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 Louisiana Workforce Commission, the psychology industry will grow about .02% each year through the year 2020. While this is below average when compared to other states, 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 2011, there were 240 clinical, counseling and school psychologists in the state of Louisiana and 220 other types of psychologists. The clinical, counseling and school psychologists earned an annual median wage of $71,610.
