How many supervised hours do psychologists need in Virginia?

Clinical: internship + residency of ≥1,500 supervised hours; internship hours do not count toward the 1,500

Do I need a postdoc to be licensed as a psychologist in Virginia?

optional (alternative route) — clinical candidates may satisfy the 1,500-hour residency with qualifying pre-internship practicum; school psychologists must complete it post-degree. 1,500 hours residency, in not less than 12 months and not more than 3 years (only for hours not met by practicum)

Is Virginia a PSYPACT state?

member — Va. Code §54.1-3606.2, Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact, enacted 2020, c. 1162

Which exams are required for a psychologist license in Virginia?

EPPP Part 1-Knowledge (passing score on all parts required at the time taken; final required step within 2 years before licensure)

Can I be supervised by video in Virginia?

Mostly, with some limits. Handbook: individual face-to-face supervision (≥2 h per 40 h; ≥1 h individual) may use secured technology with real-time visual contact; group ≤5 residents (2 h group = 1 h individual). Guidance 125-7: supervisory telepsychology must be synchronous.

Virginia requirements

Psychologist licensure requirements in Virginia

What it takes to become a Licensed Clinical Psychologist in Virginia, plus supervision, time limits, exams and whether you can be supervised by video. Every figure is sourced to the state board and dated.

Sourced to Virginia Board of Psychology (Department of Health Professions)Checked September 25, 2026Not individually reviewed by a clinicianAbout this site

Licensed Clinical Psychologist · Virginia · regulated by Virginia Board of Psychology (Department of Health Professions) · high confidence

Degree	Doctorate in clinical, counseling or school psychology; APA/CPA-accredited required for applicants beginning June 23, 2028 (until then, non-accredited programs meeting 18VAC125-20-54(B) criteria accepted)
Internship	Required (clinical): APA/CPA-accredited, APPIC member, ASPPB/National Register listed, or equivalent; no hour figure set in rule
Supervised experience	Clinical: internship + residency of ≥1,500 supervised hours; internship hours do not count toward the 1,500
Pre-doctoral hours	Clinical: doctoral practicum hours (pre-internship) meeting 18VAC125-20-54(F) standards may fulfill all or part of the 1,500 residency hours; internship hours may not
Postdoc required?	optional (alternative route) — clinical candidates may satisfy the 1,500-hour residency with qualifying pre-internship practicum; school psychologists must complete it post-degree
Postdoc hours	1,500 hours residency, in not less than 12 months and not more than 3 years (only for hours not met by practicum)
Credential during the postdoc	Resident in Psychology (board-registered residency with prior written approval and supervisory contract)
Exams	EPPP Part 1-Knowledge (passing score on all parts required at the time taken; final required step within 2 years before licensure)
EPPP-2	not required for doctoral licensure (Board exam page: EPPP Part 1-Knowledge only); the EPPP clinical portion is required only for psychological practitioners seeking autonomous practice
PSYPACT	member — Va. Code §54.1-3606.2, Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact, enacted 2020, c. 1162

Supervision during the postdoc

Supervision: ≥2 hours individual supervision per 40 hours; 2 h group (≤5 residents) may replace 1 h individual; never <1 h individual per 40 h
Who may supervise: Psychologist with current unrestricted license in the jurisdiction of supervision and in the licensure category sought (clinical psychologist may supervise school residents)
Minimum time: Residency: not less than 12 months
Time limit: Residency: not to exceed three years (extension on request for extenuating circumstances); EPPP passed within 2 years preceding licensure

Related credentials

Master’s level: Licensed Psychological Practitioner (Va. Code §54.1-3606.3, 2024): master's in psychology/counseling psychology + EPPP academic portion; supervised by clinical psychologist; autonomy after EPPP clinical portion + 1 year full-time supervised practice
School psychology: Licensed School Psychologist (Board of Psychology; master's ≥60 SCH + 1,500-h post-degree residency) and School Psychologist-Limited
Specialty or health-service credential: Licenses by category: clinical, applied, and school psychologist (plus psychological practitioner); residency rule 18VAC125-20-65 applies to clinical and school only

Can you be supervised remotely in Virginia?

Mostly, with some limits. What shapes this: prior board approval.

