Licensed Psychologist · Tennessee · regulated by Tennessee Board of Examiners in Psychology (Department of Health) · high confidence
| Degree | Doctoral degree from an ASPPB/National Register 'Designated Doctoral Program'; for HSP, clinical/counseling/school (or combined) designated or APA-accredited program |
|---|---|
| Internship | HSP only: qualifying internship ≥1,900 hours, 1 year full-time or 2 continuous years half-time; APA-accredited, APPIC member, or board-approved equivalent |
| Supervised experience | HSP: qualifying internship (≥1,900 h) + one year postdoctoral supervised experience (≥1,900 h). Psychologist (non-HSP): no supervised-experience rule |
| Pre-doctoral hours | Internship is a separate required element; practicum does not count toward the postdoctoral year |
| Postdoc required? | required for HSP designation only; not required for Psychologist license without HSP |
| Postdoc hours | One year, minimum 1,900 hours of supervised experience (HSP) |
| Credential during the postdoc | Provisional license (required for postdoc in Tennessee unless in a TN APPIC-listed/APA-accredited postdoctoral fellowship) |
| Exams | EPPP (≥500 scaled / ASPPB passing score); Tennessee ethics and jurisprudence examination (open-book, 90%) |
| EPPP-2 | not adopted (rule 1180-02-.04 names only the EPPP) |
| PSYPACT | member — Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact Act, SB 161 / Public Chapter 352 (2021), signed May 18, 2021 |
Supervision during the postdoc
- Supervision: At least 1 hour per week of individual, face-to-face supervision by an HSP-designated psychologist; administrative supervision excluded
- Who may supervise: Licensed Psychologist with HSP designation; qualifications appropriate to services rendered
- Minimum time: Postdoctoral year: one year and ≥1,900 hours; internship ≥1 calendar year
Related credentials
- Master’s level: Psychological Examiner / Senior Psychological Examiner (SPE is an HSP; PE→SPE after 5 years' supervised experience + 200 h CE) — Chapter 1180-03
- Specialty or health-service credential: Two tiers: Psychologist (no HSP) vs Psychologist with HSP designation; only HSP route requires internship + postdoc
Can you be supervised remotely in Tennessee?
Only partly. Some supervision or presence must be in person or on site. What shapes this: in-person minimum, prior board approval, video limited.
- Video supervision: Supervision via real-time face-to-face video conferencing is acceptable if the telepsychology-supervision safeguards in 1180-02-.27(7) are met: documented suitability analysis, a written supervisor-supervisee agreement, identity verification and alternative contacts. No more than 75% of supervision may be by video. The postdoctoral rule itself requires 'face-to-face' individual supervision ≥1 h/week.
- Phone only: not allowed ('face-to-face' means can see one's face in real time)
- In-person minimum: ≥25% of supervision in person (≤75% via video conferencing)
- Supervisor licensed in Tennessee? required in effect: postdoc supervisors must be licensed Psychologists with HSP designation (a Tennessee designation), and a Tennessee psychology license is needed to practise telepsychology in Tennessee (pending rule adds PSYPACT APIT)
- Supervisor credential: HSP designation; supervisor of record must be made known to the Board and listed at the supervisor's license renewal
- Supervisee cap: no numeric cap; supervisor 'shall limit the number of supervisees' to keep an adequate supervision ratio
- Board approval first: Provisional license required for a postdoctoral year in Tennessee (except TN APPIC/APA fellowships), and only experience under the provisional license counts; a supervisor of record must be made known to the Board
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
1180-02 revised July 2026 (amendments to 1180-02-.03 effective July 27, 2026; emergency rules of Oct 3, 2025 expired April 2, 2026). Qualifications rule 1180-02-.02 unchanged since 2006.
Where the rules are unclear
Tennessee’s own documents disagree or are silent on these points. Ask the board if they affect you:
- Does the 75% video cap in 1180-02-.01(7)(d) apply to the postdoctoral year's 1 h/week individual supervision (1180-02-.02(2)(d)1.(iii) says only 'face-to-face')?
In the board’s own words
“A qualifying internship must be at least one (1) calendar year in duration and consist of no less than nineteen hundred (1900) hours” — Rule 1180-02-.02(2)(a)1.✓ matched in the source
“One (1) year of postdoctoral supervised experience, in addition to a qualifying internship, is required for licensure as a designated HSP.” — Rule 1180-02-.02(2)(d)✓ matched in the source
“The postdoctoral year must consist of a minimum of nineteen hundred (1900) hours of supervised experience.” — Rule 1180-02-.02(2)(d)1.✓ matched in the source
“at least one (1) hour per week of individual supervision” — Rule 1180-02-.02(2)(d)1.✓ matched in the source
“Applicants who obtain the required year of postdoctoral supervised experience in Tennessee must hold a provisional license.” — Rule 1180-02-.02(2)(d)3.(i)✓ matched in the source
“The written examination is the EPPP provided by the Professional Examination Service (PES).” — Rule 1180-02-.04(1)(a)✓ matched in the source
“Supervision conducted via face-to-face video conferencing equipment and/or technology is acceptable, assuming compliance with subparagraphs (7)(a) through (7)(e)” — 1180-02-.01(7)(d)✓ matched in the source
“Prior to providing supervision via telepsychology services, the supervisor and supervisee shall enter into a written agreement” — 1180-02-.27(7)(c)✓ matched in the source
““Face-to-face” means (a) can see one’s face and (b) occurring in real time via video conferencing equipment” — 1180-02-.01(7)(d)✓ matched in the source
“No more than seventy-five (75) percent of supervision can be obtained through video conferencing.” — 1180-02-.01(7)(d)✓ matched in the source
“Supervisors must be licensed Psychologists with a designation of HSP.” — 1180-02-.02(2)(d)2.(i)✓ matched in the source
“In order to practice telepsychology in the state of Tennessee, one must hold a current, valid psychology license issued by the Tennessee Board” — 1180-02-.27(3)✓ matched in the source
5 more quotes are in the state explorer.
Other licenses in Tennessee
- LPC-MHSP (professional counselor)
- LMFT (marriage and family therapist)
- LCSW (clinical social worker)
- All Tennessee licenses · every state
Sources
- Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1180-02-.02 Qualifications for Licensure (July 2026 revised), pp. 4-7
- Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1180-03 Psychological Examiners and Senior Psychological Examiners (July 2026)
- Tennessee General Assembly, SB0161 (112th GA) bill history — Pub. Ch. 352
- Secretary of State rules index, Chapter 1180
- Rulemaking Hearing Rule filing 08-29-26 (1180-01/1180-02, filed 8/26/2026, effective 11/24/2026), amended 1180-02-.27(3)-(4) — pending
Checked against Tennessee Board of Examiners in Psychology (Department of Health)’s rules, statutes and publications on September 25, 2026. The board decides; if your situation is unusual, confirm with them.