Psychologist licensure in Tennessee requires doctoral-level education, extensive supervised experience, and passage of national and state-specific examinations. School psychologists and master’s-level psychological examiners are regulated separately.
Primary Licensing Authority
The Tennessee Board of Examiners in Psychology is responsible for psychologist licensure in Tennessee.
Licensed Psychologist Requirements
Education Requirements
- A doctoral degree in psychology (PhD, PsyD, or EdD) from a regionally accredited or APA-accredited program is required.
- Licensees must complete 40 hours of continuing education every two years, including at least 3 hours in ethics.
Supervised Experience Requirements
- Applicants must complete a minimum of 3,800 hours of supervised professional experience:
- 1,900-hour doctoral internship
- At least 1,900 hours of post-doctoral supervised practice
- 1,900-hour doctoral internship
Examination Requirements
- Applicants must pass the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP).
- Applicants must also pass the Tennessee Jurisprudence and Ethics Examination.
Other Psychology Licenses in Tennessee
School Psychologist
Certification for school psychologists is managed by the Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) for school-based practice.
Credentialing Requirements
- Must hold a graduate degree (specialist, master’s, or doctoral) in school psychology from an approved educator preparation program or hold a valid Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP) credential.
- Must pass the Praxis School Psychologist (5403) examination.
- Must submit official transcripts, assessment scores, and fingerprint-based background checks through the TDOE portal.
Certification Levels
- Practitioner School Service Personnel License: An initial three-year credential, renewable once.
- Professional School Service Personnel License: A six-year renewable credential issued upon meeting practitioner-level expectations and experience requirements.
- Renewal generally requires 60 professional development points (PDPs) or equivalent continuing professional learning.
Scope of Practice
- Certified school psychologists may provide psychological and educational services in approved PK–12 school settings, including:
- Assessment, consultation, counseling
- Behavioral intervention, crisis response
- Mental health support
- Assessment, consultation, counseling
- This certification authorizes practice only within educational institutions. Independent or clinical practice requires separate licensure from the Tennessee Board of Examiners in Psychology.
Psychological Examiner
- Tennessee licenses Psychological Examiners at the master’s degree level under the supervision of a licensed psychologist.
Requirements:
- Master’s degree in psychology from a regionally accredited institution.
- Completion of supervised experience.
- Psychological Examiners may engage in limited practice, including administering tests and providing supervised counseling and assessment services.
Other Roles
- The Board also oversees the licensure of Senior Psychological Examiners (advanced master’s-level practitioners) and Certified Psychological Assistants (trainees or supervised roles under licensed psychologists) as noted in Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1180-3-.01–.07.
Scope of Practice Considerations
- Licensed psychologists may independently practice assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and related services.
- School psychologist certification is limited to PK–12 educational settings.
- Master’s-level credentials authorize only supervised or limited practice; independent practice requires doctoral-level licensure.
PSYPACT Status in Tennessee
Tennessee 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
- Tennessee psychologist licensure requires a doctoral degree, 3,800 hours of supervised experience, and passage of the EPPP and state jurisprudence/ethics exam.
- Forty hours of continuing education are required every two years, including ethics.
- School psychologist certification is administered by the Department of Education and authorizes practice only within school settings.
- Tennessee licenses Psychological Examiners and Senior Psychological Examiners at the master’s level for supervised or limited practice.
- Tennessee participates in PSYPACT, permitting eligible psychologists to provide services across state lines under the Compact.
- The Tennessee Board of Examiners in Psychology and the 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.
