Psychologist

Licensure Methods and Requirements

Examination

This method means the educational and supervised experience requirements for licensure are complete at the time of application. The national Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP) and the Florida Laws and Rules examination must be taken and passed prior to licensure.

Examination with Waiver

This method means the educational, supervised experience and EPPP examination requirements for licensure are complete at the time of application. The EPPP must have been passed with a score acceptable to Florida. The Florida Laws and Rules examination must be taken and passed prior to licensure.

Bifurcation/Examination

This method means the educational requirement for licensure has been completed, but the post-doctoral supervised experience will not be complete at the time of application. Applicants under this method are able to proceed with sitting for the required examinations while completing the experience requirement. Verification of the post-doctoral supervised experience and passage of the EPPP and Florida Laws and Rules examinations will be required prior to licensure.

Bifurcation/Examination with Waiver

This method means the educational and EPPP examination requirements have been completed, but the post-doctoral supervised experience will not be completed at the time of application. The EPPP must have been passed with a score acceptable to Florida. Applicants under this method are able to proceed with sitting for the Florida Laws and Rules examination while completing the experience requirement.

Verification of the post-doctoral supervised experience and passage of the Florida Laws and Rules examination will be required prior to licensure.

Application for licensure by examination requires the following:

EDUCATION

U.S. Trained Applicants: Submission of your official doctoral level (Ph.D., Psy.D. or Ed.D) transcript in psychology as proof of graduation from a program accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA). A list of accredited programs is available on the APA’s website at https://www.accreditation.apa.org/accredited-programs. Please reference Sections 490.003 and 490.005, Florida Statutes, for further information.  Currently, the APA is the only “programmatic” accrediting agency approved by the U.S. Department of Education for doctoral level psychology programs.

EXPERIENCE

A total of 4000 hours of supervised experience. The Board accepts the doctoral level psychology internship in satisfaction of the first 2000 hours of the required experience. Applicants must complete the remaining 2000 hours as post-doctoral supervised experience according to the requirements of Rule 64B19-11.005, Florida Administrative Code. Bifurcation/Examination applicants may sit for the required examinations while completing any outstanding hours of the required post-doctoral supervised experience.

EXAMINATIONS

A passing score on the State of Florida’s psychology laws and rules examination is required along with passage of the EPPP administered by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB). Please reference Rule 64B19-11.001, Florida Administrative Code, for further information. Applicants who have previously passed the EPPP with a score acceptable to Florida may apply under the Examination with Waiver application method. The waiver concept may also be applied to Bifurcation/Examination applicants who meet these criteria.

Official Transcripts: Please note that official doctoral level transcripts may be submitted to the Board in password-protected electronic formats via e-mail to mqa.psychology@flhealth.gov. Transcripts must be received from one of the following entities: the degree granting institution, National Student Clearinghouse, Association of State & Provincial Psychology Board’s Mobility Program, or,  the National Register of Health Service Psychologists.

If a “Yes” response was provided to any of the questions in this section, provide the following documents directly to the board office:

A letter from a Licensed Health Care Practitioner, who is qualified by skill and training to address the condition identified, which explains the impact the condition may have on the ability to practice the profession with reasonable skill and safety. The letter must specify that the applicant is safe to practice the profession without restrictions or specifically indicate the restrictions that are necessary. Documentation provided must be dated within one year of the application date.

A written self-explanation, identifying the medical condition(s) or occurrence(s); and current status.

Disciplinary History documentation must include: Board orders, disciplinary reports, court documents, arrest records, sentencing information, final disposition(s), restitution records, completion of probation, employment records and/or employment verifications, employer and/or colleague recommendation letters, etc.

Criminal History documentation must include for each offense: court and arrest records, sentencing information, final disposition(s), restitution records, proof of completion of probation and all other sanctions. If the records are no longer available, must have certification of their unavailability from the applicable clerk of courts office.

Effective July 1, 2012, Section 456.0635, Florida Statutes (F.S.), provides that health care boards or the department shall refuse to issue a license, certificate or registration and shall refuse to admit a candidate for examination if the applicant:

