Psychologist Licensure Requirements in Maine

The Maine State Board of Examiners of Psychologists licenses the state’s psychologists and psychologist examiners. Psychologist examiners have education at the master’s level. Psychologists have education at the doctoral level. They have passed a national board examination and completed at least a year of post-degree practice under supervision. They work under temporary licenses while fulfilling post-graduate practice requirements.

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Education Requirements

Doctoral programs must hold programmatic accreditation or meet standards set by approved organizations. Any psychology program that is accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) or the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) is accepted as license qualifying. Doctoral programs that are approved by the National Association of School Psychologists or meet the designation criteria of the ASPPB/NR Joint Designation Program are also accepted. Other programs may be approved if they meet criteria adopted by the Maine Board.

The institution itself must be regionally accredited. The program must be identified as a psychology program (whatever school houses it). Students must spend at least three years earning the degree; at least one year is to be spent in residency.

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Graduates must demonstrate competence in the following areas:

  • Psychometric theory
  • Statistics
  • Ethics and scientific and professional standards
  • Research methodology and design
  • Biological basis of behavior
  • Cognitive and affective bases of behavior
  • Social basis of behavior
  • Individual differences
  • Applied psychology

Competence is generally demonstrated through one three-semester hour course or the equivalent.

In addition to the above academic coursework, a non-accredited/non-designated program must include two semesters of practicum and a year of pre-doctoral supervised experience that meets Board standards.

Supervised Experience

Both pre- and post- doctoral hours should be earned through organized training programs. The pre-doctoral internship gives student a wide range of competencies while the post-doctoral experience develops advanced or specialized skills. Training experiences are to be guided by a supervisory contract which defines which competencies will be developed and how they will be evaluated. Written evaluations are to take place at least every six months.

Pre-Doctoral Practice

A total of 1,500 hours is required at the pre-doctoral level. Hours may be accrued in a period of 48 to 104 weeks; the intern may work an average of 16 to 40 hours a week.

There must be two hours a week of face-to-face supervision and two hours of other learning experiences (for example, case conferences or group supervision). The weekly requirement is the same whether the intern is part-time or full-time.

At least half of the pre-doctoral hours must be spent in service-related activities (which can include activities like report writing or consultation); at least one-fourth the credited hours must be face-to-face direct provision of services. The Board will credit no more than one-fourth of the hours for research.

Post-Doctoral Practice

The post-doctoral supervised experience must also total 1,500 hours and be carried out over a period of 48 to 104 weeks. The majority of hours should be earned in the candidate’s intended practice area. The supervisee may spend 25% to 60% of the time providing direct services.

At this level, the supervisee will need one hour a week of face-to-face supervision and one hour of additional learning experiences. The Board may consider variances when circumstances make weekly meetings impractical. However the supervisee will still need four hours of supervision each month.

The post-doctoral supervisor will later fill out a verification form, placing the supervisee’s performance into one of seven categories. In some instances, a supervisor may recommend continued supervision for an individual who is not ready to function autonomously.

The Board notes that internships or post-doctoral training programs accredited by the APA are accepted as meeting all training requirements.

The Examination Process

The first examination that candidates attempt is the Maine Jurisprudence Exam. The application packet includes web addresses for study resources. A candidate must score at least 80%. A candidate who fails an examination attempt will need to wait 30 days before making another attempt.

The Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP), a national board examination, must be passed within one year of the time the temporary license is issued. Candidates should be prepared to remit $600. Candidate handbooks are available on the site of the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (http://www.asppb.net).

The Application Process

A graduate first applies to the Board when it is time to begin post-doctoral practice. The application is short at this stage, but a letter of agreement for supervision must be included. The temporary license carries a $200 fee.

An applicant for permanent licensure will select the correct application packet based on status and application method (http://www.state.me.us/pfr/professionallicensing/professions/psychologists/forms). Candidates who are applying by examination submit $321 with their applications; this includes the initial licensing fee as well as the background check fee and an additional fee for processing. Candidates who have already passed the EPPP pay $271.

Permanent licensure requires three professional references, at least two of them submitted by licensed psychologists. The professionals note the particular functions that the candidate is capable of carrying out. The candidate will fill out the top portion and have references complete and return the forms; they are to be included in the application packet.

Applications may be mailed to the Augusta address or hand delivered to the Gardiner office. (The Board notes that hand delivered applications still take time to process.)

Application status can be monitored online.

Out-of-State Psychologists

Any applicant who has ever held licensing as a mental health professional must provide license verification, either electronically or via the paper form available in the application packet. The Board notes that verifications sent electronically must include the date of verification and the web address of the licensing agency.

An out-of-state licensee may choose one of several pathways to show that Maine requirements have been met. The first is to present qualifications directly. The second is to have the ASPPB Credentials Bank send them. The third is to present a current Certificate of Professional Qualification (CPQ) or current registration with the National Register (NR).

While all candidates are expected to pass the EPPP, an American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP) diplomate may, at Board discretion, have the examination requirement waived.

An out-of-state licensee from a jurisdiction that has standards on a par with Maine’s may be issued a conditional license to practice in Maine while waiting to take the jurisprudence examination. A conditional licensee must practice under supervision.

An internationally educated candidate must have credentials translated and evaluated by a National Association of Credential Evaluation Services member.

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 become a Licensed Psychologist in Maine.

Candidates may email the Board if they cannot find answers to their questions (http://www.state.me.us/pfr/professionallicensing/professions/psychologists/faq). The Board may also be reached at (207) 624-8689.

The Maine Psychological Association is an additional professional resource (http://mepa.org).

Maine State Board of Examiners of Psychologists licenses the state’s psychologists and psychologist examiners (http://www.state.me.us/pfr/professionallicensing/professions/psychologists/index.htm).