North Carolina Psychology Board

There are no reciprocity agreements between North Carolina and other jurisdictions. There is an abbreviated application process if an individual meets senior psychologist requirements under 21 NCAC 54 .1707 or holds a mobility credential [see 21 NCAC 54 .1701(b)]. To view these statutes/rules please click on the NC Psychology Practice Act located on the side bar).

Standard forms are hyper-linked within the following instructions. PLEASE NOTE: While the forms are INTERACTIVE (information may be typed directly into text fields) Adobe Reader WILL NOT allow data to be saved upon exit of the program. The applicant is strongly advised to print copies before exiting out of forms. Following receipt of the application, the Board may, in some cases, require that additional documentation be submitted. The applicant will be contacted by Board staff if any additional forms or information are needed.

G.S. 90-270.139 requires persons to make application for licensure to the Board within 30 days of offering to practice or undertaking the practice of psychology in North Carolina unless individuals are exempt from licensure. To make application the following materials must be submitted together and received in the Board office within 30 days of offering to practice or undertaking the practice of psychology in North Carolina:

The application form
The supervision contract form
The $100 application fee
The fingerprint card for background checks (As of 11/01/16)
The $38 background check fee
Authority for release of information form

Once these items are received, the Board we will process the application and email the applicant to let him/her know what additional applications items are required. The applicant has up to 90 days to submit the rest of his/her remaining application materials after submission of these forms.

Application for Licensure Form
[NOTE: The Board reviews an application for licensure to determine an individual’s eligibility for examination. If approved for examination, the applicant will be sent further materials regarding registering for the examination(s).] Graduates/attendees of online programs please click here.
The North Carolina Practice Act
Supervision Contract Form
Fingerprint Card and Instructions (As of 11/01/2016)
Reference Form
Supervisor Form
Transmittal Form
Health Services Provider (HSP) Application Form

