What is the EPPP?

The EPPP (Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology) is one of the requirements for the licensure of psychologists in the United States and Canada. It is produced by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB) with the assistance of the Professional Examination Service (PES). An Information for Candidates handbook that describes the development and content of the EPPP and procedures for applying for and scheduling the exam is available on the ASPPB website (www.asppb.net).

ASPPB Homepage

Click Here to Download the ASPPB Handbook

What is the format of the EPPP?

The EPPP is administered by Pearson VUE. The exam consists of 225 multiple-choice questions that each have four answers, only one of which is correct. You will have 4 hours and 15 minutes to complete the exam. Only 175 of the 225 items are scored; the remaining 50 items are experimental questions that are being assessed for future use and do not count toward your final score. The experimental questions are not identified, however, so you must answer every question with the same effort.

How is the EPPP Scored and What is the Cutoff Score?

Raw scores on the EPPP are converted to scaled scores ranging from 200 to 800. The ASPPB recommends a passing score of 500 as the cutoff for independent practice, but each state and province establishes its own cutoff and you should check with your Board to determine the cutoff in your jurisdiction. Note that the raw score equivalent of a scaled score of 500 varies somewhat from exam to exam because each item is weighted in terms of difficulty level, and the exact number of items you will have to answer correctly depends on the difficulty level of the items in the version of the EPPP that you take. On average, however, a scaled score of 500 is equivalent to a raw score of 123 or 70% correct.

What content areas are covered by the EPPP?

The ASPPB categorizes the knowledge base addressed by the EPPP in terms of eight content areas. As of February 15, 2018, these areas and the percent of the 175 scored items that address each area are:

• Assessment and Diagnosis (16%)
• Biological Bases of Behavior (10%)
• Cognitive-Affective Bases of Behavior (13%)
• Ethical/Legal/Professional Issues (16%)
• Growth and Lifespan Development (12%)
• Research Methods and Statistics (7%)
• Social and Cultural Bases of Behavior (11%)
• Treatment, Intervention, and Prevention and Supervision (15%)

Our study materials cover all eight content areas but organize the areas in terms of 11 content domains that more closely resemble traditional academic subject areas (Abnormal Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Lifespan Development, etc.).

How do I register for the exam?

The ASPPB has transitioned to a new Web-based application system for the EPPP. Once you receive an email from ASPPB notifying you that you can register, you can do so at www.asppb.net. If you do not receive your eligibility email, contact your state or provincial licensing board to advise them that you need to be authorized.

Looking for more information about studying for the EPPP? Click here to learn how to study for the EPPP.

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