Alaska PSY-EX Requirements & Hours Tracker

Alaska regulates psychologist licensure through statute (AS 08.86) and regulation (12 AAC 60), administered by the Alaska Board of Psychologist and Psychological Associate Examiners. The PSY‑EX (“Psychologist License by Examination”) is the pathway for those who complete their training and supervised hours in or under Alaska’s rules.

Below is a structured outline of the current requirements and how the Board describes the hours and experience.

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1. Core statutory requirements for a psychologist license by examination

Under AS 08.86.130(a), the Board must issue a psychologist license to a person who: (commerce.alaska.gov)

1. Holds an earned doctorate degree from an academic institution whose program of graduate study in psychology meets Board criteria, in:

   • clinical psychology,
   • counseling psychology, or
   • education in a specialization the Board considers equivalent.

2. “Has not engaged in dishonorable conduct related to the practice of counseling or psychometry.” (commerce.alaska.gov)

3. “Has one year of post doctoral supervised experience approved by the board.” (commerce.alaska.gov)

4. Takes and passes the objective examinations developed or approved by the Board (the national EPPP plus the Alaska State Law & Ethics Examination). (commerce.alaska.gov)

You may not start counting Alaska postdoctoral supervised hours until the Board has approved your supervision plan and issued a temporary license. (commerce.alaska.gov)

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2. Educational and pre‑doctoral internship requirements

2.1 Doctoral program content

Regulation 12 AAC 60.083 sets detailed criteria for an acceptable doctoral program, including specific coursework in: (commerce.alaska.gov)

• methodology and history (history and systems, measurement, research methods, statistics),
• foundations in psychology (biological, cognitive‑affective, social bases of behavior, individual differences, ethics),
• a supervised practicum or laboratory experience, and
• a pre‑doctoral internship (described below).

2.2 Pre‑doctoral internship hours and structure

The Board requires a pre‑doctoral internship that meets 12 AAC 60.083(a)(4). The regulation and the Board’s “Proof of Pre‑Doctoral Internship” form together specify: (commerce.alaska.gov)

• The internship “must consist of at least 1,500 hours and must be completed within 24 months.”
• It must be a planned, programmed sequence of training, with:
  • a clearly designated supervising psychologist responsible for the integrity and quality of the program,
  • at least two psychologists available as supervisors, and
  • a written statement or brochure describing goals, content, and expectations.
• Direct client contact requirement: at least 25% of the intern’s time (minimum 375 hours) must be in direct client contact providing assessment and intervention services.
• Supervision requirement: at least
  • two hours per week of regularly scheduled, formal, face‑to‑face individual supervision focused on the direct psychological services rendered, and
  • two hours per week of other learning activities (e.g., case conferences, seminars on applied issues, co‑therapy with a staff person, group supervision).

This internship may be met either by an APA‑approved pre‑doctoral internship or by a non‑APA internship that can be documented as meeting the above criteria. (commerce.alaska.gov)

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3. Postdoctoral supervised experience: hours, structure, and definitions

The “one year of post doctoral supervised experience” required by AS 08.86.130(a)(3) is fleshed out by 12 AAC 60.080 (“Criteria for evaluation of experience”). (commerce.alaska.gov)

3.1 How Alaska defines “a year” of supervised experience

For both psychologists and psychological associates, 12 AAC 60.080(a)(2) states that:

• “A year of experience must consist of not less than 1,500 clock hours completed in not less than 10 months and not more than 24 consecutive calendar months; during weeks the applicant works, the applicant must obtain at least 20 hours, but not more than 40 hours, of supervised experience per week.” (commerce.alaska.gov)

Applied to the psychologist license, this means:

• You must complete at least 1,500 clock hours of postdoctoral supervised experience.
• These 1,500 hours must occur over 10–24 consecutive months, with:
  • 20–40 hours per week of supervised experience during weeks that you are working.

3.2 Required proportion of “direct services” and face‑to‑face contact

The Board is explicit about how much of this experience must be service‑oriented and face‑to‑face:

• 12 AAC 60.080(a)(9) (as restated on the supervised experience form) reads:
  “At least 50 percent of the supervised experience must be direct services; at least 50 percent of the direct service must be face‑to‑face contact with patients.” (commerce.alaska.gov)

Given 1,500 minimum hours for the year:

• At least half (≥ 50%) of the 1,500 hours must be “direct services.”
• At least half (≥ 50%) of those direct service hours must be in face‑to‑face contact with patients.

