Louisiana Psychology Licensure Requirements

If you are interested in becoming a licensed psychologist in Louisiana, you will need to fulfill the criteria set forth by the Louisiana State Board of Examiners of Psychologists (the Board), which is the organization that issues psychology licenses in the state. These requirements include completing a doctoral degree in psychology, obtaining supervised work experience, and passing multiple exams. To help you through the process of becoming a licensed psychologist in Louisiana, we’ve prepared this guide with detailed information on each of these steps.

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 Louisiana

1. Earn a bachelor’s degree and (optionally) a master’s degree in psychology.

The first step to becoming a psychologist is to complete a bachelor’s degree. These degrees usually require at least 120 credits and take about four years to complete if you are attending school full-time. You do not have to major in psychology at this stage, but if you choose an unrelated subject you will likely need to complete additional prerequisites before entering a graduate program in psychology.

After you finish your bachelor’s degree, you may choose to complete a master’s degree in psychology. Earning a master’s degree is optional and can be done as a stand-alone program or as part of a doctoral program. A stand-alone master’s degree program can give you more experience in psychology and help you decide whether you are ready to apply to doctoral programs, particularly if your bachelor’s degree was not in psychology. Master’s degree programs in psychology usually take about two to three years (30-40 credit hours) to complete, though this can vary depending on the requirements of the program.

2. Earn a PsyD or PhD in psychology.

After you have earned a bachelor’s degree (and a master’s degree, if you have chosen to complete one), your next step will be to earn a doctoral degree in psychology. Doctoral programs in psychology typically take between four and seven years to complete, and award either a Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) or a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Psychology. Either of these degrees will prepare you to become a licensed psychologist in Louisiana, but there are some important differences between them. If you are unsure which one would be a better fit for you, please visit this page to learn more about the differences.

In Louisiana, you must earn your doctoral degree from a program that meets certain educational requirements set forth by the Louisiana State Board of Examiners of Psychologists (the Board). If you attend a program that is accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) or listed by the National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology or the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB), your degree will be automatically accepted by the Board as meeting the required criteria. If you attend a program that is not approved by one of these organizations, the Board will need to review information about your program to ensure that it meets their standards. If your doctoral degree is in an area of psychology that involves working directly with patients, your training must also include at least 300 hours of supervised practicum experience and 1,500 supervised internship hours in a healthcare setting. Up to 2,000 hours of your predoctoral internship can be counted towards the supervised experience required for licensure. To qualify, the internship must be an organized program that provides two hours per week of individual supervision, two hours per week of didactics, and at least 375 hours of service-related activities.

Please visit our Psychology Schools in Louisiana page for more information about programs to consider.

3. Submit your application for provisional licensure to the Board.

The first step in Louisiana’s psychology licensure process is to submit an Application for Provisional License. During this step, you will also need to have all of your graduate transcripts sent to the Board, pay a $200 application fee, and complete a criminal background check. You must also submit an Internship Supervision Documentation form and a Supervised Practice Plan.

4. Complete two years of supervised experience in your area of training.

Louisiana requires all applicants for psychology licensure to earn 4,000 hours (or two years) of supervised experience. Up to 2,000 hours of your predoctoral internship can be counted towards supervised experience requirements if the program you attended meets the Board’s criteria. Among other requirements, a qualifying internship must be an organized program that provides two hours per week of individual supervision, two hours per week of didactics, and at least 375 hours of service-related activities.

The remainder of your supervised experience hours must be earned after your degree has been completed. During this time, you must receive at least one hour of supervision each week from a psychologist who has been licensed for at least one year. Once you have completed these postdoctoral hours, have your supervisor submit the Postdoctoral Supervision Documentation form to the Board.

Note that if you intend to declare areas of specialization, such as neuropsychology or counseling, clinical, or school psychology, you must acquire at least 300 hours of practicum experience in each area in which you intend to practice. Your practicum, internship, and educational experience all must meet Board requirements for such specialty areas, which will be verified at the time you submit your final documentation in support of your licensure application.

5. Pass the Louisiana psychology licensing exams.

When your provisional license is issued, the Board will also give you permission to register for the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP), which is administered by ASPPB. The EPPP is a national exam that covers many different domains of psychology. There are 225 multiple-choice questions on the EPPP and you must earn a scaled score of 500 or higher. You can take the EPPP at any time after the Board has given you permission, including while you are still earning your supervised experience hours. A practice test is available on the Board’s website.

Upon passing the EPPP and completing all other licensure requirements, including supervised experience, you will be permitted to take the state oral and jurisprudence exams. The oral exam costs $250 and covers topics related to competence and knowledge in psychology. The jurisprudence exam is a take-home exam that you must complete and return within 30 days. Items will cover ethical and legal standards related to the practice of psychology in Louisiana. The fee for the jurisprudence exam is $75.

6. Receive your license from the Board.

If you pass the oral exam, you will receive your license later the same day.

