Licensure of the title "Psychologist" (known as a title law) and/or the practice of "Psychology" (known as a practice law) is restricted in almost every state in the U.S. and province in Canada. The specifics and restrictiveness of state and province licensure requirements differ, but they have a few main requirements in common:
- obtaining a Ph.D./Psy.D. from an accredited university
- supervision for a period of time by a licensed psychologist
- obtaining a qualifying score on the EPPP
- passing an oral exam conducted by the state board (California no longer requires)
The SIOP Licensing, Certification & Credentialing Committee monitors information about state licensing requirements for I-O psychologists. We welcome your comments and experiences with the licensing practices in your state. If you have questions or comments, please contact the chair of the committee, Mark Nagy (nagyms@xu.edu) or the co-chair, Daniel Schroeder (dan.schroeder@od-consultants.com)
For continuing education credits information, click here.
In the following sections you will find information about SIOP's official position on licensure of I-O psychologists, information about terminology used in licensing regulations, and links to information about licensing requirements in individual states and provinces, as well as links to other resources for information about licensing requirements and procedures.
Below is a summary of the SIOP policy on licensure published in the July 1996 issue of The Industrial-Organizational Psychologist (TIP):
Background
A special task force was assembled to reexamine SIOP's policy on licensure in 1993. A report and draft revision of the policy was published in 1995 (The Industrial-Organizational Psychologist, 1995, vol. 33, no. 1, pp. 12-20). Comments from the membership were collected, and further revisions were made to the policy. On April 28, 1996, the SIOP Executive Committee voted to adopt the revised policy on licensure. This revised policy reflects a three-year effort of past presidents (Mike Campion, Wally Borman, and Paul Sackett), the State Affairs Committee (chaired by Jay Thomas), a task force, the Executive Committees, and dozens of SIOP members who took the opportunity to comment.
Policy Preamble
Licensure of the title of "Psychologist" and/or practice of "Psychology" is restricted in many states. Industrial and Organizational Psychologists, as citizens, obey the laws in the states in which they live and work. Concurrently, it is also true that many of the work and research activities of I-O psychologists are not unique to this discipline, do not pose a threat of harm to the public, and are not subject to licensure. In accord with these principles, SIOP has formulated the following policy on licensure*:
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- SIOP recognizes that many states require that the practice of I-O psychology be licensed. SIOP members should be allowed to be licensed in those states that require such licensure, and SIOP should provide guidance to state licensing boards on how to evaluate the education and training of an I-O psychologist.
In addition, many, if not most, I-O psychologists practice in more than one state from time to time. SIOP recognizes that some states require that I-O psychologists must be licensed in that state before practicing in that state. SIOP believes this is inappropriate for I-O Psychologists. Therefore, it is SIOP s position that:
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- A licensed I-O psychologist should be allowed to practice in another state for a reasonable period of time without having to obtain a license in that state (e.g., 60 days of professional services per year).
Click here to view SIOP's policy in its entirety.
*Minor wording modifications to this statement, made to reflect the current state of I-O licensure requirements in the states, were approved by the SIOP Executive Board in September 2019.
Licensure Definitions
Title Law--Laws, statutes, rules, and/or regulations which refer to the public use of any title or description of services incorporating the words "psychology", "psychological" or "psychologist", or claims to be trained, experienced, or an expert in the field of psychology and offers to engage or engages in the practice of psychology for any person for a fee. Title use laws vary from state to state.
Practice Law--Laws, statutes, rules, and/or regulations which refer to the actual practice of psychology by a covered person. Activities included under practice law vary widely from state to state, but may include methods and procedures of understanding, predicting and influencing behavior, such as the principles pertaining to learning, perception, motivation, thinking, emotions and interpersonal relationships; the methods and procedures of interviewing; counseling, psychotherapy, psychoanalysis and biofeedback; or administering and interpreting tests of mental abilities, aptitudes, interests, attitudes, personality characteristics, emotion and motivation.
