Texas Psychology Licensure Requirements
As you consider a career in psychology, the most important place for you to begin is with the Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists (TSBEP). Their site provides an explanation of the process to obtain your license–including information on required education, experience, examination, and application for licensure. In Texas, there are four different license options, each with its own path and requirements. Deciding which option is right for you, and how to navigate the path to licensure, can be tricky. This guide will help clarify that process, and answer the following questions:
Table of Contents
- How to Become a Licensed Psychologist
- Licensure by Endorsement
- License Renewal and Continuing Education
- Related Licenses
- Jobs and Salary Information
- Additional Resources
- Frequently Asked Questions
How to Become a Psychologist in Texas
1. Earn a bachelor’s degree and (optionally) a master’s degree in psychology.
The first step to becoming a licensed psychologist in the state of Texas is to complete your education. This will begin with a bachelor’s degree. Typically, the process to obtain a bachelor’s degree takes about four years and 120 credit hours. Graduate programs don’t usually require a major in psychology, but earning your bachelor’s in psychology from an accredited university may satisfy prerequisite coursework for a graduate program.
Obtaining a stand-alone master’s in psychology, which takes about 30 to 40 credit hours, is not required. However, this path can add an area of specialization, satisfy prerequisites, and potentially improve a candidate’s competitiveness for doctoral programs. Many schools allow students to complete a master’s as part of the doctoral degree.
Another reason to pursue a master’s degree in psychology is that in Texas, you will be eligible to become a Licensed Psychological Associate. The qualifying graduate degree must total at least 60 semester credit hours and include at least six credit hours of supervised practicum, internship, or related experience.
2. Earn a doctoral degree in psychology.
Next, you will need to obtain a doctorate, which may be a Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) or Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Psychology. For information on the differences between the two doctoral degree types, see our comparison. The time it takes to earn a doctorate is variable, but most programs can be completed in four to seven years. In Texas, the qualifying doctoral degree must consist of at least 60 credit hours (90 for candidates without a conferred master’s degree).
For more information on pursuing a doctoral degree in psychology, see our guide to Psychology Schools in Texas.
3. Submit an application to become a provisionally licensed psychologist.
To accrue the required experience hours for psychologist licensure in Texas, you must apply for the Provisionally Licensed Psychologist (PLP) credential. PLPs must practice under the supervision of a psychologist. The application fee is $425, and you will need to submit official transcripts sent directly from your school and a certified self-query report from the National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB). Once your application has been submitted, you will receive an email with instructions on how to complete the fingerprint criminal history record check required for licensure. Provisional licenses are valid for up to two years.
4. Gain two years of supervised experience in your area of training.
Next, you must complete at least 3,500 work hours in a supervised internship setting. Half of these hours (1,750) must have been completed as part of a formal internship while earning your doctorate, while at least 1,750 hours must be completed as a PLP. It usually takes two years of full-time work to complete this experience. You must record and verify all segments of your supervised experience using the forms found on the Board’s website.
5. Pass the Texas licensing exams.
There are two exams required to obtain a psychologist license in Texas: the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP) and the Texas Jurisprudence Examination. The EPPP is a 225-question test and you must earn a scaled score of 500 or higher to pass. There is an EPPP practice exam to assist in preparing for the test. The Texas Jurisprudence Examination is an open-book online exam covering the Texas Licensing Act and Board rules, requiring a minimum score of 90%. You may take the exams before or after completing your supervised experience.
6. Request issuance of your psychologist license.
Once you’ve completed the previous steps, you’re ready to request your psychologist license online. You must submit the request for your license within two years of submitting your application. The issuance fee is $425, with a typical processing time of six weeks. You can check on progress at any time through the licensing portal.
7. Receive your psychology license from the Board.
Once the Board has verified all qualifications, licensees will receive written notification of their licensure as well as a renewal permit by mail. A formal printed license will be mailed to you within four months after the license has been issued.
Texas Licensure by Reciprocity
The Board has entered into a reciprocity agreement with the State of Oklahoma that allows streamlined approval of psychologist license applications. Psychologists who hold an active Oklahoma license in good standing may apply for a Texas license using the reciprocity application. In addition to the application, candidates must submit the required fee, provide written verification of their Oklahoma psychologist license, pass the Texas Jurisprudence Examination, submit a certified self-query report from the NPDB, and complete a criminal history record check.
