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How to Get Licensed as a Psychologist in Every US State

By Owl Team

Disclaimer: This article was written in 2022. These details may not currently be accurate.

This article is the first in our series of how to get licensed as a therapist in every US state. For more context on the pros and cons of seeking cross-state licensure and how this series was developed, read the series introduction here!

Psychologists are unique among therapist professions due to the existence of PSYPACT, a multistate agreement which allows registered psychologists to practice in select states through the use of an e-Passport system. The PSYPACT status of every US state as of January, 2022 is indicated below!

Psychologists may also become registered with national governing bodies that grant mobility credentialing when specific education, training, and experience benchmarks are met. While not all states accept any or all of such credentials, we hope that this article makes it easy to discern those states that do and may therefore possess a more streamlined path to licensure for psychologists already licensed in another state.

Such governing bodies and their respective credentialing for psychologists include:

Alabama

PSYPACT status: Enacted 3/18/2021

Applicants who are in good standing and who are currently licensed to practice independently as a psychologist in another jurisdiction (excluding temporary, provisional or other conditional licensure) will be granted a license to practice psychology in Alabama upon meeting the minimum Alabama education and training requirements, as outlined on page 16 of Alabama’s licensure requirements document.

Application packages are mailed upon request from the Board office; applicants must contact the Board to request one.

Quick links:

Alaska

PSYPACT status: Not included

Alaska offers a pathway to licensure by credential, which allows psychologists who hold a license in another jurisdiction to apply for licensure if 1) the state of licensure has requirements equivalent to Alaska’s or 2) the applicant is also a diplomate of the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP)

Quick links

Arizona

PSYPACT status: Enacted 5/17/2016

If you are an established Arizona resident who has practiced in the same profession in another state for 1+ years, and are a qualified applicant according to the license requirements from the Arizona Board of Psychologist Examiners, then you are able to obtain license recognition in Arizona through their “Universal Recognition” application.

However, if you are not an Arizona resident but have been actively licensed in another state for over 5 years and meet all the license requirements from the Board, you can apply for an Arizona license through their “Licensure by Credential” process.

Quick links:

Arkansas

PSYPACT status: Enacted 4/25/2021

An individual licensed to practice psychology in another jurisdiction for at least 5 years may obtain a license to practice psychology in Arkansas without written examination, so long as the requirements for a license in the former jurisdiction are equal to, or exceed, the requirements for a license in Arkansas, as defined by the rules from the Board

Applicants who hold at least one of the following (in addition to the 5 years of experience requirement) are considered to have “met the educational and experience requirements for licensure:”

  1. a Certificate of Professional Qualification (CPQ) issued by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB); or
  2. a HSP credential from The National Register of Health Service Psychologists (NRHSPP)

Quick links:

California

PSYPACT status: Not included

California has some of the strictest requirements for cross-state licensure, which vary based on how many years the psychologist has been in practice and the credentials of the applicant.

If you are an out-of-state psychologist and meet one or more of the following requirements, then you may be able to pursue a streamlined application process and will not need to submit as extensive documentation of experience as those with no such credentialing:

  1. Those who currently hold a CPQ credential from the ASPPB
  2. Those who are board-certified by the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP) with 5+ years of experience
  3. Those who hold an HSP credential from the National Register of Health Services Providers in Psychology (NRHSPP) with 5+ years of experience

Psychologists meeting any one of these requirements can apply directly for licensure in California. Once all information is collected by Board staff, the applicant can sit for the California Psychology Laws and Ethics Examination (CPLEE).

Quick links:

Colorado

PSYPACT status: Enacted 4/12/2018

Out-of-state psychologists can apply for CO licensure through the Board’s Licensure by Endorsement process if they:

  1. Have completed an accepted doctoral degree with appropriate coursework
  2. Hold a current, unrestricted license to practice psychology in another jurisdiction.
  3. Attest to one of the following:
  4. Have passed a written examination that tested competence to practice psychology; or
  5. Have independently practiced psychology for at least 20 years in any jurisdiction of the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB)

4. Attest to one of the following:

  • Have at least 1 year of post-doctoral practice in psychology; or
  • Have actively practiced psychotherapy or professional counseling for at least 2 years before applying

Quick links:

Connecticut

PSYPACT status: Not included

Applicants licensed and actively working as a psychologist in another state looking to become licensed in Connecticut may apply for their psychologist licensure via two different paths, depending on credentialing.

Option 1: a streamlined process to licensure based on a Certificate of Professional Qualification (CPQ);

  • Applicants following this path to licensure must hold a current Certificate of Professional Qualification (CPQ) in Psychology from the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB) verifying that they have completed sufficient education, work experience, and examination regulations

Option 2: For psychologists who do not hold a CPQ credential

  • Applicants following this path must go through the normal license process, meeting and providing evidence of obtaining the state’s minimum licensure requirements, education standards, examination requirements, and post-education training.

Quick links:

Delaware

PSYPACT status: Enacted 6/27/2019

There are two ways to become licensed as a psychologist Delaware: Licensure by exam and licensure by reciprocity, the latter of which is an easier and more streamlined process to licensure for those that qualify. To apply for a psychologistlicense by reciprocity in Delaware, you must meet at least one of the following criteria:

  1. You have practiced continuously for at least two years with an active license in another state
  2. You hold a Certificate of Professional Qualification (CPQ) in Psychology from the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB)
  3. You are credentialed by the National Registry of Health Service Providers in Psychology (NRHSPP).

