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.