What counts as “direct services”

12 AAC 60.990(a)(9) defines “direct services” as: (commerce.alaska.gov)

activities performed by a psychologist or psychological associate that are directly related to providing psychological services to a patient, including individual and family psychotherapy, psychological testing, report writing, studying test results, case consultations, and reviewing published works relating to the patient’s needs.

So, for your supervised year, activities like therapy sessions, testing, scoring and interpreting tests, case write‑ups, case conferences focused on your clients, and clinically relevant literature review all count toward the direct service portion, as long as they are tied to actual patients.

3.3 Required supervision schedule during the postdoctoral year

Under 12 AAC 60.080(a)(3)(B), during “the year of post doctoral supervised experience”: (commerce.alaska.gov)

• Contact between the supervisor and the applicant must be for a minimum of one hour per week of individual face‑to‑face supervision dealing with direct services provided by the applicant.

The regulations add that: (commerce.alaska.gov)

• At least 80% of the supervised experience must be with a licensed psychologist, a diplomate of the American Board of Professional Psychology, or another doctorate‑level psychologist qualified by the Board to supervise.
• Up to 20% of supervised experience may be supervised by certain other licensed professionals (psychiatrist, licensed psychological associate, licensed clinical social worker, licensed marital and family therapist, or licensed professional counselor) whose specialty matches your field of training.

The Board also requires your supervisor to verify that, during supervision, you received instruction in ethical issues and demonstrated adequate understanding and application of ethical principles. (commerce.alaska.gov)

3.4 Activities that do not count

The Board is explicit that:

• “Unsupervised independent private practice, including unsupervised practicums, clerkships, and externships, will not be considered as acceptable supervised professional experience.” (commerce.alaska.gov)

All hours must be tied to Board‑approved supervision under an approved plan and temporary license.

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4. Temporary license and supervision plan

Before you can start counting postdoctoral hours in Alaska, 12 AAC 60.020 and the application instructions require: (commerce.alaska.gov)

1. Application for temporary license to practice under supervision, including:

   • the same base application materials required for licensure by examination (fees, transcripts, vita, references), and
   • “the applicant’s plan for obtaining the supervised experience required in AS 08.86.130(a)(3).”

2. Board approval of the supervised practice plan (#08‑4113e).

3. Issuance of a temporary license to practice psychology under supervision.

The regulation states:

• “An applicant may not begin post‑doctoral degree … supervised experience in the state until the board approves the applicant’s plan for obtaining supervised experience and issues a temporary license under this section.” (commerce.alaska.gov)

The temporary license is valid for two years and can be extended only if you demonstrate that an extension is necessary to complete the required supervised experience. (commerce.alaska.gov)

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5. Examination requirements

5.1 National exam – EPPP

Alaska uses the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP) as the national exam. The Board requires that: (commerce.alaska.gov)

• Applicants for licensure by examination must provide verification of passing the EPPP (which may be taken in another jurisdiction and have scores transferred).
• Passing scores for psychologist applicants are the ASPPB‑recommended passing score, currently:
  • 500 or higher on the computerized EPPP, or
  • 70% or higher on the non‑computerized version (12 AAC 60.140(a)).

5.2 State Law & Ethics Examination

In addition to the EPPP, applicants must pass Alaska’s State Law and Ethics Examination: (commerce.alaska.gov)

• You must score at least 70% on this written state exam (12 AAC 60.140(c)). (commerce.alaska.gov)
• The exam is offered four times per year and is separate from the EPPP.
• A complete application must usually be received at least 45 days before the Board meeting at which you seek approval to sit for the state exam.

Programs under the Division are administered in accordance with the ADA, and a separate application is available if examination accommodations are needed. (commerce.alaska.gov)

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6. Application components for the PSY‑EX license

Under 12 AAC 60.010(a) and the Board’s current application packet (#08‑4113, revised February 13, 2025), a psychologist license by examination application must include: (commerce.alaska.gov)

