Introduction

When you're preparing for the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP), two big questions always come up early in the process:

“How much does it actually cost?”
“What do I have to do to register?”

These questions matter because planning for the EPPP isn’t just about studying—it’s also about budgeting, organizing documents, tracking deadlines, coordinating with your board, and making sure you follow every step correctly. The EPPP is a professional licensing exam, and with that comes a structured registration process and several mandatory fees.

This guide breaks down every cost involved, every step of registering, and what to expect from the moment you apply to your board to the moment you sit down at the Pearson VUE testing center. You’ll also see natural places where you can link to your study guide, practice questions, and any additional prep materials.

By the end of this post, you’ll know exactly what to pay, what to prepare, what to expect, and how to move through the registration process with confidence.

👉 Check out our EPPP Practice Questions + EPPP Study Guide — updated for 2025, featuring exam-style practice aligned with the EPPP blueprint, plus specialized coverage of assessment, intervention, ethics, and core psychological foundations.

1. The Full Cost of Taking the EPPP

The EPPP is an investment, and while fees can vary slightly by jurisdiction, most candidates pay between $700 and $1,000 in total.

Here is a breakdown of all potential costs you’ll encounter:

1. EPPP Examination Fee: $600

This is the main cost and is paid directly to the ASPPB (Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards) when you register for the exam. The fee is standard across all jurisdictions.

This fee gives you:

• Access to the exam
  
• One attempt
  
• Official scoring
  
• Reporting to your jurisdiction
  

If you need to retake the exam, you must pay the $600 fee again each time.

2. Pearson VUE Appointment Fee: $79.56

Pearson VUE is the official testing partner for the EPPP. Once ASPPB authorizes you, you’ll schedule your appointment through Pearson VUE and pay this additional fee.

This covers:

• Your testing seat
  
• Proctoring
  
• Secure testing environment
  
• On-site administration
  

If you reschedule or cancel within certain time windows, Pearson may charge additional fees.

3. State or Provincial Application Fee: $100–$500

Before you’re even allowed to register for the EPPP, you have to apply to your state or provincial psychology board. Each board charges its own application fee. This fee varies dramatically:

• Some boards charge around $150
  
• Others charge $200–$300
  
• A few charge $400+
  

This fee typically covers:

• Review of your educational credentials
  
• Review of supervised hours
  
• Verification of your doctoral program
  
• Application processing
  

4. Background Check Fees: $35–$75

Some jurisdictions require a background check before approving you for the exam. This may include fingerprinting, FBI screening, or state-level background checks.

Not all candidates will need this, but it’s common.

5. Post-Doctoral Supervisory Fees (State Dependent)

These are not EPPP-specific fees but are part of the licensure pathway. Some boards require payment to register supervision hours or enroll in a tracking system.

These fees can range from:

• $50
  
• $100
  
• To several hundred dollars depending on the system used
  

6. Additional Costs to Consider

Beyond official exam fees, candidates typically invest in:

• Study materials
  
• Practice exams
  
• Workshops or prep courses
  
• Travel to testing centers
  
• Parking or transportation costs
  

Study resources can range from:

• $50 for basic materials
  
• $150–$300 for high-quality guides
  
• $500–$1,000+ for intensive full prep programs

These optional costs can be just as important as required fees, especially if you want to maximize your chance of passing on your first attempt.

2. What You’re Really Paying For

Understanding the fees is one thing—understanding why you’re paying them helps you see the bigger picture.

Here’s what your payments cover:

Professional exam development

Psychometricians, psychologists, and testing experts create exam questions that are fair, valid, and updated regularly.

Secure testing administration

Pearson VUE centers maintain high-security standards similar to professional and medical board exams.

Licensure credentialing

State and provincial boards invest time in verifying your academic and professional readiness.

Ethical and legal oversight

Your fees help support the governance systems that protect the public and maintain the integrity of the profession.

In other words, you’re paying for a rigorous system designed to ensure that everyone entering the field meets the same high standard.

3. The Registration Process: Step-by-Step

Registering for the EPPP involves multiple stages, and missing any step can delay your test date.

Here is the full EPPP registration process, from start to finish:

Step 1: Meet Your Jurisdiction’s Requirements

Before you can even think about scheduling the EPPP, you must first meet your psychology board’s eligibility requirements.

These may include:

• Completing your doctoral program
  
• Completing required supervised hours
  
• Completing internship
  
• Submitting transcripts
  
• Passing a background check
  
• Submitting supervision verification forms
  

Each board is different. Some boards allow you to take the EPPP before internship, while others require post-doctoral hours first.

Always check your jurisdiction’s rules before planning.

Step 2: Apply to Your State or Provincial Psychology Board

This is the formal application where you request authorization to sit for the EPPP.

Your application will typically ask for:

• Personal information
  
• Education history
  
• Internship details
  
• Supervisory information
  
• Required documentation
  
• Application fee
  

Your board will review your eligibility and provide an Authorization to Test (ATT) if approved.

This step can take:

• A few weeks
  
• Several months
  
• Depending on your board’s processing speed
  

Planning early helps prevent delays.

Step 3: Receive Your Authorization to Test (ATT)

Once you are approved, your board will notify ASPPB, who will then send you an email with:

• Your ATT
  
• Your candidate login information
  
• Instructions for payment
  
• Instructions for scheduling
  

This email is your green light to register for the exam.

