Transfer Your Psychology License to Kentucky: Reciprocity & Endorsement (2026)

Last verified: 2026-08-07 · source: Kentucky Board of Examiners of Psychology (Department of Professional Licensing) ↗

Kentucky licenses out-of-state psychologists by endorsement rather than by any automatic exchange. The Kentucky Board of Examiners of Psychology (Department of Professional Licensing) reviews your credentials and accepts your existing EPPP passing score; budget $100 ($100 application review fee under 201 KAR 26:160 Section 1(1)(a); an Application for Licensure as a Psychologist by Reciprocity is likewise $100 (Section 6). Separate from this application fee: $100 for the jurisprudence and competency examinations, $50 per retake of either, and a $250 initial licensure fee for the first three-year period once the process is complete. The EPPP fee is waived for a candidate who already passed the EPPP in another state. All fees are nonrefundable.) and No processing-time estimate is published in KRS 319, in 201 KAR 26, or by the Board; applications pass through the online system's primary source verification and then a final board review. Null rather than a guess. for processing. Kentucky participates in PSYPACT, but that only covers telepsychology and up to 30 days a year of temporary in-person work — it does not license you in Kentucky, and a move here still runs through endorsement.

Moving to Kentucky from a specific state?

Pick your current state — the checker returns your exact pathway.

Run the Reciprocity Checker →

Verdict

PSYPACT member — multistate license honored

Be precise about what you are actually trying to do in Kentucky, because the two mechanisms answer different questions. If you are staying licensed and resident elsewhere and want to see Kentucky clients by telehealth, Kentucky's PSYPACT participation is the relevant route and you never touch the Kentucky Board of Examiners of Psychology (Department of Professional Licensing) — you work through ASPPB and the commission instead. If you are moving to Kentucky, or want an unrestricted Kentucky license for any other reason, the compact contributes nothing at all and the endorsement steps below are your path.

Kentucky runs two distinct out-of-state tracks. 201 KAR 26:180 ('by reciprocity') applies only where the Kentucky board has actually entered an agreement of reciprocity with the other jurisdiction's board; the Board publishes no list of those jurisdictions, so reciprocity_partners is left empty rather than guessed. 201 KAR 26:185 covers the ordinary case — an applicant licensed in a state that has no such agreement — and is the pathway most transferring psychologists use. Both demand five years of full-time practice, no disciplinary history, and passage of the Kentucky jurisprudence and competency examinations; neither re-tests the EPPP. Holders of the ASPPB CPQ, a National Register certificate, or ABPP board certification with five years of independent practice and no discipline are deemed to meet the reciprocity qualifications and are granted the license with the health service provider designation. Kentucky is a PSYPACT participating state under KRS 319.054, but PSYPACT grants only telepsychology (APIT) and temporary 30-day in-person (TAP) authority and never a Kentucky license.

Kentucky requirements at a glance

Out-of-state psychology license transfer requirements for Kentucky, verified 2026-08-07
Exam	EPPP passing score transfers (not retaken) — 201 KAR 26:185 requires a verified EPPP scaled score of 500 or greater and directs the Board to accept the applicant's previous national EPPP results if the original scores met the doctoral licensure criterion at the time, and 201 KAR 26:160 Section 3 waives the EPPP fee for a candidate who already passed elsewhere. Kentucky still requires two of its own examinations: a jurisprudence examination on Kentucky mental health law (80% to pass) and a competency examination on ethical principles and professional practice (100% to pass).
Additional requirements	Hold a current, valid license in good standing to practice psychology from a state, DC, a U.S. territory, or a Canadian province whose board is an ASPPB constituent member Document a minimum of five years of full-time practice of psychology (or the board-determined equivalent) with no discipline by any psychology licensure board Pass the Kentucky jurisprudence examination (80%) and the competency examination (100%) Submit three letters of reference — at least two from persons holding a doctorate in psychology — plus official sealed transcripts and a curriculum vitae demonstrating the five years of practice
Fees	$100 ($100 application review fee under 201 KAR 26:160 Section 1(1)(a); an Application for Licensure as a Psychologist by Reciprocity is likewise $100 (Section 6). Separate from this application fee: $100 for the jurisprudence and competency examinations, $50 per retake of either, and a $250 initial licensure fee for the first three-year period once the process is complete. The EPPP fee is waived for a candidate who already passed the EPPP in another state. All fees are nonrefundable.)
Processing time	No processing-time estimate is published in KRS 319, in 201 KAR 26, or by the Board; applications pass through the online system's primary source verification and then a final board review. Null rather than a guess.

