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Hawaii Psychology Licensure Requirements

Psychology licensure in Hawaii is overseen by the state’s Board of Psychology (the Board). If you want to become a licensed psychologist in Hawaii, you must obtain a doctoral degree in psychology, earn 3,800 hours of supervised work hours, and pass a national exam. Because this is a complex process that requires a number of steps, we’ve created the following guide to help you navigate it. On this page, you’ll find detailed instructions for every step involved in becoming a psychologist in Hawaii.

Table of Contents

How to Become a Psychologist in Hawaii

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

The first step to becoming a licensed psychologist in Hawaii is to earn a bachelor’s degree in any topic (a psychology major is not required). Bachelor’s degrees usually take four years (or about 120 credit hours) to finish. If you do not major in psychology, you will likely have to complete additional prerequisite courses before applying to psychology graduate programs.

If you would like to earn more experience in psychology before applying to doctoral programs, especially if it was not your undergraduate major, you might consider earning a stand-alone master’s degree in psychology after you have finished your bachelor’s degree. This is optional, however, as you may also earn a master’s degree as part of your doctoral program. Master’s degrees in psychology usually take about two years, or around 30-40 credit hours.

2. Earn a doctoral degree in psychology.

The next step towards licensure is to complete a doctoral program in psychology. These programs award either a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Psychology or a Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) degree; it can be helpful to understand the differences between them before you apply. It usually takes between four and seven years to complete a PsyD or PhD in Psychology, depending on the specific program you attend.

To become licensed in Hawaii, you must attend a doctoral program in clinical, counseling, or school psychology (or a combination of these) that is accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) or housed in a regionally-accredited institution. Your doctoral program will include an internship, of which 1,900 hours may be counted towards the supervised experience required for licensure. Note that if you attend a program that is not APA-accredited, you will need to provide documentation during the application process that your program provided equivalent training.

For more information about schools to consider, please visit our Psychology Schools in Hawaii page.

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

Hawaii requires all new psychologists to complete two years (3,800 hours) of supervised experience before becoming licensed. The first year of this (1,900 hours) will be earned during your required predoctoral internship that you completed as part of your doctoral program. The remaining 1,900 hours must be earned from postdoctoral training (supervised postdoctoral experience or SPE) in a health service setting. During this training, you must receive supervision from a psychologist who is licensed, certified by the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP), or registered with the National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology (if the supervisor’s degree was granted before 1970). Your supervisors will need to complete the required forms documenting your supervised experience as part of your application.

4. Submit your application to the Board.

After you have completed 3,800 hours of supervised experience, you will need to submit the Board’s application form. The first two pages outline all of the information you will need to submit along with the application. Note that your internship and postdoctoral supervisors will need to complete the forms that verify your supervised experience hours. If you did not attend an APA-accredited program, you will need to provide specific information about your program’s training (e.g., specific courses taken). When the application is complete, submit it to the Board along with a $50 application fee.

5. Pass the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP).

Once the Board has reviewed and approved your application, you will be granted approval to take the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP), a national exam measuring broad knowledge of psychology administered by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB). There are 225 multiple-choice items on the EPPP and you must earn a scaled score of 500 or higher to pass. Your scores will automatically be sent to the Board after you have taken the exam. There is a EPPP practice exam to help you prepare.

6. Receive your license from the Board.

After the Board receives notification that you have passed the EPPP, they will notify you that you are eligible to receive your license. Before they will issue it, you will need to pay a licensing fee, which varies based on the date you are licensed. When you receive your license, you may begin practicing independently as a psychologist.

Hawaii Licensure by Certificate, Credential, or Senior Psychologist Status

If you are licensed in another state but planning to move to Hawaii, you will need to obtain a psychology license in Hawaii before you can begin practicing there. There are several different ways to apply for this if you hold a license in another state. If you hold a diplomate certificate from the ABPP, a Certificate of Professional Qualification (CPQ) from the ASPPB, or a Health Service Provider credential from the National Register of Health Service Psychologists, you are qualified for licensure in Hawaii. If you have been licensed for at least 20 years, you are qualified under the “senior psychologist” designation.

To apply for licensure by certificate, credential, or senior psychologist, complete the pages on the application forms required for the type of licensure you are seeking.All applications must be accompanied by a $50 application fee. Once your application has been reviewed and approved, you will need to pay an additional licensing fee (amount varies based on date) to obtain your license.

License Renewal and Continuing Education

To keep your Hawaii psychology license active, you will need to renew it by June 30 of every even-numbered year. Before you can renew your license, you will need to complete 18 hours of continuing education (CE) activities during each two-year renewal period. To count towards this requirement, CE activities must be approved by the APA, the Hawaii Psychological Association (HPA), or other state psychology associations. Once you have completed your CE hours, you can renew your license online through MyPVL. You will need to pay a fee of $278 each time you renew your license.

Hawaii Psychologist Jobs and Salary Information

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), as of May 2021, the average salary for clinical and counseling psychologists in Hawaii was $113,040, and the average salary for “all other” psychologists was $92,060.1 Postsecondary psychology teachers in the state earned an average of $92,990.1

If you are planning to look for a job as a counseling, clinical, or school psychologist in Hawaii, the outlook is very good. The number of these psychology jobs is expected to increase by 14% between 2020 and 2030, which is greater than the projected nationwide growth in this field during the same time period (7.8%).2 “All other” psychologist jobs are expected to grow by 2% and postsecondary psychology teacher jobs by 18.2%.

OccupationNumber Employed1Average Annual Salary1
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists380$113,040
Industrial-Organizational PsychologistsN.Av.N.Av.
Psychologists, All Other130$92,060
Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary200$92,990
School PsychologistsN.Av.N.Av.

Additional Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Becoming a licensed psychologist in Hawaii takes about 10 years, though this can vary based on the requirements of the programs you attend and other factors. To become licensed, you will need to obtain a doctoral degree in psychology as well as a year of postdoctoral experience.

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

To earn a license to practice psychology in Hawaii, you must earn a PhD or PsyD in clinical, counseling, or school psychology (or a combined program in these areas). You must also earn your degree from an APA-accredited program or one that has equivalent training.

How much do psychologists in Hawaii make?

The average salary for a psychologist in Hawaii (excluding postsecondary psychology teachers) was $102,550 as of May 2021.1 The amount of money a psychologist can make is based on a number of factors, including their location within the state and their specialty.

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