Become a Psychologist in Alaska - AK

By an allied health world contributing writer
Published: January, 7 2010

If you’re emotionally healthy and mature, compassionate, have perseverance, deal effectively with people and have excellent communication skills, you have what it takes to become a psychologist in Alaska. Psychologists in Alaska counsel and provide therapy for persons with psychological problems (i.e. depression, schizophrenia), just as a psychiatrist does. However, in Alaska, unlike a psychiatrist, psychologists cannot write prescriptions or perform medical procedures (i.e. electroshock). Instead, they rely on psychological tests, sessions and analysis of behavior.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2006 approximately 166,000 psychologists worked in the U.S, with 34-26 percent higher than other professions being self-employed. Although self-employment in your own practice usually requires a doctoral degree. Fifty percent of psychologists work in educational institutions (as counselors, researchers, faculty and administrators), mental health care offices, medical facilities and organizations (hospitals, clinics, substance treatment centers) Although the psychologist isn’t a medical doctor, Alaska requires psychologists to earn a doctorate degree. The majority of psychologists work in the field of clinical psychology. This specialty especially intertwines the physical and mental aspects of treatment since they often treat the mental state of physical rehabilitation (i.e. stroke, debilitating physical injury) patients.

How to Become a Psychologist in Alaska

The State of Alaska Board of Psychologists and Psychological Associate Examiners approves all Psychology Examination applications. Obtaining a psychology license requires:

• a doctorate from an accredited university
• a post-graduate one-year internship (see How to Become section) approved by the board;
• a minimum score of 70% on the National Examination of Professional Psychology (EPPP);
• and passing the State Law and Ethic Exam.

Once the board approves the application, it issues a temporary license and the applicant begins work under the supervision of a licensed psychologist. Upon completion of supervision, the applicant submits the Statement of Supervised Psychological Experience to the board. After acceptance, the board schedules the applicant for the next State Law & Ethics Examination.

Worth noting for those interested in knowing how to become a psychologist in Alaska is the fact that Alaska requires successful completion of the National Examination Professional Psychology (EPPP), as well as the State Law and Ethics Examination. Applicants take the two tests separately. The EPPP can be completed at any U.S. Prometric Test Center (including U.S. territories) or Canadian Prometric location. The State Law & Ethics Examination is administered only in Alaska. Both exams occur four times per year. In all states, licensing boards consider the EPPP as the final step in achieving the title of psychologist.

Unless you complete all of the above requirements, you may not operate under the psychologist title in Alaska. The one exception exists for governmental psychologists and those employed in educational facilities. Possessing NCSP status (Nationally Certified School Psychologist) could shorten the licensing process for Alaska based psychologists. The Association of School Psychologists (NASP) administers the NCSP program for school psychologists.

The Board's website, listed below, lists all of Alaska's regulations and statues, including reasons for denying licensing (i.e. ethical violations, misrepresentations)

Board of Psychologist and Psychological Associate Examiners
P.O. Box 110806
Juneau, Alaska 99811-0806
Telephone: (907) 465-5470
E-mail: license@alaska.gov
Website: www.commerce.state.ak.us/occ

In addition to advanced degrees, continuing education aids psychologists in the advancement quest. Alaska requires 40 hours of continuing education every two years and accepts programs accredited by the APA. Psychologists can complete continuing education courses at the University of Fairbanks or organizations like CE Now (www.ce-now.com, a continuing education institution for mental health practitioners.