Louisiana Licensure by Reciprocity

If you are licensed in another state and are considering working in Louisiana, you will likely be interested in applying for licensure by reciprocity. To be eligible for this, however, you must have held a license for five years with no disciplinary actions against you and must have either a Certificate of Professional Qualification (CPQ) from the ASPPB or be a diplomate of the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP). To apply for licensure by reciprocity, complete the Application for Licensure Via Reciprocity and submit it to the Board with a $200 application fee. You will also need to submit a license verification form. Before your license is issued, you will also need to pass the Louisiana jurisprudence exam, which costs $75.

License Renewal and Continuing Education

Each year, you will need to renew your license to keep it active. Licenses expire on July 31 every year, and must be renewed before that date. You can either complete and mail in a renewal form or renew your license through the online portal. License renewal fees are $350 each year (filing a paper application costs an additional $15).

Every two years, you will also need to complete 40 hours of continuing education (CE). You will need to report completion of these hours on either even- or odd-numbered years, depending on your license number. During each two-year renewal period, at least two CE hours must be in ethics or law. You must also earn credits in at least two of the following three categories: professional activities (e.g., peer consultation, conferences), academic activities (e.g., taking a graduate course, publishing academic works), and traditional activities (e.g., workshops, self-study). To qualify for CE requirements, activities must be sponsored by Board-approved entities such as accredited universities, national or regional psychology associations, or the Louisiana Department of Health.

Related Licenses

Certified School Psychologist

To practice as a school psychologist, the Louisiana Board of Education requires that you complete an accredited doctoral degree in psychology for a Level A Certificate. A Level B Certificate requires that you possess at least a master’s or specialist degree from a regionally accredited, NASP-approved institution. Additionally, for both levels of certification, you must hold a current Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP) credential from NASP. A one-year renewable Provisional Certificate is issued to entry-level school psychologists who have completed their program, except for the internship experience needed for both Standard Certificates of both levels. School psychologists who have at least three years of experience in the field (at least two in Louisiana) are eligible to apply for a Supervisor of School Psychological Services endorsement. Level A and B Certificates are good for five years and Supervisor Certificates are valid for as long as the certificate is valid. To apply, you can create an account on the Teach Louisiana website.

Licensed Specialist in School Psychology

In order to become a licensed specialist in school psychology (LSSP) by the Board, you must possess certification as a school psychologist by the Louisiana Board of Education. LSSPs are limited in practice and may only work in a public, private, or charter school system. You must have completed a school specialist degree program from a National Association of School Psychologists (NASP)-approved program or the equivalent. The program must include a 1,200 hour internship, of which 600 hours must be in a school setting. You must also complete two additional years of supervised professional experience as a certified school psychologist.

You will submit a notarized application along with official transcripts, verification of your certification through NASP, and a $200 application fee. Once the Board receives your application, you will be asked to submit the names of three certified school psychologists or licensed psychologists as references and to initiate a criminal background check through Louisiana State Police. If you do not have NCSP certification, you must also submit PRAXIS scores, documentation of your supervised 1,200-hour internship, and three years of supervised certified experience as a school psychologist. Upon approval, you will be invited to take the Louisiana jurisprudence exam ($75). If you receive a score of 80% or higher, your file will be reviewed by the LSSP Committee (which meets quarterly), and they will review your file and recommend you to the Board for licensure.

Louisiana Psychologist Jobs and Salary Information

The average salary for psychologists in Louisiana (with the exception of postsecondary psychology teachers), as of May 2021, is $99,655, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).¹ Of this group, clinical and counseling psychologists make an average of $101,420 and “all other” psychologists earn an average of $97,890.¹ The average salary of postsecondary psychology teachers is $74,980.¹

There is expected to be an overall increase in the number of psychology jobs in Louisiana between 2020 and 2030.² Counseling, clinical, and school psychology positions are not expected to grow during that time period and “all other” psychologist jobs are expected to decrease by 4.4%, while postsecondary psychology teacher jobs are expected to grow by 6.3%.²

Additional Resources

• Louisiana Psychological Association (LPA): Organization with resources for the public and psychologists in Louisiana.
• Louisiana School Psychological Association (LSPA):Promotes the practice of school psychology and provides resources for school psychologists in Louisiana.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to become a psychologist in Louisiana?

The entire process of becoming a practicing psychologist in Louisiana usually takes about 10 years. However, this is influenced by factors such as whether you earn a master’s degree before enrolling in a doctoral program, how many courses your programs require, and how much postdoctoral experience you need to earn before applying for your license.

What degree do I need to be a licensed psychologist in Louisiana?

To be able to earn a psychology license in Louisiana, you must earn either a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in psychology or a Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) degree. This must be earned from an APA-accredited or equivalent program, and must include 300 hours of a supervised practicum and a 1,500-hour supervised internship in a healthcare setting.

How much do psychologists in Louisiana make?

The average salary for practicing psychologists (excluding postsecondary psychology teachers) as of May 2021 in Louisiana is $99,655.¹ However, the amount any single psychologist makes is dependent on factors such as their area of specialty, professional experience, and proximity to metropolitan locations.

References:
1. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics, May 2021 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, Louisiana: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_la.htm
2. Long Term Occupational Projections: https://projectionscentral.org/projections/longterm