The Florida Board of Psychology (the Board) establishes standards for licensed psychologists in the state. You will need to demonstrate competence through education, experience, and examinations before becoming eligible to work as a licensed psychologist in the state. Becoming licensed as a psychologist in Florida is a complex process, so we’ve put together this step-by-step guide to help you along the way.

Table of Contents

How to Become a Psychologist in Florida

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

The first step to becoming a licensed psychologist in Florida is earning a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university. A bachelor’s degree program usually takes four years to complete and requires a minimum of 120 credit hours. Your bachelor’s degree does not have to be in the field of psychology; however, you should carefully consider your long-term goals when deciding on a major for your bachelor’s degree program if it is outside the field of psychology. If you get your bachelor’s degree in a field outside of psychology, you will likely have to take additional courses before being accepted into a graduate-level psychology program.

Though not required, many candidates pursue a master’s program. Your master’s degree does not have to be in the field of psychology but should be closely related and relevant to your career plan. A stand-alone master’s degree program in psychology will typically take two years of study (30 to 40 credit hours). Master’s degrees are often offered as part of a doctoral program.

2. Earn a doctoral degree in psychology.

There are two primary doctorate-level psychology degrees, each with unique training and requirements for graduating: a Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Psychology. The state of Florida accepts both types for licensure as a psychologist. For more information about the differences between the two doctorate degrees, see our comparison. If you enroll after graduating with a bachelor’s degree, you can usually expect to spend between four and seven years completing a doctoral degree. The state of Florida requires that your doctorate be accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA). Refer to our Psychology Schools in Florida page for a comprehensive list of programs.

3. Submit your application to the Board.

The next step to getting your license is to prepare and submit an application by mail or online to the Board to register for the required examinations and begin the process of verification. The Board requires you include an official, sealed transcript of your doctoral degree (sent directly from your university), and $305 in application fees. You will also need to complete electronic fingerprinting and background screening.

If you have not yet completed your postdoctoral experience, you may apply for licensure by examination under the bifurcation method, by which you may sit for the required exams before completing your supervised experience.

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

Florida law requires those seeking licensure in psychology to obtain 4,000 hours of experience prior to licensure, the equivalent of two years of full-time work. The Board will accept 2,000 hours for doctorate-level psychology internships, but the remaining 2,000 hours must be postdoctoral supervised practical experience. Florida law specifies that the supervised experience must include at least 900 hours of one-on-one work with clients. You will need to have two hours of clinical supervision each week, including an hour of individual supervision. Continuous supervision is required until you are licensed, even if you have completed the required number of hours.

If your supervised experience requirement was not fulfilled at the time you submitted your application, you must submit a Supervising Psychologist Verification form upon completion of your supervision hours.

5. Pass the Florida psychology licensing exams.

Once your application has been approved by the Board, you will be sent information about the exam portion of the licensure process. You will need to pass two exams before being licensed to demonstrate that you understand theories and concepts of psychology, in addition to knowledge of laws and ethical obligations under Florida law.

The Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP) is administered by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB). The EPPP is a two-part exam intended to test your knowledge and practice skills. A scaled score of 500 or better is the minimum passing score on both parts of the exam. You must pass Part 1: Knowledge in order to schedule and take Part 2: Skills. There are practice exams available to help you prepare.

The Florida Laws and Rules Examination consists of 40 multiple-choice questions testing your knowledge of the laws of the state. You are allotted an hour to complete the exam and you must receive a score of 80% correct or better to pass. You will get a preliminary result immediately which will be certified later. The exam costs $128 and is administered by Pearson VUE.

After taking the two required exams, the Board will receive your scores and notify you of your licensure status. If you wish to work while waiting for your license, you can apply for provisional licensure and work under the supervision of a licensed psychologist until you are notified of your licensure.

6. Receive your license from the Board.

Once you have satisfied all requirements listed above, the Board will review your application within 30 days and you will be granted your Florida psychologist license.

Florida Licensure by Endorsement

If you already have an active license in good standing in another state, you can apply for licensure in Florida through the MOBILE Endorsement pathway. You will need to submit an application, prove that your license is in good standing and without disciplinary action in the preceding five years, satisfy the exam equivalency, and complete a background check. Fees to become licensed through endorsement total $305, which includes a $200 non-refundable application fee, an initial licensure fee of $100, and a $5 activity fee.

License Renewal and Continuing Education

In order to renew your psychology license, you must complete 40 hours of continuing education units (CEUs) during each 24-month licensure cycle, submit your renewal application, and pay the renewal fee of $205 online or through the mail before May 31. Licenses are valid for two years. Florida requires two hours of medical errors training and three hours of ethics and Florida psychology law. Every six years, the state requires two hours of domestic violence training as part of the total 40 hours. The Board provides further information about CEU requirements.

Limited License Psychologist

If you have been licensed to practice psychology in another jurisdiction for at least 10 years and you have retired (or intend to retire within six months) from psychology, you can apply for a limited psychology license that allows you to work in a public or not-for-profit institution only, providing psychological services to underserved and critical need populations. The application fee is $30 and you will need to provide proof of licensure.

School Psychologist

To be licensed by the Florida Department of Health, school psychologists must hold at least a master’s degree from an accredited program that includes at least 60 semester hours of psychology courses. You must also complete three years of professional experience, two years of which must be supervised. Doctoral internships may be counted towards this requirement.

If becoming licensed by examination (rather than by endorsement), you must take and pass the Praxis School Psychologist exam, administered by Educational Testing Service (ETS). The application fee is $355 and applications are accepted online.

Florida Psychologist Jobs and Salary Information

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), as of May 2021, the average salary for “all other” psychologists in Florida was $103,240 annually.1 By comparison, clinical and counseling psychologists earned an average of $87,730, and school psychologists in Florida average $72,910 per year.1 The average salary for postsecondary psychology teachers in Florida was $77,120.1 The field of psychology continues to grow in Florida; Projections Central estimates job growth of 12.6% for “all other” psychologists; 21.4% for clinical, counseling, and school psychologists; and 17.3% for postsecondary psychology teachers in the state from 2020 to 2030.2

OccupationNumber Employed1Average Annual Salary1
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists2,580$87,730
Industrial-Organizational PsychologistsN.Av.N.Av.
Psychologists, All Other800$103,240
Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary580$77,120
School Psychologists2,660$72,910

Additional Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

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

The length of time it can take to become a licensed psychologist in Florida depends on how long it takes to complete your education and training, which can vary based on whether you go full- or part-time, take breaks in between degrees, etc. A bachelor’s degree usually takes about four years of full-time study to complete, and a combined master’s and doctoral degree can take four to seven years. In addition to education, you will also need to complete one year (2,000 hours) of supervised professional experience after you graduate from your doctoral program, and prepare for and take the required exams before completing the licensure process. You should expect to spend around a decade from commencing your bachelor’s degree before you become a full-fledged psychologist in Florida.

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

The Board requires you to have a PsyD or a PhD in Psychology before applying for licensure in the state.

How much do psychologists in Florida make?

According to the BLS, the average salary for Florida psychologists, excluding educators, was $87,960 as of May 2021.3 “All other” psychologists earned the most in Florida on average, while school psychologists earned the least.3

References:
1. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics, State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, Florida: https://data.bls.gov/oes/#/area/1200000
2. Projections Central, Long Term Occupational Projections: https://projectionscentral.org/Projections/LongTerm