In Massachusetts, psychology licensure is overseen by the Board of Registration of Psychologists (the Board). To become a practicing psychologist in Massachusetts, you will need to obtain an undergraduate degree, complete a doctoral degree in psychology, submit an application to the Board, complete supervised clinical hours, and pass national and state exams. We’ve created a step-by-step guide to help you through the process of becoming a licensed psychologist.

Table of Contents

How to Become a Psychologist in Massachusetts

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

If you’re interested in becoming a licensed psychologist in Massachusetts, the first step is to complete a bachelor’s degree, which usually takes about four years of full-time attendance (120 credit hours). You may also choose to major in a subject related to psychology, though majors from other fields may need to complete psychology coursework before entering a graduate program.

After you complete your bachelor’s degree, you may choose to pursue a master’s degree in psychology. The length of master’s degree programs in psychology varies, but they usually take two to three years to complete (30-40 credit hours). Earning a stand-alone master’s degree after your bachelor’s degree is optional, as many doctoral programs include the master’s as part of the curriculum.

2. Earn a doctoral degree in psychology.

After you complete a bachelor’s degree, the next step is to earn a doctoral degree in psychology. There are two different doctoral-level psychology degree options: a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Psychology or a Doctor of Psychology (PsyD). Although either degree will prepare you to become a licensed psychologist, there are differences between them. For more information on how these degrees differ, please visit our comparison.

To become licensed by the Board, you need to attend a doctoral program that is accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA), recognized by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB), recognized by the National Register of Health Service Psychologists (NRHSP), or provides training equivalent to programs approved by these organizations. Your program must include a one-year (1,600-hour) internship, which can be counted towards the supervised work experience required in the state.

For more information on available programs, review our guide to Psychology Schools in Massachusetts.

3. Complete two years of supervised experience.

Massachusetts treats psychology licensure and Health Service Provider (HSP) certification as two separate credentials that may be combined. If you don’t plan to practice clinical psychology, a Licensed Psychologist-Non-Provider (NP) certification qualifies you for nonclinical roles in academia, research, and administration. A Licensed Psychologist-HSP certification is required to practice clinical psychology independently and provide assessment, diagnosis, and therapy services.

Both tracks to licensure use the same application and have similar requirements. Before submitting your application, you must complete at least two years (3,200 hours) of supervised experience. One of these years (1,600 hours) must be completed in a predoctoral internship or postdoctoral training program that is either approved by the APA or meets similar standards. The remaining 1,600 hours can come from any combination of practicum placements during your doctoral program, your predoctoral internship, and postdoctoral training.

For HSP certification, at least 800 of these 3,200 hours must involve direct contact with patients. For supervised experience hours to be counted towards the HSP credential, they must be earned in a health service setting. Additionally, you must receive at least one hour of supervision for every 16 hours of work, with at least half of this supervision provided by a licensed psychologist. Each clinical placement must be at least four months long and consist of at least 16 hours of work per week.

Supervised experience hours from practicum placements have some additional stipulations. They can only be counted if you have already completed two full years of graduate school by the time you begin the placement. At least half of the experience hours must be in health service activities. A minimum of 25% of placement hours must consist of direct patient contact hours. Additionally, there must be a formal training plan between you, your doctoral program, and your practicum site.

4. Complete approved training in domestic and sexual violence.

Before applying for your psychologist license, you must complete training in domestic and sexual violence approved by the Board. There is no fee for this online training. Visit Chapter260Training.org to access the training modules.

5. Register with MassHealth.

Whether you intend to offer MassHealth-eligible services or will be a non-billing provider, you must register with MassHealth prior to applying for a license. Information on program requirements and application instructions can be found on the MassHealth website.

6. Submit an application for licensure to the Board.

After you have completed your supervised experience requirements, you should review the licensure application packet and submit a license application through the Department of Public Health eLicensing System. There is a $150 application fee in addition to the $282 exam and processing fee.

Required supporting documents include a Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) Acknowledgement, official transcripts, professional and ethical references from licensed providers, and internship and supervision verification forms.

7. Pass the Massachusetts psychology licensing exams.

After the Board has reviewed your application, they will notify you when you are approved to register for the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP). The EPPP is a multiple-choice exam administered by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB) that assesses broad knowledge of psychology. To pass, you need a scaled score of 500 or higher. Official practice exams are available to help you prepare.

You will also need to pass the Massachusetts jurisprudence exam. This is a test on regulations and legal statutes related to the practice of psychology in Massachusetts. The information for this exam is contained in the Psychology Jurisprudence Book. The Board will provide you with instructions for taking the exam after you pass the EPPP.

