Psychologist Licensure Requirements
Find psychologist licensing requirements for your state then choose your program of study.
All states require psychologist licensure in order to practice.
Requirements vary from state-to-state, but at minimum you'll need to pass a state certification examination, hold a doctorate or master's degree from an accredited institution and have one year of fieldwork.
It is important to check the licensing requirements for the state in which you intend to become licensed before choosing a program of study.
You can find out a state's licensing requirements by contacting the local psychology licensing board, which gives information on state laws regarding psychology licensing and required examinations. You can also contact the Associate of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB) for more information on licensing requirements.
Degrees & Licensing
- Clinical, counseling, or educational psychologists must have a doctorate in psychology, 1 or 2 years of clinical training, plus an additional 1-to-2 years of supervised work experience before the individual qualifies for licensure.
- School psychologists need at minimum a master's degree in psychology. The majority of school psychologists have an Education Specialist post-master's degree in psychology.
For more information, visit the Counseling and Clinical Psychology career guides.
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