Psychology in Tennessee: Learn About Becoming a Psychologist in TN
Are you considering a career as a psychologist in Tennessee? From the rural landscapes of the Smoky Mountains to the urban bustle of Nashville, Tennessee offers a dynamic environment for professionals entering the field.
Throughout these diverse landscapes, more than 3 million Tennesseans live in areas without adequate mental health care. Explore Tennessee psychology licensure requirements, projected salary ranges, and the profession’s statewide demand.
Psychologist Salaries in Tennessee
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Tennessee clinical and counseling psychologists and school psychologists command mean salaries that fall below national averages. However, the lowest 10% of salaries tend to be significantly higher in Tennessee than the national averages.
| Job Title | Lowest 10% | Average Annual Salary | Highest 10% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clinical and counseling psychologists | $62,970 | $89,980 | $143,890 |
| School psychologists | $51,810 | $66,400 | $90,980 |
| Psychologists, all other | $46,320 | $117,870 | $148,970 |
Psychologist Licensing in Tennessee
The Board of Examiners of Psychology regulates Tennessee psychologist licensure. General requirements for Tennessee psychology licensure include:
- Psychology-related doctoral degree
- Fulfilled supervisory hours
- Passing licensure and practice exams
- Completed application packet
This undertaking might seem daunting, but breaking down a few required steps may simplify the licensure process.
Supervisory hours comprise career-related fieldwork overseen by a licensed psychologist. Tennessee requires licensure candidates to fulfill 3,800 supervised hours, half of which must occur during the internship and the remaining during the postdoctoral phase.
Next, the required Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP), covers general psychological knowledge, professional application, and psychology practice. This 225-question exam represents the psychological standard across the United States. Candidates must also pass the Tennessee state-specific ethics and jurisprudence exam. The board schedules your exam after you receive a passing score on the EPPP and meet all exam requirements.
Tennessee also offers license reciprocity by endorsement, allowing out-of-state psychologists to practice in the state.
Candidates for reciprocity must submit an application to the board, provide documentation of a passing EPPP score and required supervisory hours, and pay all mandatory application fees. Upon satisfying these requirements, candidates may take Tennessee’s ethics and jurisprudence exam.
License Requirements for Psychologists in Tennessee
To obtain psychology licensure in Tennessee, applicants must:
- Graduate from an American Psychological Association-accredited or comparably accredited doctoral program.
- Complete 3,800 hours of supervised experience, half of which must be postdoctoral.
- Pass the EPPP and pay a $687.50 exam fee.
- Pass Tennessee’s open-book ethics and jurisprudence examination.
- Complete an application packet and return it to the Board of Examiners of Psychology, along with a $485 fee by check or money order. The state board provides comprehensive application requirements. Key components include:
- A signed questionnaire that requests demographic, educational, supervisory, and competency details.
- Official transcripts of all graduate coursework.
- Three letters of recommendation.
- Notarized copy of birth certificate and Declaration of Citizenship Form, and two signed passport photos.
- Pass a criminal background check.
Demand for Psychology in Tennessee
Statewide, only 15% of residents‘ mental health needs are met, exhibiting Tennessee’s need for psychological professionals. A 2022 Mental Health America survey ranked Tennessee in the bottom half of U.S. states with access to psychological care.
Tennessee’s rural residents are particularly underserved, with many areas lacking access to licensed psychologists and other mental health care professionals. Such demand for licensed psychologists in Tennessee provides ample opportunities for current and future professionals to enjoy the state’s natural beauty and career possibilities.
