Common EPPP Myths addressed by the ASPPB

I ran across an informative document from the ASPPB on common "myths" about the EPPP, including:

• There are easier and harder versions of the test
• Most people fail the exam
• Exam questions are not related to professional application as a psychologist (which I believe is partially true)
• Questions are badly worded and intended to be "tricky"
• How many I/O questions are on the exam
• Those from Canada need to be familiar with American ethics guidelines
• All the "test items" on the exam are all at the beginning

Check it out here!

Zero State Exams

Here is a list of states that require no further examination beyond the EPPP, according to the ASPPB's database. I have also added their required number of post-doctoral supervised hours:

• Arizona (No required post-doc hours, but can use up to 1500 post-doc hours for licensure)
• Delaware (1500 hours in no less than 12 months)
• Idaho (1000 hours in no less than 12 months)
• Iowa (1500 hours)
• Kansas (1800 hours)
• Michigan (2000 hours)
• New York (1750 hours)
• Virginia (1500 hours in no less than 12 months)
• Wyoming (No required post-doc hours, but can use up to 1500 post-doc hours for licensure)
• Hawaii (1900 hours)

Now, if you have post-doctoral hours that fit the requirements of Arizona or Wyoming, these may be states to add to the "easiest states to get licensed" list. Be sure to read the fine print, that is why they allow up to 1500 hours of post-doc for licensure purposes since some practicum experiences may not fit the requirements or not count for other reasons. 

Zero Post-Doc Hours

Considering applying for licensure while on post-doc or internship? The following states have no requirement for post-doctoral hours:

• Alabama
• Arizona
• Connecticut
• Indiana
• Kentucky
• Maryland
• North Dakota
• Ohio
• Utah
• Washington State
• Wyoming

Remember, if you choose this path, there are two major issues to consider. 

First, do your practicum experiences fit the qualifications needed for licensure in these states? If you attended your graduate program in one of these states, your chances are better. Be sure to read the fine print when you apply, or call the board for clarification. This can be an astoundingly confusing method to how hours are counted, computed, and evaluated. You will also need to be sure that you have all of those hours accounted for appropriately, so if you still have all of that information from your APPI, you should be in decent shape. You will also need to send verification letters to each of your practicum supervisors, who may or may not still be where you left them. 

Second, should you want to be licensed in another state in the future, you may not fit the qualifications if you did not complete supervised post-doctoral hours. If you are okay with the state you are pursuing for long-term licensure, great, but if you think your plans will change, it's something to think about. 

Another more minor thing to think about is if you are not near any of these states, you may have to travel to them to take their ethics or other type of exam. Is the extra travel expense worth it?

The Easiest States to get Licensed in

As noted in my previous post, I'm no longer pursuing licensure under the new law, since the strictness of the rules of the practicum experiences wouldn't count any of my experiences. Since I am a federal employee, and for those of you who are considering working for the VA or the DoD (Department of Defense), one great thing is that it doesn't matter which state you are licensed in, as long as you are licensed. While I would recommend using ASPPB's database for qualifications needed for licensure in each state, here are some of the easiest states to get licensed in (in no particular order).

1. Hawaii. They require 1900 hours of post-doctoral experience, and only require the EPPP. No oral, no other written exam. If you come from an APA-accredited program, the application is only 4 pages (and two are for your internship and post-doctoral supervisors).

2. Alabama. Alabama is a common choice among DoD folks, because Alabama does not require any post-doctoral hours. However, there is a written ethics exam that you need to go to Montgomery to take. Also, their application is not available online, you have to request an application packet be mailed to you.

3. Kansas. Kansas is similar with respect to Hawaii in that they require post-doctoral hours and the EPPP. That's it. Please note that if you have not taken the EPPP yet, in Kansas (and watch other states) where you need to have completed the post-doc hours to be approved to sit for the EPPP.

4. Iowa. Iowa also doesn't require any additional test beyond the EPPP. However, it is a little more complex of an application since you also need to apply to be a health service provider in addition to being a psychologist. CORRECTION: You do not need to apply to be a health service provider. I ended up getting licensed in Iowa without this additional license.

I'm sure there are many other states that are a bit easier than others to get licensed, so feel free to comment below! Either way, always be sure to check with the licensing board of the state you are looking to get licensed in. If you aren't sure, Ken Pope's website is a great resource.

Post-EPPP

After settling down after the holidays, I realized that I forgot to actually publish on here that I passed the EPPP! So while my EPPP journey is at an end, my path to licensure, my first job, and other firsts are still on the way.

Last week I received my first job offer with the VA, which I was happy to accept. I'm currently going through the credentialing process, which I will discuss more on a later post for those individuals interested in getting a job (or continuing) with the VA system.

In other news, I was originally planning to pursue licensure in a "new law" state that counts pre-doctoral practicum hours, however, the rules were incredibly strict, and none of my practicum hours counted towards licensure. As a result, I have decided to pursue licensure in an easier state (i.e. nothing beyond the EPPP) like Kansas or Hawaii. But more on that later. Expect some new posts soon!

Keep studying!

DSM-V and the EPPP

For those of you looking for take the EPPP some time in the next year or two, here is yet another reason to take it ASAP - After July 31, 2014, all questions on the test will be subject to the DSM-V, and no longer use the DSM IV.

And remember, in March of this next year the cost of the EPPP will increase as well!.

Post-EPPP

I did it! I took the EPPP on November 19th. I am still awaiting word on my results, but I do feel I prepared adequately for the exam.

Thankfully, nothing went wrong the day of - I got there on time, I wasn't sick (save that for later in the week). Tips:

• You need two forms of ID with a signature on it. I used my state ID and a credit card. 
• Go find the testing center ahead of time. You never know where it might be hiding and the last thing you need at 7 in the morning is to be lost before a life-changing exam.
• Feel free to bring food/drink, you just can't bring it into the actual testing room. I definitely took a meal replacement bar with me to have the energy to get through a four hour exam.
• Wear something comfortable, preferably open layers or maybe a thin sweatshirt if you get cold easily like me. The testing center will have very odd rules, one being that you cannot remove any items of clothing once you enter the testing room. 

I had about 30 minutes to spare after going through all the questions, and I took about 20 minutes to review my flagged questions.
Other Advice:

• Your first gut instinct is probably the right answer. The agonizing part of reviewing answers is questioning yourself and getting lost in other possible answers. Overall, I felt my first answer was the most correct. 
• The four hours and fifteen minutes will go by quickly! The first fifteen minutes involve completing a tutorial to show you how to flag and review questions (This doesn't count towards the 4 fours and 15 minutes for the exam). Be sure to keep monitoring your time/pace at answering questions.
• I did like that you are able to "cross out" any of the multiple choice answers by simply clicking on them, which just puts a line through a potential answer. These were especially useful in questions that I didn't know the answer definitively.
• I took one break during the exam, which was sufficient for me. When I came back from the break, everything started "flowing" better and I got much better/quicker at answering questions (from my subjective point of view). Taking breaks is important for your mental state!

I'm starting to look to preparing for my oral exam for the state in ethics, which hopefully should be easier than this exam, however, it seems like its more memorization. I've also gotten job interviews in the mean time, which only adds to the additional stress of getting licensed ASAP!

I'll be sure to post here when I hear of my results!