Licensed Psychologist · Pennsylvania · regulated by Pennsylvania State Board of Psychology (Dept. of State, BPOA) · medium confidence
| Degree | PhD/PsyD/EdD in psychology or related field; program APA-, CPA- or PCSAS-accredited or ASPPB/National Register designated |
|---|---|
| Internship | Pre-doctoral internship (from an APA/CPA-accredited program) accepted as one of the two required years |
| Supervised experience | Not less than two years of supervised experience acceptable to the Board (statute); internship = year 1 |
| Pre-doctoral hours | Internship counts as year 1. Since the 2019 waiver of §41.32, APA-program entrants from fall 2015 may count ≥12 months/1,750 h of practicum as year 2 |
| Postdoc required? | optional (not required for APA-accredited program entrants from fall 2015 with ≥12 months/1,750 h practicum; otherwise a post-internship year is required) |
| Postdoc hours | 1 year = ≥12 months and ≥1,750 hours; 15–45 h/week counted; ≥50% clinical activities (49 Pa. Code §41.32) |
| Credential during the postdoc | Psychology resident (no Board-issued credential) |
| Exams | EPPP + Pennsylvania Psychology Law Examination (PPLE) |
| EPPP-2 | not adopted (regulation and board snapshot list only EPPP and PPLE) |
| PSYPACT | member — Act 19 of 2020 (SB 67), enacted May 8, 2020, effective in 60 days; board calls PA a PSYPACT Participating State |
Supervision during the postdoc
- Supervision: Supervisors meet individually face-to-face for an average of ≥2 h/week (delegated supervisor may cover ≤1 h/week); quarterly written evaluations
- Who may supervise: Currently licensed, qualified in resident's practice areas; primary supervisor needs supervision course or 3 CE hours in supervision; not related/dual
- Minimum time: 12 months
- Time limit: Experience within 10 calendar years of the doctoral degree (waiver possible)
Related credentials
- School psychology: Separate: Dept. of Education Educational Specialist I/II certificate in school psychology (exempt in schools; limited private-practice exemption under Act 52 §3(10.1))
Can you be supervised remotely in Pennsylvania?
Yes. Required supervision can be done entirely by live video, with no in-person minimum.
- Video supervision: Primary and delegated supervisors must meet individually "face-to-face" for an average of ≥2 h/week (delegated ≤1 h/week); board statement of policy § 41.101 treats HIPAA-compliant synchronous audio+video as face-to-face; setting must be professional and secure. Primary supervisor must observe sessions or review verbatim recordings quarterly.
- Phone only: not allowed (telephone, email, chat excluded)
- Supervisor licensed in Pennsylvania? other: supervisor must be "currently licensed" (jurisdiction not specified in § 41.33)
The client’s location decides which state’s rules apply. This is not legal advice; confirm with the board before building a program. Compare every state on the remote-supervision map.
Recent and pending changes
Act 53 of 2016 removed the statutory requirement that a year be post-doctoral; Board waived §41.32 (Aug 12, 2019) for APA-program entrants from fall 2015; board says it will revise its regulations. §41.1/41.31 amended Aug 2, 2025 (55 Pa.B. 5116); §41.32 text unchanged since 2010.
Where the rules are unclear
Pennsylvania’s own documents disagree or are silent on these points. Ask the board if they affect you:
- 49 Pa. Code §41.32 still requires '1 year of acceptable postdoctoral supervised experience', while the Board's 2019 notice waives §41.32 for APA-program entrants from fall 2015 with ≥12 months/1,750 h practicum — is the waiver still in force, and does it cover PCSAS/CPA/designated programs?
- Does "currently licensed" in § 41.33(a)(1) require a Pennsylvania license for a supervisor of a PA-based resident?
- Is the § 41.101 statement of policy published/still in force?
In the board’s own words
“has not less than two years of supervised experience, provided that such experience is acceptable to the board” — Act 52 of 1972 §6(a)(2)✓ matched in the source
“the Board accepts the predoctoral internship as the first year of supervised experience.” — Board Special Notice, Supervised Experience Requirement (2019)✓ matched in the source
“applicants who began a doctoral program accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) on or after the fall semester of 2015” — Board Special Notice, Supervised Experience Requirement (2019 update)✓ matched in the source
“One year is calculated as a period of at least 12 months consisting of at least 1,750 hours of experience.” — 49 Pa. Code §41.32(1)(i)✓ matched in the source
“Applicants shall obtain a passing score on the Examination for Professional Practice In Psychology and the Pennsylvania Psychology Law Examination” — 49 Pa. Code §41.41(b)✓ matched in the source
“the Board considers “face-to-face” supervision to be met if a HIPAA-compliant electronic platform is used that allows for synchronous audio and video communication” — § 41.101(c) statement of policy✓ matched in the source
“This would not include supervision by telephone, email, instant messaging, online chat or other non-secure electronic communications” — § 41.101(c) statement of policy✓ matched in the source
“Meet individually face-to-face with the psychology resident for an average supervisory total of at least 2 hours per week.” — 49 Pa. Code § 41.33(a)(5)✓ matched in the source
“Be currently licensed while providing supervision.” — 49 Pa. Code § 41.33(a)(1)✓ matched in the source
“Own, be an employee of, or be in contract status with the entity employing the psychology resident.” — 49 Pa. Code § 41.33(a)(3)✓ matched in the source
“No experience may be obtained where the psychology resident acts independently” — 49 Pa. Code § 41.32(2)(ii)✓ matched in the source
“Pennsylvania is a PSYPACT Participating State.” — Psychologist Licensure Snapshot✓ matched in the source
Other licenses in Pennsylvania
- LPC (professional counselor)
- LMFT (marriage and family therapist)
- LCSW (clinical social worker)
- All Pennsylvania licenses · every state
Sources
- Professional Psychologists Practice Act, Act of Mar. 23, 1972, P.L. 136, No. 52, §6(a)(2) (63 P.S. §1206)
- 49 Pa. Code §41.31 Educational qualifications
- 49 Pa. Code §41.32 Experience qualifications
- 49 Pa. Code §41.33 Supervisors
- 49 Pa. Code §41.58 Unlicensed persons with graduate training
- Board Special Notice: Supervised Experience Requirement (Jan 31, 2019; updates Aug 12 & Oct 7, 2019)
- Board Special Notice: Act 53 of 2016
- Board policy §41.101 Interpretation of §41.33(a)(5)
- Psychologist Licensure Snapshot (board page)
- Act No. 19 of 2020 (Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact Act)
Checked against Pennsylvania State Board of Psychology (Dept. of State, BPOA)’s rules, statutes and publications on September 25, 2026. The board decides; if your situation is unusual, confirm with them.