Getting Your Psychology License in Pennsylvania
Getting a license to practice Psychology in Pennsylvania can seem like a daunting process, but with focus and hard work you can make it happen. If you have completed your psychology doctorate degree, you can apply to take the Pennsylvania Psychology Law Exam (PPLE).
The Application Process:
- The first step to getting licensed to practice Psychology in Pennsylvania is to fill out an "Application Requesting Approval to Sit for the Psychology Licensing Examinations." The application is located at the Pennsylvania State Board of Psychology website, which can be found here.
- Along with this application, you will need to send in a $105.00 application fee (checks must be made out to "The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania").
- You will need to send in a Criminal History Record Information Report from your resident state. This must include identifying information (SSN and/or DOB). If a record exists, you must send in original copies of court documents and police reports.
- Within 90-days of submitting the application, you must also send in a Child Abuse History Clearance from The Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare.
- Submit an Internship Verification Form along with a job description. This can be found at the Pennsylvania State Board of Psychology site.
- Fill out a Verification of Graduation form (this can also be found at the Pennsylvania State Board of Psychology site), and submit it along with a transcript.
- IF the doctoral program you completed was APA accredited or ASPPB designated, AND you are a first-time applicant, you must submit a Verification of Doctoral Program Approval Status Form. IF the doctoral program you completed was NOT APA accredited or ASPPB designated, you must submit a Doctoral Program Information form. Both of these forms are located at the Pennsylvania State Board of Psychology site.
- If you have already completed post-doctorate experience, then you must also submit the following forms (which can be found at the PSBP site): The Application to Practice Psychology for Persons Licensed In Other States, the Application for Approval of Corporate or Fictitious Name, and the Application Form for Sponsor/Provider Approval for National and Regional Associations.
Once your application has been approved, you will be notified, with an authorization-to-test letter, that you are now able to sit for the Pennsylvania State Licensing Exams.
The Exams:
- You will be required to take the Pennsylvania Psychology Law Examination (PPLE) and the national Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP).
- Professional Examination Service (PES) will send an email inviting you to take the EPPP. The EPPP is a 225-question written exam (which is administered on a computer screen), for which you are given 4-hours and 15-minutes to complete. You must complete the exam within 60-days of receiving your authorization-to-test letter. You may sit for this exam no more than four times in a 12-month period. A score of 500 (out of 800) is recommended. Click here for a set of practice questions.
- Professional Credentialing Services (PCS) will send scheduling forms by mail for the PPLE after you pass the EPPP. This is an hour-long written test that is administered on a computer screen.
- Both the EPPP and PPLE can be scheduled on any day besides Sunday.
Once you pass the exams, and once you have completed your post-doctoral experience, you can fill-out and send in an Application for License to Practice Psychology. You must also send in an updated Criminal History Record Information Report, an updated Child Abuse History Clearance, and the Verification of Post Doctoral Experience form. See our online PA Psychology Test resources page for links to these important documents.