If you do not meet any of the previous criteria, then you can apply for a psychologist license through Delaware’s Licensure by exam path. Requirements for this path to licensure can be found here and include more extensive documentation of meeting Delaware’s education and training requirements.

Quick links:

Florida

PSYPACT status: Not included

There are multiple pathways to get licensed to practice as a Psychologist in Florida. For providers residing in Florida OR those who would like to obtain full licensure in Florida, there are three primary paths to licensure

  1. License by Endorsement – ABPP: Requires the applicant possesses a current diplomate or specialty certification in good standing with the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP) at the time the application
  2. License by Endorsement – 10 years of experience: Requires the applicant possess a doctoral degree in psychology and have at least 10 years of experience as a licensed psychologist in any jurisdiction or territory of the United States within the 25 years preceding the date of application.
  3. License by Examination: A path to licensure for in-state and full-licensure applicants that do not hold any of the credentials above; license by examination applicants must follow the normal licensure process, meeting and providing evidence of holding the minimum licensure requirements outlined by the Florida Board of Psychology

Quick links:

Florida – Out-of-State Telehealth Only

Florida is unique from every other state in that it offers a special out-of-state telehealth license to qualified psychologists. This is a great option for applicants already licensed in another state looking to expand their practice to Florida without going through all the administrative tasks of full state licensure. Visit the telehealth provider application portal link below to begin an application!

Quick links:

Georgia

PSYPACT status: Enacted 4/23/2019

Georgia offers a licensure by endorsement process for individuals who hold a current, valid license to practice psychology in another state whose “standards, in the opinion of the board, are not lower than those required by the Georgia State Board of Examiners of Psychology guidelines.”

There are three primary paths to licensure by endorsement in Georgia, which vary based on applicant experience and credentialing:

  1. Licensure by Endorsement – ≤10 years of experience: An application process for newer psychologists; requires more extensive evidence that the applicant’s education and training completed for their current state licensure is not lower than that of Georgia (Georgia requirements for licensure)
  2. Licensure by Endorsement – Senior psychologists (≥10 years of experience): A streamlined application process for senior psychologists who have at least 10 years of experience as a psychologist in another state
  3. Licensure by Endorsement – CPQ: A streamlined application process for applicants who hold a CPQ credential from the ASPPB, which may be submitted in lieu of certain licensure requirements.

All licensure applicants—regardless of application path—must take and pass the Georgia-specific Jurisprudence Exam prior to full licensure.

Quick links:

Hawaii

PSYPACT status: Not included

Out-of-state psychologists already licensed in another state can apply for their Hawaii psychology license via multiple paths, which vary based on applicant experience and credentialing:

  1. Licensure by examination: the traditional path to licensure; out-of-state applicants can apply via this path if they “Hold a current license or certificate, in good standing, to practice psychology in another state, deemed by the Board of Psychology to have standards equivalent to Hawaii’s requirements” (Hawaii Board of Psychology license requirements)
  2. Licensure for senior psychologists: a streamlined path to licensure for those who have been licensed as a psychologist for at least 20 years in another state; one’s license must be based on a doctoral degree and the applicant must have no history of disciplinary sanctions
  3. Licensure for American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP) diplomats: a streamlined path to licensure for those who are Board-Certified by the ABPP (previously called “diplomats”)
  4. Licensure for CPQ credential holders: a streamlined application for those who hold a CPQ credential from ASPBB
  5. Licensure via the National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology (NRHSPP) HSP Credential: a streamlined application for those who hold a HSP credential from the NRHSPP

Quick links:

Idaho

PSYPACT status: Not included

Licensure can be achieved via examination or via endorsement, the latter of which is for psychologists who possess a valid license in another state with no history of disciplinary action.

To obtain one’s licensure via this endorsement process, an applicant must also show sufficient education and training via a “current certificate of professional qualification in Psychology,” which can be signified by meeting any one of the following criteria:

  1. A registration with the National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology (NRHSPP)
  2. A certification by American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP)
  3. Graduation from an APA accredited program with a doctoral degree in psychology AND 2 years of supervised experience acceptable to the Board
  4. Graduation with a doctoral degree in psychology or a related field (provided experience and training are acceptable to the Board) AND have a record of practicing Psychology at the independent level for at least 5 of the last 7 years immediately prior to application.

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Illinois

PSYPACT status: Enacted 8/22/2018

There are two primary paths to psychologist licensure in Illinois: Licensure via examination and Licensure via endorsement, the latter of which is for psychologists who possess a valid license in another state. Licensure via endorsement requires that applicants provide evidence of their existing state licensure and show that their education/training meets the Board’s requirements.

