If you want to become a licensed clinical psychologist in Illinois, you must meet educational requirements, complete supervised practice hours, and pass the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP). The Psychologists Licensing and Disciplinary Board (the Board) regulates all psychology licensing. This guide will help you understand each step of the psychology licensure process in Illinois.

Table of Contents

How to Become a Psychologist in Illinois

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

A bachelor’s degree in psychology or another field is the first step toward becoming a psychologist. Bachelor’s degrees typically take four years of full-time study to complete, with about 120 required credits. Your bachelor’s degree can be in any subject, but those without a psychology background may need to complete prerequisites before beginning graduate study.

After completing your bachelor’s degree, you may choose to pursue a master’s degree in psychology. A master’s degree commonly takes about two years and 30 to 40 credit hours. A master’s offers opportunities to specialize, but many doctorates include a master’s degree in the program of study and most doctoral programs don’t require a master’s degree for admission.

2. Earn a doctoral degree in psychology.

In order to be licensed in Illinois, you must earn a Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) or Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Psychology. Visit our guide to the differences between the PsyD and PhD. In Illinois, application and experience requirements are streamlined for those attending a program recognized by the American Psychological Association (APA) or the Board. In all cases, your program should include at least three years of full-time study and one year of supervised experience. The program must include study across seven core content areas. In addition, one of the two years of supervised experience you will need for licensure must come from an internship completed during your doctoral program. Overall, doctoral degrees in psychology can take between four to seven years to complete.

For a comprehensive list of the doctoral programs offered in Illinois, see our guide to Psychology Schools in Illinois.

3. Gain at least two years of supervised experience in psychology.

You will need a minimum of two years of supervised experience to become a licensed psychologist in Illinois. One year must be an internship during the doctoral program. One year is considered 1,750 hours completed within a 24-month period. Each week of your internship should involve one hour of face-to-face supervision and two hours of learning activities.

You must also complete one year of postdoctoral experience. The experience must be earned across no fewer than 50 weeks and no more than 36 months. Full-time experience must consist of at least 35 hours per week in a single setting, and you must remain in the same setting for a minimum of six months. Hours accumulated on a part-time basis must consist of at least 18 hours per week in a single setting and you must remain in the same setting for a minimum of nine months. Postdoctoral experience must be supervised by a licensed clinical psychologist for at least one hour per week, every week of experience. Supervision needs to be on a one-on-one basis and delivered face-to-face.

Candidates whose doctoral program is not APA-accredited or recognized by the Board may be required to complete additional SPE.

4. Submit your application to the Board.

Once you complete your SPE, you will need to submit an online application. The application must include official transcripts from your doctoral program, verification of supervised experience, and other supporting documents as listed on the Board website, along with the $50 application fee.

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

After the Board approves your application, you will be eligible to take the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP). As of 2026, Illinois only requires EPPP Part 1: Knowledge. Registration and testing fees for the EPPP total $692. The exam comprises 225 multiple-choice questions and requires a scaled score of 500 (about 70% of the questions correct) to pass.The ASPPB offers practice exams.

6. Receive your license to practice psychology in Illinois.

After you have passed the EPPP, the Board will be notified by the ASPPB. If the rest of your application is complete and the Board determines your eligibility, you will receive your Illinois psychology license.

Illinois Licensure by Endorsement

If you are currently licensed in a different state with substantially equivalent requirements to those of Illinois, you can submit an Application for Licensure via Endorsement. Along with the application, you will need to submit documents supporting your current license, education, and experience, including EPPP exam scores. There is a $100 fee for Licensure via Endorsement.

License Renewal and Continuing Education

Clinical and prescribing psychologist licenses expire on September 30 of every even-numbered year. In order to be eligible for licensing renewal in the state of Illinois, you must complete 24 hours of continuing education (CE), with minimum hours in the following topics:

  • Alzheimer’s and other dementias (1 hour every three renewals)
  • Cultural competency (1 hour)
  • Diversity (3 hours)
  • Ethics (3 hours)
  • Implicit bias awareness (1 hour)
  • Sexual harassment prevention (1 hour)

The deadline for completing CE is September 30 of the renewal year. You can renew your license online. The fee is $160. New licensees aren’t required to complete CE for their first renewal. The Board provides a list of approved CE providers on its CE fact sheet under the Approved Continuing Education Sponsors and Programs section.