Some boards give you a time window (e.g., “You must test within 90 days.”) Others give you up to a year. Pay attention to deadlines.

Step 4: Create an ASPPB Account and Pay the $600 Exam Fee

You’ll log into your account on the ASPPB portal where you will:

• Pay the $600 EPPP fee
  
• Review exam policies
  
• Confirm your personal information
  

Once payment is confirmed, your account updates and you will gain access to Pearson VUE scheduling.

Step 5: Schedule Your Exam Through Pearson VUE

Next, you visit the Pearson VUE scheduling system where you will:

• Choose your test center
  
• Choose your test date
  
• Choose your test time
  
• Pay the $79.56 administration fee
  

Appointments can fill quickly, especially in major cities or during peak months.

Try to schedule early so you get your ideal date and time.

Step 6: Prepare for the Exam

Once your appointment is confirmed, your focus shifts fully to studying.

This is when you'll want to use:

• Study guides
  
• Practice questions
  
• Full-length mock exams
  
• Domain summaries
  
• Flashcards
  
• Ethics review materials

A typical preparation timeline is 8–12 weeks, but this varies depending on your background, work schedule, and confidence level.

Step 7: Test Day at Pearson VUE

On your test day, arrive at least 30 minutes early.

Expect:

• ID verification
  
• Palm vein scan or photograph
  
• Secure locker for belongings
  
• Being escorted to your workstation
  

You’ll have:

• 4 hours and 15 minutes
  
• 225 questions
  
• No special accommodations unless approved beforehand
  

Bring only acceptable identification. Everything else—including watches, phones, wallets, jackets—will be stored in a locker.

Step 8: Receive Your Score

Some Pearson centers provide you with a printed score report immediately after the exam. Others send it electronically within a short timeframe.

Your score report will show:

• Your scaled score (200–800)
  
• Pass/fail result
  

It will also be automatically forwarded to your board.

If you pass, you move on to the next steps of licensure.
If you do not pass, you can retake the exam after the required waiting period.

4. Additional Costs for Retaking the EPPP

If you need to retake the EPPP, each attempt includes:

• $600 exam fee
  
• $79.56 Pearson fee
  
• Rescheduling or cancellation fees (if applicable)
  

There is no limit on how many times you can retake the EPPP, but many boards enforce:

• A mandatory waiting period (often 60 days)
  
• A limit on attempts per year
  
• A cap on total lifetime attempts
  

Boards may also require:

• Additional supervision
  
• A remedial study plan
  
• A formal retake request
  

If you are preparing for a retake, structure your study plan around your weakest domain areas.

5. How to Budget for the EPPP Without Stress

The EPPP is a financial commitment, but there are ways to make it manageable.

Here are smart budgeting strategies:

1. Spread Out the Fees Over Time

You don’t have to pay everything at once. Each fee comes at a different stage.

2. Avoid Unnecessary Cancellations

Rescheduling or canceling Pearson appointments can trigger extra fees.

3. Invest in Good Study Materials Upfront

Failing the exam is more expensive than buying a strong prep resource.

4. Keep Track of Deadlines

Missing your ATT window means reapplying—and paying again.

5. Set a Dedicated Savings Plan

Even $20 a week adds up quickly and reduces financial stress.

One of the best ways to reduce total costs is to pass the EPPP on your first attempt, which is why investing in quality preparation is worth it.

6. How Much Should You Invest in Study Materials?

Study materials vary widely in price and quality. The goal is not to buy everything—it’s to choose what will actually help you pass.

The most important resources include:

1. A comprehensive study guide

This helps you understand the eight domains clearly.

2. Practice questions

These train your brain in EPPP-style reasoning.

3. Full-length timed practice exams

These build the stamina needed for a 4+ hour test.

4. Domain summaries or flashcards

Good for memory reinforcement.

5. Ethics and law supplements

Ethics is embedded across multiple domains.

You don’t need to overspend—you just need the right mix of tools.

7. How Long the Registration Process Takes

Registration can take anywhere from:

• 2–4 weeks on the fast end
  
• 6–12 weeks for slower boards
  
• 3–6 months if documentation issues arise
  

The most common delays include:

• Missing transcripts
  
• Supervisor forms not submitted
  
• Background check delays
  
• High board workload
  
• Incorrect paperwork
  

Start early, double-check instructions, and follow up regularly.

👉 Check out our EPPP Practice Questions + EPPP Study Guide — updated for 2025, featuring exam-style practice aligned with the EPPP blueprint, plus specialized coverage of assessment, intervention, ethics, and core psychological foundations.

Final Thoughts

The EPPP fee structure and registration process may feel overwhelming at first, but once you break it down, it becomes manageable and predictable. You now know exactly:

• What the exam costs
  
• What fees are required
  
• How to register step-by-step
  
• How long it takes
  
• How to avoid delays
  
• How to budget effectively
  
• How to prepare for your exam date
  

Planning ahead makes the entire process smoother—and reduces stress dramatically.
Once you understand the budget and the registration steps, you can shift your full energy toward preparing for the actual exam.

You're on the right track, and with the right strategy and tools behind you, you’ll be ready to pass the EPPP and move one step closer to independent practice.

You've got this.