Psychologist licensure in Michigan requires doctoral-level education, supervised experience, and successful examination. Separate credentials exist for school psychologists and master’s-level limited license psychologists.
Primary Licensing Authority
The Michigan Board of Psychology under the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) is responsible for psychologist licensure in Michigan.
Licensed Psychologist Requirements
Education Requirements
- Applicants must hold a doctoral degree in psychology or a closely related field from a regionally accredited institution.
- The program must be accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA), Canadian Psychological Association (CPA), designated by the ASPPB/National Register, or otherwise approved by the Board.
- Continuing education is required for renewal; psychologists must complete 30 hours every two years, including at least 3 hours in ethics and 2 hours in pain or symptom management.
Supervised Experience Requirements
- Licensure requires supervised professional experience, including a doctoral internship and postdoctoral supervised experience.
- A minimum of 2,000 hours of postdoctoral supervised work is required for the health services provider pathway.
- Supervised experience must occur under a licensed psychologist and meet Board-defined standards for health service provision.
Examination Requirements
- Applicants must pass the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP) with a minimum scaled score of 500.
- Additional requirements include background screening and verification of moral character.
Specializations
- The Board licenses psychologists primarily as health services providers, encompassing applied specialties such as clinical, counseling, and school psychology.
- Other psychology fields (e.g., industrial-organizational, developmental, or research psychology) may not require licensure if no health services are provided.
Master’s-Level Licensure
- Michigan issues a Limited License Psychologist (LLP) credential to individuals holding a master’s degree in psychology from a regionally accredited institution.
- The LLP authorizes supervised practice and is distinct from the full doctoral-level psychologist license.
Other Psychology Licenses in Michigan
School Psychologist
Certification for school psychologists is regulated by the Michigan Department of Education (MDE), through the Office of Educator Excellence (OEE).
Credentialing Requirements
- Must hold a master’s or higher degree in school psychology and complete an approved program meeting NASP standards.
- The program must include at least 60 graduate semester hours and a 1,200-hour internship, with a minimum of 600 hours completed in a school setting.
- MDE issues two types of certification:
- Preliminary School Psychologist Certificate (PSPC): For individuals who have completed all coursework but not the internship; valid for 3 years.
- School Psychologist Certificate (SPC): Granted upon completion of all program requirements and internship; valid for 5 years and renewable.
- Preliminary School Psychologist Certificate (PSPC): For individuals who have completed all coursework but not the internship; valid for 3 years.
- Renewal of the SPC requires 6 semester hours of approved coursework or 150 State Continuing Education Clock Hours (SCECHs) every 5 years.
Scope of Practice
- School psychologists certified by MDE are authorized to provide psychological and educational services within prekindergarten through grade 12 school settings, including:
- Psychological and educational assessment
- Consultation
- Counseling
- Participation in special education eligibility determinations and intervention planning
- Psychological and educational assessment
- This certification authorizes practice only within educational institutions.
- Independent or clinical practice outside of schools requires separate licensure through the Michigan Board of Psychology under LARA.
Scope of Practice Considerations
- Psychologists licensed by the Board may engage in independent practice as health service providers within the scope of their education and training.
- School psychologists certified by MDE may practice only in school settings.
- Limited License Psychologists (LLP) may provide services under supervision as authorized by their credential and may not practice independently without meeting full licensure requirements.
PSYPACT Status in Michigan
Michigan is a participating PSYPACT state. PSYPACT is an interstate compact that allows licensed psychologists to practice telepsychology and conduct temporary in-person psychological services across state lines among participating states.
Key Takeaways
- Michigan psychologist licensure requires a doctoral degree, internship, postdoctoral supervised experience, and passage of the EPPP.
- Thirty hours of continuing education are required every two years, including specific requirements in ethics and pain/symptom management.
- The state offers a Limited License Psychologist credential at the master’s level for supervised practice.
- School psychologist certification is regulated separately for work within preK–12 school settings.
- Michigan participates in PSYPACT, allowing eligible psychologists to provide services across state lines under the Compact.
- The Michigan Board of Psychology and the Michigan Department of Education are the authorities for psychologist and school psychologist credentialing. Consult these agencies for 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.