Video supervision: Handbook: individual face-to-face supervision (≥2 h per 40 h; ≥1 h individual) may use secured technology with real-time visual contact; group ≤5 residents (2 h group = 1 h individual). Guidance 125-7: supervisory telepsychology must be synchronous.
Phone only: not allowed per handbook (real-time and visual contact); Guidance 125-7 requires only synchronous
In-person minimum: none stated in 18VAC125-20-65 or handbook
Supervisor licensed in Virginia? other: psychologist licensed 'in the jurisdiction in which supervision is being provided' (handbook: where the resident is providing services), in the resident's licensure category
Supervisor credential: none beyond the license (no supervisor registry; Board has no list of supervisors)
Supervisee cap: none found per supervisor; group supervision ≤5 residents
Board approval first: yes: Registration of residency (supervisory contract, fee, transcript) must be approved in writing before supervised experience in Virginia counts; each supervisor change needs a new application, contract and fee approved by the Board
If you live outside Virginia: not addressed in rules. Guidance 125-7: psychologists should verify the supervisee's location each session and, if outside Virginia and the psychologist's licensure states, contact that state's board or reschedule.

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

18VAC125-20-54: from June 23, 2028 clinical applicants must hold an APA/CPA (or board-accepted) accredited doctorate. 18VAC125-20-41 and -80 amended eff. November 1, 2025 (psychological practitioner exam steps).

Where the rules are unclear

Virginia’s own documents disagree or are silent on these points. Ask the board if they affect you:

18VAC125-20-10 defines face-to-face as 'in person'; handbook allows video for 'face-to-face supervision'. Confirm video supervision counts for all residency supervision hours.
Can a PSYPACT (APIT) holder or out-of-state psychologist supervise a Virginia-registered resident treating Virginia clients?

In the board’s own words

“a residency consisting of a minimum of 1,500 hours of supervised experience in the delivery of clinical or school psychology services” — 18VAC125-20-65(A)✓ matched in the source

“Hours acquired during the required internship shall not be counted toward the 1,500 residency hours.” — 18VAC125-20-65(A)(1)✓ matched in the source

“a minimum of 1,500 hours in a period of not less than 12 months and not to exceed three years” — 18VAC125-20-65(B)(1)✓ matched in the source

“There shall be a minimum of two hours of individual supervision per 40 hours of supervised experience.” — 18VAC125-20-65(B)(5)✓ matched in the source

“Candidates for clinical psychologist licensure shall have successfully completed an internship in a program that is either accredited by APA or CPA, is a member of APPIC” — 18VAC125-20-54(E)✓ matched in the source

“all applicants are required to sit and pass the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology Part 1-Knowledge (EPPP Part 1-Knowledge)” — Board of Psychology, Examination Information✓ matched in the source

“The face-to-face supervision may include the use of secured technology that maintains client confidentiality and provides real-time and visual contact.” — Board of Psychology, Clinical Psychologist Licensure Process Handbook (rev. 09/2025), §§2, 2.1-2.5 (pp. 12-16)✓ matched in the source

“All provision of telepsychology services - therapeutic, assessment, or supervisory – is expected to be in real time, or synchronous.” — Board of Psychology Guidance Document 125-7, Electronic Communication and Telepsychology (eff. Nov 24, 2022), §III(1)-(5)✓ matched in the source

“Supervision shall be provided by a psychologist who holds a current, unrestricted license in the jurisdiction in which supervision is being provided” — 18VAC125-20-65 (Residency), subsections B.2-B.9, C✓ matched in the source

“Supervisors must hold an active, unrestricted license as a Clinical Psychologist in the jurisdiction in which the resident is providing clinical psychology services.” — Board of Psychology, Clinical Psychologist Licensure Process Handbook (rev. 09/2025), §§2, 2.1-2.5 (pp. 12-16)✓ matched in the source

“The Board does not have a list of available supervisors” — Board of Psychology, Clinical Psychologist Licensure Process Handbook (rev. 09/2025), §§2, 2.1-2.5 (pp. 12-16)✓ matched in the source

“Group supervision of up to five residents may be substituted for one of the two hours” — 18VAC125-20-65 (Residency), subsections B.2-B.9, C✓ matched in the source

5 more quotes are in the state explorer.

Other licenses in Virginia

Sources

Checked against Virginia Board of Psychology (Department of Health Professions)’s rules, statutes and publications on September 25, 2026. The board decides; if your situation is unusual, confirm with them.

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General information, not legal advice. Requirements are summarized from each state’s licensing board, statutes and regulations on the date shown; the board decides, and rules change. Becoming Licensed is not affiliated with any licensing board.