APPLICATION FOR LICENSURE FORM
1. Pursuant to G.S. § 90-270.5, persons who are qualified by education to practice psychology in North Carolina must make application for licensure to the Board within 30 days of offering to practice or undertaking the practice of psychology in North Carolina. Persons who fail to do so may not subsequently practice or offer to practice psychology without first becoming licensed. To make application, the following materials are required to be received in the Board’s office:
  1. completed, signed, application form. The Board suggests that you keep a copy of the completed application form for your records.
  2. completed, signed, Supervision Contract Form (see Item #3).
  3. non-refundable $100.00 application fee. Make checks or money orders payable to the North Carolina Psychology Board. A $20.00 fee will be charged for any returned bank item.
  4. Fingerprint Card, Authority for Release Form, $38 background check fee.
  1. If ever licensed, or having applied for a license, in another jurisdiction, arrange to have the jurisdiction(s) write directly to the NC Psychology Board verifying and reporting on the status of licensure (or application for licensure), including any disciplinary action which is pending or has been taken.
  2. If you have taken the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology, arrange to have your score reported directly to the NC Psychology Board from the ASPPB Score Transfer Service. Contact ASPPB at 1-800-448-4069 or download a form from the ASPPB website at www.asppb.org to request that your score be reported. (Not required if applying under the Senior Psychologist provision.)
  3. If you hold a diploma from the American Board of Professional Psychology, arrange to have ABPP write directly to the NC Psychology Board to verify your ABPP status.
  4. If you are applying at the Licensed Psychologist level, and you DID graduate from an APA accredited program, arrange to have a letter sent from the head of your APA accredited program directly to the Board which verifies that you received a doctoral degree from the indicated APA accredited specialty program. Please click here for a sample letter. If you are applying at the Licensed Psychologist level, and you did NOT graduate from an APA accredited program, see LP DOC #1 directions for submitting Licensed Psychologist Level documentation, and submit the following:
    - LP DOC #2 LICENSED PSYCHOLOGIST APPLICANT SUMMARY SHEET
    - LP DOC #3 LICENSED PSYCHOLOGIST APPLICANT PROGRAM VERIFICATION FORM
  5. If you are applying at the Licensed Psychological Associate level, see PA DOC #1 directions and submit the following:
    - PA DOC #2 PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATE APPLICANT SUMMARY FORM
    - PA DOC #3 PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATE APPLICANT PROGRAM VERIFICATION FORM
    - PA DOC #4 PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATE APPLICANT SUPERVISED EXPERIENCE VERIFICATION FORM
  6. If applying under the Senior Psychologist provision, see Item #8 on this sheet.
  7. If you have been convicted of, or entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to any felony or misdemeanor other than a minor traffic violation, include a copy of any court document which indicates final disposition of the case.
  8. If you are, or have been, licensed or certified in another field of work; or made application for licensure or certification, arrange to have the applicable source (e.g., board, association, agency) write directly to the NC Psychology Board verifying and reporting on the status of licensure or application, including any disciplinary action which is pending or has been taken.
  1. Print a copy of the Reference Form for each of the required three professional (not personal) references who are familiar with your current work. At least one reference must be from a doctoral level psychologist, and two references may be from other professions. These references must have knowledge of the applicant’s professional skills and competencies within the past year.
  2. Reference Forms must be completed within 90 days prior to the application date to ensure they are current and up-to-date.
  3. Type or print the name of the reference and your name where indicated.
  4. Send a form to each reference (or refer him/her to where the form is found on the Board website) with instructions to return the completed form to you, the applicant, in a sealed envelope with the reference’s signature over the seal. Forms submitted to the Board office without the reference’s signature over the seal will NOT be accepted.
  5. Individuals completing Supervisor forms CANNOT also serve as references.
  1. Print copies of the Supervisor Form for each direct supervisor, whether administrative or clinical, who is listed on your Application Form (under #18, Experience Section) to cover the entire period of time from the date of application back through, and including, any graduate internship which is associated with the degree upon which you are applying for licensure. To assist your supervisor in reporting the number of hours engaged in the practice of psychology and in health services, you may wish to refer him/her to the question, “What is the difference between health services and the practice of psychology?” under the “Frequently Asked Questions” link on the Board’s website.
  2. Type or print the name of the supervisor and your name where indicated.
  3. Send a form to each supervisor (or refer him/her to where the form is found on the Board website) with instructions to return the completed form to you, the applicant, in a sealed envelope with the supervisor’s signature over the seal. Forms submitted to the Board office without the supervisor’s signature over the seal will NOT be accepted.
  4. If appropriate, send cover letters informing the supervisor(s) of the date on which you need to receive the form back, reminding them of the approximate dates, hours, and locations of the supervised experience.
  5. If you can no longer locate a supervisor or if a supervisor is deceased, you must arrange to have the Supervisor form completed by someone else at the institution, or by someone who was at the institution when you were supervised, who can verify the experience; or have another state licensing board forward documentation of supervision from your file in their office; and you must provide a written explanation regarding the unavailability of the direct supervisor. If no one can verify the listed supervised experience, you must provide a written explanation. Be aware that such explanations do not assure acceptance of a waiver of this requirement.
  6. If applying under the Senior Psychologist provision, see Item #8 of these instructions.
  1. National Examination. The content outline for the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP) is available on the ASPPB web site at www.asppb.org. The EPPP is administered on computer at Prometric Testing Centers throughout the U.S. and Canada. An approved applicant calls a testing site to schedule the examination for his or her chosen location and date. The cost is $650.00 [$600.00 is remitted to the Professional Examination Service (PES), and $50.00 is remitted to the Board as a non-refundable administrative fee]. There is also an additional test administration fee that must be paid to Prometric when scheduling an appoinitment.
  2. State Examination. The Board-developed State Examination assesses the applicant's knowledge of the North Carolina Practice Act, selected rules of the Board covering such topics as education and supervision, and other legal requirements, and the APA Ethics Code. The State Examination is currently a 50-item, multiple choice examination. Effective June, 2006, the State Examination will be administered on computer at PSI testing centers. Upon payment of the $200.00 State Examination fee to the NC Psychology Board, an applicant who has been approved by the Board for examination will call PSI to schedule the examination for his or her chosen location and date.
  IF YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND ANY PART OF THE APPLICATION PROCESS, PLEASE EMAIL THE BOARD OFFICE. FAILURE TO COMPLETE THE PROCESS BY ESTABLISHED DEADLINES AND IN THE REQUIRED FORMAT WILL CAUSE A DELAY IN APPLICATION REVIEW AND MAY AFFECT YOUR PRIVILEGE TO PRACTICE PSYCHOLOGY WITHOUT A LICENSE AS AN APPLICANT.