Becoming a licensed psychologist in Massachusetts is a structured and regulated professional journey. The license grants the authority to practice psychology, which involves applying scientific principles to assess, diagnose, and treat mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders. The Massachusetts Board of Registration of Psychologists oversees the process, ensuring professionals meet standards of education, supervised practice, and ethical knowledge. This oversight protects the public and maintains the integrity of psychological services.
Educational Foundation for Licensure
The pursuit of licensure begins with completing an advanced academic degree from an approved institution. Massachusetts mandates that applicants hold a doctoral degree (Ph.D., Psy.D., or Ed.D.) in psychology from a recognized educational program. The Board prefers programs accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) or those that meet equivalent Massachusetts standards. The doctoral curriculum must provide instruction in the core areas of psychology, preparing graduates for independent practice.
Accumulating Supervised Professional Experience
The theoretical knowledge gained during doctoral studies must be followed by documented supervised practice. Massachusetts requires a total of 3,200 clock hours of supervised experience, completed within a maximum of 60 consecutive calendar months. This total experience is divided into two main components to ensure comprehensive training.
At least 1,600 clock hours must be completed in an organized health service training program functioning as a pre-doctoral internship. This internship is generally completed after the first two full-time academic years of graduate training and must take no less than ten calendar months. The remaining 1,600 hours can be accrued through advanced practicum or post-internship supervised experience.
All training experiences must adhere to specific supervisory ratios established in 251 CMR 3.00. Applicants must receive a minimum of one hour of supervision for every 16 hours of work, including at least one hour per week dedicated to individual, face-to-face supervision. Each training experience must last a minimum of four months and involve at least 16 hours of work per week to be credited. The Board requires formal supervision agreements and documentation from supervisors to verify the experience meets state requirements.
Passing Required Examinations
Candidates must demonstrate competency by passing two separate examinations after the educational and supervised experience requirements are met. The first is the national Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP), a standardized assessment covering psychological knowledge. Massachusetts requires a scaled score of 500 or higher on this comprehensive multiple-choice test.
The second is the Massachusetts Jurisprudence Examination, which is specific to the state’s laws and ethical regulations (251 CMR 1.00 through 6.00). This state-specific, 20-question multiple-choice test requires a passing score of 70% (14 correct answers) and is typically taken after the Board approves the application for eligibility.
Submitting Your Application to the Massachusetts Board
The formal application process occurs after all training and examination prerequisites are fulfilled. Applicants must submit required documentation, including official doctoral transcripts, detailed forms verifying the 3,200 hours of supervised experience, and official EPPP score reports. The Board also requires a Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) check to ensure the applicant meets character and fitness standards. Psychologists licensed in other jurisdictions may apply for licensure by endorsement, but they must still submit a complete application and pass the state’s Jurisprudence Examination.
Obtaining the Health Service Provider Certification
While standard licensure permits the practice of psychology, the Health Service Provider (HSP) certification is a separate credential necessary to independently offer health services. These services include clinical practice, psychotherapy, and psychological testing, and HSP status is typically required for billing third-party payers. Without this certification, a licensed psychologist may only provide health services under the supervision of an HSP-certified professional. To qualify, the supervised experience must meet the criteria for a health service setting, defined by the Board as an entity with programmatic coherence and on-site supervision. The experience must include at least two years of full-time supervised health service work, totaling no less than 3,200 clock hours, with at least 25% of the hours involving direct client contact.
License Renewal and Continuing Education
Maintaining the license requires adherence to the Board’s requirements for renewal and ongoing professional development. The license must be renewed biennially by June 30th of every even-numbered year. This two-year cycle necessitates the completion of mandatory Continuing Education (CE) units. The Board requires licensees to complete 20 hours of approved CE credits during each renewal period, earned through programs sponsored or approved by the American Psychological Association. Additionally, all licensees must complete a one-time training course on domestic and sexual violence approved by the Board.