Virginia Psychology Licensure Requirements

As part of your journey to start a psychology career, you can begin the process of obtaining a license to practice in Virginia through the Virginia Board of Psychology (the Board). To become eligible for licensure as a psychologist in the state, you must meet educational requirements, complete supervised practice hours, and pass the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP). Virginia offers psychologist licenses for clinical, applied, and school psychologists in the state. Below is a comprehensive guide to help you with each step in becoming a licensed psychologist in Virginia.

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 Virginia

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

The first step toward becoming a psychologist is earning a bachelor’s degree. You can earn a bachelor’s degree in psychology or major in another field. If your bachelor’s degree isn’t in psychology, you may need to complete prerequisites before beginning a master’s or doctoral program. A bachelor’s degree ordinarily takes four years of full-time study, with about 120 credits required.

Once you complete your bachelor’s degree, you may choose to pursue a master’s degree in psychology or a related field. Typical psychology master’s programs require 30 to 40 credits and take about two years of full-time study. In Virginia, you can qualify for a School Psychologist-Limited, Sex Offender Treatment Provider, or Licensed Psychological Practitioner credential with a master’s degree in psychology.

While a master’s in psychology is an option, many doctoral programs include a master’s degree or the equivalent as part of the curriculum. Review the doctoral programs that interest you to verify requirements.

2. Earn a doctoral degree in psychology.

The next step is to earn a Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) or Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Psychology. To learn about the differences between the two options, read our comparison of PsyD and PhD programs. Your PhD or PsyD program must:

• Be in psychology and accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA), the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA), or another Board-approved accrediting body (effective 2028);
• Consist of at least three years of full-time study; and
• Include an internship, practicum, or field training experience.

For a comprehensive list of the doctoral programs offered in Virginia, see our Psychology Schools in Virginia guide.

3. Complete 1,500 hours of supervised professional experience.

Applicants are required to complete 1,500 hours of professional experience. Experience must be earned across a period of at least 12 months and not more than three years under the supervision of a licensed psychologist. Internship hours completed as part of your PhD or PsyD are excluded from the required experience. However, hours earned as part of a doctoral practicum that meet the Board’s requirements may be counted.

4. Submit the Initial Registration of Residency.

If your doctoral practicum consists of 1,500 hours or more and meets the Board’s standards, you aren’t required to complete postdoctoral experience, also known as supervised residency. However, if you want to provide clinical psychology services while preparing for the state-required licensure exam, you will still need to submit the application for Initial Registration of Residency Post-Graduate Degree Supervised Experience for Clinical Psychologist Licensure at the same time you apply to take the exam.

If your practicum was less than 1,500 hours or doesn’t meet requirements, you will need to complete postdoctoral supervised residency before applying to take the licensure exam. Before beginning postdoctoral experience, you must submit the application for Initial Registration of Residency. Any postdoctoral experience completed prior to the Board’s approval of this application will not be counted toward the 1,500-hour experience requirement. After you complete the required hours, your supervisor(s) must submit a written evaluation of your performance to the Board.

5. Apply for and pass the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP).

Once you have completed the required experience hours and submitted the Application for Licensure by Examination, the Board will make you eligible to take the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP), offered through the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB). Once you are approved to take the EPPP, you have two years to pass the exam. You can find EPPP practice exams on the ASPPB website.

6. Receive your psychology license from the Board.

Once the Board receives confirmation that you have passed the EPPP, you will be issued your license to practice psychology in Virginia.

Virginia Licensure by Endorsement

You may apply for Virginia licensure by endorsement if you have been licensed as a psychologist in another state for at least five years with at least 24 months of active practice in the last 60 months. You may also qualify if you are certified with the National Register of Health Service Psychologists, are a diplomate of the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP), or hold a Certificate of Professional Qualification in Psychology (CPQ) from the ASPPB. You can also apply if your active out-of-state practice was less than five years, as long as you meet other stipulations defined on the application form. You will need to send the application, all required documentation including verification of licensure in another state, and the $200 application fee to the Board for approval.

Virginia also participates in the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact (PSYPACT), which lets licensed psychologists practice across participating states in limited circumstances without a separate Virginia license. For telepsychology, you can apply for an Authority to Practice Interjurisdictional Telepsychology (APIT) from the PSYPACT Commission and an E.Passport from the ASPPB. For temporary in-person practice of up to 30 days per year, you can apply for a Temporary Authorization to Practice (TAP) and an Interjurisdictional Practice Certificate (IPC). Learn more on the Board’s PSYPACT page.

License Renewal and Continuing Education

In Virginia, psychologist licenses are renewed online annually. The renewal fee is $140. The renewal deadline is June 30. Psychologists in Virginia are required to complete at least 14 hours of continuing education (CE) each year. The Board verifies CE through random audit, so in a given year you may or may not be asked to submit proof. If audited, you must submit official transcripts or certificates of completion. You can carry up to seven unused CE hours forward to the next renewal year. Qualifying courses must meet the Board’s continuing education standards.