8. Receive your license from the Board.

After the Board is notified that you have passed your exams, you will need to pay a $270 license fee. Once the Board receives the fee, you will receive your license.

Massachusetts Licensure by Reciprocity

If you are already licensed as a psychologist in another state, you may be eligible to transfer your license to Massachusetts. You must meet Massachusetts’ academic requirements and hold one of the following credentials:

  • American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP) diplomate status
  • An ASPPB Certificate of Professional Qualification in Psychology (CPQ), plus five years of licensure in good standing in another jurisdiction
  • Current listing in the National Register of Health Service Psychologists (NRHSP), plus five years of licensure in good standing in another jurisdiction

Every applicant for licensure by reciprocity must also pass the Massachusetts jurisprudence exam. You may apply through the Department of Public Health eLicensing System. The fees are the same as for a new applicant.

License Renewal and Continuing Education

Once you have been issued a license to practice psychology in Massachusetts, you must renew your license by June 30 of every even-numbered year. Renew through the Massachusetts Department of Public Health eLicensing System and pay the $270 renewal fee.

To be eligible for renewal, you must complete 20 hours of continuing education (CE) during each two-year renewal period. CE credits must be earned either through APA-approved CE programs or by authoring scholarly articles, books, or book chapters. Publications can count for only 10 of the required 20 CE hours, and you must be listed as the first or second author for them to qualify. Extra CE hours won’t transfer to the next renewal period.

Licensed Educational Psychologist

In addition to the school psychologist certification offered by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), the Board of Allied Mental Health and Human Services Professions offers the Licensed Educational Psychologist credential, which allows independent practice of school psychology outside of K-12 employment.

To qualify for this license, you must hold at least a master’s degree in school psychology consisting of a minimum of 60 credit hours. The program must be approved or accredited by the state in which it was located. Applicants must have completed a 1,200-hour internship in educational psychology or the equivalent in experience and/or coursework.

You must also hold current certification as a school psychologist from DESE or a comparable credential from another state, and complete at least two full-time academic years of post-master’s experience in school psychological services. An approved supervisor must provide at least 60 hours of post-master’s supervision, and you must pass the National School Psychology Examination. Applications are on the Department of Public Health eLicensing System and carry a $117 application fee. You must also pay a $155 license fee once the Board approves your application.

School Psychologist

Initial licensure as a school psychologist by the DESE requires that you complete at least a master’s degree in a school psychology program approved by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP). This program must include an advanced practicum of 1,200 hours, 600 of which must be in a school setting. You must also pass the Massachusetts Communication and Literacy Skills test.

To advance to a professional license, you must complete three years of employment as a school psychologist. You must also have achieved a passing score on the National School Psychology Examination or hold a NASP school psychologist certificate. To apply for initial certification or to advance your certification, you will use the online portal.

Massachusetts Psychologist Jobs and Salary Information

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), as of May 2021, the average psychologist salary (across all areas of practice) in Massachusetts is $90,840.1 Psychologists in the “all other” category have the highest annual salaries at an average of $100,070.1 Counseling and clinical psychologists earn an average yearly salary of $92,110; postsecondary psychology teachers earn an average salary of $96,650; school psychologists earn an average of $92,730, and industrial-organizational psychologists earn an average salary of $72,640.1

The total number of psychologist positions available in Massachusetts is expected to increase by an average of 7.6% between 2020 and 2030.2 The highest number of new jobs is expected to be in clinical, counseling, and school psychology, with a predicted growth of 12.8%.2 Postsecondary psychology teacher jobs are expected to increase by 12.7% and psychology positions in the “all other” category are expected to increase by 4.7% over the 10-year period.2. Industrial-organizational psychology positions are not expected to increase.

OccupationNumber Employed1Average Annual Salary1
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists3,120$92,110
Industrial-Organizational Psychologists40$72,640
Psychologists, All Other480$100,070
Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary1,630$96,650
School Psychologists1,890$92,730

Additional Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

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

To become a psychologist in Massachusetts, you will need to complete at least a bachelor’s degree, a doctoral degree, and two years of supervised experience. In addition, you’ll also have to allow time for completing the exams and the application process. The length of time this entire process takes can vary, but it is generally about 10 years.

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

To obtain a license to practice psychology, you will need to earn either a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Psychology or a Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) degree.

How much do psychologists in Massachusetts make?

On average, psychologists in Massachusetts earn $90,840 per year.1 Average salaries for specific types of psychologists range from $72,640 (industrial-organizational psychologists) to $100,070 (“all other” psychologists).1

References:
1. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics, State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, Massachusetts: https://data.bls.gov/oes/#/area/2500000
2. Projections Central, Long Term Occupational Projections: https://projectionscentral.org/Projections/LongTerm