Delaware Psychologist License by Exam Requirements: Hours, Exams & Step-by-Step Guide

Licensure as a psychologist in Delaware is governed by the Board of Examiners of Psychologists under 24 Del. C. Chapter 35 and the Board’s regulations in 24 Del. Admin. Code 3500. To obtain a psychologist license by examination (i.e., initial licensure, not reciprocity), you must meet statutory requirements in §3508 and more detailed Board rules on education, supervised experience, and examination.

Below is a structured walkthrough, emphasizing the hours and how the Board itself describes them.

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1. Statutory framework for “license by examination”

Under 24 Del. C. §3508(a), an applicant for licensure as a psychologist must provide evidence (verified by oath and satisfactory to the Board) that they have: (delcode.delaware.gov)

1. Received a qualifying doctoral degree

   • The degree must be “based on a program of studies which is psychological in content and specifically designed to train and prepare psychologists,” from an accredited institution whose graduate program states its purpose is training and preparation of psychologists.
   • The doctoral program must be accredited as a professional psychology program by APA or PCSAS, or be an equivalent program approved by the Board. (delcode.delaware.gov)

2. Successfully completed a predoctoral internship

   • The internship must comply with the Board’s rules and regulations (detailed in 24 Del. Admin. Code 3500-7.0 and summarized below). (delcode.delaware.gov)

3. Completed at least one year of supervised professional experience after the doctorate

   • The statute requires “at least 1 year of supervised professional experience in psychological work of a type satisfactory to the Board.” (delcode.delaware.gov)
   • The Board operationalizes this in regulation as a 1,500‑hour supervised postdoctoral experience, described in detail below. (law.cornell.edu)

4. Passed the EPPP (Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology)

   • You must “achieve the passing score” on the standardized EPPP developed by ASPPB (or its successor). (delcode.delaware.gov)

5. Be in good standing with respect to discipline and criminal history

   • You cannot have engaged in acts that would be grounds for discipline and must have no unresolved complaints in any jurisdiction where you are or were licensed. (delcode.delaware.gov)

In practical terms, the education and experience portions amount to 3,000 hours of supervised practice:

• 1,500 hours predoctoral internship, plus
• 1,500 hours postdoctoral supervised experience. (law.cornell.edu)

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2. Predoctoral internship requirements (1,500 hours)

The Board’s regulations describe the internship as “predoctoral internship supervision” required by doctoral programs in psychology. Key elements: (law.cornell.edu)

2.1 Amount and timing of work

• The internship must consist of “a minimum of 1,500 hours of actual work experience”.
• It must be completed in not less than 48 weeks and not more than 104 weeks (i.e., roughly 1–2 years). (law.cornell.edu)

2.2 How those hours must be distributed

The Board specifies both type of activity and proportion of time:

• At least 50% of the internship hours must be in clinical services.

  • The regulations give examples of clinical services as “treatment, consultation, assessment, and report writing.” (law.cornell.edu)

• At least 25% of the total internship time must be devoted to face‑to‑face direct patient or client contact.

  • “Face‑to‑face” is defined as either in‑person or live video conferencing in the current regulation. (law.cornell.edu)

• No more than 25% of the internship time may be allocated to research. (law.cornell.edu)

Taken together, this means the Board expects a clinically focused internship: at least half your 1,500 hours in direct service roles (treatment, assessment, consultation, report writing), with a substantial fraction (≥25%) literally in direct contact with clients.

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3. Supervised postdoctoral experience (1,500 hours)

After the doctorate (and internship), Delaware requires a structured postdoctoral period. This is where the statutory “at least 1 year of supervised professional experience” in §3508(a)(3) is fleshed out. (delcode.delaware.gov)

3.1 Amount and time frame

The regulation describes this as “supervised postdoctoral experience” and states:

• It “must consist of 1,500 hours of actual work experience under the supervision of a licensed psychologist.”
• The 1,500 hours must be completed in not less than one calendar year and not more than three calendar years. (law.cornell.edu)

So this is a structured, time‑limited training period following the doctoral degree.

3.2 Required type of hours (“direct service”)

Within those 1,500 hours:

• At least 25% of the 1,500 hours must be devoted to direct service in your area of academic training.
• The Board defines “direct service” as any activity that falls within the statutory definition of the “practice of psychology” or supervision of graduate students engaging in those activities. (law.cornell.edu)

Because Delaware’s definition of the practice of psychology is broad (it covers observation, evaluation, and modification of behavior; psychological testing and assessment; psychotherapy and counseling; diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders; psychoeducational evaluation and consultation, etc.), this direct‑service requirement encompasses essentially any bona fide clinical or psychological service work, as long as it is within your training area. (delcode.delaware.gov)

3.3 Supervision requirements during the postdoc

The Board is explicit about the supervision ratio and format:

• There must be at least one hour of face‑to‑face supervision for every 10 hours of clinical work. (law.cornell.edu)
• Group supervision is permitted in place of some individual supervision if both of the following are met:
  • No more than five postdoctoral applicants meet with the supervising psychologist at one time.
  • There are at least two hours of group supervision for each hour of individual supervision being replaced (i.e., 2:1 group‑to‑individual substitution). (law.cornell.edu)

Supervision itself must be face‑to‑face (again, either in person or live video) under the Board’s definition. (law.cornell.edu)

3.4 Purpose and structure

The regulations emphasize that postdoctoral supervision is not just employment; it is a formal educational experience:

• The purpose is “to train psychologists to practice at an independent level.”
• The experience “should be an organized educational and training program with explicit goals and a clear plan to meet those goals” and should include regular written evaluations. (law.cornell.edu)

3.5 Requirement to register as a psychological assistant (for DE‑based postdocs)

Because unlicensed practice of psychology is prohibited in Delaware, the Board further requires that:

• Anyone accruing supervised postdoctoral experience in Delaware must first obtain registration as a psychological assistant before commencing that supervised work. (law.cornell.edu)

The psychological‑assistant rules (24 Del. C. §3509 and 24 Del. Admin. Code 3500‑9.0) govern who may supervise you and the conditions of that supervision.

