Michigan Psychology Licensure Requirements

Licensure within the state of Michigan is granted by the Michigan Board of Psychology (the Board). While limited licenses are provided at the master’s level for those graduating from qualifying institutions with approved degrees, full licensure requires a doctorate degree in addition to the completion of extensive psychology-related experience and passing a national examination. This guide will walk you through the multi-step process toward becoming a clinical psychologist in the state.

Table of Contents

• How to Become a Licensed Psychologist
• Licensure by Reciprocity
• License Renewal and Continuing Education
• Related Licenses
• Jobs and Salary Information
• Additional Resources
• Frequently Asked Questions

How to Become a Psychologist in Michigan

1. Earn a bachelor’s degree and (optionally) a master’s degree in psychology.

The first step toward becoming a practicing psychologist in the state of Michigan is to pursue a bachelor’s degree in psychology or another field. A bachelor’s degree generally involves four years of full-time study, or around 120 semester credits to complete. Your bachelor’s may be in psychology or another subject, but keep in mind that if it is not in psychology, you may be required to take additional coursework before being admitted into a graduate program in psychology.

After earning a bachelor’s, some psychology licensure candidates choose to complete a stand-alone master’s program. Master’s degrees usually take from two to three years to complete and may require from around 30 to upwards of 40 credit hours. Many doctoral programs in psychology include a master’s degree as part of the thesis, so it can be earned as part of the same program.

Michigan offers a unique opportunity for limited licensure at the master’s level if the educational institution where a master’s degree is earned is regionally-accredited and the program taken is 75% primarily psychological content with at least one course in the areas of assessment techniques, treatment strategies, and ethics and standards. Programs must also include a 500-hour practicum to meet the Board requirements. This limited license allows you to practice psychology while under the supervision of a licensed doctorate-level psychologist.

2. Earn a doctoral degree in psychology.

Although Michigan offers limited licensure at the master’s level, doctorate degrees in psychology or a related field from an accredited educational institution are required for full licensure to be an independent clinical psychologist. Degrees that satisfy this requirement may be either a Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) or a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Psychology and must have the accreditation of the American Psychological Association (APA), the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA), or hold a National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology (NR) and Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB) designation. If you would like to learn more about which type of doctoral program is right for you, check out our home page.

Overall, doctoral programs can take between four and seven years to complete. Verification of program criteria will be obtained once an official transcript is sent from the institution to the Board. In addition to meeting these education standards, full licensure will also require a total of 4,000 hours of experience, of which 2,000 hours is normally completed as part of a doctoral program internship.

Those enrolled in a psychology doctoral degree program and who are completing their first 2,000-hour internship will need to apply for a Doctoral Temporary Educational Limited License (TLLP) and submit a Certification of Enrollment in a Doctoral Degree Program for Psychology form to the Board directly from their accredited institution of learning. This license costs $102.65, lasts two years, and is renewable up to three times.

Find a list of educational institutions within the state of Michigan that provide the psychology education background necessary for licensure.

3. Submit your application for limited licensure.

Thousands of hours of experience are required for full psychology licensure, including 2,000 hours of post-degree training. If these will be done within Michigan state, doctoral program graduates must have a Doctoral Educational Limited License before starting postdoctoral degree experience. Limited licensure allows psychology candidates to practice as psychologists while under the guidance of a supervising licensed professional. All completed work and documentation are reviewed by the supervisor at set intervals for the duration of the post-degree experience. The Board must be sent transcripts verifying doctorate degree completion from the granting accredited institution and payment of $97.25. Once obtained, this license may be renewed yearly up to five times.

4. Gain two years of supervised experience in your area of training.

To be licensed as a psychologist in Michigan, you must complete 4,000 hours of psychology-related training. Normally, 2,000 of these hours are completed during the doctoral internship. All hours must occur under the supervision of licensed psychologists in good standing unless an alternative supervisor has gained prior Board approval. You will need to have supervisors fill out and submit Psychology Supervision Evaluation forms stating that you have worked at least 2,000 hours at an internship during your doctoral program and an additional 2,000 hours post-degree. Under certain circumstances, as determined by the Board, a postdoctoral internship can serve as an alternative to the doctoral program internship requirement.

The Board requires that applicants work a minimum of 20 hours each week at a qualifying internship to receive credit. The additional 2,000 hours of post-degree experience must be completed at a healthcare setting and within a 24-month timeframe, gained at a rate of between 16 and 40 hours per week with a minimum of four monthly hours of in-person meetings with an approved supervisor. On a case-by-case basis, the Board may consider extenuating circumstances and grant individuals time extensions to meet hour requirements.

5. Submit your application to the Board.

Michigan uses the same Michigan professional licensing user system (MiPLUS) to apply for master’s level limited licensure, doctoral-level limited licensure, or full licensure. Documentation to send to the Board in addition to an application include official transcripts from the school in which your doctoral degree was granted and the supervision evaluation forms.

Applications for full licensure require payment of $162.20. Transcripts or forms may be emailed to [email protected]. Upon receiving your application, any necessary documents, and fee, applicants will be sent instructions including an ID number to be used for the fingerprinting and background check process. You must also have passed the EPPP examination before your application will be approved.