Applicants who hold at least one of the following credentials may be able to follow a streamlined licensure by endorsement process, as these credentials signify sufficient education and training:

  1. A CPQ accreditation by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPBB)
  2. A HSP credential from the National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology (NRHSPP) with at least 5 years of independent experience in the field of psychology
  3. A “senior psychologist” status (those who have been licensed in good standing for at least 20 years in another state)

Quick links:

Indiana

PSYPACT status: Not included

The process to obtain a psychologist license as an out-of-state psychologist is fairly straightforward in Indiana, despite the state not having any official reciprocity/endorsement arrangements with other states; applicants simply must:

  1. Fill out the single application all applicants must use (application portal and application document linked to this page)
  2. Submit transcript and letter verifying the completion of an internship.
  3. Provide verification of an active, out-of-state license (via this form)
  4. Confirm they have passed the national EPPP examination
  5. Pass the state jurisprudence examination (upon submitting the above requirements, all applicants will be made eligible for this exam and need to take it prior to becoming fully licensed)

Quick links:

Iowa

PSYPACT status: Not included

Applicants seeking a psychologist license in Iowa with an active license in another state can pursue Iowa’s Licensure by Endorsement process. To apply, applicants must fill out an application, pay the application fee, and provide verification of their license in another state. Applicants must then select one of the following paths showing sufficient training, which vary based on the experience and specific credentialing of the applicant (and, thus, the documentation applicants are required to submit to the Board).

Path 1: For those who have held a license to practice psychology for at least 5 years in another state and have no disciplinary history

  • Must submit verification of a doctoral degree in psychology.

Path 2: For those who hold a current Certificate of Professional Qualification (CPQ) credential issued by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB)

  • Must submit verification of CPQ credential

Path 3: For those with current credentialing at the doctoral level as a Health Service Provider (HSP) in Psychology by the National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology (NRHSPP)

  • Must submit passing score on the EPPP national examination

Path 4: For those who are currently board-certified by the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP)

  • Must submit passing score on the EPPP national examination

Path 5: For applicants who meet none of the above criteria, more extensive verification of education and training is required:

  • Must submit passing score on the EPPP national examination
  • Must submit official transcripts conferring a doctoral degree in psychology from a program that is APA/ CPA accredited, or ASPPB designated
  • Must submit a Supervision Report form “showing satisfactory evidence of the applicant’s qualifications” in writing

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Kansas

PSYPACT status: Enacted 1/01/2022

Out-of-state applicants seeking licensure in Kansas can apply for a psychologist license via the state’s License Reciprocity process. There are two paths to license reciprocity in Kansas, which vary based on the experience and credentialing of the applicant:

Path 1:  For applicants who are currently licensed in another state and meet both of the following requirements:

  • Hold a doctoral degree in psychology.
  • Have held continuous licensure to practice psychology at the doctoral level for at least 48 of the 54 months immediately preceding the date of application in another state (with the minimum professional experience required by the board—at least 15 hours of work experience per week)

Path 2: For applicants who do not meet Path 1 criteria. Applicants must submit evidence that the state in which they are currently licensed has substantially equivalent requirements to those for licensure in Kansas (educational and experience requirements from the Board)

Quick links:

Kentucky

PSYPACT status: Enacted 3/18/2021

Psychologists actively licensed in another state looking to obtain their Kentucky licensure, can do so via two primary paths, which vary on the applicant’s current credentialing and practice experience:

Application For Licensure as a Psychologist by Reciprocity: For applicants who have been licensed as a psychologist in another state for at least 5 years and hold either:

  • The CPQ from the ASPBB; or
  • The HSP credential from the NRHSPP

Application for Licensure of a Psychologist Licensed in Another State: For applicants who do not hold ASPBB or NRHSPP credentials

  • Must be licensed as a psychologist for at least 5 years and submit more extensive supplementary information regarding your education and training (including 3 letters of professional reference, your EPPP test results, etc.)

For professionals with <5 years of experience who meet neither of the above paths’ 5 years of experience requirements, applicants may use the traditional license application process.

Quick links:

Louisiana

PSYPACT status: Not included

Psychologists who hold a current license in another state may apply for a Louisiana psychologist licensure via a Licensure by Reciprocity process if they hold at least one of the following credentials:

  • The CPQ credential from The Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPBB)
  • Board certification/diplomat status from the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP)

Applicants who hold these credentials are exempt from the state-specific oral examination if they have previously passed a state oral examination as a psychologist. However, they still must provide a complete application (meeting and providing proof of all licensure application requirements)

Applicants who do not hold the above credentials may follow the traditional path to licensure (e.g. licensure not based on reciprocity), which involves the same criteria for licensure but necessitates that applicants take two state-specific exams: the jurisprudence exam and the oral exam.

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Maine

PSYPACT status: Enacted 6/22/2021

Maine recently enacted a new law that allows for an endorsement process of psychologists licensed other states. This grants the Board the ability to grant licensure to applicants who are “licensed by a similar board of another state whose standards, in the opinion of the board, are equivalent to those required by this chapter.“

Thus, out-of-state psychologists looking to get licensed in ME can pursue licensure in Maine as long as they provide sufficient evidence that their education and training are at least equivalent to Maine’s licensure requirements.

To demonstrate qualifications for licensure, applicants can:

  1. Directly submit their credentials/licensure application documents to the Board (including transcript, supervised experience, 3 letters of recommendation, and other items outlined here)
  2. Submit their credentials through the ASPPB credentials bank
  3. Submit a valid CPQ or National Registry credential

All applicants—regardless of credentials—must pass the state-specific Maine Jurisprudence Exam, which is administered upon application approval.