1. Has been convicted of, or entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, regardless of adjudication, a felony under Chapter 409, F.S., (relating to social and economic assistance), Chapter 817, F.S., (relating to fraudulent practices), Chapter 893, F.S., (relating to drug abuse prevention and control) or a similar felony offense(s) in another state or jurisdiction unless the candidate or applicant has successfully completed a drug court program for that felony and provides proof that the plea has been withdrawn or the charges have been dismissed. Any such conviction or plea shall exclude the applicant or candidate from licensure, examination, certification, or registration, unless the sentence and any subsequent period of probation for such conviction or plea ended:
   • For the felonies of the first or second degree, more than 15 years from the date of the plea, sentence and completion of any subsequent probation;
   • For the felonies of the third degree, more than 10 years from the date of the plea, sentence and completion of any subsequent probation;
   • For the felonies of the third degree under section 893.13(6)(a), F.S., more than five years from the date of the plea, sentence and completion of any subsequent probation;
2. Has been convicted of, or entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, regardless of adjudication, a felony under 21 U.S.C. ss. 801-970 (relating to controlled substances) or 42 U.S.C. ss. 1395-1396 (relating to public health, welfare, Medicare and Medicaid issues), unless the sentence and any subsequent period of probation for such conviction or pleas ended more than 15 years prior to the date of the application;
3. Has been terminated for cause from the Florida Medicaid program pursuant to section 409.913, F.S., unless the candidate or applicant has been in good standing with the Florida Medicaid program for the most recent five years;
4. Has been terminated for cause, pursuant to the appeals procedures established by the state or Federal Government, from any other state Medicaid program, unless the candidate or applicant has been in good standing with a state Medicaid program for the most recent five years and the termination occurred at least 20 years before the date of the application;
5. Is currently listed on the United States Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General’s List of Excluded Individuals and Entities.

Licensure Methods and Requirements

EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
Applicants who received their education outside of the United States are required to submit the items below along with the Florida psychologist licensure application. You may refer to Rule 64B19-11.0035, F.A.C. for details.

• Credentials Evaluation Report: A report on the equivalency of the applicant’s International Education in psychology, prepared by a credentials evaluation service. The report should provide 1) proof of degree (Ph.D., Psy.D., or Ed.D. in psychology) from an institution officially recognized by the government of the country in which it is located as an institution to train students to practice professional psychology, and 2) the pre-doctoral internship equivalence. You may refer to the application packet instructions for a listing of organizations which perform credentials evaluations.
• Letter of American Psychological Association (APA) Comparability: An original, signed letter on official letterhead sent directly to the Board from the director or former director of a doctoral psychology program, within an educational institution, holding accreditation by the APA at the time of her or his directorship. The letter shall state that the applicant’s program is equivalent to a psychology program accredited by APA and enumerate the exact documents that were reviewed in determining comparability.

EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

Additionally, applicants must submit proof of completion of 2000 hours of post-doctoral supervised experience under a licensed psychologist. The supervision must have fulfilled the requirements outlined in Rule 64B19-11.005, Florida Administrative Code.  The post-doctoral supervisor must complete the Florida Board’s post-doctoral verification form to document satisfaction of this requirement.

If a “Yes” response was provided to any of the questions in this section, provide the following documents directly to the board office:

A letter from a Licensed Health Care Practitioner, who is qualified by skill and training to address the condition identified, which explains the impact the condition may have on the ability to practice the profession with reasonable skill and safety. The letter must specify that the applicant is safe to practice the profession without restrictions or specifically indicate the restrictions that are necessary. Documentation provided must be dated within one year of the application date.

A written self-explanation, identifying the medical condition(s) or occurrence(s); and current status.

Disciplinary History documentation must include: Board orders, disciplinary reports, court documents, arrest records, sentencing information, final disposition(s), restitution records, completion of probation, employment records and/or employment verifications, employer and/or colleague recommendation letters, etc.

Criminal History documentation must include for each offense: court and arrest records, sentencing information, final disposition(s), restitution records, proof of completion of probation and all other sanctions. If the records are no longer available, must have certification of their unavailability from the applicable clerk of courts office.

Effective July 1, 2012, Section 456.0635, Florida Statutes (F.S.), provides that health care boards or the department shall refuse to issue a license, certificate or registration and shall refuse to admit a candidate for examination if the applicant:

1. Has been convicted of, or entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, regardless of adjudication, a felony under Chapter 409, F.S., (relating to social and economic assistance), Chapter 817, F.S., (relating to fraudulent practices), Chapter 893, F.S., (relating to drug abuse prevention and control) or a similar felony offense(s) in another state or jurisdiction unless the candidate or applicant has successfully completed a drug court program for that felony and provides proof that the plea has been withdrawn or the charges have been dismissed. Any such conviction or plea shall exclude the applicant or candidate from licensure, examination, certification, or registration, unless the sentence and any subsequent period of probation for such conviction or plea ended:
   • For the felonies of the first or second degree, more than 15 years from the date of the plea, sentence and completion of any subsequent probation;
   • For the felonies of the third degree, more than 10 years from the date of the plea, sentence and completion of any subsequent probation;
   • For the felonies of the third degree under section 893.13(6)(a), F.S., more than five years from the date of the plea, sentence and completion of any subsequent probation;
2. Has been convicted of, or entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, regardless of adjudication, a felony under 21 U.S.C. ss. 801-970 (relating to controlled substances) or 42 U.S.C. ss. 1395-1396 (relating to public health, welfare, Medicare and Medicaid issues), unless the sentence and any subsequent period of probation for such conviction or pleas ended more than 15 years prior to the date of the application;
3. Has been terminated for cause from the Florida Medicaid program pursuant to section 409.913, F.S., unless the candidate or applicant has been in good standing with the Florida Medicaid program for the most recent five years;
4. Has been terminated for cause, pursuant to the appeals procedures established by the state or Federal Government, from any other state Medicaid program, unless the candidate or applicant has been in good standing with a state Medicaid program for the most recent five years and the termination occurred at least 20 years before the date of the application;
5. Is currently listed on the United States Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General’s List of Excluded Individuals and Entities.