Step by step

Confirm Kentucky's current requirements on the Kentucky Board of Examiners of Psychology (Department of Professional Licensing) website — rules change.
Submit the endorsement application to the Kentucky Board of Examiners of Psychology (Department of Professional Licensing) (application linked on this page).
Arrange license verification from your current state.
Hold a current, valid license in good standing to practice psychology from a state, DC, a U.S. territory, or a Canadian province whose board is an ASPPB constituent member.
Document a minimum of five years of full-time practice of psychology (or the board-determined equivalent) with no discipline by any psychology licensure board.
Pass the Kentucky jurisprudence examination (80%) and the competency examination (100%).
Submit three letters of reference — at least two from persons holding a doctorate in psychology — plus official sealed transcripts and a curriculum vitae demonstrating the five years of practice.
Pay the fees ($100 ($100 application review fee under 201 KAR 26:160 Section 1(1)(a); an Application for Licensure as a Psychologist by Reciprocity is likewise $100 (Section 6). Separate from this application fee: $100 for the jurisprudence and competency examinations, $50 per retake of either, and a $250 initial licensure fee for the first three-year period once the process is complete. The EPPP fee is waived for a candidate who already passed the EPPP in another state. All fees are nonrefundable.)) and allow No processing-time estimate is published in KRS 319, in 201 KAR 26, or by the Board; applications pass through the online system's primary source verification and then a final board review. Null rather than a guess..

Official links

Kentucky Board of Examiners of Psychology (Department of Professional Licensing) ↗Kentucky application ↗Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact ↗

Coming from a specific state?

Direction matters — these guides cover the exact move into Kentucky:

All 42 origin states

Frequently asked questions

Does my psychology license transfer to Kentucky?

Do I have to retake the EPPP to get licensed in Kentucky?

No. EPPP passing score transfers (not retaken) — 201 KAR 26:185 requires a verified EPPP scaled score of 500 or greater and directs the Board to accept the applicant's previous national EPPP results if the original scores met the doctoral licensure criterion at the time, and 201 KAR 26:160 Section 3 waives the EPPP fee for a candidate who already passed elsewhere. Kentucky still requires two of its own examinations: a jurisprudence examination on Kentucky mental health law (80% to pass) and a competency examination on ethical principles and professional practice (100% to pass)..

How much does it cost to get a Kentucky psychology license by endorsement?

$100 ($100 application review fee under 201 KAR 26:160 Section 1(1)(a); an Application for Licensure as a Psychologist by Reciprocity is likewise $100 (Section 6). Separate from this application fee: $100 for the jurisprudence and competency examinations, $50 per retake of either, and a $250 initial licensure fee for the first three-year period once the process is complete. The EPPP fee is waived for a candidate who already passed the EPPP in another state. All fees are nonrefundable.) ($100 application review fee under 201 KAR 26:160 Section 1(1)(a); an Application for Licensure as a Psychologist by Reciprocity is likewise $100 (Section 6). Separate from this application fee: $100 for the jurisprudence and competency examinations, $50 per retake of either, and a $250 initial licensure fee for the first three-year period once the process is complete. The EPPP fee is waived for a candidate who already passed the EPPP in another state. All fees are nonrefundable.).

How long does Kentucky take to process an endorsement application?

No processing-time estimate is published in KRS 319, in 201 KAR 26, or by the Board; applications pass through the online system's primary source verification and then a final board review. Null rather than a guess. — No processing-time estimate is published in KRS 319, in 201 KAR 26, or by the Board; applications pass through the online system's primary source verification and then a final board review. Null rather than a guess..

Is Kentucky a PSYPACT state?

Yes — Kentucky was participating as of 2026-08-07. That lets a psychologist licensed in another participating state provide telepsychology to Kentucky clients under an APIT authorization, and work in person in Kentucky for up to 30 days a year under a TAP. It does not license you in Kentucky: relocating still requires endorsement through the Kentucky Board of Examiners of Psychology (Department of Professional Licensing).

Can I practice in Kentucky using PSYPACT instead of getting licensed?

Only within the compact's limits, and only if you are not moving. Telepsychology into Kentucky is covered by APIT; in-person work is capped at 30 days per calendar year under a TAP. Beyond that — and for any relocation to Kentucky — you need a Kentucky license by endorsement.

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

How we verify · All sources · spot an error? [email protected]