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 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. You don’t have to major in psychology, but if you choose an unrelated subject you’ll likely need to complete prerequisites before entering a graduate program.

After you finish your bachelor’s, you may choose to complete a master’s degree in psychology. Master’s degree programs in psychology usually take about two to three years (30 to 40 credit hours) to complete, though this can vary depending on the requirements of the program.

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.

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, learn more about the differences on our home page.

In Louisiana, you must earn your doctoral degree from a program that meets educational requirements set forth by the Louisiana State Board of Examiners of Psychologists (the Board). If you attend a program accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA), your degree will be automatically accepted by the Board. Other programs must be reviewed by the Board. Online programs without APA accreditation do not meet the Board’s requirements.

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 toward 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 direct client contact.

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 online application. The Board advises new graduates to apply once their doctoral degree is conferred and before postdoctoral supervision starts. During this step, you must have your graduate transcripts sent to the Board, pay a $200 application fee, and complete a criminal background check.

Your internship training director must send the Board an Internship Documentation form. You must also submit a Supervised Practice Plan, which the Board must approve before supervision begins.

After the Board receives your application materials and fees, you will be sent a link to the online Louisiana jurisprudence exam. The exam costs $75 and covers ethical and legal standards related to the practice of psychology in Louisiana.

To receive a provisional license, you must hold an acceptable doctoral degree, complete one year (2,000 hours) of internship training, establish Louisiana residency, and pass a state and federal criminal background check. You must also pass the jurisprudence exam and arrange direct supervision from a psychologist licensed in Louisiana.

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 toward supervised experience requirements if the program you attended meets the Board’s criteria. 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 direct client contact.

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 licensed at the doctoral level. Once you have completed these postdoctoral hours, have your supervisor submit the Postdoctoral Supervision Documentation form to the Board.

5. Pass the Louisiana psychology licensing exams.

When your provisional license is issued, the Board will give you permission to register for the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP), which is administered by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB). 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 after the Board has given you permission, including while you are still earning your supervised experience hours. Candidates must pass it within four years of admission to candidacy. The ASPPB offers optional EPPP sample exams for purchase to approved candidates.

After you pass the EPPP and the jurisprudence exam and complete all other requirements, including supervised experience, the Board invites you to take the oral exam. The oral exam costs $250 and covers topics related to competence and knowledge in psychology.

6. Receive your license from the Board.

If you pass the oral exam, you will receive your license and may begin practicing.

Louisiana Licensure by Reciprocity

If you’re licensed in another state, you can apply for Louisiana licensure by reciprocity. You may qualify if you are licensed in another US state, territory, or Canadian province and hold a current Certificate of Professional Qualification (CPQ) from the ASPPB, or if you are a current diplomate of the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP).

A third route is available to psychologists licensed in an ASPPB member jurisdiction with substantially equivalent requirements and a reciprocity agreement with Louisiana. These applicants must have five years of licensed experience, have passed that jurisdiction’s written and oral exams, and have completed at least one continuous academic year of full-time campus residency in their doctoral program. They must also have no disciplinary history or pending complaints.

To apply, complete the Board’s online application for licensure and pay a $200 application fee. You must also have each jurisdiction where you hold or have held a license send a license verification form directly to the Board. Before your license is issued, you must also pass the Louisiana jurisprudence exam, which costs $75.

Reciprocity applicants may skip the oral exam unless they have never passed one for psychology licensure. However, an in-person meeting with the Board is still required for all applicants.

Psychologists licensed in another jurisdiction who have established Louisiana residency and meet the Board’s criteria may apply for licensure by endorsement instead. Louisiana will join the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact (PSYPACT) on January 1, 2028. Until then, psychologists licensed elsewhere cannot practice in Louisiana under PSYPACT.

License Renewal and Continuing Education

Each year, you must renew your license to keep it active. Licenses must be renewed prior to July 31 of each year. Licensees renew through the online licensing portal. License renewal fees are $400 each year, and paper renewals carry an extra $50 processing fee.

Every two years, you must complete 40 hours of continuing education (CE). You must report completion of these hours in 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. Another two hours must cover multiculturalism or diversity.

Workshops and conferences from Board-recognized sponsors count toward CE automatically. Unsponsored activities require Board pre-approval and may count for no more than 10 hours of the 40-hour total.

Certified School Psychologist

The Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) certifies school psychologists who work in Louisiana school systems. Since January 1, 2025, BESE has considered psychologists with a valid Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP) credential from the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) to be certified. Existing Level A and Level B certificates are valid for five years and can be renewed, but the state no longer issues new ones.

Candidates who have finished 60 semester hours of a school psychology program, except the internship, may receive a one-year Provisional Certificate. This can be renewed once if needed to finish the internship. School psychologists with a Level A or B certificate or an NCSP, plus three years of supervised experience that includes two years in Louisiana, may earn a School Psychology Supervisor certificate. This certificate stays valid as long as the Level A or B certificate is valid.

Applications are accepted through the Louisiana Educator Portal and require the employing school system’s signature. The Louisiana Department of Education’s ancillary service certification guide lists the required documents.

Licensed Specialist in School Psychology

To become a licensed specialist in school psychology (LSSP), you must possess certification as a school psychologist from BESE. 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 apply through the LSBEP online licensing portal and submit a notarized Online Application Engagement Agreement, 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 the 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 documentation 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 and you may be recommended 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

OccupationNumber Employed1Average Annual Salary1
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists200$101,420
Industrial-Organizational PsychologistsN.Av.N.Av.
Psychologists, All Other140$97,890
Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary220$74,980
School PsychologistsN.Av.N.Av.

Additional Resources

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, State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, Louisiana: https://data.bls.gov/oes/#/area/2200000
2. Long Term Occupational Projections: https://projectionscentral.org/projections/longterm