Indiana Psychology Licensure Requirements
In Indiana, the Indiana State Psychology Board (the Board) is responsible for issuing licenses to qualified psychologists. To become a practicing psychologist in Indiana, you will need to complete certain educational requirements (including a doctoral degree in psychology), submit an application to the Board, and pass several exams. To provide individual mental and behavioral health services, you will also need to complete supervised experience. There are many details to keep track of and milestones to meet during this process, so we’ve prepared a step-by-step guide to help you through it. On this page, you will find detailed information about becoming a licensed psychologist in Indiana.
Table of Contents
- How to Become a Licensed Psychologist
- Licensure by Reciprocity
- License Renewal and Continuing Education
- Related Licenses
- Jobs and Salary Information
- Additional Resources
- Frequently Asked Questions
How to Become a Psychologist in Indiana
1. Earn a bachelor’s degree and (optionally) a master’s degree in psychology.
The first step to becoming a licensed psychologist in Indiana is to complete a bachelor’s degree. Although it can be helpful later on to complete a degree in psychology, it is not necessary and many people study other subjects at this stage. A bachelor’s degree typically takes four years (120 credit hours) of full-time study. If your bachelor’s degree is not in psychology, you may be required to take some specific psychology prerequisite courses prior to starting a graduate program.
An optional step after completing your bachelor’s degree is to apply to programs that offer a stand-alone master’s degree. Many people earn a master’s degree as part of their doctoral program, so a master’s may not be necessary. However, a stand-alone master’s degree can be helpful if you did not major in psychology for your bachelor’s degree or if you want more time or experience before committing to attending a doctoral program. Master’s degree programs typically take about two years (30-40 credit hours) of full-time attendance and may involve studying general psychology or focusing on a specialty area.
2. Earn a doctoral degree in psychology.
The next step to becoming a licensed psychologist in Indiana is to earn either a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Psychology or a Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) degree from an accredited university. Although there are similarities between the requirements for these degrees, there are also some important differences. If you are unsure which degree is the best fit for you, visit our home page discussing these degrees.
Doctoral programs in psychology usually take four to seven years to complete if you are attending school full-time. To become licensed in Indiana as a psychologist providing health services including therapy and assessment, you must attend a program in clinical, counseling, or school psychology, or a Board-approved program that is focused on applied health services. Most programs in these areas require a one-year internship as part of their training, but be aware when applying for internships that Indiana requires you to complete at least 1,500 hours of supervised work experience during that placement to be eligible for licensure.
For more information about doctoral programs in Indiana, please visit our page on Psychology Schools in Indiana.
3. Submit your applicant information for licensure to the Board.
After you have completed your doctoral degree, you will be prepared to begin the process of obtaining your license to practice psychology in Indiana. To do this, you will need to submit an Application for Licensure to Practice Psychology in Indiana by Examination to the Board either by creating an account on the Personal Licensing online portal or by mail. The application package includes an application form, an official transcript, and a $100 application fee. Once your application has been reviewed, you will be invited to continue the application process by completing the remaining requirements.
4. Complete a background check.
After your application has been received and processed, you will need to complete a background check. The Board will notify you by email when they are ready for you to complete this. Although this email should contain instructions for this background check, you can review Indiana’s Criminal Background Check Instructions page for more information.
5. Pass the Indiana psychology licensing exams.
To become licensed in Indiana, there are two exams you will need to pass. The first exam is Indiana’s jurisprudence exam, a written test that assesses knowledge of legal and ethical standards relevant to the practice of psychology in Indiana. After the Board has reviewed your application and your background check has been completed, they will notify you that you are eligible to take the jurisprudence exam and will provide instructions. The jurisprudence exam must be completed within seven days of notification of eligibility by the Board.
After you have passed the jurisprudence exam, the Board will notify you that you are eligible to take the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP), a national exam that assesses general psychology knowledge. The EPPP consists of 225 multiple-choice items, and you must earn a scaled score of 500 or higher to pass. To help you prepare, the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB) offers EPPP practice exams to all applicants. You must take the EPPP within one calendar year of receiving exam approval from the Board.
After you have successfully passed the EPPP, your initial psychologist license should be granted. This license allows you to practice independently as a psychologist in non-clinical roles (such as research and teaching). However, it does not allow you to work independently with patients. In order to independently diagnose and treat mental and behavioral disorders, you will need to complete two more steps to obtain an endorsement as a health service provider in psychology (HSPP).
6. Complete two years of supervised experience in your area of training.
Before applying for Health Service Provider in Psychology (HSPP) status, you will need to complete two years of supervised experience. The first year (1,500 hours) must be completed as part of an internship prior to completing your doctoral degree. This must be an established internship program set in a health service setting with a training director, more than one psychologist-level supervisor, and more than one intern.
The second year (1,600 hours) can be fulfilled through practicum placements during your doctoral program, supervised postdoctoral work, or a combination of the two. This must include at least 900 hours of direct client work completed in no less than 12 months.
7. Apply for HSPP endorsement.
After you have completed all of your supervised experience hours, you will be eligible to apply for an HSPP endorsement. For this step, you will need to submit the Application for Endorsement as a Health Service Provider in Psychology (HSPP), either online or by mail. This application includes sections where you will provide information about your education and training, as well as sections you will need to provide to your supervisors so that they can verify your SPE. When you submit this application, you will also need to pay a $100 application fee.
