New Hampshire Psychology Licensure Requirements
All practicing psychologists in New Hampshire must be licensed through the New Hampshire Board of Psychologists (the Board). To earn a license to practice psychology in the state, you must earn a doctoral degree in psychology, complete two years of supervised clinical experience, and pass two exams. Although this may seem like a lot of work, we’ve prepared this guide to help you get through these steps as efficiently as possible, starting from the very beginning of the process. On this page, you will find step-by-step instructions for each required component of becoming a licensed psychologist in New Hampshire.
Table of Contents
- How to Become a Licensed Psychologist
- Licensure by Endorsement
- License Renewal and Continuing Education
- Related Licenses
- Jobs and Salary Information
- Additional Resources
- Frequently Asked Questions
How to Become a Psychologist in New Hampshire
1. Earn a bachelor’s degree and (optionally) a master’s degree in psychology.
If you have decided that you would like to become a licensed psychologist in New Hampshire, the first step to take is to earn a bachelor’s degree. These degrees usually take four years (120 credits) to finish if you are attending school full-time. You can major in any subject for this degree, but it can be helpful to take at least some psychology courses to help prepare you for applying to graduate programs. If your bachelor’s degree is in a subject other than psychology, you will likely have to take some introductory coursework before being admitted to a graduate program.
Some people choose to earn stand-alone master’s degrees in psychology after they have finished their bachelor’s degrees. Because you will may earn a master’s degree during your doctoral program, this is optional. However, a stand-alone master’s degree can be a good step if you want more experience in psychology before applying to doctoral programs. Master’s programs in psychology usually take about two years (30-40 credit hours) to complete.
2. Earn a doctoral degree in psychology.
The next step toward psychology licensure in New Hampshire is to complete a doctoral program in psychology. These programs usually take four to seven years to complete, depending on the requirements of the particular program. Doctoral psychology programs award either Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) or Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in psychology degrees. Before applying to doctoral programs, it will be helpful to educate yourself on the differences between these degrees.
In New Hampshire, an applicant for licensure must have received their doctoral degree from a regionally accredited institution. The doctoral program itself must also meet certain requirements, including coursework in specific areas, a minimum amount of in-person attendance, and a predoctoral internship (which will later count towards your required supervised clinical experience hours for licensure). If you earn a doctoral degree from a program accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA), it is automatically assumed to meet the Board’s requirements for doctoral programs. Otherwise, you will need to be able to provide documentation that your program met the requirements set forth by the Board. At least 1,500 of the required 3,000 hours of supervised clinical experience required for licensure must be completed during a predoctoral experience.
For more information about programs in psychology you might consider applying to, please visit our Psychology Programs in New Hampshire page.
3. Gain two years of supervised clinical experience in your area of training.
Before being issued a license to practice psychology in New Hampshire, you must complete two years (3,000 hours) of supervised clinical experience. During both of these years, you must receive regular supervision from a licensed psychologist with whom you do not have a dual relationship (e.g., they cannot be family or a friend). Your supervisors do not need to complete any specific forms for the Board while you are completing your experience, but they will need to provide documentation of your experience later as part of your application.
The first year (1,500 hours) of supervised experience will be earned during the internship that you are required to complete during your doctoral program. If you attend an internship accredited by the APA or the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA), the supervised experience hours you earn will automatically be accepted by the Board. If you attend an unaccredited predoctoral internship, you will need to provide documentation to the Board when you submit your application that your program met equivalent requirements, which include two hours per week of supervision, two hours per week of didactics, and 375 face-to-face hours with patients. The second year (1,500 hours) must be completed after you have earned your doctoral degree. You must receive at least one hour of individual supervision per week during this year (and at least 50 hours over the course of the year).
4. Submit your application to the Board.
After you have completed your supervised experience hours, the next required step is to complete the Board’s Application for Licensure as a Psychologist. This application has many components to it, including a passport-style photo, application fee of $316, a current CV/resume, the Summary of Supervised Clinical Experience form, the Graduate Program Course Sheet, and essay questions. You will also need to submit three professional reference forms jointly completed by you and the references as well as the supervisor confirmations of your internship as well as your predoctoral and postdoctoral clinical experience.. You will also need to request official transcripts and complete a criminal background check.
5. Pass the New Hampshire psychology licensing exam.
To earn a psychology license in New Hampshire, you will also need to pass the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP), a national exam measuring broad knowledge of psychology. After the Board has reviewed your application for licensure, they will grant you permission to take the EPPP and send you instructions for registration. The EPPP consists of 225 multiple-choice questions and you must earn a scaled score of at least 500, which is equivalent to answering about 70% of the questions correctly.
6. Receive your license from the Board.
After you complete the EPPP, your scores will automatically be transferred to the Board. When the Board receives your scores and determines that you have met all of the criteria for psychology licensure in New Hampshire, they will issue your license within five to seven days and mail you a hard copy of it. Once your license has been issued, you are eligible to begin practicing independently as a psychologist within the state.
