Virginia Psychology Licensure Requirements

500

Virginia requires only the EPPP Part 1-Knowledge for initial Licensed Clinical Psychologist licensure; the Board's Clinical Psychologist Licensure Process Handbook (rev. 09/2025) states the passing score is 500. 18VAC125-20-80 C leaves score-setting to the board, so the 500 figure comes from the board handbook, not the regulation. Virginia has NOT adopted an EPPP Part 2-Skills requirement.

Virginia requires a minimum of 1,500 hours of supervised experience in the delivery of clinical psychology services. These hours may be earned pre-doctorally (doctoral practicum meeting 18VAC125-20-54 F) or post-degree in a board-registered residency, or a combination, so no separate pre-doc/post-doc split applies. Hours obtained during the required doctoral internship do NOT count toward the 1,500. A post-degree residency must span not less than 12 months and not more than three years, with at least two hours of individual supervision per 40 hours of experience. Within the 1,500 practicum hours, at least 375 hours (one-quarter) must be face-to-face direct client services and at least 750 hours (one-half) a combination of direct service and service-related activities. A separate APA/CPA/APPIC-accredited or equivalent doctoral internship is required in addition to the 1,500 hours.

Not required

Confirmed absent: Virginia has no jurisprudence or state-law examination for psychologist licensure. 18VAC125-20-41 and 18VAC125-20-80 reference only the national EPPP, and the Board's Clinical Psychologist Licensure Process Handbook lists exactly four requirements (education, 1,500 hours of experience, application, EPPP Part 1-Knowledge). Applicants for licensure BY ENDORSEMENT must submit an attestation of having read and agreed to comply with Virginia's Standards of Practice and laws, but that is a signed attestation, not an exam, and it does not apply to licensure by examination.

1. Earn a doctorate in clinical, counseling, or school psychology from an APA-, CPA-, or PCSAS-accredited program (from June 23, 2028 an accredited degree is mandatory), including the required core and clinical coursework.
2. Complete a doctoral internship accredited by APA or CPA, or a member of APPIC or ASPPB/National Register, or one the board finds equivalent.
3. Accumulate at least 1,500 hours of supervised experience in clinical psychology services, either through qualifying doctoral practicum or through a board-registered post-degree residency; internship hours do not count.
4. If any of the 1,500 hours are still outstanding, register a residency with the board BEFORE beginning supervised practice in Virginia by filing a supervisory contract, transcript, and the $50 registration fee.
5. Submit the online Application for Licensure by Examination with the $200 processing fee, official transcripts, practicum/residency verification forms, an NPDB self-query report, and verification of any other health licenses.
6. After the board approves eligibility, register through ASPPB/Certemy and pass the EPPP Part 1-Knowledge with a scaled score of 500 within two years of approval.
7. Receive the license once passing scores reach the board, then renew annually by June 30 with the $140 renewal fee and required continuing education.

PSYPACT member

Virginia offers licensure by endorsement (18VAC125-20-42) for applied, clinical, or school psychology. An endorsement applicant files an application, the processing fee, an attestation of having read and agreed to comply with Virginia's Standards of Practice and laws, verification of every health/mental-health credential ever held, an NPDB self-query report, and then documentation of ONE of: a current National Register Health Service Psychologist credential; current ABPP diplomate status in a comparable category; an ASPPB Certificate of Professional Qualification in Psychology (CPQ); five years of active licensure in a comparable category with at least 24 months of active practice in the last 60 months; or, failing that, proof that the original licensure standards were substantially equivalent to Virginia's, including a passing EPPP score and official transcripts. Virginia is a PSYPACT state: the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact is enacted at Code of Virginia § 54.1-3606.2, and the board directs licensees to the PSYPACT Commission for the Authority to Practice Interjurisdictional Telepsychology (APIT) and Temporary Authorization to Practice (TAP).

Virginia Board of Psychology

(804) 367-4697

Official board page →