How to Become a Licensed Psychologist in Georgia

What could me more exciting than studying how the brain works? If you are interested in pursuing a career in this exciting field, then go through this guide to understand how to become a psychologist in Georgia.

Psychologists are professionals who help people cope with metal health issues and behavioral disorders. They use a mix of evidence-based treatments to improve their patients’ behavior.

The following requirements have to be met in order to pursue this line of work:

1. Education Requirements
You will have to obtain a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in psychology, followed by a doctoral degree (PhD or PsyD). In order to complete the doctoral program, students will have to complete the required coursework, clinical training and will have to produce a dissertation/publishable paper.

2. Training Requirements
After completing your education credentials, you will have to complete a supervised training experience of around 1,500 hours.

3. Certification and Licensing Requirements
In order to be able to practice as a psychologist in Georgia, you will have to earn a state license. This will require you to apply to the Georgia State Board of Examiners of Psychologists. The board will then collaborate with the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB) to process the application.

There are three main steps involved in becoming a psychologist in the state of Georgia. These are listed below:

1. Earn a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Psychology
The first step towards becoming a licensed professional in this field is to earn a Bachelor of Science (B.S) or a Bachelor of Arts (B.A) in Psychology. Once you complete your undergraduate education, you can top it up with an advanced degree such as a Master of Science (M.S) or a Master of Arts (M.A) in Psychology. The master’s programs offer several concentrations; these include the Clinical/Counseling track, Applied Experimental track and the General Experimental track. Please bear in mind that these degrees should be obtained from an accredited institution, otherwise you won’t be able to meet the licensure requirements.

2. Earn a Doctorate Degree and Complete the Required Training Hours
You can earn either a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Psychology or a Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) in order to meet the educational requirements for licensure. The doctoral program must include 3 years of full-time academic study, followed by a supervised training experience of around 1,500 hours.

3. Apply for a State License

The procedure for licensure by examination and licensure by endorsement involves the following steps:

• The application for licensure will require you to submit an application initiation form by exam or endorsement, along with an application fee, to the Georgia State Board of Examiners of Psychologists. Supporting documents such as an affidavit of citizenship will have to be attached to the application form.
• Once the Board reviews and approves the forms, your personal data will be sent to the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB) who will then guide you through the rest of the process. Please note that the Board does not refer incomplete applications to the ASPPB, therefore you should be cautious while filling out and submitting your application.
• The ASPPB will contact you within a week after they have received the status of your application from the Board.
• They will then guide you how to fill out the online application form and will check and verify the application. You will also be asked to send in all the supporting documents.
• The ASPPB will then forward the complete application to the Georgia Board for approval.
• The Board will then notify you whether you are eligible to register and take the Georgia Jurisprudence exam and the EPPP exam.
• Once you clear these exams, you will have to get in touch with the Board’s administrative personnel, so they can schedule your oral examination. This exam will test your knowledge of Georgia law, intervention skills and diagnostic skills.

After passing this exam, you will be given your state license.

O*Net Online has reported that the annual median wage of Clinical, Counseling, and School Psychologists in Georgia was $71,200 in 2018. It is predicted that the job opportunities, in Georgia, in this field will grow by 18 percent from 2016 to 2026.