Psychologist Licensure in New Hampshire: Degree, Supervised Hours and the EPPP

New Hampshire issues three psychology licences.

The general licence, psychologist, is the one that covers independent practice: RSA 329-B:17 makes it unlawful both to engage in psychology practice and to use the word "psychology" in a title or work product without a board licence or a board-licensed supervisor.

Alongside it, RSA 329-B:15-a creates licensed school psychologist-doctoral and licensed school psychologist-specialist, two titles tied to department of education certification.

The school licences are not junior rungs of the general licence: their practice is confined to educational settings, and a holder may not present themselves as a psychologist.

Psyc 305 fills in the detail the statute leaves to the board: the doctoral school licence needs a doctoral degree from an APA- or CPA-approved program, at least 90 graduate semester hours, DOE certification and a 1,200-clock-hour internship with at least 600 hours in a school setting (Psyc 305.03).

The degree clause asks for a doctorate whose program content was primarily psychological, from a regionally accredited institution having a graduate program, or a substantial equivalent in both subject matter and extent of training.

Psyc 302.01 gates the route: a foreign degree must first be positively evaluated by a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (Psyc 302.01(b)), and only an APA-accredited doctoral program is deemed acceptable without further documentation (Psyc 302.01(c)) — CPA accreditation appears in the coursework rule, not there.

A non-APA program must meet nine minimum criteria, including at least 3 academic years of full-time graduate study and substantive courses in an in-person modality rather than predominantly videoconferencing (Psyc 302.01(d)).

The coursework rule recognizes APA- or CPA-accredited programs without further documentation (Psyc 302.02(a)).

Everyone else completes graduate study in residence — in-person presence, face-to-face instruction predominant, video-teleconferencing residencies not acceptable (Psyc 302.02(c)), at least one academic year full-time for part-time students (Psyc 302.02(d)), and at least 24 semester hours across nine areas with a minimum of 3 graduate semester hours each (Psyc 302.02(e)).

The two-year rule is explicit that the second year is post-degree, and it is measured from certification, not conferral.

Each year of supervised clinical experience must include not less than 1500 clock hours of psychology practice and be completed within not less than 12 and not more than 24 consecutive calendar months (Psyc 302.03(b)).

Nothing in the rules lets practicum stand in for supervised experience: Psyc 302.03(f) excludes hours spent in class work, practicum experience and other course-related experiences outright.

The first supervised year cannot even begin until the applicant has completed 3 academic years of full-time graduate training in psychology (Psyc 302.03(g)).

For a graduating student this means planning a full second year after the program certifies every degree requirement, with the clock starting at that certification even if the diploma arrives later (Psyc 302.05(a)(4)).

The first of the two years must be the internship.

Every applicant takes the EPPP, and OPLC must receive the results directly from ASPPB (Psyc 303.02(c)(3); Psyc 303.05(a)).

A passing score is a scaled score of 500 or greater (Psyc 303.05(d)).

An applicant does not have to finish the supervised years before sitting: OPLC can approve the exam once at least 200 hours of post-doctoral supervised experience are complete and the application is otherwise complete and acceptable (Psyc 303.05(b)).

After a second failure, re-examination is permitted only after coursework through a graduate psychology department, an APA-accredited professional school, an approved continuing-studies institution, or an EPPP preparation course (Psyc 303.05(h)).

New from September 30, 2026 is the Psyc 306 jurisprudence examination on RSA 329-B and Psyc 100 through Psyc 500 — open book, using the board's study guide, with a passing score of at least 80 percent and unlimited retakes (Psyc 306.01(d), (e)).

No EPPP Part 2 requirement appears in the rules read; ASPPB's integrated EPPP replaces both parts from fall 2027 (only version from April 1, 2028), and Psyc 303 had not been amended for it as read.

Supervisors are policed closely.

Each supervisor must be licensed as a psychologist in the state where the supervision takes place and have no dual relationship with the supervisee, such as a spouse, close relative or therapist (Psyc 302.03(c)).

Supervision must occur at the site where the applicant delivers services, provided by someone familiar with the applicant's work (Psyc 302.03(e)), and independent private practice is not acceptable supervised experience even under supervision (Psyc 302.03(h)).

The internship carries staff requirements of its own: a non-accredited program needs a designated staff psychologist licensed where the program operates, at least 2 staff psychologists supervising, at least 375 hours of the intern's program time in direct patient contact, and a minimum of 2 hours per week each of formal individual supervision and learning activities (Psyc 302.04(c)).

The postdoc year asks for less volume but real accountability: at least 50 total hours of face-to-face individual supervision, and a supervisor who assumes professional and legal responsibility for the applicant's activities, cases and training (Psyc 302.05(a)(2), (a)(3)).

