Kentucky Psychology Education Overview
Psychology Licensure in Kentucky
Kentucky is a state many potential career options in human services for those who are licensed to practice psychology. These range from setting up a private practice in Louisville to working at a school in Lexington.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the average annual salary for clinical and counseling psychologists in Kentucky is $126,740.
If you enjoy the idea of working with fellow professionals in a medical environment that is both stimulating and enriching, consider a career at one of Kentucky’s 100+ major hospitals. If your calling is to help children heal emotionally, you may wish to consider working at one of Kentucky’s 180+ school districts.
With so many potential career paths you have an excellent chance to find the perfect fit for your unique skillset and personality. Below you will find our step-by-step guide for becoming a licensed psychologist in the Kentucky.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2024. Salary figures for Clinical and Counseling Psychologists. Salaries based on state data not school specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed May 2025.
Required educational background
If you want to gain licensure in Kentucky you will need to have already earned your doctorate in Psychology. Earning your Bachelor and Master of Psychology are pre-requisites for earning your Ph.D. in Psychology.
During your studies to earn your Bachelor of Psychology you will be able to really understand what your potential career in psychology will be like. This will help you decided if a career as a licensed psychologist is right for you. In addition to being required to earn later degrees, your Bachelor’s is very useful in finding employment in a wide variety of other human services careers.
Unlike some states, Kentucky does not allow you the practice of licensed psychology without first earning a Doctorate in Psychology. A Master’s in Psychology is useful not just in gaining your doctorate but also in finding employment in a wide variety of other jobs in human services. You will find that in addition to being a necessary step to get your Ph.D., a Masters of Psychology is a very useful degree in and of itself.
To begin your path to licensure you will need your doctorate in psychology from a board approved school. Once you have your doctorate you will need to earn your post-doctoral field experience.
Field Experience
To begin earning your field experience on the way to licensure, you will need to do the following:
- You will need to submit proof of your education and also your supervision plan to gain the required experience for licensure.
- You will need at least two years of supervised experience equating to 1,800 hours of experience, with 100 hours of supervision from a qualified instructor.
- You will need to apply for licensure, be approved and take your EPPP (see below).
You will want to familiarize yourself with Kentucky’s specific laws and regulations regarding licensure. These laws change so it is good to make sure you have current information, which you can find here:
Examination
Once you have completed your field experience you can apply to take the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP).
- Pass the EPPP with a score meeting the Kentucky minimum You can find some helpful information about your EPPP hhttp://flcertificationboard.org/certification/certification-process/ere:
1 http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes193031.htm
2 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_hospitals_in_Kentucky
3 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_school_districts_in_Kentucky