Psychology in Arkansas

Updated August 17, 2022 · 1 Min Read

Considering becoming a psychologist in Arkansas? Learn about psychologist licensing regulations and typical Arkansas psychologist salaries.

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Arkansas psychologist salaries are considerably above the state median. In addition, many areas in the state have an unmet need for mental health professionals.

Approximately 760 psychologists currently work in Arkansas, with 420 clinical and consulting psychologists, 250 school psychologists, and 90 psychologists working in other settings.

This guide explores psychologist licensing in Arkansas requirements, typical Arkansas psychologist salary ranges, and the demand for mental health professionals in the state.

Psychologist Salaries in Arkansas
Job Title Lowest 10% Median Annual Salary Highest 10%
Clinical and counseling psychologists $46,910 $62,540 $128,070
School psychologists $47,580 $62,070 $155,880
Psychologists, all other $26,230 $95,200 $119,770

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

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Psychologist Licensing in Arkansas

The psychology licensing in Arkansas authority is the Arkansas Department of Health Psychology Board. The board establishes licensing requirements, processes applications, and oversees professional conduct and ethics.

Arkansas does not have full license reciprocity, but it does offer some license mobility for military members or spouses, members of the National Register who have practiced for five years or more, Certificate for Professional Qualifications-holders who have practiced for five years or longer, or licensed psychologists with more than 20 years of experience. Applicants for Arkansas psychologist license mobility must have a record free of substantiated complaints.

The board processes license applications during its meetings. There are no exceptions to this policy, so if the board declares your application incomplete, it cannot be processed until the next meeting.

License Requirements

Psychologist licensing in Arkansas requirements are similar to those of most other states, requiring a doctoral degree from an accredited program and supervised experience. The requirements include, but are not limited to:

  • A doctoral degree from an accredited program or one that meets equivalent standards
  • Confirmation of graduation and degree
  • References from three licensed practicing psychologists
  • Two years of internship, including one post-doctoral year
  • At least one year of full-time supervised professional post-doctoral practice (cannot consist solely of activities, such as teaching, research, or related activities)
  • Passing the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP)
  • A satisfactory criminal background check without any disqualifying convictions

Demand for Psychology in Arkansas

As in most states, the demand for mental health and behavioral health services in Arkansas is higher than the supply, especially in designated mental health professional shortage areas.

Arkansas has 51 mental health professional shortage areas, with a population of approximately 1.2 million living in the state. To fill this gap, Arkansas would need another 39 mental health professionals. Mental Health America identified Arkansas as 40th among all states in terms of access to care.

Rural populations are the least likely to have access to mental health services, as are lower-income groups. Only 77% of the population has access to broadband internet, which limits access to virtual mental health services or mental health information, and 15.2% of the population lives in poverty. Working as a psychologist in Arkansas would help to fill a vital need.

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