Florida Psychologist Licensing

The Board of Psychology in Florida (http://www.floridaspsychology.gov) licenses psychologists. To obtain licensure, candidates must earn a doctoral degree, successfully pass state and national exams, and undergo a year of supervised training. This guide will tell you everything you need to know about obtaining and maintaining your license in the Sunshine State.

What’s in this guide?

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Education Requirements

The first step of earning your psychology license in the state of Florida is obtaining your doctoral degree in psychology. Typically, this journey begins with securing an undergraduate degree in psychology or a related field such as social work.

Upon completing your undergraduate studies, the next step is to pursue a master’s degree in psychology. With these degrees in-hand, you are well-positioned to apply to the APA-accredited college of your choice to attain a PhD or PsyD, thereby fulfilling the educational prerequisites for licensure.

 

If you opt for a hiatus between your master’s education and your doctorate, Florida permits you to become a registered mental health counselor intern or a registered marriage and family therapist intern with a master’s degree. These designations can be held as you gain the requisite supervised experience for licensure.

While progressing through your educational journey, it’s important to be cognizant of Florida’s specific coursework requirements which may not be covered in your standard curriculum. The additional coursework is delineated by subject matter and contact hours, with one contact hour equating to one hour of class.

For Florida, the additional required coursework includes:

  • Human Sexuality, 3 contact hours
  • Substance Abuse, 8 contact hours
  • Spousal Abuse, 2 contact hours
  • Child Abuse, 2 contact hours
  • Aging and Long-term Care, 3 contact hours
  • Ethics and Boundary Issues, 3 contact hours
  • Domestic Violence, 6 contact hours

Supervised Professional Experience Requirements

A key component of fulfilling your licensure requirements involves accumulating a specified number of supervised internship hours. In the state of Florida, aspiring psychologists are required to complete 4,000 hours of supervised experience. They have the opportunity to earn 2,000 of these hours while pursuing their doctorate, with the remaining 2,000 hours to be completed post-graduation.

Prospective psychologists have the option to commence their post-doctoral hours prior to their graduation ceremony, provided they have documentation verifying the successful completion of their coursework.

A crucial element of accumulating your 4,000 supervised internship hours is to ensure that your work setting is accredited by the American Psychological Association. Additionally, Florida allows candidates to earn their supervised hours through organizations affiliated with the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers.

If you are engaged in a nonexempt setting and lack a waiver from the Department of Health, it’s mandatory to hold a provisional license during the period you’re earning your 4,000 hours.

Have you already accrued hours from another state or U.S. territory? If your supervising psychologist is licensed, these work hours can count toward your grand total. And if you were completing internship hours in another country, these may roll into your Florida hours if you can prove they were of equitable quality as in-state work.

Required Examinations

Florida is a state that requires psychologists to take two standardized tests to qualify for their license. The first one is the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP) and the second is the Florida Laws and Rules Examination.

The EPPP is a standardized examination administered by the Association of State & Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB) through the exam vendor PearsonVUE. It covers general psychological theories and practices and is required by most state boards for licensure.

The passing score is considered a minimum of 500 out of 800 points​.

The Florida Department of Health Psychology Laws & Rules Examination is a state-specific examination administered by PearsonVUE on behalf of the Florida Department of Health. It covers the laws and rules governing the practice of psychology in Florida​.

Candidates with a doctoral level degree (Ph.D., Psy.D. or Ed.D) in psychology from a program accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) are eligible to apply for licensure by examination in Florida​1​.

Background Check

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Federal Bureau of Investigation will use fingerprinting to conduct a criminal history record check.

If you do have a criminal conviction, it doesn’t necessarily mean you won’t be able to get your license. The charges that will automatically exclude you are: anything requiring you to register as a sex offender, sexual charges against a minor, and battery against a patient under your care.

Florida Psychologist License Application Process

Apply for the EPPP (Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology):

  • Fill out the online application or mail in a hard copy application to the Florida Board of Psychology.
  • Submit official transcripts for your qualifying degree to the Florida Board of Psychology.
  • Complete and submit verification of your supervised experience, documenting 4,000 hours of supervised experience earned pre-/post-doctorally.
  • Once approved, schedule and take the EPPP exam. If you do not pass, you may retake the examination upon meeting the retake guidelines set by the Board.