The licensed definition is wide: the practice of psychology under RSA 329-B:2, VII runs from observation, description and evaluation through diagnosis, prevention and treatment, and the statute expressly includes delivery of any of those services by electronic or telephonic means, so telehealth sits inside the licensed definition.

Practicing without the licence carries a penalty: unlawful practice under RSA 329-B:17 is a class A misdemeanor for a natural person, and each violation is a separate offense.

The two school licences sit differently: their services are limited to educational settings, with a narrow exception for services outside school that relate to a student's school functioning and the licensee's school employment (RSA 329-B:15-a(V)).

On prescribing, the sources read record no prescriptive authority for New Hampshire psychologists.

New Hampshire joined PSYPACT through NH SB 232, which the PSYPACT Commission map, as read in September 2026, lists as enacted July 10, 2019, effective July 1, 2020: a member in effect.

A New Hampshire licensed psychologist can use the compact for telepsychology or for temporary in-person practice in other participating states, through ASPPB's E.Passport or Interjurisdictional Practice Certificate plus the matching PSYPACT authorization.

PSYPACT is doctoral-only, so neither school psychology title can use it.

A compact authorization is an addition to the New Hampshire licence, never a substitute for it.

There is no separate endorsement track: an applicant already licensed in another state submits the same application form, the same supporting documentation, including the essay questions, and the same fees as everyone else (Psyc 303.03(a)).

The shortcut is credential-based.

An applicant holding a current ASPPB Certificate of Professional Qualification, ABPP certification, or an active NRHSP credential submits the application with evidence of that credential, a current curriculum vitae, and verification of licensure from every state or jurisdiction where they are currently licensed (Psyc 303.03(b)).

Applicants who instead want temporary licensure are directed to Plc 305 for that process (Psyc 303.04(a)).

OPLC must approve or deny a completed application within 60 days (Psyc 303.02(k)).

Separately, a psychologist licensed and unrestricted in another state may practice in New Hampshire when deployed in an official emergency action by the state, the American Red Cross, the American Psychological Association's disaster response network, FEMA, or other entities the rule lists (Psyc 303.04(b)).

Each licensee completes 40 approved hours of continuing education during the license term.

At least 30 of the 40 must come from Category A, no more than 10 from Category B, and at least 6 of the 40 must be ethics hours from Category A taken in a live and interactive format (Psyc 402.02(b)-(d)).

The board audits 5% of licensed psychologists at random each year (Psyc 402.02(f)).

On top of CE, every licensee not on inactive status must complete 40 hours of collaboration during the licensing period: live and interactive participation, remote or in person, in small group meetings, supervision or consultation with another licensed psychologist, study groups, interactive conferences or similar activities (Psyc 403.01; Psyc 403.02).

One caveat: the board adopted replacement CE rules, Psyc 402.02 and Psyc 402.03, effective November 3, 2026, and the adopted text was not among the sources read, so confirm the current figures with the board before relying on them.

The internship and post-doctoral supervision rules were superseded by rulemaking #13845, effective March 5, 2024, and the school psychologist licensure rules, Psyc 305.03 and Psyc 305.04, by #14232, effective June 2, 2025.

RSA 329-B:15 was amended by Laws of 2025, ch. 161:23, effective September 13, 2025; the sources read did not isolate what that amendment changed, and the same chapter also repealed RSA 329-B:16.

The Psyc 306 jurisprudence examination became effective September 30, 2026.

The board also adopted replacement continuing-education rules, Psyc 402.02 and Psyc 402.03, effective November 3, 2026; the adopted text was not read.

One index note: older rules numbered Psy have expired, and the operative administrative rules are the Psyc chapters.

The telepass is a distinct licence in Psyc 304 for out-of-state psychologists who deliver telemedicine to New Hampshire residents.

It requires residence outside New Hampshire, an active license in good standing in another US or Canadian jurisdiction, and good standing in every jurisdiction where the applicant has ever held a license (Psyc 304.01(b)).

The initial licence is issued for 4 months pending required documents, expiring if they do not arrive, and once complete runs to a maximum of 24 months from original issuance (Psyc 304.06(a)-(d)).

Renewal requires an active home-state license in good standing, 20 hours of continuing education within the previous 24 months per Psyc 402, 3 additional hours of telemedicine-specific CE from the rule's listed topics, and 20 hours of collaboration per Psyc 403 (Psyc 304.08(d)).

One caveat before relying on this: Psyc 304 ties denial to meeting RSA 329-B:16 (Psyc 304.07(a)(1)), a statute repealed effective September 13, 2025, and the OPLC applications page read lists no telepass form — confirm with OPLC whether telepass licences are still issued.