Quick links:

Maryland

PSYPACT status: Enacted 5/18/2021

The application process for newly licensed psychologists and psychologists previously licensed in another state looking to become licensed in Maryland are very similar. For instance, all applicants for psychologist licensure in Maryland must take and pass the state-specific Maryland Jurisprudence Exam.

However, psychologists who meet both of the following criteria may be eligible to submit an abbreviated application, as the following credentials can stand in place for some of the application materials otherwise required for licensure:

  • Applicant is in good standing as a licensed psychologist in another state
  • Applicant is board-certified by the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP) OR credentialed as a Health Service Provider (HSP) by the National Register of Health Service Psychologists

Applicants who do not hold either of these credentials must submit all necessary materials, as outlined by the Board requirements for licensure, including more thorough proof of sufficient education and training.

Important note from the Board: “When submitting an application for licensure, an applicant who is a nonresident or does not practice psychology in Maryland and who does not intend to reside or practice in Maryland, shall submit a statement showing that the applicant’s licensure would be in the interest of the citizens or government of Maryland”

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Massachusetts

PSYPACT status: Not included (Active legislation but not yet enacted)

Out-of-state psychologists looking to get licensed in Massachusetts may do so as long as they meet the Massachusetts minimum requirements of licensure and submit the required documentation of their education and training. In addition, all applicants—regardless of credentialing—must take and pass the state-specific Massachusetts jurisprudence examination.

Applicants who meet all of the following criteria may be eligible for a streamlined application process that still includes the MA-specific exam but does not include as extensive verification of education and training to be submitted with the application (the Internship Program Director Form, the Post-Internship Supervisor Form, and the Advanced Practicum Supervised Experience Form are waived)

  1. Are licensed in good standing as a psychologist in another state
  2. Have been licensed for at least 5 years
  3. Are certified by the National Register of Health Service Psychologists

Quick links:

Michigan

PSYPACT status: Not included (Active legislation but not yet enacted)

There are two primary paths out-of-state applicants may take to gain licensure as a psychologist in Michigan, the first of which (Licensure by Endorsement) is a more streamlined path but only eligible for those who meet the experience and credentialing criteria. Otherwise, applicants must following the traditional Licensure by Examination path to licensure.

Path 1 – Licensure by Endorsement: applicants may apply for licensure by endorsement if they meet at least one of the following (as outlined on Page 10 of the Michigan psychologist rules and regulations):

  • Applicants who are licensed in another state and have independently practiced psychology for a minimum of 10 years before the date of application for a Michigan license
  • Applicants who hold a current certificate of professional qualification (CPQ) in psychology issued by the the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPBB)
  • Applicants who hold a HSP credential from the National Register of Health Service Psychologists (NRHSPP)

Licensure by Examination: for all applicants except those who meet criteria for licensure by endorsement; requires more extensive verification that an applicant’s education and training are sufficient to meet Michigan requirements (as outlined on Page 8 of the Michigan psychologist rules and regulations).

Quick links:

Minnesota

PSYPACT status: Enacted 5/25/2021

Out-of-state applicants looking to get licensed in Minnesota may do so by following one of three paths, depending on their practice experience and credentials (as also explained here on the Board’s website):

Path 1 – Licensure by Reciprocity: for those who meet all of the following:

  1. Hold a doctoral degree
  2. Are licensed to practice psychology in another state or jurisdiction
  3. Have been licensed for at least five consecutive years immediately preceding the date of application.

Path 2 – Licensure by Mobility: for those who hold at least one of the following:

  • A certificate of Professional Qualification (CPQ) issued by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB)
  • A board-certification from the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP)
  • A HSP credential from the National Register of Health Service Psychologists (NRHSPP)

Path 3 – Licensed Psychologist (“LP”): for those who meet none of the criteria for the above licensure paths; such applicants can still apply for a Minnesota psychologist license along this traditional path to licensure but simply must provide more extensive documentation of meeting all Minnesota psychologist licensure requirements

All applicants must take and pass the state-specific Professional Responsibility Examination (PRE), regardless of whatever path to licensure they are pursuing

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Mississippi

PSYPACT status: Not included

There are two primary paths to licensure for psychologists who hold a license in another state and are looking to get licensed in Mississippi:

Path 1 – License via reciprocity: applicants who meet at least one of following criteria may be exempt from submitting certain requirements of licensure, as outlined on page 22 of the state’s rules and regulations for licensure:

  • Are licensed or certified as a psychologist by another state where the requirements for the license or certification are substantially equivalent to those of Mississippi
  • Are a diplomat/board-certified psychologist in good standing with the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP)
  • Hold a valid Certificate of Professional Qualification (CPQ) by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards

Path 2 – Licensure for senior psychologists (page 12): Applicants who have had at least 20 years of experience practicing in another state requiring a doctoral degree for licensure and have had no disciplinary sanction during this entire period of licensure may also be eligible for a streamlined application process, as outlined on page 12 of the state’s rules and regulations for licensure:

All applicants—regardless of application path—must take and pass the state-specific Mississippi jurisprudence exam.

