Psychologist licensure in Alaska is regulated at the state level to ensure the competence and ethical practice of professionals. State agencies set the standards for education, supervised experience, examination, and ongoing professional development for both doctoral-level psychologists and school psychologists.
Primary Licensing Authority
The Alaska Board of Psychologists and Psychological Associate Examiners is the primary body responsible for licensing psychologists and psychological associates in Alaska.
Licensed Psychologist Requirements
Education Requirements
- Applicants must hold an earned doctoral degree from an academic institution whose program meets criteria established by the Alaska Board of Psychologists and Psychological Associate Examiners (AS 08.86.130).
- Recognized doctoral specializations include clinical psychology, counseling psychology, or education in a field deemed equivalent by the Board.
- The Board does not deny recognition of a program solely for lacking accreditation by a professional psychology organization.
Supervised Experience Requirements
- Applicants must complete one year of postdoctoral supervised experience approved by the Board (AS 08.86.130(a)(3)).
- Both the pre-doctoral internship and the supervised practice plan must be approved by the Board prior to starting supervised experience.
- Statute does not specify exact hour requirements but generally aligns with a full-time postdoctoral year.
Examination Requirements
- Applicants are required to pass both the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP) and the Alaska State Law and Ethics Examination.
License Renewal and Continuing Education
- Licensees must complete an average of 20 credit hours of continuing education per year, including at least 3 hours in professional ethics.
- Beginning July 1, 2023, continuing education requirements also include specified content areas: cross-cultural practice, teletherapy, ethics, suicide prevention, and substance abuse.
Other Psychology Licenses in Alaska
School Psychologist
- Licensure and certification for school psychologists are handled by the Alaska Department of Education & Early Development (DEED), not the Board of Psychologists.
- School psychologists must obtain a Special Services Certificate (Type C) with an endorsement in school psychology.
- Credentialing requires completion of a graduate-level program in school psychology from a NASP- or APA-approved institution.
- A 1,200-hour internship is required, with at least 600 hours in a school setting, or holding a current NCSP credential.
- Required coursework includes 3 semester hours in Alaska Studies and 3 semester hours in Alaska Multicultural or Cross-Cultural Communications.
- Certificate renewal requires at least 90 contact hours in professional development activities over the life of the certificate.
- The Type C Special Services Certificate authorizes practice only within school settings; independent private practice requires licensure through the Alaska Board of Psychologists and Psychological Associate Examiners.
Psychological Associate
- Alaska licenses psychological associates, a master’s-level credential governed by the Alaska Board of Psychologists and Psychological Associate Examiners.
- Requirements include a master’s degree in psychology (M.A. or M.S.) plus supervised experience.
- Governed under AS 08.86 (Article 4).
- Psychological associates may perform certain professional psychological services under supervision or within the scope approved by the Board.
Scope of Practice Considerations
- The Type C Special Services Certificate for school psychologists authorizes practice only in school settings.
- Independent private practice of psychology is restricted to those licensed by the Alaska Board of Psychologists and Psychological Associate Examiners.
- Psychological associates may work under supervision or within Board-approved scope of practice as outlined in statute.
PSYPACT Status in Alaska
- Alaska is not participating in PSYPACT. The Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact is an interstate compact that facilitates the practice of telepsychology and temporary in-person psychology services across member states.
Key Takeaways
- The Alaska Board of Psychologists and Psychological Associate Examiners regulates psychologist and psychological associate licensure.
- Doctoral education, approved supervised experience, and passing required examinations are necessary for psychologist licensure.
- Continuing education must address ethics and, beginning in 2023, additional specified content areas.
- School psychologist credentials are issued by the Department of Education & Early Development and are valid only for practice in school settings.
- Psychological associates are master’s-level professionals regulated by the same board as psychologists.
- Independent private practice is limited to those licensed by the Board; school psychology practice is limited to educational settings.
- For all licensure matters, the relevant Alaska state licensing board is the final authority.
Important Note: Licensure requirements can change over time and may vary based on individual circumstances. While every effort has been made to provide accurate and current information, prospective psychologists should always consult the appropriate state licensing board and education agency for the most up-to-date licensure and certification requirements.
