License: Psychologist, Applied

Department of Health Professions Board of Psychology

6606 West Broad Street

4th Floor

Richmond, VA 23230-1717

(804) 662-9908

General requirements for licensure: Individuals licensed in one licensure category who wish to practice in another licensure category shall submit an application for the additional licensure category in which the licensee seeks to practice. Requirements for licensure by examination: A. Every applicant for examination for licensure by the board shall: 1. Meet the education requirements prescribed in 18VAC125-20-54, 18VAC125-20-55, or 18VAC125-20-56 and the experience requirement prescribed in 18VAC125-20-65 as applicable for the particular license sought; and 2. Submit the following: a. A completed application on forms provided by the board; b. A completed residency agreement or documentation of having fulfilled the experience requirements of 18VAC125-20-65; c. The application processing fee prescribed by the board; d. Official transcripts documenting the graduate work completed and the degree awarded. Applicants who are graduates of institutions that are not regionally accredited shall submit documentation from an accrediting agency acceptable to the board that their education meets the requirements set forth in 18VAC125-20-54, 18VAC125-20-55 or 18VAC125-20-56; and e. Verification of any other professional license or certificate ever held in another jurisdiction. B. In addition to fulfillment of the education and experience requirements, each applicant for licensure by examination must achieve a passing score on the Examination for Professional Practice of Psychology. C. Every applicant shall submit an affidavit of having read and agreed to comply with the current standards of practice and laws governing the practice of psychology in Virginia. Education requirements: A. The applicant shall hold a doctorate from a professional psychology program from a regionally accredited university which meets the following criteria: 1. The program is within an institution of higher education accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education, or publicly recognized by the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada as a member in good standing. Graduates of programs that are not within the United States or Canada must provide documentation from a credential evaluation service acceptable to the board which demonstrates that the program meets the requirements set forth in this chapter. 2. The program shall be recognizable as an organized entity within the institution. 3. The program shall be an integrated, organized sequence of study with an identifiable psychology faculty and a psychologist directly responsible for the program, and shall have an identifiable body of students who are matriculated in that program for a degree. The faculty shall be accessible to students and provide them with guidance and supervision. The faculty shall provide appropriate professional role models and engage in actions that promote the student's acquisition of knowledge, skills and competencies consistent with the program's training goals. 4. The program shall encompass a minimum of three academic years of full-time graduate study or the equivalent thereof. 5. The program shall include a general core curriculum containing a minimum of three or more graduate semester hours or five or more graduate quarter hours in each of the following substantive content areas. a. Biological bases of behavior (e.g., physiological psychology, comparative psychology, neuropsychology, sensation and perception, health psychology, pharmacology, neuroanatomy). b. Cognitive-affective bases of behavior (e.g., learning theory, cognition, motivation, emotion). c. Social bases of behavior (e.g., social psychology, group processes, organizational and systems theory, community and preventive psychology, multicultural issues). d. Psychological measurement. e. Research methodology. f. Techniques of data analysis. g. Professional standards and ethics. B. Demonstration of competence in applied psychology shall be met by including a minimum of at least 18 semester hours or 30 quarter hours in a concentrated program of study in an identified area of psychology, e.g., developmental, social, cognitive, motivation, applied behavioral analysis, industrial/organizational, human factors, personnel selection and evaluation, program planning and evaluation, teaching, research or consultation. No Experience Requirement for applied psychologists.