State and Provincial Licensure Boards
Alabama Board of Examiners in Psychology
Alabama Board of Examiners in Psychology
660 Adams Avenue, Suite 360
Montgomery, AL 36104
(334) 242-4127
Alaska Board of Psychologist and Psychological Associate Examiners
P.O. Box 110806
Juneau, AK 99811-0806
Tel (907) 465-3811
Fax (907) 465-2974
Contact: Ruth Bluhm
College of Alberta Psychologists
2100 SunLife Place
10123 – 99 Street
Edmonton AB T5J 3H1
Phone: (780) 424-5070
Toll Free (in Alberta): (800) 659-0857
Fax: (780) 420-1241
Arizona Board of Psychologist Examiners
1400 West Washington, Room 235
Arizona Board of Psychologist Examiners
1400 West Washington Street, Suite 235
Phoenix, Arizona 85007
Phone: (602) 542-8162
Fax: (602) 542-8279
Arkansas Board of Examiners in Psychology
101 East Capitol, Suite 415
Little Rock, AR 72201
(501) 682-6168
Contact: Janet Welsh
College of Psychologists of British Columbia
Suite 404, 1755 West Broadway
Vancouver, BC V6J 4S5
Tel (604) 736-6164 & (800) 665-0979
Fax (604) 736-6133
Contact: Dr. Andrea Kowaz (Registrar)
California Board of Psychology
1422 Howe Avenue, Suite 22
Sacramento, CA 95825-3200
(916) 263-2699
Contact: California Board of Psychology
Colorado Board of Psychologist Examiners
1560 Broadway, Suite 1350
Denver, CO 80202
Phone: (303) 894-7745
Fax: (303) 894-7764
Connecticut Board of Examiners of Psychologists
Department of Public Health
410 Capitol Avenue, MS# 12APP
P.O. Box 340308
Hartford, CT 06134-0308
(860) 509-7648
Contact: Donna Winiarski
Delaware Board of Examiners of Psychology
861 Silver Lake Blvd.
Cannon Building, Suite 203
P.O. Box 1401
Dover, DE 19903
(302) 739-4522, ext. 220
District of Columbia Board of Psychology
899 N. Capitol St., NE
Washington, DC 20002
Phone: (877) 672-2174
Fax: (202) 727-8471
Florida Board of Psychology
4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin #C05
Tallahassee, FL 32399-3255
(850) 245-4373
Georgia Board of Psychology
237 Coliseum Drive
Macon, GA 31217-3858
Phone: (478) 207-2440
Hawaii Board of Psychology
Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs
P.O. Box 3469
Honolulu, HI 96801
(808) 586-2693
Idaho Board of Occupational Licenses
Physical Address:
700 West State Street
Boise, ID 83702
Mailing Address:
PO Box 83720
Boise, ID 83720-0063
Phone: (208) 334-3233
Fax: (208) 334-3945
Email: ibol@ibol.idaho.gov
Illinois Dept. of Financial & Professional Regulation
Department of Professional Regulation
320 West Washington Street, 3rd Floor
Springfield, IL 62786
Tel (217) 785-0800
Fax (217) 782-7645
Contact: Heather Aust
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- (225 ILCS 15/4) (from Ch. 111, par. 5354)
(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2017)
Sec. 4. Application of Act.
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(f) Nothing in this Act shall be construed to limit the activities and use of the title "psychologist" on the part of a person who practices psychology and (i) who possesses a doctoral degree earned in a program concentrated primarily on the study of psychology; and (ii) whose services involve the development and application of psychological theory and methodology to problems of organizations and problems of individuals and groups in organizational settings; and provided further that such person is not in any manner held out to the public as practicing clinical psychology and is not held out to the public by any title, description or designation stating or implying that he or she is a clinical psychologist unless he or she has been licensed under the provisions of this Act.
(Source: P.A. 89-702, eff. 7-1-97.)