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Missouri

PSYPACT status: Enacted 6/1/2018

Psychologists licensed in another state looking to get licensed in Missouri may do so via the state’s Licensure by Reciprocity process—a streamlined process to licensure for applicants who meet one or more of the following criteria:

  • Hold a HSP credential from the National Register of Health Service Psychologists
  • Hold a board-certification from the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP)
  • Hold a current certificate of professional qualification (CPQ) issued by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards
  • Have completed doctoral program that is APA or NR/ASPPB accredited and have been licensed more than 5 years without disciplinary action taken against your license for the preceding 5 years

Applicants who meet none of the above credentialing requirements may apply for their license via Missouri’s Licensure by Examination process, which requires more extensive documentation of education and pre-/post-doctoral training.

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Montana

PSYPACT status: Not included

Psychologists licensed in another state looking to apply for a psychologist license in Montana may do so along a streamlined licensure by experience path if they meet all of the following requirements:

  1. Applicant has actively practiced psychology under a license in another state for at least 5 of the previous 7 years prior to application
  2. Applicant is not subject to pending criminal or administrative charges related to unprofessional conduct or impairment
  3. Applicant has not been administratively disciplined for unprofessional conduct or impairment in any jurisdiction within the 7 years preceding application in the state.

Applicants who do not have the experience to apply for licensure via the above path may apply for licensure by the state’s traditional licensure by examination path, submitting all required documentation of meeting the Board’s requirements for licensure.

All applicants must take and pass the online Montana Board of Psychologists jurisdictional course, which is made available to applicants once their application has been received by the Board.

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Nebraska

PSYPACT status: Enacted 4/23/2018

Psychologists licensed in another state looking to become licensed in Nebraska can apply for licensure in Nebraska via the Licensure by Reciprocity process as long as they meet at least one of the following requirements:

  • Hold an ASPPB Certificate of Professional Qualification (CPQ)
  • Hold a Health Service Provider (HSP) credential by National Register of Health Service Providers (doctoral level)
  • Can provide evidence of meeting all initial licensing requirements

Applicants who hold a CPQ credential and/or the HSP credential are eligible for a streamlined application process and may skip designated education and training sections of the application. Applicants who hold neither credential can still apply for a license but simply must provide more extensive evidence of meeting all of Nebraska’s initial licensing requirements.

All applicants must take and pass the Nebraska jurisprudence examination.

Note: Nebraska kindly waives the psychologist application fee for those who meet at least one of the following criteria:

  • Young Workers: You are between the ages of 19 and 25 (under the age of 26).
  • Low-Income Individual: You are enrolled in a state or federal public assistance program
  • Military Families: You or a family member are an active duty service member or veteran in the armed services of the United States

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Nevada

PSYPACT status: Enacted on 5/26/2017

Currently, the State of Nevada does not have reciprocity agreements with any state or province. However, psychologists looking to get licensed in Nevada who are currently licensed in another state are eligible for an expedited license process if they meet at least one of the following criteria:

  1. Applicant is a “Senior psychologist” (has 20+ years of licensed experience)
  2. Applicants holds a Certificate of Professional Qualification (CPQ) from the ASPPB
  3. Applicant holds a Health Service Provider (HSP) credential from the NRHSPP
  4. Applicant is board-certified by the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP)

Applicants who meet none of the above criteria who hold an out-of-state license may still apply for licensure via Nevada’s Licensure by Endorsement process but must provide more significant proof that their education/training is at least equivalent to the requirements of Nevada.

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New Hampshire

PSYPACT status: Enacted 7/10/2019

Psychologists licensed in another state may apply to practice in New Hampshire as long as they meet the psychologist licensure requirements put forth by the Board. Applicants who hold one of the following credentials, however, are eligible for an abbreviated application (a helpful checklist for applicants who meet at least one of these criteria can be found here):

  • Applicants who hold a Certificate of Professional Qualification (CPQ) from the ASPPB
  • Applicants who hold a Health Service Provider (HSP) credential from the NRHSPP
  • Applicants who are board-certified by the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP)

Applicants who hold none of the above credentials can still apply for licensure in New Hampshire but simply are not eligible for the abbreviated application process outlined above, thus the Board requires them to submit more extensive proof of meeting New Hampshire’s education and training requirements.

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New Jersey

PSYPACT status: 9/24/2021

While New Jersey does not have an official Licensure by Reciprocity application process for applicants licensed in another state looking to obtain a license in New Jersey, out-of-state applicants can still obtain a NJ license as long as they prove that they have met the requirements for supervised hours (3,500 hours) in New Jersey (statutes found here).

  • Upon application, applicants from another state who already have enough supervised hours are issued a one-year unsupervised temporary permit in order to work in New Jersey until they pass the state’s jurisprudence examination.
  • Upon application, applicants who do not have enough supervised hours to obtain a New Jersey license are issued a three-year supervised temporary permit (once they have identified a supervisor and that supervisor has been approved by the Board) in order to obtain their New Jersey license.

