Healthcare Credentialing
How to Verify a Psychologist License
Mental health credential fraud is underreported and overdue for scrutiny. Behavioral health organizations, hospitals, and telehealth platforms hiring licensed psychologists need to verify doctoral degree, national exam passage, and state licensure — none of which are linked in a single database. Here is how to check all three.
Key takeaway
Verifying a psychologist requires four checks: (1) doctoral degree (PhD, PsyD, or EdD) from an APA- or PCSAS-accredited program via the registrar, (2) EPPP passage via the ASPPB Credentials Bank or state board, (3) active state license via the relevant state psychology board, and (4) scope of practice — particularly whether the candidate holds a supervised or independent license, and whether they are licensed for psychological testing, prescribing (in states that allow it), or specialized populations. Telehealth employers must also verify licensure in each patient state.
Credential hierarchy in psychology
Psychology licensure is more fragmented than most healthcare fields. Title protections vary by state, and the distinction between a licensed psychologist, a licensed counselor, and a therapist is often invisible to employers who are not looking carefully.
Licensed Psychologist (LP)
Requires doctoral degree (PhD, PsyD, or EdD in psychology) + EPPP passage + supervised postdoctoral hours + state license. This is the gold-standard clinical credential with independent practice rights.
Psychological Associate / Psychologist Candidate
Provisional license held during the postdoctoral supervision period. Cannot practice independently. Often misrepresented as a full license.
LPC / LMFT / LCSW
Licensed counselors and social workers. Not psychologists. Hold master's degrees, not doctorates. Cannot perform psychological testing or diagnosis in most states. Credential verification process is different.
Common confusion: Job applicants sometimes use "therapist," "counselor," and "psychologist" interchangeably. Verify the actual license type — not just the credential claimed on a resume.
Step 1 — Verify the doctoral degree
Only programs accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) Commission on Accreditation (CoA) or the Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System (PCSAS) produce graduates eligible for licensure in most states.
- Request official transcripts directly from the institution — not a PDF the candidate uploads
- Confirm APA accreditation of the doctoral program at the time the candidate graduated: apa.org/ed/accreditation/programs
- For international graduates: Some states accept foreign doctoral degrees with course equivalency evaluation. Confirm with the specific state board.
An EdD in Education with a concentration in counseling is not equivalent to a doctorate in professional psychology. Verify the degree name and department specifically.
Step 2 — Verify EPPP passage
The Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP) is the national licensing exam required in all US states and Canadian provinces. It is administered by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB).
ASPPB Credentials Bank
asppb.net — psychologists can authorize release of EPPP scores and exam history to employers and licensing boards. Request the candidate provide authorization.
Two-part exam (since 2020)
The EPPP now has Part 1 (knowledge) and Part 2 (skills). Some states require both parts; others only require Part 1. Confirm which parts the candidate has passed and whether the target state requires both.
Step 3 — Verify state licensure
Every state has an independent psychology licensing board. License status and disciplinary history are public records. Search the board's license lookup for the state of practice.
| State | Board |
|---|---|
| California | California Board of Psychology — psychology.ca.gov |
| New York | NY State Education Dept, Office of the Professions — op.nysed.gov |
| Texas | Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists — tsbep.texas.gov |
| Florida | Florida Board of Psychology — floridaspsychologylicense.gov |
| Illinois | Illinois Dept of Financial & Professional Regulation — idfpr.illinois.gov |
For other states, search "[state] board of psychology license verification."
Telehealth employers: verify in every patient state
A psychologist licensed in New York who sees a patient in California is practicing without a California license. Telehealth platform employers must verify licensure in each state where patients are located — not just where the psychologist is physically based.
Prescribing authority (5 states + DOD)
As of 2026, five states — New Mexico, Louisiana, Illinois, Iowa, and Idaho — plus the Department of Defense allow psychologists to prescribe psychotropic medications after completing an additional postdoctoral training program (MP or RxP certificate). If a candidate claims prescribing authority, verify the state-specific authorization separately from the standard psychology license.
Common fraud patterns
- ! Provisional license presented as full license: A candidate completing supervised postdoctoral hours holds a provisional or associate license — not an independent license. Confirm the license type and whether supervision is still required.
- ! Non-APA-accredited programs: Online and for-profit doctoral programs in psychology exist that are regionally accredited but not APA-accredited. Graduates may hold legitimate degrees but be ineligible for licensure in states requiring APA accreditation.
- ! "Dr." title without psychology license: A candidate with a non-psychology doctorate (EdD in Education, PhD in Sociology) may use "Dr." on their resume without disclosing that they are not licensed to practice clinical psychology.
- ! Disciplinary actions across state lines: A psychologist disciplined in one state can apply for a license in another. ASPPB's Disciplinary Data System tracks cross-state actions, but not all states query it before issuing new licenses. Pull the ASPPB disciplinary history explicitly.
Verification checklist
- Official doctoral transcripts received directly from the institution
- APA or PCSAS accreditation of doctoral program confirmed at time of graduation
- ASPPB Credentials Bank authorization received; EPPP Part 1 and Part 2 passage confirmed
- State board license active and in good standing (check license type: independent vs. provisional)
- Disciplinary history checked via state board and ASPPB Disciplinary Data System
- For telehealth: licensure verified in each patient state
- Prescribing authority verified separately (if applicable and in a prescribing state)
Verify academic credentials with VerifyED
VerifyED's database covers 912,000 institutions worldwide. Confirm any university is legitimate and APA-accredited before accepting transcripts.
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