- [Note: The implication is that I-O Psychologists do NOT need to be licensed to use the title of Psychologist, if it is clear that non-Clinical, I-O Psychology is being practiced.]
Indiana Professional Licensing Agency
(Attn: Indiana State Psychology Board)
402 W. Washington Street, Room W072
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204
Phone: 317-234-2051
Email: pla6@pla.in.gov
Iowa Board of Psychology
Lucas State Office Building
321 E. 12th Street
Des Moines, IA 50319-0075
Phone: (515) 281-4287
Toll Free: (866) 227-9878
Kansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board
712 S. Kansas Avenue
Topeka, KS 66603-3817
(785) 296-3240
Kentucky Board of Examiners of Psychology
Kentucky Board of Examiners of Psychology
911 Leawood Drive
Frankfort, KY 40601
Phone: (502) 564-3296, extension 246
Fax: 502-696-3925
Email: robinf.vick@ky.gov
Louisiana State Board of Examiners of Psychologists
8280 YMCA Plaza Drive, Building 8-B
Baton Rouge, LA 70810
(225) 763-3935
Maine Board of Psychology
35 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333-0035
Phone: (207) 624-8689
Fax: (207) 624-8666
TTY: (888) 577-6690
Psychological Association of Manitoba
59 Goulet St., Suite 307
Winnipeg, MB R2H 0R5
Tel (204) 947-3698
Fax (204) 487-0784
E-mail: pam@mts.net
Maryland Board of Examiners of Psychologists
4201 Patterson Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21215-2299
(410) 764-4787
Contact: psychologyboard@dhmh.state.md.us
Massachusetts Board of Registration of Psychologists
Division of Registration
1000 Washington Street, Suite 710
Boston, Massachusetts 02118-6100
Phone: (617) 727-3074
Fax: (617) 727-1944
Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs
P.O. Box 30664
Lansing, MI 48909
Phone: (517) 335-0918
Fax: (517) 241-2629
Email: bhsinfo@michigan.gov
Minnesota Board of Psychology
2829 University Avenue SE, Suite 320
St. Paul, MN 55414-3237
(612) 617-2230
Mississippi Board of Psychology
2395 Deerfield Road
Yazoo City, MS 39194
Phone: (662) 716-3934
Toll Free: (888) 693-1416
Fax: (662) 716-0336
Missouri Committee of Psychologists
3605 Missouri Blvd.
P.O. Box 1335
Jefferson City, MO 65102-1335
Phone: (573) 751-0099
Fax: (573) 526-0661
TTY: (800) 735- 2966
Voice Relay: (800) 735-2466
scop@pr.mo.gov
Montana Board of Psychologists
P.O. Box 200513
301 South Park, 4th Floor
Helena, Montana 59620-0513
Phone: (406) 841-2394
Fax: (406) 841-2305Contact: Cheryl Brandt
General Email Inquiries: dlibsdpsy@mt.gov
A proposed rule change for licensure would require those psychologists who do not graduate from an APA accredited program to undergo the licensure process.