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New Mexico

PSYPACT status: Not included

New Mexico offers a License by Reciprocity process for psychologists licensed in another state who meet all of the following requirements (rules here):

  1. Hold an active license in that jurisdiction
  2. Have a doctoral degree in psychology or a degree that is substantially equivalent and is acceptable by the board (education requirements can be found here)
  3. Have no pending disciplinary actions, no formal disciplinary actions issued against your license in the past five years, and no past suspensions or revocations
  4. Have obtained a passing score on the EPPP
  5. Meets one of the following requirements:
  6. Have been licensed for a minimum of 10 years in another state; OR
  7. Have been licensed a minimum of five years in another state and holds a Certificate of Professional Qualification (CPQ) from the ASPPB or a Health Service Provider (HSP) credential from the NRHSPP at the doctoral level

Applicants who do not meet the minimum requirements for License by Reciprocity may apply for their New Mexico license via the Board’s Licensure by Examination process, which involves more extensive evidence of meeting all licensure requirements outlined by the Board.

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New York

PSYPACT status: Not included

Unfortunately, New York does not have any official processes of reciprocity with other states. Therefore, psychologists licensed in another state looking to become licensed in New York may still do so but simply must meet and provide verification of meeting all New York psychologist license requirements.

  • Some applicants licensed in another state meeting these requirements who have had their qualifications approved may be eligible to apply for temporary licensure (active for <12 months) in New York while waiting for their full license application to go through.
  • Note: New York does not accept the Certificate of Professional Qualification (CPQ) for licensure purposes

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North Carolina

PSYPACT status: Enacted 7/1/2020

There are no reciprocity agreements between North Carolina and other states. However, North Carolina does offer an abbreviated application process to applicants who meet their senior psychologist requirement (12+ years of active licensure in another state belonging to the ASPPB) OR to applicants who hold at least of one of the following mobility credentials:

  • A certificate of Professional Qualification (CPQ) issued by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB)
  • A HSP credential issued by National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology (NRHSPP)
  • Board-certification issued by the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP)

Applicants who are neither a senior psychologist nor credentialed with the above institutions must apply for licensure via the standard application process, meeting all requirements outlined in the Board rules.

All applicants—regardless of application path—must take and pass the North Carolina-specific state examination.

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North Dakota

PSYPACT status: Not included

North Dakota law permits those already with a license from another jurisdiction to follow an expedited process to licensure in ND, as outlined on Page 4 of the state’s psychologist rules. To apply for licensure, out-of-state applicants must provide the Board with:

  • Confirmation of graduation from an accredited doctoral program
  • Evidence of passing the national examination
  • Proof of other state licenses (and explanation of any disciplinary actions)
  • A release for the North Dakota Board to obtain information from the applicant’s current jurisdiction (e.g. confirmation of educational degree, documentation of disciplinary action related to the applicant’s license or registration, etc.).

Some applicants may be eligible for a provisional/temporary license granted shortly after an initial application submission, thus allowing them to practice as a psychologist in North Dakota while their full licensure is pending.

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Ohio

PSYPACT status: Enacted 4/27/2021

Applicants who hold an active license in another state looking to become licensed in Ohio may do so via multiple paths, which vary based on applicant credentialing and experience. Applicants who meet at least one of the following two criteria may apply for licensure via a streamlined path via the state’s reciprocity/endorsement or senior psychologist application processes:

  • Psychologists that hold one of the following credentials:
  • The certificate of Professional Qualification (CPQ) issued by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB)
  • The HSP credential issued by National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology (NRHSPP)
  • Board-certification issued by the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP)
  • Psychologists currently licensed in another jurisdiction for a minimum of 10 consecutive years without interruption

Applicants who do not meet criteria for either of the paths above may still apply for Ohio licensure but must follow the general application process—submitting more extensive documentation of meeting or exceeding Ohio’s psychologist education and training requirements.

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Oklahoma

PSYPACT status: Enacted 4/29/2019

Out-of-state psychologists who hold a license in another state and would like to become licensed in Oklahoma may due so via the state’s Licensure by Reciprocity process if they meet at least one of the following criteria (all other necessary materials for reciprocity application can be found here):

  • Are board-certified by the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP)
  • Hold a current Certificate of Professional Qualification (CPQ) from the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB)

Once a reciprocity applicant submits all necessary materials to the Board, their application will be sent to a committee for review. Upon approval, applicants can begin to practice with their out-of-state license for one year in order to complete the requirements for licensure in Oklahoma.

Applicants who do not qualify for licensure by reciprocity must follow the traditional path to licensure, meeting the state’s requirements for psychologist licensure prior to beginning practice in the state.

All Oklahoma psychologist applicants must also pass a Jurisprudence Examination which “covers the Oklahoma Psychologists Licensing Act and Rules of the Board, as well as other pertinent mental health laws.” Once an applicant’s application is approved by the Board, this examination will be scheduled.

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Oregon

PSYPACT status: Not included

Psychologists currently licensed in another state in good standing can apply for licensure in Oregon via endorsement. Exact details of required application materials depend on the length of time the applicant has been in practice:

Endorsement application checklist (<15 years) – for applicants who have maintained an active psychologist license for less than 15 years in another state

  • Applicants must meet Oregon’s minimum education and supervised work experience/post-doctoral training hour requirements
  • Applicants must take and pass the EPPP

Endorsement application checklist (≥15 years) – for applicants who have maintained an active psychologist license for 15 years or more in another state

  • Streamlined application process (compared to above endorsement process)
  • Exempt from post-doctoral training hour requirements
  • Exemption from EPPP score transfer if applicant has never taken the EPPP

All applicants—regardless of endorsement path—must take and pass the Oregon Jurisprudence Exam (OJE) prior to licensure.

