California Licensure Timeline - Too Late?

[eudaimonPsyD]

Hello all,

TLDR: in the state of California, how long after collecting SPE hours does a person have before the hours “expire” and they’re no longer able to take EPPP/get licensed?

Hoping y’all might be able to help. I’ve tried Google, searching the threads here, the California BOP website, and even tried calling the BOP although I haven’t had a big enough window of time in the last few months to get through being on hold to speak to someone live. Maybe I’m not using the right search terms to find the information I’m looking for, so I’m turning to some trusted folk here to see if anyone knows the answer or can point me to where I can find the information.

Due to a myriad of excuses and explanations, I’ve not yet taken the final steps toward licensure. I graduated in 2015 from a terrible schooling experience, and was completely burnt out and dealing with some personal health issues. I completed an informal postdoc from 2017-2018 and collected the necessary SPE hours for licensure. After a series of relocations, additional health issues, financial issues that took me away from studying for EPPP and into working in a non-clinical position to pay the bills, and then getting pregnant/having a baby, I find myself here in 2021 wondering if it’s too late for me.

I was recently offered a competitively paid non-clinical position that I’m excited about, as it allows me to work remotely and be home with my young baby, as well as be in a position where I can make real change and impact. Having read through some of the threads here, it was suggested that even if someone’s end goal is not to practice clinically it is still advantageous to secure the license and keep it active in case something changes in the future, which definitely makes sense to me. I know there is a deadline with the state of California as to how long one can go between completing hours and sitting for licensure, but I can’t seem to find that information anywhere.

If anyone can help I’d be very appreciative. This has been such a long and difficult journey, and I know it’s silly to give up at the last few hoops. And at least if it does end up being too late, I can make peace with it and move on.

Thanks for any feedback that may come my way.

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[PsychPhDone]

I recommend you email the board instead of calling.

 

[Mercury in Taurus]

Hello all,

TLDR: in the state of California, how long after collecting SPE hours does a person have before the hours “expire” and they’re no longer able to take EPPP/get licensed?

Hoping y’all might be able to help. I’ve tried Google, searching the threads here, the California BOP website, and even tried calling the BOP although I haven’t had a big enough window of time in the last few months to get through being on hold to speak to someone live. Maybe I’m not using the right search terms to find the information I’m looking for, so I’m turning to some trusted folk here to see if anyone knows the answer or can point me to where I can find the information.

Due to a myriad of excuses and explanations, I’ve not yet taken the final steps toward licensure. I graduated in 2015 from a terrible schooling experience, and was completely burnt out and dealing with some personal health issues. I completed an informal postdoc from 2017-2018 and collected the necessary SPE hours for licensure. After a series of relocations, additional health issues, financial issues that took me away from studying for EPPP and into working in a non-clinical position to pay the bills, and then getting pregnant/having a baby, I find myself here in 2021 wondering if it’s too late for me.

I was recently offered a competitively paid non-clinical position that I’m excited about, as it allows me to work remotely and be home with my young baby, as well as be in a position where I can make real change and impact. Having read through some of the threads here, it was suggested that even if someone’s end goal is not to practice clinically it is still advantageous to secure the license and keep it active in case something changes in the future, which definitely makes sense to me. I know there is a deadline with the state of California as to how long one can go between completing hours and sitting for licensure, but I can’t seem to find that information anywhere.

If anyone can help I’d be very appreciative. This has been such a long and difficult journey, and I know it’s silly to give up at the last few hoops. And at least if it does end up being too late, I can make peace with it and move on.

Thanks for any feedback that may come my way.

Unless things have changed, the APA gives us a 10-year window to obtain licensure counting from our graduation. Have you tried to email the board? If there is any state specified time constraint, that might be spelled out in the state laws and regulations. You should be able to view or download the most recently updated CA laws and regulations for psychology from Laws and Regulations - California Board of Psychology.
The CA jurisprudence exam will require you to be knowledge about the CA laws and regulations for psychology. So it will be a good investment of your time to read these tedious texts even if you are not going to be able to locate the exact information directly answers your question. Good luck with EPPP and everything!

 

[Spydra]

Is it just me or does a 10-year window seem quite long? I get that the APA wants there to be some flexibility in case of personal circumstances, multiple postdoc years, etc but 10 still seems like a lot.

 

[Mercury in Taurus]

Is it just me or does a 10-year window seem quite long? I get that the APA wants there to be some flexibility in case of personal circumstances, multiple postdoc years, etc but 10 still seems like a lot.

I have known someone who could not pass EPPP with multiple tries and eventually missed the 10-year window. However, this individual was able to keep a job where the employer had someone else signs off every therapy note. I have also heard similar stories about practitioners who were employed in state or federal sittings where they were permitted 2-4 years to pass EPPP during employment and eventually aged out. I don't personally or directly know these individuals to verify the accuracy of the stories. It could be some sort of motivational strategy that people use to recite and emphasize the importance of passing EPPP as early as possible while the information is still fresh. However, life happens.