Psychologist Licensing Requirements in North Dakota

The North Dakota State Board of Psychologist Examiners issues two types of psychologist license. ‘Industrial/ Organizational (I/O) Psychologists’ and ‘Psychologists’ are both required to complete doctoral degrees, licensing examinations, and supervised practice. However, requirements for supervised practice are different.

Featured Programs:

Select a North Dakota Psychologist License topic below…

Education for Psychologists and Industrial-Organizational Psychologists

Candidates will need to complete doctoral degrees in psychology. Programs must be accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) or Canadian Psychological Association (CPA), or designated by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards/National Register (ASSPPB/NR). I/O programs are designated by the ASSPPB/NR.

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

Supervised Professional Experience: North Dakota Psychologists

Psychologists must complete 3,000 hours of supervised experience. At least 1,500 must be pre-doctoral internship. APA- and CPA-accredited internships are automatically approved. Other internships may be accepted if information supplied by the applicant and supervisor indicate that the experience provided adequate training. The Board will consider the work setting, population served, amount and quality of supervision, and skills attained.
The remaining 1,500 hours may be pre- or post-doctoral experience. The post-doctoral resident will need at least 100 hours of supervision during this period; at least 50 of them must be individual supervision. Again, post-doctoral programs accredited by the APA or CPA will be accepted as meeting standards.

Pre-doctoral experiences may only be counted toward the second 1,500 hour requirement if they occurred after the first 600 hours of practicum. They must be organized, sequential training experiences that have the approval of the program director or other designated individual. The doctoral student must work at least 15 hours a week for a minimum of 30 weeks. There must be at least an hour of supervision for every 15 hours spent at the work site. At least half the hours must be provided by the primary supervisor, though remote communications means may be utilized. There must be at least one additional hour each week (on average) spent in additional learning experiences like co-therapy, didactic consultations, case conferences, ‘grand rounds’, or seminars.

The Board notes that research and faculty teaching positions may or may not meet supervised experience requirements. In order for the experience to be credited, the individual must be practicing psychology as defined by the state (http://www.legis.nd.gov/cencode/t43c32.pdf?20131030221933). The Board notes that courses like statistics would generally not be credited. However, courses that involved supervision would likely be credited — provided the teacher/ supervisor was under adequate supervision.

Supervised Professional Experience: I/O Psychologists

I/O psychologists must also complete 3,000 hours of supervised experience. However, there is no pre-doctoral internship requirement. It is mandated that at least 1,500 hours be post-doctoral. Supervision must fit the conditions set in an individual supervision plan.

Psychologist Registration ND

While completing post-doctoral hours, psychology and I/O psychology candidates are considered ‘residents’. It is necessary to file a ‘Notification of Supervision of Psychology Resident Form’ before beginning. Candidates may hold resident status for up to five years.

Supervising psychologists are to have at least three years of experience. As of November 2012, there is a continuing education requirement for psychologist supervisors.

The Examination Process

North Dakota requires candidates to take a state oral examination as well as a national board examination. Candidates will be eligible to take the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP) once their licensing examinations have been approved. They will be eligible to take the state oral examination after they have completed the EPPP and put in six months of supervised experience as residents.

Once authorized for the EPPP, a candidate may register on the site of the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (http://asppb.net). A $600 fee will be assessed. Shortly afterward, the candidate will receive an Authorization to Test (ATT) via email. This grants a 60 day testing window. A candidate may choose to schedule at a computerized testing site in North Dakota or elsewhere.

A scaled score of 500 is considered passing. A candidate who fails an EPPP examination is allowed to retake. Additional fees will be assessed. Study resources are available on the ASPPB site.

The structured oral examination covers ethics, professional standards, and North Dakota law. The candidate’s responses will be recorded and discussed by Board members. At least three members of the North Dakota Board will vote on whether the responses indicate an adequate level of proficiency.

The Application Process for Psychologists in ND

The first application that an in-state candidate will need to file is the notification of supervision. The license application must be filed within six months of beginning the supervised experience; it may be filed earlier.
There is an application form available online that can be downloaded by clicking here. It must be notarized and submitted to the Board office in Bismarck. An application fee of $450 must accompany it.
Once the initial short form application has been processed, the candidate will fill out additional application materials online. (The Board notes that they are working with the ASPPB to create a universal application.)

The North Dakota Board requires applicants to submit at least three letters of endorsement. Candidates may inquire by letter or email if a substantial amount of time passes without correspondence.

Out-of-State Psychologists

Candidates who hold licenses in other jurisdictions may be issued reciprocal licenses if their jurisdiction has requirements that are at least on a par with North Dakota’s. Otherwise, they may be considered for licensure on the basis of requirements.
A Certificate of Professional Qualification (CPQ) is also accepted as evidence that the out-of-state licensee meets North Dakota standards. In all cases, an oral examination is required.

Limited Practice by Out-of-State Licensees

Out-of-state licensees may apply for a limited practice letter; this authorizes 30 days of practice over the span of one year. There is a $25 fee. The application form requires psychologists to list all licenses they have held. They must agree to abide by North Dakota regulations and APA ethics. A curriculum vitae is to be attached.

Additional Information for North Dakota Psychologists

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 North Dakota.

The Board publishes a newsletter, The NDSBPE Review, four times a year. It is available online. The NDSBPE can be reached by phone at 701-590-1754.

The North Dakota Psychological Association is the state affiliate of the APA. It does not handle licensing but serves as an additional professional resource.