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Pennsylvania

PSYPACT status: Enacted 5/8/2020

Applicants who hold an active license in another state are eligible to apply for licensure in Pennsylvania via endorsement and the state’s “Act 41” process:

Act 41: allows for portability of out-of-state professional licensees (with substantially equivalent licensing requirements) to work in Pennsylvania if they meet the following requirements:

  • Have an active, good standing license in another state
  • Have no discipline history against their license or any criminal convictions
  • Have been actively engaged in the practice (e.g. psychology) for at least 2 of the last 5 years

A psychologist licensed for independent practice by another state who meets the above criteria may be eligible to practice psychology on temporary assignment in Pennsylvania for up to 6 months, after written notification to the Board and receipt from the Board, of temporary permission to practice.

All applicants must take and pass the Pennsylvania Psychology Law Examination to qualify for licensure.

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Rhode Island

PSYPACT status: Not included

Psychologists licensed in another state looking to practice in Rhode Island may do so via the state’s licensure by endorsement if they hold a license in a state that the Board determines has requirements that are “substantially equivalent” to those of Rhode Island (for Rhode Island licensure requirements, visit Section 15.4: “Qualifications for Licensing” in the state rules).

Applicants who possess at least one of the following credentials, are “deemed to have met the requirements for licensure” outlined in Section 15.4: “Qualifications for Licensing.” Thus, such applicants can follow a streamlined process to licensure that does not include submitting as extensive documentation of education and training history.

  • The Certificate of Professional Qualification (CPQ) issued by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB)
  • The Health Service Provider (HSP) in Psychology credential issued by the National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology (NRHSPP)

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South Carolina

PSYPACT status: Not included

The South Carolina Board has no formal agreements with other state boards to license applicants by reciprocity. This means that applicants must meet and provide evidence of meeting all the requirements for psychologist licensure in South Carolina. This includes verifying a period of supervised postdoctoral experience that meets South Carolina’s criteria and having a postdoctoral supervisor submit a completed Supervisor’s Report Form to the Board.

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South Dakota

PSYPACT status: Not included

Psychologists licensed to practice in another state looking to become licensed in South Dakota may practice within the state for a maximum of six months, during which time “the psychologist’s credentials shall be reviewed and the psychologist’s application for licensing accepted or denied” (according to the SD law).

  • Importantly, the psychologist must apply to the Board of Examiners of Psychologists for licensing within 30 calendar days of practicing in the state

When evaluating an application from an out-of-state psychologist, the Board “shall license any person by endorsement” who:

  1. Is licensed by any other country, state, territory, or possession of the United States where the license was issued under the minimum requirements of South Dakota
  2. Has practiced at least five years in another state or jurisdiction
  3. Does not have a complaint pending with any states or jurisdictions

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Tennessee

PSYPACT status: Enacted 5/11/2021

The Board may expedite the review process of an applicant requesting licensure who holds a valid license in good standing in another jurisdiction if they submit proof that their doctoral program and supervised postdoctoral experience meet the standards of Tennessee; applicants must also submit provide proof of a written examination score of that meets the standards for licensure in TN.

Alternatively, out-of-state applicants who meet at least one of the following criteria may have the aforementioned criteria waived in the application process:

  1. Those have been continuously licensed in good standing for 5 or more years in another jurisdiction AND are currently certified by the ABPP
  2. Those who are credentialed by the National Register of Health Service Providers
  3. Those who have a Certificate of Professional Qualification (CPQ) from the ASPPB

All applicants must take and pass the Tennessee Ethics and Jurisprudence examination prior to obtaining their state license

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Texas

PSYPACT status: Enacted 6/10/2019

Texas offers a straightforward path to licensure for psychologists already licensed in another state looking to obtain their Texas psychologist licensure if they meet at least one of the following criteria (the following criteria will waive many—if not all—education and supervised experience requirements for Texas licensure):

  1. Are actively licensed as a doctoral-level psychologist in good standing and have been practicing psychology in another jurisdiction for at least five years
  2. Hold an active Certificate of Professional Qualification in Psychology (CPQ) from the ASPPB
  3. Are board-certified by the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP)
  4. Can affirm they have received at least 3,000 hours of supervised experience from a licensed psychologist in another jurisdiction (more details about this experience can be found here)

All applicants must take and pass the Texas-specific Jurisprudence Examination prior to obtaining their psychologist license

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Utah

PSYPACT status: Enacted on 3/17/2017

There are two pathways to licensure in Utah: Licensure by Application and Licensure by Endorsement, the latter of which is for psychologists licensed in good standing in another state looking to obtain their Utah psychologist license. Applicants can apply for their license via endorsement by:

  1. Providing satisfactory evidence of actively practicing psychology in another jurisdiction for not less than 2,000 hours or one year, whichever is greater; and
  2. Providing satisfactory evidence of at least one of the following:
  3. “Substantially equivalent” education, supervised experience, and examination requirements for current state licensure (when compared to the licensure requirements for a psychologist in Utah at the same time the other license was obtained)
  4. Board certification in good standing from the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP)
  5. Health service provider (HSP) credentialing in psychology by the National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology
  6. A Certificate of Professional Qualification (CPQ) granted by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards

All applicants must pass the Utah Psychologist Law and Ethics Exam prior to obtaining their psychologist license

