Psychologist licensure in Illinois requires advanced education, supervised training, and successful examination. Separate credentials are required for practice as a school psychologist. The following sections outline these requirements as specified by state law and regulatory authorities.
Primary Licensing Authority
The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) is responsible for licensing psychologists in Illinois.
Licensed Psychologist Requirements
Education Requirements
- A doctoral degree (PhD or PsyD) in clinical, counseling, or school psychology is required.
- The program must be accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA), approved by the National Register of Health Service Psychologists, or be an equivalent program meeting Board criteria.
Supervised Experience Requirements
- Two years of supervised experience are required:
- One year must be completed as a pre-doctoral internship.
- One year must be completed as post-doctoral supervised experience.
- These are commonly described in secondary sources as approximately 1,750 hours each.
- One year must be completed as a pre-doctoral internship.
Examination Requirements
- Applicants must pass the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP).
- A separate state jurisprudence or ethics exam is not confirmed in the provided primary sources and is therefore omitted.
License Renewal and Continuing Education
- Continuing education is required for license renewal.
- 24 hours of continuing education every 2 years, including 3 hours in ethics, are commonly reported in secondary sources. Confirmation of these specifics in primary sources is not available in the provided materials.
Other Psychology Licenses in Illinois
School Psychologist
Certification for school psychologists is issued separately by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) through the Professional Educator License (PEL) with a School Support Personnel—School Psychologist endorsement.
Credentialing Requirements
- Must hold a master’s degree or higher in school psychology from a regionally accredited, state-approved program meeting NASP or APA standards.
- Must complete a practicum of at least 250 hours.
- Must complete a 1,200-hour internship, with at least 600 hours in a school setting.
- Must pass the Illinois Licensure Testing System (ILTS) School Psychologist exam (237).
- Must complete a background check and meet standard ISBE certification processes.
Scope of Practice Considerations
- Psychologists licensed by the IDFPR are authorized for independent practice within the bounds of their education and training.
- School psychologists certified by the ISBE may practice only within educational settings as defined by their credential and are not licensed for independent clinical practice outside schools without separate psychologist licensure.
PSYPACT Status in Illinois
Illinois is a participating PSYPACT state. PSYPACT is an interstate compact that permits licensed psychologists to practice telepsychology and conduct temporary in-person psychological services across state lines among participating states.
Key Takeaways
- Illinois psychologist licensure requires a doctoral degree in a designated area, two years of supervised experience, and successful completion of the EPPP.
- Continuing education is required for renewal, with 24 hours every 2 years and 3 hours in ethics, according to secondary sources.
- School psychologists are credentialed separately by the Illinois State Board of Education for practice in schools.
- Illinois participates in PSYPACT, permitting eligible psychologists to practice across state lines under the Compact.
- The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation and the Illinois State Board of Education are the authorities for psychologist and school psychologist credentialing, respectively. Always consult these bodies for the most current requirements.
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.
