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. A bachelor’s degree typically takes four years (120 credit hours) of full-time study. Although it can be helpful to major in psychology, many future psychologists study other subjects. If your bachelor’s degree isn’t in psychology, you may be required to take psychology prerequisite courses prior to starting a graduate program.
An optional step after completing your bachelor’s degree is to apply to a master’s degree program. 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. Many doctoral programs include a master’s as part of the curriculum.
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. Although there are similarities between these degrees, there are also some important differences. If you are unsure which degree is the best fit for you, visit our comparison of PhD and PsyD programs.
Doctoral programs in psychology usually take four to seven years to complete. To become licensed in Indiana as a psychologist, you must attend a program in clinical, counseling, or school psychology, or a Board-approved program focused on applied health services.
For more information about doctoral programs in Indiana, review our guide to Psychology Schools in Indiana.
3. Submit your application for licensure to the Board.
After you complete your doctoral degree, you will submit an Application for Psychology Licensure by Examination or Endorsement. The application requires official transcripts showing the conferred doctoral degree and the completed internship, a complete criminal background check, and a $100 application fee.
4. Pass the Indiana jurisprudence exam.
After your application has been reviewed, tthe Board will send you the required jurisprudence exam. This tests your knowledge of Indiana ethics, laws, and rules specific to the practice of psychology. You will have seven days to complete the 50-question exam. A score of 75% or better is required to pass.
5. Pass the psychology licensing exams.
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 psychology skills and knowledge. 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. You must take the EPPP within one calendar year of receiving exam approval from the Board.
After you pass the EPPP, the Board will issue your initial psychologist license. This license allows you to practice independently in non-clinical roles such as research and teaching. However, in order to work independently with clients or diagnose and treat mental and behavioral disorders, you 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.
To qualify for HSPP status, you must complete a total of two years of supervised experience. The first 1,500 hours must be completed as part of a doctoral internship in a health service setting. This internship should be under a training director, with more than one psychologist-level supervisor, and with other interns.
The second year, or 1,600 hours, may be fulfilled through additional practicum placements during your doctoral program, supervised postdoctoral work, or a combination of the two. The 1,600 hours must be completed in no less than 12 months and include at least 900 hours of direct client work.
7. Apply for HSPP endorsement.
Once you complete your supervised experience hours, you will submit the Application for Endorsement as a Health Service Provider in Psychology (HSPP), either online or by mail. This application includes sections that must be completed by your professional experience supervisors. You will need to pay a $100 application fee.
8. Receive your license with HSPP endorsement from the Board.
The Board will notify you when your HSPP endorsement has been granted. You may not provide health services independently before you receive this notification.
Indiana Licensure by Reciprocity
To qualify for licensure through reciprocity in Indiana, you must hold an active license from another state with requirements substantially similar to those of Indiana. You must have been practicing psychology continuously and regularly since your license was issued and your license must be active and in good standing with no disciplinary history.
If you meet these criteria, you can complete the Application for Licensure to Practice Psychology in Indiana by Endorsement. You must arrange for license verification to be sent to the Board directly from each state where you are licensed. The Board does not accept copies of license cards as proof. You must also pay the $100 application fee and contact the ASPPB to release your official EPPP score to the Board. After your application has been reviewed, the Board will provide instructions for the criminal background check and the Indiana jurisprudence exam.
A non-renewable Limited Scope Temporary Psychology Permit is available to applicants who have not taken the EPPP. These applicants must apply through the licensure by examination pathway but may apply for a ten-month, non-renewable temporary permit while they prepare for and take the EPPP. The Board can send you the temporary permit application after the initial licensure by endorsement application has been submitted. The temporary permit application fee is $50.
HSPP status is not part of licensure by endorsement in Indiana. Psychologists who want to provide health services independently must file a separate HSPP application and pay a separate $100 fee.
License Renewal and Continuing Education
In Indiana, psychologist licenses must be renewed by August 31 of every even-numbered year through Access Indiana. There is a $100 renewal fee.
Psychologists without HSPP endorsement have no continuing education (CE) requirement. HSPP licensees must complete 40 CE hours during each two-year period to be eligible for renewal. At least 20 of these hours must come from Category I activities such as formal courses and workshops. No more than 10 hours of Category I activities may come from home study programs. No more than 20 hours can come from informal Category II activities such as journal clubs and case conferences. 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.
Related Licenses
School Psychologist
In Indiana, school psychologists are licensed by the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) with a school services license. Applicants must:
- Have a master’s degree or higher in school psychology from a program approved by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP)
- Have completed training in human trafficking and child abuse and neglect
- Possess current CPR and AED certification from an IDOE-approved provider
- Possess a recognized training certificate in suicide prevention
Qualified applicants may apply for an Initial Practitioner License. The initial fee is $35. A second payment of $35 will be due when your license is issued. After gaining two years of experience in a school services residency program, individuals may apply for a professional Practitioner’s License.
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, State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, Indiana: https://data.bls.gov/oes/#/area/1800000
2. Projections Central, Long Term Occupational Projections: https://projectionscentral.org/Projections/LongTerm