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Vermont

PSYPACT status: Not included

Psychologists licensed in another state seeking their Vermont licensure may do so via the Licensure by Endorsement process if they meet both of the following requirements:

  1. Are licensed and in good standing in another jurisdiction in which the standards and qualifications required for regulation in that jurisdiction are substantially equivalent to Vermont’s (Vermont’s requirements for licensure)
  2. Are certified by the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP)

Applicants who are licensed as a psychologist at the doctoral level in another state in which the requirements for licensure are not (in the judgment of the Board) substantially equivalent to of Vermont may still apply for Licensure by Endorsement if they meet the following requirements:

  1. Are in good standing with no pending charges or disciplinary history in all jurisdictions in which the applicant has held a license
  2. Have practiced as a licensed psychologist at the doctoral level for a minimum of 7 years (with an average of at least 1,000 hours per year)

Prior to licensure, all applicants must take and pass the Vermont jurisprudence exam—an open book exam based directly on the Vermont Statutes and Rules that is submitted along with the applicant’s application.

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Virginia

PSYPACT status: Enacted 4/11/2020

Psychologists licensed in another state seeking licensure in Virginia may do so via the Licensure by Endorsement application if they hold at least one of the following criteria:

  1. A Certificate of Professional Qualification (CPQ) from the ASPPB
  2. A HSP credential from the NRHSPP
  3. A board-certification from the ABPP

Applicants who hold none of the above credentials can still apply for a Virginia license via the endorsement process but must provide more extensive documentation that their education and training meet or exceed the requirements set forth by the Virginia Board.

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Washington

PSYPACT status: Not included

Psychologists seeking licensure in Washington state may apply for Licensure by Endorsement if they meet both of the following requirements:

  1. Hold a current psychologist license in a substantially equivalent state (a list of all states and whether they qualify can be found here)
  2. Hold at least one of the following credentials:
  3. A HSP credential from the National Register of Health Service Psychologists
  4. A board-certification from the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP)
  5. A CPQ from the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards

Applicants who do not meet the above criteria must follow the traditional Licensure by Examination process, which involves more extensive proof of sufficient education and training (i.e. submission of supervisor professional reference forms, etc.).

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Washington DC

PSYPACT status: Enacted 3/16/2021

Applicants who currently hold a psychology license in another state and have at least 4,000 hours of predoctoral/postdoctoral supervised practice experience can apply for a DC psychology license via the Licensure by Endorsement process.

Applicants who have been licensed in another state but who do not qualify for licensure by endorsement due to a lack of supervised psychological practice experience (i.e. if they have <4,000 hours) may rely upon at least two (2) years of licensed, unsupervised practice to fulfill the supervision requirement.

The following credentials are accepted in Washington DC in lieu of certain application materials required in the licensure process:

  1. TheCertificate of Professional Qualification (CPQ) from the ASPPB → Can be submitted in lieu of an Official Transcript, EPPP Score, and Supervision Forms
  2. The HSP Credential from the National Register of Health Service Psychologists → Can be submitted in lieu of an Official Transcript and potentially supervision forms

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West Virginia

PSYPACT status: Enacted 4/21/2021

Psychologists licensed in another state are eligible to apply for licensure in West Virginia via reciprocity if their license was “obtained under standards equal to or greater than that of West Virginia” as outlined in the state’s licensure requirements.

However, reciprocity agreements with other states are not automatic. “All reciprocity applicants must submit documentation showing that they meet all the requirements of the West Virginia Board.” Such documentation includes an application form, official transcripts from the applicant’s graduate degree granting institution, national exam scores, documentation of supervision, etc.

  • All reciprocity applicants must also pass a state-administered oral examination prior to obtaining their license.

To obtain an application packet, prospective applicants must contact the Board (psychbd@wv.gov)

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Wisconsin

PSYPACT status: Not included (Active legislation but not yet enacted)

Psychologists with an active license in another state may apply for their Wisconsin psychologist license by a simply reciprocity process, as Wisconsin recognizes the holding of a license in any state—with the single exception of Iowa—as sufficient to the requirements of becoming a psychologist in Wisconsin (Iowa-licensed applicants can apply for licensure via the Licensure by Exam route)

Reciprocity applicants must simply submit the following:

  1. A completed and signed application form with the application fee
  2. Evidence of one of the following: Passing the EPPP or completion of at least 40 board-approved continuing education hours within the 2 years prior to application
  3. Evidence of passing the jurisprudence exam (all applicants—regardless of licensure path—must take the Wisconsin Jurisprudence Examination prior to obtaining their state license)

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Wyoming

PSYPACT status: Not included

Psychologists licensed in another state looking to get licensed in Wyoming can apply for Licensure by Endorsement if they meet at least one of the following criteria:

  1. Hold a current Certificate of Professional Qualification (CPQ) in good standing issued by ASPPB
  2. Are credentialed by the National Register for Health Service Providers (NRHSPP) or the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP)
  3. Hold a license in good standing in another jurisdiction whose requirements for licensure are equal to or exceed Wyoming licensure requirements AND have practiced continuously for (at least) the 5 years immediately preceding this application

Otherwise, applicants must follow the traditional licensure process which includes more extensive verification of education, training, and experience credentials.

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