How to Become a Psychologist in Louisiana
The state of Louisiana offers up the best Cajun food, Mardi Gras, and beautiful bayous, but that’s not all – they also have a fair psychology industry. According to the US Department of Labor, the clinical and counseling psychology industry in the state won’t see much growth through 2030, but it is projected to remain stable. Those who have met the educational, experience and examination requirements should be able to find a good position with competitive pay.
These requirements are in place to ensure that professionals are highly qualified and responsible enough to take on the duties of a psychologist before licenses are issued. Because patients often place their trust (as well as their mental health and overall well-being) in the hands of their psychologist, the state takes these requirements very seriously.
Education Requirements for Psychologist Licensing in Louisiana
Your first step to becoming a psychologist in the state of Louisiana is to gain a proper education. The state requires future psychologists to graduate from a doctoral program in psychology that is accredited by the American Psychological Association. The state offers up a few great programs, including those available at Louisiana Tech University and Louisiana State University. You can find a full list of online and campus-based programs here.
Your doctoral program will continue your current education but take it into a more refined and focused field. Most programs will last between 2 and 4 years, and many will include supervised residencies and/or internships. This is great because it will help you accumulate the experience required by the state of Louisiana. Explore the various LA psychology school programs and degrees.
Supervised Professional Experience Requirements for a Psychologist
The state requires psychology candidates to gain at least 2 years (3000 hours) of supervised experience. One year of this experience can be an internship completed during your doctoral program, but the remaining time must be earned post-doctorally. The experience must be gained under the guidance of an approved and licensed psychologist.
Note: To learn more about how to earn a psychology license in the state of Louisiana, please visit the Louisiana State Board of Examiners of Psychologists.
Louisiana Examination for the Psychologist License
The examination required by the state of Louisiana is the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology or the EPPP. This test is considered the industry standard and is required by most other states. It tests the candidate’s total understanding of psychology, from the different bases of behavior to intervention to ethics. This is a multiple-choice test that individuals have about 3 hours and 20 minutes to complete. The board will notify you of your score and whether you will be issued your license or not, once you’ve completed the examination.
Psychology Career Outlook in Louisiana
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that as of May 2022, there were 910 clinical, counseling, school, and other types of psychologists in the state of Louisiana. School psychologists earned an annual median wage of $61,970 while psychologists in various other fields had an average salary of $69,940.
Find information regarding tuition, financial aid, enrollment dates, and curriculum by requesting information from the programs below:
Additional Psychology Resources for Louisiana:
- Louisiana Counselor Licensing
- Louisiana Social Work Licensing
- Louisiana Marriage and Family Therapist Licensing
- Explore Additional Psychologist Careers
2022 US Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET (a website sponsored by the US Department of Labor) job market trends and salary figures for clinical and counseling psychologists, school psychologists, and psychologists (all other) are based on national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed August 2023.
