Utah Psychology Licensure Requirements

Obtaining your education in the field of psychology is only one part of becoming a psychologist in the state of Utah. In order to practice as a psychologist in the state, individuals are required to complete all licensing requirements which are dictated by the Utah Department of Commerce, Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing (DOPL). DOPL is tasked with the regulation and enforcement of multiple occupations and professions, including psychology. To complete the licensure process, candidates must ensure that they have completed the necessary education requirements, gained valuable supervised experience in the field, and passed the requisite exam.

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How to Become a Psychologist in Utah

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

While a doctoral degree is required to pursue psychologist licensure in Utah, the first step is earning a bachelor’s degree. A bachelor’s degree in psychology typically takes four years of full-time study and about 120 semester hours. Your bachelor’s degree may be in psychology or another field. If it isn’t in psychology, you may be required to take additional coursework before beginning your graduate program.

Upon completion of an undergraduate degree, some candidates will choose to enroll in a stand-alone master’s degree program in psychology. Others will choose to go straight into a doctoral program, which may include a master’s degree in the curriculum. With full-time study, a master’s degree in psychology typically takes around two years to complete (30 to 40 credit hours).

2. Earn a doctoral degree in psychology.

One of the most important requirements for obtaining licensure as a psychologist in Utah is to earn a doctoral degree in psychology. An acceptable doctoral degree may be either a Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) or Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in psychology. A doctorate in psychology typically takes between four and seven years to complete, depending on the institution, whether a master’s education is included, and other factors. You can read about the differences between a PsyD and a PhD in psychology on our home page.

For more information on accredited doctoral programs in Utah, see our Psychology Schools in Utah page.

3. Gain 4,000 hours of supervised experience in your area of training.

Before becoming licensed as a psychologist in Utah, candidates must complete 4,000 hours of supervised experience, whether during or after receiving their doctoral degree. A DOPL-approved psychologist supervisor must oversee this training. If the candidate chooses to complete this requirement after receiving their doctoral degree, they must first become licensed as a certified psychology resident.

A certified psychology resident may perform all acts and practices of a licensed psychologist under the supervision of an approved licensed psychologist and under the conditions of their resident role. Certified psychology resident applicants aren’t required to sit for an exam to be approved. This exemption allows for prospective licensed psychologists to fulfill their supervised experience requirements after being awarded their doctoral degrees.

Resident certification lasts only as long as needed to finish the training, plus up to one more year. It can extend to two years past completion if the resident shows reasonable progress toward passing the licensing exam.

To apply for certification as a psychology resident, candidates submit an application online or on paper with:

  • A non-refundable application fee of $115
  • Fingerprint cards for a criminal background check
  • Official transcripts showing a doctoral degree from an APA-accredited program, sent directly from the school to DOPL
  • Supporting documents for any “yes” answers on the qualifying questionnaires

For every 20 hours of pre-doctoral training, and for every 40 hours of post-doctoral training, you must receive at least one hour of supervision. To qualify to practice mental health therapy, you must complete at least 1,000 hours of supervised mental health therapy training, with at least one hour of direct supervision for every 40 hours. These hours can count toward the 4,000-hour total. All supervised experience requirements must be documented on the Verification of Supervised Experience form included in the application for licensure.

4. Pass the Utah psychology licensing exams.

After completing their degree and supervised training, candidates submit a Request for Authorization to Test to DOPL. After receiving DOPL’s approval, candidates can register for the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP), which is one of two required exams for psychologist licensure in Utah. To pass the EPPP, candidates must earn at least the ASPPB-recommended score of 500.

Prov, DOPL’s exam vendor, administers the second state-required exam, the Utah Psychologist Law and Ethics Examination. This exam costs $72 and requires a passing score of at least 75%.

5. Submit a completed application to DOPL.

After passing both exams, candidates submit a completed application to DOPL, either online or on paper. The application must include a non-refundable $235 fee payable to DOPL. Those who answer “yes” on the Qualifying Questionnaire or Medical Qualifying Questionnaire must attach supporting documents.

Applicants must submit fingerprint cards and have their school send official transcripts directly to DOPL. Certified psychology residents don’t need to resend transcripts. The application includes the Verification of Supervised Experience form. Every supervisor fills out their own copy, and together the forms must document at least 4,000 hours. Candidates who took the EPPP in another state must request an ASPPB score transfer.

6. Receive your license from DOPL.

Once DOPL determines that you meet the qualifications for licensure, you will be notified that you’re licensed to practice in Utah as a psychologist.

Utah Licensure by Endorsement

Utah offers licensure by endorsement for psychologists who hold an active license in good standing in another state. Along with the application for licensure and the non-refundable $235 fee, candidates must provide:

  • Official verification of a current out-of-state license in good standing
  • Proof of at least 2,000 hours or one year of active practice, whichever is greater, on a Verification of Active Practice form from each employer
  • Proof that the original state’s licensure requirements were substantially equivalent to Utah’s, or proof of an approved national credential

Approved credentials include board certification from the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP), credentialing by the National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology, and the ASPPB Certificate of Professional Qualification in Psychology (CPQ).

