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?

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!

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!

Back from a brief hiatus

Hi Everyone,

My apologies for not writing much on the blog lately - I have been amidst a multiple state move and trying to get my life settled at my new post-doc.

I have some how managed to (barely) keep up with my study schedule using PsychPrep. I've actually been surprised at my test scores and have remained on par for where I should be, regardless of my minimal study time and adjusting to a new job.

Also, the winds appear to be changing as to where I will be applying for licensure. I originally was going to apply with Iowa since they have no written or oral exam beyond the EPPP. You pass = you're done and licensed. Now though, I have been told by those applying for jobs that being licensed prior to completing post-doc could be a serious advantage, and I am looking at applying in Ohio, one of the many "new law" states that allows pre-internship hours to count towards licensure. (If anyone has feedback on this, please comment!) I'm not sure yet whether this is do-able since the documentation my academic program may not be sufficient, but hopefully I can press forward. Either way, I am still looking to take the EPPP in November.

I'm hoping to do some more upcoming posts on additional resources for EPPP studying, ABPP, applying for licensure in a "new law" state, and my process in completing my application with the National Register. What would you like to hear more about?

Licensure Mobility

Do you know where you are planning to be a practitioner? How about five years from now? Ten?

Licensure mobility is becoming more and more important to early career psychologists as we work through post-doc and into our professional careers. More recently, there has been the establishment of "banking" organizations that collect your paperwork for licensure and keep it "banked" for you so that you can easily apply to another state for licensure at any time. Not only does this make it easier for applying for licensure, but it also safe keeps everything in case you cannot get a hold of your previous supervisors, or they might be deceased. Essentially, it keeps all of your paperwork from graduate school, internship, your EPPP score, and post-doc, that you would need to apply for licensure in any state or province. All you have to do is let them know where you are applying, and they will work with that state or province to make sure they get the paperwork they need to complete your application.

There are two organizations that are the best known for this: The National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology, and the ASPPB's Psychology Licensure Universal System (PLUS).

The National Register costs between $150-$170 total to use their services, with no renewal fees for storage. In addition, they also offer scholarships for graduate students and early career psychologists that waive this fee (I got one!). Scholarships are typically announced in Fall and Spring. To apply for the register, complete the application online, and can begin compiling your paperwork after the completion of internship (and your degree).

ASPPB's PLUS service is relatively new (just announced this month), and is currently being piloted. This appears to be the new version of ASPPB's licensure mobility program. The cost of this program looks to be around $300, with no renewal fees. However, they also offer the certification of professional qualification in psychology (CPQ), which is granting you this credential to prove that you have met all of the qualifications of licensure, skipping the need to send materials to your jurisdiction. This qualification costs $200 for an initial fee, and $100 for a renewal fee every 2 years.

DO NOTE that not all jurisdictions allow the use of credentialing or banking services (including ASPPB's CPQ credential) as a part of applying for licensure. Additionally, some states may accept documentation from one banking service but not the other. If you are considering applying for a banking or credentialing service and know the range of jurisdictions that could be a possibility for you, look on their websites for which ones accept their documentation services. I can assure you that most states accept both of these services, but there are always some exceptions.

However, this is something to consider when you pass the EPPP and can have the score sent to additional places besides the jurisdiction you are applying to be a psychologist with. Food for thought!

Upcoming Increase in Test Administration Fees

For those of you looking to take the EPPP some time this next year, one thing I would note to you is the upcoming fee increase in test administration. (This screenshot is taken directly from the ASPPB's "Information for EPPP Candidates" brochure.)

As you can see, the test fee is going to increase from $450 to $600 beginning March 1, 2013. I don't know about you, but this was all the more reason for me to push my test deadline to sooner rather than later.

In addition to the administration fee by ASPPB, a $65 computer-based test administration fee is collected by Prometric. (Current total to take the exam: $515)

Furthermore, it's also important to be aware of additional fees ("administrative fees") that your state licensing board may charge you to take the EPPP, as noted by ASPPB. Check out the website for your state or provincial licensing board for information on how to apply to take the EPPP, and any additional costs to be anticipated.