1. Application form (#08‑4113, pages 1–4), signed and submitted to the Division.
2. Fees (subject to change; as of the current instructions):
   • Non‑refundable application fee: $200
   • Temporary license fee: $150
   • License fee: $500 (may be paid after requirements are met)
   • State examination (Law & Ethics) fee: $50
   • Total currently listed: $900
3. Official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate schools attended, sent directly to the Division.
4. Five letters of reference (#08‑4113c):
   • Three from licensed psychologists, APA members, or ABPP diplomates, and
   • Two from other persons not related to you.
5. Doctoral Course Work Check Sheet (#08‑4113d) documenting coursework against the regulatory requirements.
6. Supervised Practice Plan (#08‑4113e), which must be approved before supervision begins.
7. Vita covering all dates and places of residency from high school graduation onward.
8. Statement of Supervised Psychological Experience (#08‑4113f), submitted after completion of the postdoctoral year, documenting:
   • hours per week of face‑to‑face supervision,
   • total supervised psychological experience hours,
   • whether the 20–40 hours/week and direct service requirements were met, and
   • that ethics instruction and competence were addressed. (commerce.alaska.gov)
9. Proof of Internship (#08‑4113g) documenting a pre‑doctoral internship meeting 12 AAC 60.083(a)(4), unless the internship was APA‑accredited, in which case proof of APA‑approved completion is enough. (commerce.alaska.gov)

The application also includes professional fitness questions (discipline, criminal history, impairment, etc.) that must be fully disclosed and explained with documentation when applicable. (commerce.alaska.gov)

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7. Sequence of steps to PSY‑EX licensure in Alaska

Putting the requirements together, the typical sequence looks like this:

1. Complete a qualifying doctoral program in psychology

   • In clinical, counseling, or educational psychology (or an equivalent specialization) that meets 12 AAC 60.082 and 60.083. (commerce.alaska.gov)

2. Complete a qualifying pre‑doctoral internship

   • At least 1,500 hours within 24 months, with at least 375 hours of direct client contact, and the required pattern of supervision and learning activities. (commerce.alaska.gov)

3. Submit an application for licensure by examination (PSY‑EX)

   • Include all required forms, fees, transcripts, references, coursework checklist, and vita. (commerce.alaska.gov)

4. Obtain Board approval of your supervised practice plan and a temporary license

   • File the supervised practice plan and temporary license request.
   • Do not begin postdoctoral supervised experience in Alaska until the temporary license is issued. (commerce.alaska.gov)

5. Complete at least one year (≥ 1,500 hours) of postdoctoral supervised experience

   • 10–24 consecutive months, 20–40 supervised hours per week.
   • At least 50% of hours in direct services and at least 50% of direct service hours face‑to‑face with patients.
   • At least one hour per week of individual face‑to‑face supervision focused on your direct services. (commerce.alaska.gov)

6. Have your supervisor submit the Statement of Supervised Psychological Experience

   • On the Board’s form, verifying total hours, supervision schedule, direct service proportion, and satisfactory ethical conduct. (commerce.alaska.gov)

7. Pass the EPPP and the Alaska State Law & Ethics Examination

   • Meet or exceed the ASPPB‑recommended passing score for psychologists on the EPPP.
   • Score at least 70% on the Alaska Law & Ethics exam. (commerce.alaska.gov)

8. Board review and issuance of the full psychologist license by examination

   • Once the Board has proof of your supervised experience and exam passage, and your application is otherwise complete and acceptable, it may approve issuance of a psychologist license by examination (PSY‑EX) under AS 08.86.130 and 12 AAC 60.010(d). (commerce.alaska.gov)

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8. Definitions that shape how your hours are counted

To interpret the hour requirements correctly, several regulatory definitions are important:

• “Direct services” – defined in 12 AAC 60.990(a)(9) as client‑focused clinical activities (psychotherapy, testing, report writing, test‑result study, case consultation, literature review tied to a patient’s needs). (commerce.alaska.gov)

• “Learning activities” – defined in 12 AAC 60.990(a)(10) as supervisory‑approved professional development activities such as individual readings, reading groups, consultation groups, short courses, Internet‑based education, discussion groups, workshops, seminars, and symposia. These are specifically required in the internship and in the first post‑master’s supervised year for psychological associates, and may also be included in psychologist training. (commerce.alaska.gov)

• “Appropriate supervision” – supervision by a licensed psychologist responsible for ensuring that the type and quality of services you perform are consistent with your training and experience, and consistent with ethics standards in 12 AAC 60.185 or an alternate supervision plan approved under 12 AAC 60.080(c). (commerce.alaska.gov)

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All citations above reflect the Alaska Statutes and Alaska Administrative Code as compiled in the Board’s July 1, 2025 “Psychologists and Psychological Associates – Statutes and Regulations” booklet and the Psychologist License by Examination application packet revised February 13, 2025. Requirements and fees can change, so it is prudent to cross‑check the current forms and regulations on the Board’s website immediately before applying.