6. Pass the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP).

Candidates who hold a doctoral educational limited license or have fulfilled all other requirements and submitted an application for a full psychologist license may register for the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP) from the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB). Candidates must email the Board to obtain further information. Around two to three weeks following your email you will be contacted directly by Pearson VUE with specific details for account activation. Activation must occur within 90 days of this email. Following registration, another email with Authorization to Test (ATT) information will be sent. The ATT will provide a 90-day window in which the exam must be scheduled. Those pursuing full licensure at the doctoral level must obtain a score of no less than 500. An EPPP practice exam is available on the ASPPB website.

7. Receive your psychology license from the Board.

Processing of completed applications will take approximately four to six weeks. Your psychology license will be issued in the mail seven to 10 business days later.

Michigan Licensure by Endorsement

To receive a license by endorsement in Michigan state, candidates must be a licensed psychologist in another state or province of Canada and be able to provide verification of the completion of the educational requirements, verification of licensure, and transfer EPPP exam scores. Proof of credentialing must be sent to the Board directly via the granting organization.

Complete the licensure application by providing information on other states or countries in which you held psychology licensure and the specifics of each relevant license. Full disclosure of any disciplinary actions or sanctions against you will be required, as well as documentation attesting that there are none present or pending. Following application submission and a $162.20 fee, you will receive information on the criminal background check requirement.

License Renewal and Continuing Education

Details on license renewal and fees will be sent 45-60 days before your license expires. Renewals completed online require a payment of $182.20. Initial licenses are valid for from four months to a year, or until September 1, the expiration date for psychologist licenses in Michigan state. Before renewal, initial licenses do not require continuing education. Once renewed, a license will remain valid for two years, during which time psychologists must have finished a minimum of 30 hours of approved continuing professional education (CPE). Extra credits gained during a renewal period cannot be used towards a future one. Programs and activities must be varied to count. At least two hours must cover the topics of pain and symptom management and a minimum of three hours must cover ethics.

Related Licenses

Master’s Limited Psychologist

For people who have a master’s in psychology degree and wish to practice psychology under supervision, Michigan offers a limited psychology license. In addition to completing an approved master’s degree in psychology that is regionally-accredited and that follows coursework and practicum requirements, you must complete 2,000 hours of post-degree experience within a 24-month period at an approved health care setting for limited licensure at the master’s level. To begin accruing experience hours, Michigan residents must hold a Master’s Educational Limited License (TLLP). This will be granted once the Board obtains a complete application, along with a Certificate of Education form, official transcripts, and a Psychology Supervision Evaluation verifying your 500-hour master’s degree practicum.

After completing 2,000 hours of supervised post-degree training, you may submit an online application via MiPLUS. This license allows you to practice psychology while under the guidance of a licensed psychologist. In addition, you are required to pass the EPPP examination with a score of 450 or greater for application approval.

School Psychologist

School psychologist licenses are handled by the Michigan Department of Education. Applications can be submitted through the Michigan Online Educator Certification System (MOECS). For a Preliminary School Psychologist Certificate, which is valid for three years, you must have completed a 45-semester credit hour graduate degree in an approved school psychology certification program, have completed a 600-hour supervised practicum in school psychology, and possess a valid out-of-state school psychologist certificate if your program was completed in another state. The Preliminary license can be renewed one time with six semester credit hours in an approved school psychologist program from an Educator Preparation Institution (EPI).

For a full School Psychologist Certificate, which is valid for five years, you must possess a Preliminary School Psychologist Certificate and have completed a 60-hour state-approved specialist-level degree or the equivalent with a 1,200-hour internship from an EPI. Out-of-state applicants must meet the same educational requirements and possess a valid Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP) credential issued by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP).

Michigan Psychologist Jobs and Salary Information

Clinical psychologists working in Michigan had an average annual salary of $78,403 as of May 2021 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).¹ Postsecondary psychology teachers earned an average salary of $83,670.¹ Projections Central predicts the number of clinical, counseling, and school psychologists in Michigan to increase by 4.7% by the year 2030.² Postsecondary psychology teachers are expected to experience growth of 11.8% within the same time frame.²

Additional Resources

• Michigan Association of School Psychologists (MASP): Represents school psychologists at the state and local levels and offers professional development opportunities, advocacy, and resources to its members.
• Michigan Psychological Association (MPA): Provides valuable resources for both members, potential psychology licensure candidates, and the general public.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to become a psychologist in Michigan?

Undergraduate degrees generally take four years of study, and master’s can range between two to four years. Doctoral programs that include master’s may take five to six years or longer. In addition to this in-depth education, full licensure also requires 2,000 hours of post-doctoral degree experience. This can be completed in as little as one year or as many as two. The application process and preparing for the EPPP exam may add even more time. After all educational and experience requirements are met, it will likely take over a decade to become a practicing psychologist within the state of Michigan.

What degree do I need to be a licensed psychologist in Michigan?

You will need a doctoral degree from an accredited academic institution for full licensure. The program must also have APA or CPA accreditation or NR/ASPPB designation. Those pursuing limited licensure at the master’s level must have an approved master’s degree but do not need a doctoral-level education.

How much do psychologists in Michigan make?

The average yearly salary of clinical, counseling, and school psychologists was $81,940 as of May 2021.¹ “All other” psychologists in Michigan earned $74,810 a year, on average, and postsecondary psychology instructors earned $83,670 per year.¹

References:
1. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics, May 2021 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, Michigan: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_mi.htm
2. Projections Central, Long Term Occupational Projections: https://projectionscentral.org/Projections/LongTerm