New Hampshire Licensure by Endorsement
The New Hampshire Board of Psychologists does not have any formal reciprocity agreements with other states. Applicants who are licensed in another state will apply via the same application packet, supporting documentation (including essay questions), and the fee of $300 to the Board.
If you can provide evidence of current qualifying credentials including the Certificate of Professional Qualification (CPQ) from the ASPPB, certification from the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP), or certification from the National Register of Health Service Psychologists (NRHSP), you can submit the application packet, evidence of your credential, a current CV, and a signed Verification of Licensure/Certification from Another Jurisdiction form. Another option is for the ASPPB to submit a completed PLUS packet on your behalf.
License Renewal and Continuing Education
Once you hold a psychology license in New Hampshire, you must renew it every two years. All licenses expire every two years on the last day of the month in which they were issued. Before renewing your license, you will need to earn 40 continuing education units (CEUs). At least 30 CEUs must come from “Category A” activities, which include continuing education opportunities that are affiliated with a Board-approved organization as well as graduate-level coursework in psychology. Up to 10 hours can be earned from “Category B” activities, which include workshops and seminars that do not fall into Category A, preparation and publication of manuscripts, and leading educational events. Additionally, at least three credits per year must be from activities related to ethics. For full details of the Board’s CEU rules, including hour limits on certain types of activities and approved organizations, see Section 402.01 of the Board’s legal statutes.
Once you have earned the required CEUs, you can apply for renewal on the Online Licensing portal, along with a $300 renewal fee.
Related Licenses
School Psychologist
The profession of school psychologist is regulated by the New Hampshire Department of Education. In order to be eligible for certification with a Beginning Educator License, you must have completed a State Board of Education-approved doctoral, certificate of advanced graduate study/specialist, or master’s level program in school psychology; or have completed at least 60 semester hours of graduate study culminating in a minimum of a master’s degree (with at least 54 hours of supervised internship experience) and have completed a supervised internship in a general school setting for 1,200 clock hours over one to two years. No exam is required for certification. An Experienced Educator License is available after you have completed three years of full-time teaching experience under your Beginning Educator License if you are determined to be “effective” or better for at least two consecutive years. Both licenses are good for a period of three years until they must be renewed.
The New Hampshire Board of Psychologists also issues licenses for school psychologists at the doctoral and specialist levels for those who are certified through the New Hampshire Department of Education. The Board of Psychologists issues two licenses to school psychologists: the psychologists-doctoral license for those who have a doctoral degree and the licensed school psychologists-specialist for those who have another degree. To be eligible for licensure, you will need to be certified as a school psychologist through the Department of Education, Bureau of Credentialing, and have passed a psychology exam approved the Board including a national school psychologists exam; have good professional character; complete a background check; and pay the required fees.
New Hampshire Psychologist Jobs and Salary Information
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average annual salary for psychologists (other than educators) was $83,455 as of May 2021.1 Postsecondary psychology teachers in New Hampshire earned an average of $80,730 per year.1 The number of clinical, counseling, and school psychology positions in New Hampshire is expected to rise by 11.1% between 2020 and 2030, a bit faster than the national average of 10.4%.2 Postsecondary psychology teaching positions in New Hampshire are projected to increase by 5.3% during the same time period (compared to an expected national increase of 10.2%).2
| Occupation | Number Employed1 | Average Annual Salary1 |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | 160 | $95,850 |
| Industrial-Organizational Psychologists | N.Av. | N.Av. |
| Psychologists, All Other | N.Av. | N.Av. |
| Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary | 150 | $86,710 |
| School Psychologists | 220 | $71,060 |
Additional Resources
- New Hampshire Psychological Association (NHPA): Provides a search tool for locating psychologists, as well as continuing education and promotion opportunities for members.
- New Hampshire Association of School Psychologists (NHASP): Gives members access to a quarterly newsletter and employment information while advocating for professional issues that affect the profession and children of New Hampshire.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to become a psychologist in New Hampshire?
From start to end (including the bachelor’s degree), the entire process of becoming a licensed psychologist in New Hampshire takes about 10 years. However, the amount of time required varies based on factors such as how much coursework your doctoral program required or whether you earn a stand-alone master’s degree
after completing your bachelor’s degree.
What degree do I need to be a licensed psychologist in New Hampshire?
In New Hampshire, you must earn a doctoral degree in psychology, which will either be a Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) or a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Psychology degree. You will need to complete this degree through an APA-accredited program or be able to provide documentation that you were given equivalent training.
How much do psychologists in New Hampshire make?
The average salary for practicing psychologists in New Hampshire (i.e., counseling, clinical, and school psychologists) is $83,455 per year.1 Postsecondary psychology teachers earn an average of $86,710 per year.1
References:
1. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics, May 2021 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, New Hampshire: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nh.htm
2. Long Term Occupational Projections: https://projectionscentral.org/projections/longterm