If you are licensed in another state, you may still qualify for Texas licensure even without a reciprocity agreement. Applicants who are actively licensed and in good standing as a doctoral-level psychologist, and who have practiced in another US state or territory for at least five years, may have the supervised experience documentation requirement waived. These applicants still become provisionally licensed first and follow the same application steps above.
License Renewal and Continuing Education
Texas psychologist licenses expire on the last day of the licensee’s birth month, and the renewal fee is $295. While renewal reminders are sent by mail, it is still your responsibility to ensure timely renewal of your license. You can renew your license through the same online system that you used to apply.
During each two-year renewal period, you must complete a minimum of 40 hours of professional development directly related to psychology practice. At least six of these hours must be in ethics, Board rules, or professional responsibility, and at least six hours must be in cultural diversity. At least 20 of the 40 hours must be obtained from a Board-approved provider. Licensees who provide direct patient care must also complete a human trafficking prevention training course approved by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission during each renewal period.
Related Licenses
Licensed Psychological Associate
If you are not ready to become a fully licensed psychologist in Texas, another option is to become a licensed psychological associate (LPA). To qualify, you must hold a graduate degree in psychology of at least 60 semester credit hours, with no more than 12 hours of practicum, internship, or structured experience counted toward that total. The degree must include at least six semester credit hours of supervised practicum, internship, or other structured experience. You must also pass the EPPP and the Jurisprudence Examination, submit a certified NPDB self-query report, and complete a fingerprint background check. A fee of $144 is required with your online application.
A licensed psychological associate can also apply for independent practice authority after obtaining at least 3,000 hours of post-graduate supervised experience, completed within a 24- to 48-month period and in no more than three placements. The application for independent practice authority can be found on the Board website.
Licensed Specialist in School Psychology
If you are interested in applying your psychology knowledge to a career in education, you may want to become a licensed specialist in school psychology (LSSP). To be eligible to become an LSSP, you must also complete a school psychology program approved by the American Psychological Association (APA) or National Association of School Psychologists (NASP), or a graduate degree in psychology with specified coursework; complete a formal internship of at least 1,200 hours, of which at least 600 must be in a public school; pass the Praxis examination in school psychology; and submit to a criminal history record check. Prospective school psychologists apply using the same online system as psychologists and LPAs. The application fee is $252. Before applying, you must pass the Jurisprudence Examination.
Texas Psychologist Jobs and Salary Information
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), excluding educators, psychologists in Texas (clinical, counseling, and school psychologists and “all other” psychologists) earned an average of $85,090 per year as of May 2021, while postsecondary psychology teachers earned an average of $71,240 per year.1 Projections for psychologists in Texas are positive, with over 15% growth expected for clinical, counseling, school psychologists as well as postsecondary psychology teachers through 2030.2
| Occupation | Number Employed1 | Average Annual Salary1 |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | 3,170 | $82,510 |
| Industrial-Organizational Psychologists | N.Av. | N.Av. |
| Psychologists, All Other | 840 | $101,680 |
| Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary | 2,870 | $71,240 |
| School Psychologists | 6,690 | $71,080 |
Additional Resources
- Texas Psychological Association (TPA): With a membership of over 1,500 psychologists and grad students, fights for people in the field to be able to practice effectively.
- Texas Association of School Psychologists (TASP): Members receive discounted rates to the annual convention, access to a newsletter, and networking opportunities.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to become a psychologist in Texas?
Becoming a psychologist in Texas can take a long time, but with high salaries and fast growth expected for the field, devoting the time to pursue your psychology license in Texas can pay off. If you are interested in being a psychologist, expect to go to school for a total of six to eight years until you obtain your doctoral degree, if you attend full-time without taking much time off between degree programs. Then, once you’ve completed your schooling, you will begin the actual licensing process, which includes gaining experience, taking tests, and waiting for your application to go through. All in all, you should expect it to take a total of eight to 10 years to become a psychologist in Texas.
What degree do I need to be a licensed psychologist in Texas?
For Texas licensure as a psychologist, you will need a doctoral degree. If you want to become a licensed psychological associate or school psychologist, you can get licensed with a master’s degree.
How much do psychologists in Texas make?
According to the BLS, the highest paid psychologists in the state are in the “all other” category, and they earned $101,680 per year as of May 2021.1 On average, psychologists in the state, excluding educators, earned $85,090 per year.1
References:
1. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics, State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, Texas: https://data.bls.gov/oes/#/area/4800000
2. Projections Central, Long Term Occupational Projections: https://projectionscentral.org/Projections/LongTerm