8. Receive your application from the Board.
After your application for HSPP endorsement has been reviewed, the Board will notify you when it has been granted. You cannot begin providing health services independently before you receive this notification.
Indiana Licensure by Reciprocity
If you are already licensed as a psychologist in another state, you may be interested in transferring your license to Indiana. To be eligible for licensure through reciprocity, you must have a doctoral degree in psychology, hold an active license from another state, and have previously passed the EPPP. The state also requires that you must have been practicing psychology continuously and regularly since your license was issued.
If you meet these criteria, applying for licensure through reciprocity is a fairly easy process. First, you will need to complete the Application for Licensure to Practice Psychology in Indiana by Examination or Endorsement, either online or by mail, provide proof of state licensure and official transcripts, and pay the $100 application fee. You will also need to contact the ASPPB to release your official EPPP score to the Board for review. After your application has been reviewed by the Board, they will provide you with instructions for completing a criminal background check and taking the Indiana jurisprudence exam. After you have completed these requirements, you will be notified when your Indiana license has been issued.
A non-renewable limited scope Temporary Psychology Permit is available to applicants licensed in other states who have not taken the EPPP exam. These applicants must apply through the licensure by examination pathway but may apply for a ten-month, non-renewable temporary permit while they wait to write the EPPP. The temporary permit application is available from the Board and is made after the initial licensure application package has been submitted according to the steps above. The temporary permit application fee is $50.
License Renewal and Continuing Education
Once you have received your license in Indiana, you will need to make sure that it remains active for as long as you are practicing. You will need to renew your license by August 31 of every even-numbered year by completing and submitting the Psychologist Renewal Document along with a $100 renewal fee.
Psychologists with HSPP endorsement must also complete 40 continuing education (CE) hours during each two-year period to be eligible for renewal. At least 20 of these hours must come from “Category I” activities, which are formal educational activities such as courses and workshops. No more than 20 hours can come from “Category II” activities, which are more informal or individualized, such as journal clubs and case conferences. Additionally, at least six of the total required hours must be on topics related to ethics, and three of these ethics hours must come from Category I activities. Examples of approved CE activities and providers can be found on the Board website. If you earn more than 40 CE hours during a renewal period, you cannot carry any extra over to the next period.
Related Licenses
School Psychologist
In Indiana, school psychologists are licensed by the Indiana Department of Education (DOE) with a school services license. Applicants must have at least a master’s degree in school psychology from a program approved by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP). Graduates are eligible to work as school psychologists in Indiana by applying for an Initial Practitioner License. The fee is $35 to apply, and you must create a Licensing Verification and Information System (LVIS) account to apply. A second payment of $35 will be due for license issuance. After gaining two years of experience in a two-year beginning school services residency program, individuals may apply for a Practitioner’s License by paying the $35 fee.
Indiana Psychologist Jobs and Salary Information
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), as of May 2021, the average psychologist salary for clinical and counseling psychologists in Indiana was $79,250.1 School psychologists earned an average annual salary of $67,320 and “all other” types of psychologists earned an average salary of $86,730.1 Postsecondary psychology teachers earned an average of $92,690 annually.1
The number of new psychologist jobs in Indiana is expected to increase between 2020 and 2030, indicating a good outlook for people considering employment as psychologists there, according to Projections Central.2 The highest number of new jobs is expected in the fields of clinical, counseling, and school psychology, where jobs are expected to increase by 12.3% or 200 new jobs through 2030.2 Psychology jobs in the “all other” category are expected to increase by 5.2% or 50 new jobs during the same period.2
| Occupation | Number Employed1 | Average Annual Salary1 |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | 1,360 | $79,250 |
| Industrial-Organizational Psychologists | N.Av | N.Av |
| Psychologists, All Other | 240 | $86,730 |
| Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary | 530 | $92,690 |
| School Psychologists | 660 | $67,320 |
Additional Resources
- Indiana Association of School Psychologists (IASP): State organization in support of school psychologists, offering annual conferences and advocacy opportunities.
- Indiana Psychological Association (IPA): State organization promoting and advocating for psychologists and also provides information on CE credit opportunities.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to become a psychologist in Indiana?
To become a psychologist in Indiana, you will need to complete at least a bachelor’s degree and a doctoral degree, and complete the required exams, which takes at least seven years or more depending on if you take any breaks or study part-time. If you want to provide individual treatment of mental and behavioral disorders, you will also have to complete two years of supervised experience. Although the exact amount of time this entire process can take depends on a variety of factors, it generally takes a total of about 10 years to meet all of the state requirements.
What degree do I need to be a licensed psychologist in Indiana?
To be a licensed psychologist in Indiana, you need to complete either a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Psychology or a Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) degree.
How much do psychologists in Indiana make?
Average salaries for psychologists vary across areas of specialization and range from $67,320 for school psychologists to $92,690 for postsecondary psychology teachers.1
References:
1. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics, May 2021 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, Indiana: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_in.htm
2. Projections Central, Long Term Occupational Projections: https://projectionscentral.org/Projections/LongTerm