensing questions and provide helpful, state-specific resources.
If you’re unsure which state you’d like to practice in, that’s okay, too! Many states participate in the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact (PSYPACT) — an interstate agreement that allows qualifying psychologists to practice and/or become licensed more easily across state lines. We’ve called out which states participate in this agreement to help you better understand your options.
Scope of Practice: “School Psychology Specialist” title is used and limited to practice in schools. Only licensed psychologists with doctoral degrees can call themselves “school psychologists.”
Credential Requirements:
Degree from an accredited school psychology program
Pass the Praxis II School Psychology specialization exam
Scope of Practice: PPS credential holders can work in public and private schools, including early childhood. Providing services outside of schools requires licensure as a Licensed Educational Psychologist.
Scope of practice: Practice is limited to early childhood education and public school settings.
Credential requirements:
Hold a master’s degree in school or educational psychology (or a master’s in clinical psychology with at least 42 graduate hours in school psychology coursework)
Scope of practice: Credential holders may practice in public, private, and charter schools, as well as early childhood and pre-K settings.
Credential requirements: Florida offers five routes to obtain the School Psychologist SEA credential, and continuing education is required to maintain this credential:
Plan One: Specialist or higher degree in school psychology and a yearlong internship in an elementary or secondary school
Plan Two: Completion of a graduate program in school psychology with a supervised practicum and a yearlong internship in an elementary or secondary school
Plan Three: Completion of a graduate program in school psychology and three years of full-time experience as a school psychologist
Plan Four: Master’s or higher degree plus a supervised practicum (or three years of full-time experience as a school psychologist) and a yearlong school psychology internship in an elementary or secondary school
Plan Five: Possession of a valid Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP) credential
Scope of practice: Georgia offers both a standard Professional School Psychologist certificate and a three-year Non-Renewable School Psychologist certificate. In all cases, certificate holders are limited to providing services to students in grades P–12.
Credential requirements:
Professional Certificate: Requires a specialist or higher degree in school psychology; completion of a NASP-approved program or holding a valid NASP credential (NCSP) and meeting special Georgia requirements (including passing the GACE content knowledge exam); plus completion of continuing education for renewal.
Non-Renewable 3-Year Certificate: Available to those with a master’s degree who meet the special Georgia requirements, or to those who are in a specialist or doctoral program (all coursework completed except any internship, dissertation, or thesis) and meet the special Georgia requirements.
Practice Scope: Permitted to provide services in pre-K, early childhood, and K–12 settings (public, private, and charter). Contract services are also allowed.
Credentialing Requirements:
Completion of a state-approved master’s, doctoral, or certificate of advanced graduate study/specialist degree program
OR a master’s with at least 60 graduate credit hours and a 1,200-hour internship
Practice Scope: Credentialed to provide services in early childhood education settings, public/private/charter schools, colleges and universities, and Department of Education-approved hospital and clinic settings.
Credentialing Requirements:
Master’s or higher degree
Completion of a Department of Education-approved school psychology curriculum
OR a minimum of 60 graduate-level credits, including a 300-hour practicum and a 1,200-hour internship/externship
Continuing education required
Alternative Program Teaching Permit:
Available for individuals working as school psychologists while pursuing formal school psychology preparation
Practice Scope: Permitted to practice in “exempt” settings, such as public/private schools, colleges, NYSED-approved preschool programs, NYS DOH Early Intervention programs, and some federal/state agencies.
Credentialing Requirements:
Provisional Certificate:
Bachelor of Arts
60 graduate credits in psychology
One-year internship (minimum 600 hours)
Permanent Certificate:
Provisional Certificate
Master of Arts degree
Two years of work experience in schools
Note: Permanent certificate does not require renewal.
Practice Scope: May work in public and private schools, early childhood education, and pre-K settings. Practice outside these settings requires licensure through the Board of Psychology.
Credentialing Requirements:
Temporary Pupil Services License (via Department of Education):
Master’s in school psychology
Enrollment in internship
Professional School Psychologist License (via Department of Education):
Master’s in school psychology
Completed internship
Praxis School Psychology or OAE exam
Continuing education required
School Psychologist License (via Psychology Board):
Practice Scope: Permitted to work in public, private, and charter schools, early childhood education, and pre-K settings. Contracted school services also allowed.
