Watson Lake, Prescott
Tips About the Application Process

Tips About the Application Process

  • DO NOT attempt to fill out an application on a mobile device!  The applications are not compatible. Use a desktop or laptop computer.
  • Internet Explorer and Edge are browsers that are not compatible with the online applications. Please use Chrome, Firefox, etc. or if on a Mac, Safari may work, but it is inconsistent. Some applicants have reported that using Chrome on a Mac was not successful, but using Safari was. 
  • A doctoral degree in an applied psychology is required for licensure as an independent psychologist in Arizona. Please see the detailed education and training requirements in A.R.S. § 32-2071. Regardless of your experience, if you do not hold a doctorate in an applied psychology, you do not qualify to be licensed by this Board. 
  • If you need mentoring regarding the application process and are a member of the Arizona Psychological Association (AzPA) please contact AzPA for assistance.
  • Board staff strives to provide helpful information, but due to lack of time, is unable to answer individual questions that are already answered on the Board's website. Please see the Table of Contents on the Psychologist Applications page to review resources provided by the Board relative to requirements for approval to sit for the EPPP and/or licensure. 
  • All applicants using the Exam and/or Licensure application must meet ALL the requirements in  A.R.S. § 32-2071. 
  • It is the applicant's responsibility to assess that their doctoral program and supervised experiences meet Arizona's requirements. Board staff cannot review your transcript and advise regarding this. Please see the FAQ regarding doctoral programs to assist you in making this assessment. Don't assume that the Board will be able to make an exception for you regarding a statute or rule requirement. Licensing Boards can do only that which is authorized in law. If the exception is not prescribed in law, the Board cannot do it. It is the applicant's responsibility to make this assessment before sending in an application and paying the non-refundable application fee.  
  • Online applications are now available! Go to the Applicant Portal to get started.  Do not give your login information to anyone else. The applicant is responsible for completing the application. 
  • PLEASE READ EVERYTHING. Do NOT just scan and assume. If you don't understand something, contact a professional for assistance, such as an Arizona attorney familiar with regulatory law, or an Arizona psychological association such as AzPA or SAPA.  Applicants for licensure are responsible for reviewing the statutes and rules that prescribe the various application options and for understanding the requirements of that for which they are applying. These sources of authority are available on the Board's website. 
  • It is the applicant's responsibility to complete the application materials with accuracy and thoroughness. Use the first page of the application as your checklist relative to the supporting documentation needed to administratively complete your application.  Any false or misleading information in, or in connection with, an application may be cause for rejection or Denial of that application, which is reportable to the National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB). Historically, when the Board has learned that a licensee omitted information that would have impacted the Board's decision on their application, the Board has taken disciplinary action such as probation, suspension or revocation of the license. Disciplinary actions are reported to the NPDB and follow you for the rest of your professional life.  
  • Please note, if you answer "yes" to any  question in the Declarations section, appropriate documentation is required. Please see the PDF, "Appropriate Documentation for 'Yes' Answers" for a list of documents the Board requires for each declaration question that may be found in the psychologist applications. Your application cannot be considered administratively complete without the appropriate documentation. 
  • Board staff cannot advise what type of application for you to make, what answers you should give, or provide an interpretation of the statutes or rules. If you need advice, please contact a colleague, mentor, supervisor, or other experienced psychologist for this type of assistance. You may also wish to contact an Arizona association dedicated to supporting and advancing the psychologist profession in Arizona. Links to several associations have been provided on the Related Links page of the Board's website. Consult an Arizona attorney familiar with regulatory law for an interpretation of the statutes and rules. 
  • Before submitting your application, save a copy for your own records. You can select "Print to PDF" as your printer and save a PDF copy. 
  • Only applications completed and submitted online are accepted. If you have a PDF version in process, please use it as a reference for filling out the online application. 
  • The application fee is assessed at the end of the online application. Your application is considered submitted when the application fee has been paid. If you believe you qualify for a fee waiver, DO NOT SUBMIT your application!  Complete the Application for Fee Waiver if you believe you qualify for this. 
  • Time frame from receipt of application to approval averages 3-4 months and is entirely dependent on how quickly verifications are received. For example, if you wish to be licensed in July, please send your application in February or March. 
  • Applicants may request verifications or other documentation sent to the Board in advance of their application. Verifications, transcripts, and any other documents received in the Board's office (email to [email protected] is preferred) are retained for 12 months and are matched to the application once the application is received.
  • Please note, National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB) self-queries and license verifications are valid for 6 months only.  If your application is not administratively complete six months after receipt of the above, a new NPDB self-query and/or new license verifications will be needed.  At the same time, some Boards may take up to two months to send license verifications to this Board. Please consider timing your requests for these materials accordingly.
  • Verifications for supervised experience hours must be submitted by the verifier (or verifier's staff) to [email protected].  
  • License verifications and official transcripts may be emailed to [email protected]. 
  • Allow up to 30 days for staff to complete the initial intake of your application and email you a notice of incomplete application (or administratively complete application if it is complete).  
  • A.A.C. R4-26-201 requires that an application be placed on an agenda if it is administratively complete 18 days prior to the next scheduled board meeting. This also means that an application that is not administratively complete cannot be placed on an agenda. "Administrative completeness" means that the application and fee payment were received and all required verifications and documentation have been received and processed by Board staff.  Please be aware that staff has up to 100 applications open in various stages of completeness at any given time, and applications and documentation are processed in the order they are received.  If any item has not been received, you will receive a notice of incomplete application and your application will be placed on the next available agenda AFTER the needed documentation is received. 
  • Application updates are self-serve after the initial notice of deficiency has been emailed to the applicant by Board staff.  See the instructions in your incomplete notice regarding how to check on the status of your application. 

 

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