Endorsement candidates must submit fingerprint cards and pass the Utah Psychologist Law and Ethics Examination.

License Renewal and Continuing Education

Licenses for psychologists in Utah expire on September 30 of every even-numbered year. Licensees must renew their license online through DOPL before it expires. DOPL emails a renewal notice 90 days before the expiration date. The fee to apply for renewal of psychologist licensure is $138.

Psychologists must complete at least 48 hours of continuing education (CE) for each renewal period. Up to 18 of these hours may come from online self-study courses. At least 30 hours must come from in-person courses or live, interactive webinars. New licensees receive a prorated requirement for their first renewal period. Licensees must ensure that all continuing education obtained is directly relevant to their professional practice.

At least six of the 48 hours must cover ethics and law. Recognized CE categories and limits include:

  • Classroom courses, seminars, and conferences in blocks of at least one hour (no limit)
  • Clinical readings directly related to psychology practice (up to six hours)
  • Online or distance-learning courses with an exam and certificate, recognized by the APA or a state or provincial psychological association (up to 18 hours)
  • Peer consultation, review, or meetings (up to six hours)
  • Teaching psychology courses at the college level, teaching a CE course, or supervising a psychologist licensure candidate (up to 10 hours combined)

Certified psychology residents must complete at least 24 hours of CE directly related to their professional practice every two years. At least six of these hours must come from in-person courses or live, interactive webinars.

Behavior Analyst/Assistant Behavior Analyst

DOPL offers two licenses for those interested in behavior analysis: Licensed Behavior Analyst (LBA) and Licensed Assistant Behavior Analyst (LABA). LBAs must hold an accredited master’s or doctoral degree in applied behavior analysis or a related field, while LABAs must hold an accredited bachelor’s degree with required coursework in the field. LBAs must complete 1,500 hours of supervised experience, and LaBAs must complete 1,000 hours, both over a five-year period. Both must pass an examination from the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) and achieve BACB certification, which must be maintained for the LBA or LABA credential to remain valid. Candidates can apply online through DOPL or submit a paper application.

Licensed School Psychological Practitioner

DOPL issues the Licensed School Psychological Practitioner license to experienced school psychologists. This lets practitioners offer certain services outside a school setting, including academic, behavioral, and mental health support; academic evaluation, assessment, and data analysis; and consultation with educators or families. License holders can’t diagnose, practice mental health therapy, or conduct psychological or neuropsychological evaluations. Requirements include:

  • A letter of recommendation from at least one Utah education agency that employed the applicant as a school psychologist
  • A letter of recommendation from the school that granted the master’s degree
  • A master’s degree in school psychology
  • At least five years of work as a school psychologist in Utah

Licensees must complete 48 hours of CE every two years.

School Psychologist

The Utah State Board of Education (USBE) issues school psychologist licenses. Prospective school psychologists must hold at least a master’s degree in school psychology and complete a one-school-year internship (1,200 clock hours) in school psychology. At least half of these hours should be in a school setting. A passing score on the Praxis School Psychologist exam is required. Finally, candidates must be recommended for licensure by a USBE-approved school psychologist program.

Utah Psychologist Jobs and Salary Information

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) indicated that all psychologists, excluding educators, earned an average annual wage of $81,267 as of May 2021.1 For postsecondary psychology teachers in Utah, the average annual salary was $96,460.1 According to Projections Central, clinical, counseling, and school psychologist professions are poised to grow by an average of 24.3% between 2020 and 2030 in the state of Utah, over double the 10.4% growth they are expected to see in the US as a whole.2 Postsecondary psychology teachers are expected to grow by a whopping 40.7% change in the state, compared to only 10.2% in the US during that same time period.2

OccupationNumber Employed1Average Annual Salary1
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists910$87,030
Industrial-Organizational PsychologistsN.Av.N.Av.
Psychologists, All Other130$92,580
Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary290$96,460
School Psychologists500$64,190

Additional Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

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

The time it takes to become a licensed psychologist in Utah is largely dependent on a number of factors, such as how quickly you complete your educational requirements, supervised training requirements, and the licensure application process. Typically, it may take up to 10 years to reach the status of licensed psychologist. Earning a bachelor’s degree as a full-time student generally takes four years, while pursuing a master’s degree with full-time study takes approximately two years. The most integral aspect of the journey to licensure is obtaining a doctoral degree, which may take anywhere from four to seven years, depending on the pace of study and supervised training.

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

According to the Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing (DOPL), in order to be found eligible to apply for licensure as a psychologist in the state of Utah, candidates must have attained either a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in psychology or a Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) from a regionally-accredited APA-recognized program.

How much do psychologists in Utah make?

According to the BLS, as of May 2021, the average annual salary of Utah psychologists, excluding educators, was $81,267.1 Postsecondary psychology teachers were reported to earn an average annual salary of $96,460.1

References:
1. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment and Wage Estimates, Utah: https://data.bls.gov/oes/#/area/4900000
2. Projections Central, Long Term Occupational Projections: https://projectionscentral.org/Projections/LongTerm