Psychology in New York: Learn About Becoming a Psychologist in NY
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- Licensure Requirements
- How Long Does it Take?
- Out-of-State Licensing
- Licensing Renewal
- Salary Expectations
- Professional Organizations
- FAQ
Like many other states, New York has an ongoing shortage of qualified mental health professionals. You can help close the gap by pursuing psychology licensure in New York.
This guide explains how to obtain a psychology license in New York, along with instructions on transferring an existing license to the Empire State. Use this information to plan a path for your psychology career.
New York Psychology Licensure Requirements
The New York State Education Department Office of the Professions oversees psychologist licensure in the Empire State. Under state law, you must hold a license to practice as a psychologist or to use any variation of the term “psychology” or “psychologist” in your professional title.
The following sections cover the standards you must meet to qualify for licensure.
Psychologist
To qualify for full New York psychology licensure, you must be at least 21 years of age, possess good moral character, and have:
- A doctoral degree in psychology accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) or registered by the host institution as a licensure-track program
- Training or coursework in identifying and reporting child abuse
- At least 3,500 total clock hours of supervised clinical internship experience
- At least 1,750 clock hours of supervised experience gained after receiving your qualifying doctoral degree
- A converted score of 75 or higher on Part 1 (Knowledge) of the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP)
Many of these conditions have additional technicalities. For example, you must accumulate your experience hours as part of a continuous placement in an authorized professional environment.
You can explore all applicable details through the New York State Education Department Office of the Professions.
Limited Licensure Psychologist
New York also maintains a limited licensure program for psychologists. The program applies to psychologists who are licensed in other jurisdictions but do not yet meet New York’s examination requirements. Unlicensed applicants with the necessary education who do not yet meet the state’s experience and examination standards also qualify.
To obtain a limited license as a license-holder from another jurisdiction, you must meet the education and experience requirements that apply to applicants for an initial New York license. Your limited license remains valid for one year or until you pass Part 1 of the EPPP with a score of 75 or higher.
You can also seek a limited license to pursue opportunities to complete your supervised experience and exam requirements. In this case, you will receive an initial one-year limited license, which you can renew for up to two additional one-year periods while gaining experience hours and passing the EPPP.
How Long Does it Take to Become a Psychologist in New York?
It will likely take you at least 10 years to satisfy all New York psychology licensure requirements. This minimum timeline comprises:
- Four years for a bachelor’s degree
- Two years for a master’s degree
- Three years for a doctoral degree
- One year of postdoctoral clinical training
Notably, New York’s licensure requirements state that your doctoral program must cover at least three years of full-time study.
Some APA-accredited doctoral programs offered by New York schools do not require that you hold a master’s degree. You could reduce your timeline by up to two years by proceeding directly into a doctoral program with a bachelor’s degree.
Out-of-State Licensing Reciprocity in New York
In 2022, New York adopted new rules allowing for licensure by endorsement. This change created an expedited path to New York psychology licensure for practitioners from other jurisdictions.
To qualify, you must have accumulated at least five years of licensed practice experience during the 10 years immediately preceding your application for a New York license. If you are licensed in another jurisdiction but do not meet those experience requirements, you can still obtain a New York psychology license if you passed Part 1 of the EPPP with a score of at least 75.
Consult the Office of the Professions for further details.
How to Renew a Psychology License in New York
New York psychology licensure operates on a three-year schedule. You must renew your license every three years to remain in good professional standing.
On Jan. 1, 2021, New York introduced requirements compelling licensed psychologists to complete at least 36 hours of approved continuing education to qualify for license renewal. The New York State Education Department must approve all course providers, as specified by Section 72.6(i) of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education.
Salary Expectations for Psychologists in New York
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), clinical, counseling, and school psychologists in New York all earn average salaries that exceed national averages for those professions. However, New York professionals who fall into the BLS category for “psychologists, all other” earn about 3.9% less than the national average for that classification.
Higher living costs offset the higher average salaries earned by many New York psychologists. According to 2024 data from the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center, the cost of living in New York is among the highest in the country, exceeding the national average by 23.3%.
| Occupation | Average Annual Salary | Average Hourly Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $113,230 | $54.44 |
| School Psychologists | $106,130 | $51.02 |
| Psychologists, All Other | $106,150 | $51.03 |
Professional Organizations for Psychologists in New York
New York State Education Department
The Office of the Professions operates under the mandate of the New York State Education Department, creating a unique licensing and regulation model covering more than 50 professions and almost one million practitioners.
New York State Psychological Association
NYSPA provides practicing psychologists with professional resources, networking programs, and a career center with job listings. The organization also connects students with field training opportunities, licensing information, and other developmental resources.
Frequently Asked Questions About New York Psychology Licensure
You must obtain an APA-accredited or licensure-track doctoral degree in psychology, score 75 or higher on Part 1 of the EPPP, and accumulate 3,500 hours of supervised experience to get licensed as a psychologist in New York. You need to complete at least half of the supervised experience hours after graduating from your doctoral program.
