Psychology License from California to Louisiana: Does It Transfer? (2026)

Last verified: 2026-08-07 · source: Louisiana State Board of Examiners of Psychologists (LSBEP) ↗

A psychology license transfers from California to Louisiana by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the Louisiana State Board of Examiners of Psychologists (LSBEP), verify your California license, and meet Louisiana's endorsement requirements. EPPP passing score transfers (not retaken) — under the Welcome Home Act (La. R.S. 37:52) LSBEP relies on the examination/education standards the other state already imposed, and the separate board rule route (LAC 46:LXIII.201) accepts an ASPPB CPQ or ABPP diplomate in place of re-examination; either way the Louisiana Jurisprudence Examination must be passed before a license is issued.

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Verdict

Licensure by endorsement

Neither California nor Louisiana is a participating PSYPACT state, so the compact is irrelevant in both directions and this is a straightforward endorsement move. The Louisiana State Board of Examiners of Psychologists (LSBEP) verifies your California license, reviews your doctoral degree and supervised experience, accepts your existing EPPP passing score rather than re-testing you, and applies its own jurisprudence and background requirements. Nothing about holding an California license speeds up or slows down Louisiana's standard out-of-state process.

What changes, California → Louisiana

Side-by-side: California vs Louisiana (Psychology (licensed psychologist)), verified 2026-08-07
	California (current)	Louisiana (destination)
PSYPACT status	Licensure by endorsement	Licensure by endorsement
Application fee	$236 ($236 psychologist initial application fee (2024 fee schedule, the current schedule published by the Board). Separately + $127 for the CPLEE application and + $231 for initial licensure; out-of-state fingerprint hard card processing is $233)	$200 (Application fee $200, non-refundable (LAC 46:LXIII.601 and the board's endorsement instructions). Additional: $75 non-refundable Louisiana Jurisprudence Examination fee, plus criminal-background-check costs. The $250 oral examination in the fee schedule applies to the standard licensure route; §201.B only permits the board to require a meeting with a reciprocity applicant.)
Processing time	4–6 weeks (Board states processing takes approximately 1.5 months (4-6 weeks) for applications, subsequent documents/correspondence and requested deficiency documents. Because the application, the CPLEE request and the request for initial licensure are each processed separately at that pace, total time from filing to a California license is considerably longer)	~9 weeks (The Welcome Home Act (La. R.S. 37:55) requires a written decision within 60 days of a completed application (~9 weeks). LSBEP acknowledges receipt in 5-7 business days, and completed applications are docketed on a consent agenda for approval at the next regularly scheduled Board meeting. No minimum is published.)
Licensing authority	California Board of Psychology (Department of Consumer Affairs)	Louisiana State Board of Examiners of Psychologists (LSBEP)

The destination column is what you must satisfy — Louisiana sets the rules for this move.

Step by step

Confirm Louisiana's current requirements on the Louisiana State Board of Examiners of Psychologists (LSBEP) website (linked below) — rules change.
Submit the endorsement application to the Louisiana State Board of Examiners of Psychologists (LSBEP) (application linked below).
Arrange license verification from your current state.
Hold a current, valid psychologist license in another U.S. jurisdiction, in good standing, for at least one year.
Establish Louisiana residency (Louisiana driver's license, voter registration card, homestead exemption, or documented in-state employment with 6-month follow-up).
Have license verification sent directly to LSBEP from every jurisdiction where you hold or have ever held a professional license.
Pass the Louisiana Jurisprudence Examination.
Complete a criminal background check; LSBEP also queries the ASPPB Disciplinary Data System and the National Practitioner Data Bank.
Have no disciplinary action or investigation pending in any other state.
Pay the fees ($200 (Application fee $200, non-refundable (LAC 46:LXIII.601 and the board's endorsement instructions). Additional: $75 non-refundable Louisiana Jurisprudence Examination fee, plus criminal-background-check costs. The $250 oral examination in the fee schedule applies to the standard licensure route; §201.B only permits the board to require a meeting with a reciprocity applicant.)) and allow ~9 weeks (The Welcome Home Act (La. R.S. 37:55) requires a written decision within 60 days of a completed application (~9 weeks). LSBEP acknowledges receipt in 5-7 business days, and completed applications are docketed on a consent agenda for approval at the next regularly scheduled Board meeting. No minimum is published.).

Official links

Louisiana State Board of Examiners of Psychologists (LSBEP) ↗Louisiana application ↗

Frequently asked questions

Does Louisiana accept a California psychology license?

Do I retake the EPPP moving from California to Louisiana?

No — the EPPP is passed once and your score is verified rather than retaken. EPPP passing score transfers (not retaken) — under the Welcome Home Act (La. R.S. 37:52) LSBEP relies on the examination/education standards the other state already imposed, and the separate board rule route (LAC 46:LXIII.201) accepts an ASPPB CPQ or ABPP diplomate in place of re-examination; either way the Louisiana Jurisprudence Examination must be passed before a license is issued.

What does the move cost?

$200 (Application fee $200, non-refundable (LAC 46:LXIII.601 and the board's endorsement instructions). Additional: $75 non-refundable Louisiana Jurisprudence Examination fee, plus criminal-background-check costs. The $250 oral examination in the fee schedule applies to the standard licensure route; §201.B only permits the board to require a meeting with a reciprocity applicant.) (Application fee $200, non-refundable (LAC 46:LXIII.601 and the board's endorsement instructions). Additional: $75 non-refundable Louisiana Jurisprudence Examination fee, plus criminal-background-check costs. The $250 oral examination in the fee schedule applies to the standard licensure route; §201.B only permits the board to require a meeting with a reciprocity applicant.).

How long will it take?

~9 weeks (The Welcome Home Act (La. R.S. 37:55) requires a written decision within 60 days of a completed application (~9 weeks). LSBEP acknowledges receipt in 5-7 business days, and completed applications are docketed on a consent agenda for approval at the next regularly scheduled Board meeting. No minimum is published.) — The Welcome Home Act (La. R.S. 37:55) requires a written decision within 60 days of a completed application (~9 weeks). LSBEP acknowledges receipt in 5-7 business days, and completed applications are docketed on a consent agenda for approval at the next regularly scheduled Board meeting. No minimum is published..

Sources

Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-08-07.

Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor · verified against primary sources 2026-08-07

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