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4. Total supervised experience picture

Putting the above together:

• Predoctoral internship:

  • 1,500 hours of “actual work experience” over 48–104 weeks
  • ≥50% in clinical services (treatment, consultation, assessment, report writing)
  • ≥25% of total time in face‑to‑face direct client contact
  • ≤25% of time in research (law.cornell.edu)

• Postdoctoral supervised experience:

  • 1,500 hours of “actual work experience” over 1–3 calendar years
  • ≥25% of those hours in “direct service” (activities that constitute the practice of psychology or supervision of graduate students doing such activities)
  • Supervision at a minimum ratio of 1 hour face‑to‑face supervision per 10 hours of clinical work; limited substitution with group supervision allowed (law.cornell.edu)

Effectively, Delaware expects 3,000 total hours of supervised psychological work—1,500 internship hours and 1,500 postdoctoral hours—meeting these content and supervision criteria.

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5. Examination requirement (EPPP)

5.1 Passing the EPPP

Both statute and regulation require you to pass the EPPP:

• §3508(a)(4) requires that the applicant “achieved the passing score” on the EPPP. (delcode.delaware.gov)
• The regulations specify that the Board accepts the passing score recommended by ASPPB for the particular exam administration. (archive.regulations.delaware.gov)

5.2 Board approval to sit for the exam

If you have not yet passed the EPPP, Delaware requires you to:

1. Apply through DELPROS for licensure/exam approval (online portal).
2. Have the Board review your education and supervised experience documentation.
3. Once the Board finds you otherwise eligible, it approves you to sit for the EPPP through ASPPB. (dpr.delaware.gov)

If you fail the exam, Board and ASPPB policy currently permits up to four attempts in any 12‑month period, with ASPPB recommending about 90 days between attempts. (dpr.delaware.gov)

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6. Application steps for licensure by exam

While the online DELPROS interface handles the mechanics, the substantive content of your application is laid out in the Board’s “Procedures for Licensure” (Section 5.0). An initial licensure application must include: (archive.regulations.delaware.gov)

1. Academic credentials

   • Official transcripts showing completion of a doctoral program that meets §3508(a)(1) and the Board’s educational standards in 24 Del. Admin. Code 3500‑6.0 (including APA/PCSAS accreditation or Board‑approved equivalent). (regulations.justia.com)

2. Supervised experience documentation

   • Each supervisor (internship and postdoctoral) must complete a Supervisory Reference Form documenting your supervised experience. (archive.regulations.delaware.gov)

3. EPPP results

   • Proof that you have passed the EPPP with at least the ASPPB‑recommended passing score; or, if you have not yet taken it, you submit all other documents first, obtain Board approval, then supplement your application with your passing score once you pass. (archive.regulations.delaware.gov)

4. Disciplinary and character information

   • Verification that you have no past or pending disciplinary proceedings in any jurisdiction where you have been or are licensed. (archive.regulations.delaware.gov)
   • Criminal‑history background check and fingerprinting are required for license issuance under the Board’s general disciplinary and licensure provisions. (delcode.delaware.gov)

5. Timelines

   • Under the regulations, an application is not considered complete until all materials are received for Board review at a scheduled meeting.
   • You typically have a set period (historically 12–24 months) from initial submission to complete the application; current details are managed through DELPROS and Board policy. (archive.regulations.delaware.gov)

Once the Board confirms that you meet the educational, supervised‑experience, examination, and character requirements, it issues your psychologist license, after which you may practice independently in Delaware. (delcode.delaware.gov)

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7. Practical sequence summary

For someone pursuing licensure by exam in Delaware, the typical path looks like this:

1. Complete an APA‑ or PCSAS‑accredited (or Board‑approved equivalent) doctoral program in psychology that is explicitly designed to train and prepare psychologists. (delcode.delaware.gov)
2. Complete a predoctoral internship that:
   • Is at least 1,500 hours of actual work experience over 48–104 weeks,
   • Has ≥50% clinical services, ≥25% face‑to‑face client contact, and ≤25% research. (law.cornell.edu)
3. Obtain registration as a psychological assistant if you will accrue your postdoctoral hours in Delaware. (law.cornell.edu)
4. Complete 1,500 hours of supervised postdoctoral experience in 1–3 years, under a Delaware‑licensed psychologist, with:
   • ≥25% of those hours in direct service (activities within the practice of psychology),
   • At least 1 hour of face‑to‑face supervision per 10 hours of clinical work, with only limited group‑supervision substitution. (law.cornell.edu)
5. Apply for licensure through DELPROS, submitting:
   • Official transcripts,
   • Supervisory Reference Forms for internship and postdoc,
   • Disciplinary/character and background‑check information. (archive.regulations.delaware.gov)
6. Obtain Board approval to sit for the EPPP (if not already passed), then pass the exam with at least the ASPPB‑recommended score. (dpr.delaware.gov)
7. Receive Board approval and issuance of your psychologist license, at which point you may practice independently in Delaware. (delcode.delaware.gov)

This sequence, and in particular the 1,500‑hour predoctoral internship plus 1,500‑hour supervised postdoctoral experience with the specified clinical and supervision ratios, reflects the Board’s own terminology and structure for licensure by examination in Delaware.