Pennsylvania Psychology Licensure Requirements

Not yet independently verified for this state. Confirm with the board →

The Act (63 P.S. § 1206(a)(2)) requires "not less than two years of supervised experience." The Board counts the predoctoral internship completed within an APA/CPA-accredited doctoral program as one of the two years, and states no hour figure for that year, so preDoc is null. The second year is defined by 49 Pa. Code § 41.32 as at least 12 months and at least 1,750 hours of postdoctoral supervised experience (15-45 hours per week; at least 50% in diagnosis, assessment, therapy, other interventions, supervision or consultation; all of it completed within 10 calendar years of the doctoral award). Per the Board's Psychologist Licensure Snapshot, an applicant who began an APA/CPA-accredited doctoral program on or after fall 2015 may instead apply practicum experience toward that second year, and must have completed at least 12 months and at least 1,750 hours of practicum. Experience begun on or before December 5, 2010 is evaluated under the older 1,500-hour rule (Board FAQ). Total is left null because the internship year carries no published hour count.

Required

Pennsylvania Psychology Law Examination (PPLE) - computer-based at Pearson VUE test centers; 30 scored multiple-choice questions (plus unscored pretest items), 60 minutes; content is 9 items on Act 52 and 21 items on 49 Pa. Code Chapter 41.

Fee: $225

Required by 49 Pa. Code § 41.41(b) in addition to the EPPP. The Board contracted with Pearson VUE to create, score and report the PPLE; candidates are made eligible by the Board through PALS before scheduling. Raw scores are converted to scaled scores ranging from 0 to 100 and the numeric passing score is not published (scores are reported numerically only to failing candidates). Applicants licensed in other states are exempt from retaking the national exam in some cases, but the Board's 2003 guideline states that all applicants must pass the state portion of the examination.

1. Earn a doctoral degree in psychology or a field related to psychology from a program accredited by the APA or CPA, designated by the ASPPB/National Register Designation Project, or accredited by PCSAS, and complete the predoctoral internship, which the Board accepts as one of the two required years of supervised experience.
2. Complete the second year of supervised experience: at least 12 months and at least 1,750 hours of postdoctoral supervised experience under a primary supervisor (15-45 hours per week), or, if you began an APA/CPA-accredited doctoral program on or after fall 2015, at least 12 months and 1,750 hours of practicum experience.
3. Apply to the Board through PALS (www.pals.pa.gov) with the $105 application fee, official transcripts, a Pennsylvania State Police criminal history report and Child Abuse History Clearance dated within 90 days, an internship verification form, and proof of 3 hours of approved child abuse recognition and reporting training.
4. Once the Board grants approval to test, pass the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP).
5. Pass the Pennsylvania Psychology Law Examination (PPLE) - 30 questions in 60 minutes at a Pearson VUE center, $225 - which covers Act 52 and 49 Pa. Code Chapter 41.
6. Submit the verification of postdoctoral experience packet (quarterly evaluations, objectives and the supervisor's letter) sealed and signed by your primary supervisors, and receive your license from the Board.
7. Renew biennially by November 30 of each odd-numbered year for $300, completing 30 hours of continuing education per biennium including 3 hours of ethics, 2 hours of child abuse recognition and reporting, and 1 hour of suicide prevention.

PSYPACT member

Three routes. (1) 49 Pa. Code § 41.52 - a psychologist holding a current license from another state whose requirements the Board deems equivalent may be exempt from examination; under the Board's March 17, 2003 guideline, holders of the ASPPB Certificate of Professional Qualification (CPQ) or a National Register verification letter are not required to retake the national portion, but every applicant must still pass the state portion (the PPLE). (2) Licensure by endorsement under Act 41 of 2019 / 63 Pa.C.S. § 3111 and 49 Pa. Code § 41.52a - requires a current license in good standing in a jurisdiction with substantially equivalent standards, no discipline, the $105 application fee, 3 hours of child abuse training, and competency shown either by active practice for 2 of the last 5 years or 30 hours of continuing education in the preceding 24 months; § 41.52b allows a provisional endorsement license valid up to 1 year while remaining requirements are met. (3) Out-of-state or Canadian licensees may practice on temporary assignment in Pennsylvania for up to 6 months (one 6-month extension possible) with written Board permission, and 14 days or fewer requires no notification. Pennsylvania is a PSYPACT participating state, so psychologists licensed in other PSYPACT states may apply for APIT (telepsychology) or TAP (temporary in-person practice) authorization through the PSYPACT Commission.

Pennsylvania State Board of Psychology

(717) 783-7155

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