Related Licenses

Licensed Psychological Practitioner

Virginia offers a master’s-level Licensed Psychological Practitioner credential that allows licensees to practice under the supervision of a doctoral-level clinical psychologist. Applicants must hold a master’s degree in psychology or counseling psychology from a program accredited by the APA or approved by the Board and must pass the master’s-level clinical portion of the EPPP. The application fee is $100 through December 31, 2026, and $200 starting January 1, 2027. The application and related forms are on the Board’s website.

Licensed School Psychologist

The Licensed School Psychologist credential, issued by the Board, allows the autonomous practice of school psychology and is not limited to school settings, as is the case for the Pupil Personnel Services License. Prospective Virginia Licensed School Psychologists must have a master’s in school psychology from an accredited program consisting of at least 60 credit hours, complete a 1,500 hour residency, and pass the EPPP. Applications are processed by the Board.

Pupil Personnel Services-School Psychology

The Pupil Personnel Services License with a School Psychology endorsement is issued by the Virginia Board of Education (VDOE) and authorizes practice in Virginia public schools. This 10-year, renewable educator license requires applicants to complete a state-approved school psychology program at the master’s level consisting of at least 60 semester hours, excluding field-based experience. The program must include a supervised, school-based internship. Applications and instructions are available on the VDOE website.

School Psychologist-Limited

A School Psychologist-Limited license is available to those who have a master’s degree in psychology and a Pupil Personnel Services license from the VDOE with an endorsement in psychology. This license allows you to practice psychology in public school settings. If you qualify, you can complete the application, which requires an $85 application fee, official transcripts, a current copy of your VDOE-issued license with an endorsement in psychology, and proof of employment in a Virginia school system. The application and related forms can be found on the Board’s website.

Sex Offender Treatment Provider

Virginia also offers certification for Sex Offender Treatment Providers. You can apply with a master’s or doctoral degree in social work, psychology, counseling, or nursing, or a degree of Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO). You must complete 50 hours of sex offender training. You must also complete 2,000 postdegree hours of supervised clinical experience, including at least 200 hours of face-to-face treatment and assessment with sex offender clients. The application is available on the Board’s website. There is a $90 processing fee. Along with your application, you must submit official graduate transcripts and a Verification of Training form. You must also submit a Verification of Supervision form and reference letters from three health care professionals who can speak to your sex offender treatment work.

Virginia Psychologist Jobs and Salary Information

In Virginia, psychologists, excluding educators, earned an average of $102,793 annually as of May 2021, based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).¹ Postsecondary teachers in psychology earned the lowest average salary, at $83,580.¹ Clinical and counseling psychologists earned the highest average salary in Virginia, averaging $108,910 per year, just over industrial-organizational psychologists, who earned an average of $108,700 per year.1 The number of clinical, counseling, and school psychologists in Virginia is predicted to increase by 10.8% by 2030 according to data from Projections Central.² Comparably, the number of postsecondary psychology teacher jobs is predicted to increase by 14.2% by 2030.² Only industrial-organizational psychologist jobs are expected to decrease–at 12.5% through 2030.²

Additional Resources

• Virginia Academy of Clinical Psychologists (VACP): Seeks to advance psychology as a science and profession.
• Virginia Academy of School Psychologists (VASP): Advocates for the development of mental health and education for Virginia’s schools and communities.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

The length of time it will take to become a licensed psychologist in Virginia depends on many factors that may be different for each individual. A bachelor’s degree can take about four years to complete if attending full-time. You may opt to complete a stand-alone master’s prior to applying to a PsyD or PhD program in psychology, which will take about two more years of education. Then, a PsyD or PhD can range from four to seven years to complete. After graduating, you are required to complete supervised professional experience for one to three years. Finally, you must study for and complete the EPPP and have your application approved by the state. Overall, the process to become a psychologist in Virginia may take about 10 years, although the exact length depends on your circumstances.

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

To become a fully licensed psychologist in Virginia you must have a PhD or PsyD. However, if you want to obtain licensure as a School Psychologist-Limited, you can do so with a master’s degree in psychology.

How much do psychologists in Virginia make?

The BLS reports that clinical, counseling, and school psychologists in Virginia earned an average annual income of $76,150, postsecondary psychology teachers earned an average of $87,090, and all other psychologists earned an average annual income of $94,570 as of May 2021.¹ Your salary as a psychologist in Virginia may be impacted by your experience level, where you work, and whether you live in an urban or rural area.

References:
1. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics, State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, Virginia: https://data.bls.gov/oes/#/area/5100000
2. Long Term Occupational Projections: https://projectionscentral.org/Projections/LongTerm