Prescribing Psychologist

To become a prescribing psychologist in Illinois, you will need to hold a current Illinois clinical psychologist license and have completed minimum educational requirements including specific undergraduate and graduate coursework along with a full-time practicum of at least 14 months of supervised clinical training, including a research project. You will also need a passing score on the Psychopharmacology Examination for Psychologists (PEP) administered by the APA. Once these requirements have been met, you will submit the application for prescribing psychologist licensure online with the required supporting documents and $150 application fee.

School Psychologist

To become a school psychologist in Illinois, you will need a Professional Educator License (PEL) issued by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE). You can apply for your PEL once you have earned a master’s degree or higher in psychology with a specialization in school psychology from an accredited institution. The program must include 250 hours of practicum in a school setting or child study center and a 1,200 hour internship lasting a full school year under the direction of a credentialed school psychologist. Candidates must also pass the Illinois Licensure Testing System (ILTS) School Psychologist exam, administered by Pearson. Candidates who meet all requirements can submit an application through the Educator Licensure Information System (ELIS).

Senior Psychologist

If you have been a licensed clinical psychologist for 20 years or more, you can apply by endorsement for licensure as a senior psychologist. Along with your application, you must submit proof that you have lawfully practiced clinical psychology for at least 20 years, proof that you graduated with a doctoral degree in psychology from an accredited college or university, and a $100 fee.

Illinois Psychologist Jobs and Salary Information

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), as of May 2021, the state of Illinois had the third-highest number of clinical and counseling psychologists, the fourth-highest number of school psychologists, the second-highest number of all other psychologists, and the fifth-highest number of postsecondary psychology teachers in the country.1-4 On average, practicing psychologists in the state earned $92,023 per year as of May 2021.5 Postsecondary teachers in psychology earned an average of $85,420 annually in the state.5 Data from Projections Central predicts that the number of clinical, counseling, and school psychologists in Illinois will increase by 2.4% by 2030, while all other psychologist jobs are projected to decrease by 3.5%.6 Postsecondary psychology teaching jobs are expected to increase by 5.7%.6

OccupationNumber Employed1Average Annual Salary1
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists4,160$101,090
Industrial-Organizational PsychologistsN.Av.N.Av.
Psychologists, All Other870$99,740
Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary2,100$85,420
School Psychologists3,380$75,240

Additional Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

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

The length of time it will take to become a licensed psychologist in Illinois will depend partially on how long it takes to complete your education. A bachelor’s degree can take about four years to complete full time. You may opt to complete a stand-alone master’s prior to applying to a PsyD or PhD program in psychology, which can then take about two more years of education. Then, a PsyD or PhD can range from four to seven years to complete, depending on specialty, whether a master’s is completed as part of the program and other factors. After completing your graduate education you are also required to complete a year of supervised post-doctoral experience. Finally, you must study for and complete the EPPP and have your application approved by the state. The whole process may take about 10 years, although the exact length depends on your circumstances.

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

The state of Illinois requires a doctoral degree–a PsyD program or PhD program in clinical, school, or counseling psychology–that is accredited by the APA or approved by the National Register.

How much do psychologists in Illinois make?

The BLS reports that, as of May 2021, clinical and counseling psychologists in Illinois earned an average annual income of $101,090, school psychologists earned an average of $75,240, postsecondary psychology teachers earned an average of $85,420, and all other psychologists earned an average annual income of $99,740.5

References:
1. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wages, Clinical and Counseling Psychologists: https://www.bls.gov/oes/2023/may/oes193033.htm
2. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wages, School Psychologists: https://www.bls.gov/oes/2023/may/oes193034.htm
3. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wages, Psychologists, All Other: https://www.bls.gov/oes/2023/may/oes193039.htm
4. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wages, Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary: https://www.bls.gov/oes/2023/may/oes251066.htm
5. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics, State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, Illinois: https://data.bls.gov/oes/#/area/1700000
6. Projections Central, Long Term Occupational Projections: https://projectionscentral.org/Projections/LongTerm