Psychologist Licensing Requirements in Idaho

Idaho psychologists are regulated by the Board of Psychologist Examiners. Licensure is dependent on completing a doctoral degree and passing a board examination. Candidates must work under supervision for at least one year following completion of the license-qualifying degree. Psychology candidates are under Board regulation while completing their post-degree supervised practice requirements; at this level, there are multiple designations.

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Psychologist Education Requirements in Idaho

A candidate who earns a doctoral degree from a program that is accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) is considered to meet Idaho’s educational standards.

Click Here to learn more about psychology education options based on your current educational attainment.

Other doctoral degrees earned in psychology or closely related fields may be deemed acceptable by the Board. The institution must hold accreditation through one of the following regional accrediting agencies:

  • Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
  • New England Association of Schools and Colleges
  • North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
  • Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges
  • Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
  • Western Association of Schools and Colleges

The psychology program must be a coherent entity within the institution. A faculty psychologist must bear responsibility for the program.
Idaho will look for three semester hours or five quarter hours in each substantive content area:

  • History and systems of psychology
  • Cognitive-affective basis of behavior
  • Biological basis of behavior
  • Social basis of behavior
  • Individual differences
  • Research design and methodology
  • Data analysis techniques
  • Psychological measurement
  • Professional and scientific standards
  • Multiculturalism and individual diversity

Internships that are not APA-accredited should meet similar standards.

Idaho Psychologist Supervised Experience

The psychology candidate, or trainee, must complete two years of supervised professional experience. (A year is considered to be 1,000 hours and can be completed in as little as 12 months or as many as 36.)

The first year may commence after the student has completed at least a year of graduate study. The second must take place at the postdoctoral level.’
Postdoctoral supervision is to be under the supervision of a licensed psychologist. The supervisee will need an hour or supervision for every 20 hours of service delivery. Supervision normally takes place on a weekly basis. It is not acceptable to deliver psychological services for more than two weeks without direct supervision even under “unusual circumstances”.

Idaho recognizes postdoctoral practice at two levels. The ‘psychologist-in-training’ is working at the lower level. At this level, it is not necessary to have taken or passed the licensing examination. While all psychologists-in-training have completed doctoral degrees, some may have minimal deficiencies.

In most cases, a psychologist-in-training must have the supervising psychologist on the premises at least half the time that services are being delivered. The Board may grant exceptions for individuals working at public agencies following a review of the supervision plan; the supervising psychologist must make a request.

Psychologists under supervision have met educational requirements and passed the licensing examination. Professionals with this designation may work under less administrative control (so long as they meet requirements set out in Section 600).
Board approval is required in order for a psychologist to deliver services under either status. Individuals may not deliver psychology services in Idaho unless they fall under one of the state’s exemption categories.

The supervisor will need to furnish information about the supervisee to the Board. Idaho permits supervisees to contract for supervisory services.
Clients/ patients must be informed in writing of the status of the person delivering services.

The Application Process for psychologists in ID

Candidates first come under Board jurisdiction when they are preparing to begin postdoctoral supervised practice.
Application forms are available on the site by clicking here. They can also be requested from the Board; a written request must be sent to the Boise office.
Candidates must sign a statement that they have read the Idaho regulations and the APA code of ethics and will abide by both.

An examination candidate will include an application fee of $200 along with an administrative fee of $25; the latter is not required of candidates who have already taken the EPPP.

Official transcripts and letters of reference should be requested and sent directly from the source. There is a standardized reference form.

Application files must be complete seven days in advance of a scheduled Board meeting in order to be reviewed at that meeting. Upcoming meeting are posted on the Board calendar (https://secure.ibol.idaho.gov/eIBOLCalendar/Default.aspx?Board=PSY).
Applicants can expect communication within two to four weeks of the meeting. They can check license status online.

Psychologist Examinations in Idaho

Candidates must pass the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP). State permission is required. Once this is granted, candidates may register with the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB). They will receive an Authorization to Test which grants a 60 day eligibility window. The examination is administered via computer at testing sites around the nation. Candidates may schedule their on examinations, but are advised to do so early, as slots may fill.

The cost of the exam is $600 as of late 2013. Candidates should be prepared to pay an additional fee to the company that own the computerized testing centers and oversees the examination process; currently this is approximately $80.

Retakes are permitted (subject to additional fees). Any candidate who fails two examination attempts must wait a year and then petition the board; further study will be required.

Licensing by Endorsement/Licensing of Senior Psychologists

Out-of-state psychologists may be licensed by endorsement (without examination) on the basis of any of the following credentials: National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology (NRHSPP) registration, American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP) certification, or Certificate of Professional Qualification in Psychology.

Out-of-state psychologists may also be licensed on the basis of demonstrating that they meet educational and supervised practice requirements or have education and experience acceptable to the Board.

Senior psychologists (those who have been licensed at least 20 years) may be licensed without being held to all standards. They must possess doctoral degrees. They must have been in active practice five of the prior seven years, have clean disciplinary records over that seven year period, and have maintained continuing education.
There is an endorsement fee of $100; this is in addition to the standard $200 application fee.

Out-of-state psychologists may practice in Idaho on a temporary basis if they have an Inter jurisdictional Practice Certificate (IPC). They must notify the Board of their intent (using the “Notice of Intent to Practice” form) and provide evidence of IPC status.

Additional Information

If you are still in High School, hold a High School Diploma/GED, hold a bachelor’s degree, or hold a master’s degree check out suggested steps to take along the path to becoming a Psychologist in Idaho.

Applicants with questions may call (208) 334-3233 or use the email address provided in the application packet.

The Idaho Psychological Association does not handle licensing, but serves as an additional professional resource (http://www.idahopsych.org).