Psychologist Licensure Requirements in Nevada

Nevada psychologists are licensed by the Board of Psychological Examiners (http://psyexam.nv.gov). The Board recognizes the following specialties, among others: clinical psychology, counseling psychology, educational psychology, and industrial psychology. Licensure is based on education, examination, and supervised professional practice.

While completing postdoctoral practice, an individual is under board regulation; the status is Registered Psychological Assistant.

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Education Requirements

An individual will need to attain a doctoral degree. Generally speaking, doctoral programs should be accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA). In the case of non-APA programs, the burden will be on the applicant to establish equivalency. Nevada requires programs to be the equivalent of at least three full-time years, exclusive of internship. The housing institution must hold appropriate accreditation.

The program must include the equivalent of at least three semester hours in each of the following content areas.

  • Professional and scientific standards
  • Research methodology and design
  • Psychometrics
  • Statistics

The following must also be addressed:

  • The biological basis of behavior: This requirement may be met through coursework in one or more of the following areas: physiological psychology, neurospsychology, comparative psychology, psychopharmacology, or human sexuality.
  • The social basis of behavior: This requirement may be met through coursework in social psychology, organizational and systems theory, ethnic cultural, and group processes, or sex roles.
  • The cognitive-affective basis of behavior: Coursework may address cognition, thinking, memory, learning, emotion, or motivation.
  • Individual differences: This requirement may be satisfied through coursework in personality theory, human development, abnormal psychology, or disability psychology.

Graduates of non-APA programs will need to demonstrate that coursework used to meet the above content requirements was equivalent to that which would be included in an APA-accredited program. (They may submit statements from instructors or from chairs of APA-accredited programs.)

Click Here to learn more about psychology education options based on your current educational attainment.

Supervised Professional Practice

Pre- and postdoctoral supervised practice must together comprise 3,500 hours. The first 1,750 hours is internship. If the internship is not APA-accredited, it must meet standards set by the Board. It must take place in an appropriate setting and be completed in a period of 10 months to two years. There must be training objectives that are addressed in sequential manner. Two hours of individual supervision is to be provided each week. There must be a written evaluation on at least a semiannual basis. At some point, the intern will need at least 40 hours of training in cultural, ethnic, and group bases of behavior.

The postdoctoral training period is also 1,750 hours. In most cases, it must be completed in a period of ten months to three years, though the Board may grant exceptions; the “psychologist assistant” credential is issued for three years.

A graduate who is working as an assistant must have four hours a month of individual supervision. At least half of a week’s work is to be spent in clinical practice; the Board counts practice-oriented supervision toward this total. The other hours may be spent in various psychology-related activities (which may include research, teaching, and/or administrative activity).

The psychological assistant must have an additional 40 hours of training related to the cultural, ethnic, and group bases of behavior. There must be at least three hours of individual supervision directed toward this competency area.

The Examination Process

Nevada psychologist candidates take two examinations. The primary licensing examination is the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP), which was developed by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB). It is administered at testing sites around the nation. State permission is required. A Nevada candidate may apply for permission once educational requirements have been met.

After permission has been granted, the candidate may register and pay the $600 fee (www.asppb.net). The candidate should not register until ready to take the exam, as the ATT issued by the testing company is good for just 60 days. The candidate may schedule at any authorized Prometric site, either in Nevada or another state. An additional fee (approximately $80) is due to Prometric.

The state examination covers issues of law and conduct and is now in multiple choice format.Among the topics are confidentiality and reporting, licensing and supervision, and ‘risk assessment and management of dangerousness’. The exam is given three times a year. Some administrations are in Reno, others in Las Vegas. In 2014, the fee will become $270. Candidates should have their applications in to the Board office well in advance of their desired testing date.

The Application Process

Nevada uses the ASPPB PLUS application system at both the psychologist and psychologist assistant levels. Candidates will fill out a short form application and mail it to the Board office in Reno. The application form must be notarized. Two passport-type photographs are required.

Later, candidates will continue the application process online. The ASPPB will request some information directly from third parties.

The initial forms can be downloaded from the Board site (http://psyexam.nv.gov/Forms/Forms). Application costs $100.

Out-of-State Candidates

Out-of-state psychologists who possess a recognized mobility credential may have a simplified application process.

In the case of experienced psychologists, the Board may accept 1,500 hours of supervised practice as a year at both the pre- and postdoctoral levels (http://www.leg.state.nv.us/NAC/NAC-641#NAC641Sec080).

Psychologists who have been licensed 20 or more years will need to demonstrate that their licensure was based on doctoral education, but do not need to show that they passed the licensing examination. The examination requirement may also be waived for psychologists who have been licensed ten years and are American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP) diplomates or American Psychological Association (APA) fellows.

Nonresident Consultants

A nonresident may be allowed to practice as a consultant without a license, but must first seek permission from the Nevada Board. The Board will require a statement from an inviting psychologist.

Other psychology practice requires a state license.

Additional Information

If you are still in High School, hold a High School Diploma/GED, hold a bachelor’s degree, or hold a master’s degree check out suggested steps to take along the path to become a Licensed Psychologist in Nevada.

Questions may be directed to the Board at (775) 688-1268 or at nbop at govmail.state.nevada.us. The Board welcomes inquiries, but notes that the response time may be up to 48 hours.

Office hours are 8:00 to 12:00 and 1:00 to 7:00 (http://www.leg.state.nv.us/NAC/NAC-641#NAC641Sec015).

The Board publishes an online newsletter approximately once a year (http://psyexam.nv.gov/News-Resources). The Nevada Psychological Association, state APA affiliate, is an additional professional resource (http://www.nvpsychology.org).