Please note, the provisional application method does not allow you to be able to take the EPPP exam.

Education Requirements:
A Psy.D., an Ed.D. in psychology, or a Ph.D. in psychology from: an educational institution which, at the time the applicant was enrolled and graduated, had institutional accreditation from an agency recognized and approved by the United States Department of Education or was recognized as a member in good standing with the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada; and a psychology program within that educational institution which, at the time the applicant was enrolled and graduated, had programmatic accreditation from an agency recognized and approved by the United States Department of Education. (Only graduates from American Psychological Association (APA) accredited programs meet this criteria.)

Supervision Requirements:
Provisional psychology licensees should not practice without the appropriate supervision. All supervision must conform to the requirements outlined in Rule 64B19-11.011, F.A.C. Practicing without the appropriate supervision may result in disciplinary action being taken against the provisional psychology licensee.

Official Transcripts: Please note that official doctoral level transcripts may be submitted to the Board in password-protected electronic formats via e-mail to mqa.psychology@flhealth.gov. Transcripts must be received from one of the following entities: the degree granting institution, National Student Clearinghouse, Association of State & Provincial Psychology Board’s Mobility Program, or,  the National Register of Health Service Psychologists.

If a “Yes” response was provided to any of the questions in this section, provide the following documents directly to the board office:

A letter from a Licensed Health Care Practitioner, who is qualified by skill and training to address the condition identified, which explains the impact the condition may have on the ability to practice the profession with reasonable skill and safety. The letter must specify that the applicant is safe to practice the profession without restrictions or specifically indicate the restrictions that are necessary. Documentation provided must be dated within one year of the application date.

A written self-explanation, identifying the medical condition(s) or occurrence(s); and current status.

Disciplinary History documentation must include: Board orders, disciplinary reports, court documents, arrest records, sentencing information, final disposition(s), restitution records, completion of probation, employment records and/or employment verifications, employer and/or colleague recommendation letters, etc.

Criminal History documentation must include for each offense: court and arrest records, sentencing information, final disposition(s), restitution records, proof of completion of probation and all other sanctions. If the records are no longer available, must have certification of their unavailability from the applicable clerk of courts office.

Effective July 1, 2012, Section 456.0635, Florida Statutes (F.S.), provides that health care boards or the department shall refuse to issue a license, certificate or registration and shall refuse to admit a candidate for examination if the applicant:

1. Has been convicted of, or entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, regardless of adjudication, a felony under Chapter 409, F.S., (relating to social and economic assistance), Chapter 817, F.S., (relating to fraudulent practices), Chapter 893, F.S., (relating to drug abuse prevention and control) or a similar felony offense(s) in another state or jurisdiction unless the candidate or applicant has successfully completed a drug court program for that felony and provides proof that the plea has been withdrawn or the charges have been dismissed. Any such conviction or plea shall exclude the applicant or candidate from licensure, examination, certification, or registration, unless the sentence and any subsequent period of probation for such conviction or plea ended:
   • For the felonies of the first or second degree, more than 15 years from the date of the plea, sentence and completion of any subsequent probation;
   • For the felonies of the third degree, more than 10 years from the date of the plea, sentence and completion of any subsequent probation;
   • For the felonies of the third degree under section 893.13(6)(a), F.S., more than five years from the date of the plea, sentence and completion of any subsequent probation;
2. Has been convicted of, or entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, regardless of adjudication, a felony under 21 U.S.C. ss. 801-970 (relating to controlled substances) or 42 U.S.C. ss. 1395-1396 (relating to public health, welfare, Medicare and Medicaid issues), unless the sentence and any subsequent period of probation for such conviction or pleas ended more than 15 years prior to the date of the application;
3. Has been terminated for cause from the Florida Medicaid program pursuant to section 409.913, F.S., unless the candidate or applicant has been in good standing with the Florida Medicaid program for the most recent five years;
4. Has been terminated for cause, pursuant to the appeals procedures established by the state or Federal Government, from any other state Medicaid program, unless the candidate or applicant has been in good standing with a state Medicaid program for the most recent five years and the termination occurred at least 20 years before the date of the application;
5. Is currently listed on the United States Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General’s List of Excluded Individuals and Entities.