Nebraska Board of Examiners of Psychologists
301 Centennial Mall South
P.O. Box 94986
Lincoln, NE 68509-4986
Tel (402) 471-2117
Fax (402) 471-3577
e-mail: doh6121@vmhost.cdp.state.ne.us
State of Nevada Board of Psychological Examiners
4600 Kietzke Lane,
Bldg. E-141
Reno, NV 89502
Phone: (775) 688-1268
Fax: (775) 688-1272
e-mail: nobp@govmail.state.nv.us
College of Psychologists of New Brunswick
403 Regent St., Suite 211
Fredericton, NB E3B 3X6
Tel (506) 459-1994
Fax (506) 459-3608
Contact: Arthur L. Lamrock (Registrar)
E-mail: cpnb@nbnet.nb.ca
Newfoundland and Labrador Psychology Board
P.O. Box 5666, Station C
St. John's, Newfoundland A1C 5W8
(709) 579-6313
Contact: Registrar
New Hampshire Board of Mental Health Practice
105 Pleasant Street, Room 204C
Concord, NH 03301
(603) 271-6762
New Jersey Board of Psychologist Examiners
PO Box 45017
Newark, NJ 07101
Phone: (973) 504-6470
New Mexico State Board of Psychologist Examiners
Toney Anaya Building
2550 Cerrillos Road, Second Floor
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Phone: (505) 476-4960
New York State Board for Psychology
NY State Education Department
Office of the Professions
Division of Professional Licensing Services
Psychology Unit
89 Washington Avenue
Albany, New York 12234-1000518-474-3817, ext. 592 (voice)
518-402-2323 (fax)
opunit5@mail.nysed.gov
North Carolina Psychology Board
895 State Farm Road, Suite 101
Boone, NC 28607
Phone: (828) 262-2258
Fax: (828) 265-8611
Email: info@ncpsychologyboard.org
North Dakota State Board of Psychologists Examiners
Brenda Biwer, Executive Secretary
ND State Board of Psychologist Examiners
P.O. Box 7042
Bismarck, ND 58507-7042
Phone: (701) 590-1754
Fax: (701) 552-7211
Email: ndsbpexaminers@gmail.com
Registration of Psychologists in the Northwest Territories
Department of Health and Social Services
Eighth Floor, Centre Square Tower
Government of the NWT
Box 1320
Yellowknife, NT X1A 2L9
Tel (867) 920-8637
Fax (867) 873-0484
Nova Scotia Board of Examiners in Psychology
The Halifax Professional Centre
5991 Spring Garden Road, Suite 455
Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 1Y6
Phone: (902) 423-2238
Fax: (902) 423-0058
Ohio State Board of Psychology
Vern Riffe Center for Government and the Arts
77 S. High Street Suite 1830
Columbus, OH 43215-6108
Phone: (614) 466-8808
Toll Free: (877) 779-7446
Fax: (614) 728-7081
Oklahoma State Board of Examiners of Psychologists
1000 N.E. 10th St., Room 504
Oklahoma City, OK 73117-1299
(405) 271-6118
College of Psychologists of Ontario
1246 Yonge St., Suite 201
Toronto, ON M4T 1W5
Tel (416) 961-8817 & (800) 489-8388
Contact: Dr. Catherine Yarrow (Registrar)
E-mail: cpo@cpo.on.ca
Oregon State Board of Psychologist Examiners
3218 Pringle Rd. SE, Ste. 130
Salem, OR 97302-6309
(503) 373-1155
Fax: (503) 378-4404
Contact: Debra McHugh
General Email Inquiries: oregon.bpe@state.or.us
As of September 2011, I-O Psychologists have a pathway to licensure if they wish to pursue it. To date, I-O Psychologists are still “Exempt” from licensure requirements, but may elect to become licensed under the newly created Applied Psychology Track. Oregon has just one Psychological License, which may be earned from the traditional Clinical Track or the new Applied Psychology Track, which includes I-O Psychology.