Apply for the Florida Laws and Rules Examination:

  • Fill out the request form for the Florida Laws and Rules Examination and mail it to the Florida Board of Psychology with the fee.
  • Once approved, schedule and take the Florida Laws and Rules Examination. If you do not pass, you may retake the exam upon meeting the retake guidelines set by the Board.

Request for Initial Licensure:

After passing the Florida Laws and Rules Examination, you’ll receive instructions on how to request for initial licensure.

Continuing Education Requirements

In Florida, the emphasis is primarily on the conventional model of Continuing Education, which seeks to provide psychologists with the necessary knowledge and skills to uphold a high standard of professional practice.

The Florida Board of Psychology mandates that licensees complete 40 hours of Continuing Education (CE) biennially. The continuing education requirements include:

  1. General Hours: A total of 34 general hours are required, which can be completed through various educational activities approved by the board.
  2. Ethics and Florida Laws and Rules: 3 hours in ethics and Florida laws and rules are required.
  3. Domestic Violence: 2 hours of domestic violence training is required every third biennial renewal period.
  4. Medical Errors: 2 hours in the prevention of medical errors is required.

License Renewal

Florida psychologists must renew their licenses every two years.

A total of 40 hours of continuing education (CE) are required for each renewal. The continuing education requirements include 34 general hours, 3 hours in ethics and Florida laws and rules, 2 hours in the prevention of medical errors, and 2 hours of domestic violence training every third biennial renewal period.

Renew your license online via the Florida Board of Psychology’s Online Services. You can also submit a License Renewal Application by mail, though it’s advisable to do this well in advance of the license expiration date to ensure timely processing.

Ensure to renew your license on time to avoid it slipping into inactive or delinquent status. Practicing psychology with an inactive or delinquent license may result in disciplinary actions and legal consequences.

If renewing before your license expires:

  • Active to Active: $195.00
  • Inactive to Inactive: $155.00
  • Active to Inactive: $155.00
  • Inactive to Active: $345.00
  • Active to Retired: $55.00
  • Inactive to Retired: $55.00

If renewing after your license expires:

  • Active to Active: $385.00
  • Inactive to Inactive: $345.00
  • Active to Inactive: $395.00
  • Inactive to Active: $585.00
  • Active to Retired: $295.00
  • Inactive to Retired: $295.00

If renewing 120 days after being notified of delinquency:

  • Active to Active: $580.00
  • Inactive to Inactive: $500.00
  • Active to Inactive: $500.00
  • Inactive to Active: $730.00
  • Active to Retired: $440.00
  • Inactive to Retired: $400.00

Will My Out-of-State Psychology License Carry Over to Florida?

Florida does not have a direct reciprocity agreement with other states for psychology licensure. However, it provides a path for out-of-state licensed psychologists to obtain licensure in Florida through an endorsement procedure if they have significant experience.

Applicants can seek licensure in Florida through endorsement if they have at least 10 years of experience as a licensed psychologist within any jurisdiction or territory of the United States within the 25 years preceding the date of application.

A doctoral degree in psychology is required for this endorsement route. Effective from July 1, 2022, the degree must be a Psy.D., Ed.D. in psychology, or a Ph.D. in psychology from a recognized and accredited institution.

The Florida Laws and Rules examination is also a requirement for licensure by endorsement.

Applicants with a health, disciplinary, or criminal history may need to provide additional documentation as part of the application process​.

What are Florida’s Board and Professional Organizations?

The Florida Board of Psychology is the organization responsible for licensing psychologists. This board is a part of the state’s Division of Medical Quality Assurance.

They have a license support phone number ((850) 488-0595) that operates 8 a.m. until 6 p.m., Eastern Time. If you have a question outside of those hours, they also offer a chat robot that may be able to help you get the information you need.

For more information about practicing psychology in Florida, try the Florida Psychological Association. This organization doesn’t handle licensure, but has other useful resources for psychologists.