174. Are psychologists licensed by the government?

All 50 states have licensing requirements for psychologists which are designed to protect the public by preventing inexperienced or untrained individuals from offering psychological services. These requirements vary somewhat from state to state, but generally include a doctoral degree in psychology, or a closely related field, from an approved graduate degree program.

The licensing requirements also describe the minimum amount of supervised experience, under a licensed psychologist, that is required in each state. The supervised experience is usually either one or two years of full time practice. The licensing laws require certain experience during this supervised practice, and most states require at least part of the experience to be completed after the doctoral degree is obtained. In New Jersey, two years of full time supervised experience are required before an individual can apply to take the licensing exam. At least one year of this experience must be completed after the doctoral degree. This experience is in addition to any practicums a psychologist might complete as part of the doctoral degree.

Finally, licensed psychologists in all 50 states must pass a licensing exam before they are allowed to practice independently, without supervision. Most states, including New Jersey, use The Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP), which was developed by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards. Some states require a separate exam on the laws governing psychology in their state. Other states, like New Jersey, require an additional oral exam to assess the applicant's practical application of knowledge about psychology.