Pennsylvania State Board of Psychology
P.O. Box 2649
Harrisburg, PA 17105-2649
Tel (717) 783-7155
Fax (717) 787-7769
E-mail: psycholo@pados.dos.state.pa.us
Prince Edward Island Psychologists Registration Board
Office of the Dean of Arts
University of PEI
Charlottetown, PEI C1A 4P3
Tel (902) 566-0307
Fax (902) 566-0304
Contact: Dr. Philip Smith (Registrar)
Ordre des Psychologues du Quebec
1100 Avenue Beaumont
Bureau 510
Mont-Royal (Quebec) H3P 3H5
Tel (514) 738-1881 & (800) 363-2644
Fax (514) 737-6431
Contact: Dr. Rene Corriveau (Secretaire general)
E-mail: sercomm@orderpsy.qc.ca
Rhode Island Board of Psychology
3 Capitol Hill, Room 104
Providence, RI 02908-5097
Phone: (401) 228-2828
Email: jmichel.martineau@health.ri.gov
Saskatchewan College of Psychologists
P.O. Box 3664
Regina, SK
S4P 3N8
Tel (306) 352-1699
Fax (306) 352-1697
E-mail: skcp@sasktel.net
South Carolina Board of Examiners in Psychology
P.O. Box 11329
Columbia, SC 29211-1329
Tel (803) 896-4664
Fax (803) 896-4719
Contact: Patricia Glenn
Street Address:
Synergy Business Park
Kingstree Building
Licensing Suite 202
110 Centerview Drive
Columbia, S.C. 29210
South Dakota Board of Psychologist Examiners
700 Governors Drive
Pierre, SD 57501
Phone: (605) 773-3165
Tennessee Board of Examiners in Psychology
426 5th Avenue North
Cordell Hull Building, 1st Floor
Nashville, TN 37247-1010
(615) 532-5127
(Legislative Updates pertaining to licensure in Tennessee)
Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists
333 Guadalupe, Tower 2, Room 450
Austin, TX 78701
Tel (512) 305-7700
Fax (512) 305-7701
Contact: Board of Examiners of Psychologists
Utah Psychologist Licensing
Division of Occupational & Professional Licensing
160 East 300 South
Salt Lake City, UT 84111
Phone: (801) 530-6628
Toll Free: (866) 275-3675
Fax: (801) 530-6511
Vermont Board of Psychological Examiners
Office of Professional Regulation
National Life Building, North FL 2
Montpelier, VT 05620-3402
Phone: (802) 828-2390
Email: dlafaill@sec.state.vt.us
Virginia Board of Psychology
9960 Maryland Drive, Suite 300
Henrico, VA 23233-1463
Phone: (804) 367-4697
Fax: (804) 527-4435
Email: psy@dhp.virginia.gov
Washington Board of Psychology Credentialing
P.O. Box 47877
Olympia, WA 98504-7877
Phone: (360) 236-4700
West Virginia Board of Examiners of Psychologists
P.O. Box 3955
Charleston, WV 25339-3955
(304) 558-0604
State of Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services
PO Box 8935
Madison, WI 53708-8935
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- Street Address:
- Department of Safety and Professional Services
- 1400 East Washington Avenue, Room 112
- Madison, WI 53703
Wyoming State Board of Psychology
JoAnn M. Reid
1800 Carey Ave, 4th Floor
Cheyenne, WY 82002
Phone: (307) 777-3507
Fax: (307) 777-3508
Email: joann.reid@wyo.gov
Licensure Links
Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards
Association of state, provincial, and territorial agencies responsible for licensure and certification of psychologists throughout the United States and Canada. Administers the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP). Distributes licensure related brochures for a fee.
American Psychological Association Licensure Information
Discusses the APA's position on licensure. Links to ASPPB site and APA-affiliated state psychological associations.
Related Sites
SIOP's Response to the APA Commission on Education and Training Leading to Licensure (Sept, 2001)
The Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology
Division 14 of the APA and Affiliate of American Psychological Society (APS). Site includes membership links, information on related activities, affiliated groups, and links to the journal TIP.
American Psychological Association
Scientific and professional organization representing psychology and psychologists in the United States. Site includes membership links, APA publications, psychology related information, and APA activities.
Association for Psychological Science
Organization dedicated to scientifically oriented psychology. Site includes membership links, APS publications, psychology related information, and APS activities.
Other Resources
Licensing Issues for Industrial/Organizational Psychologists and Other Non-Health Care Providers. By Judith Blanton published in Psychology Licensure and Certification: What Students Need to Know, edited by Thomas J. Vaughn and published by APA 2006.
A Guide for I-O Students (and Faculty) About Licensure (Article in the January 2010 issue of The Industrial-Organizational Psychologist)
This page last modified on July 1, 2015