Introduction

Since its introduction, the EPPP has been known as the exam required for psychology licensure across the United States and Canada. But in recent years, the landscape of licensure has expanded with the introduction of EPPP Part 2: Skills—a second exam designed to assess real-world professional competencies beyond foundational knowledge.

This shift has created a lot of questions for candidates:
Do I need to take Part 2?
How is it different from Part 1?
Is it harder?
Does every state require it?
What exactly does a skills exam look like?

These are important questions because your entire licensure timeline may depend on the requirements of your state or province. Understanding the differences between Part 1 and Part 2 helps you plan your preparation, estimate your timeline, and set accurate expectations for what the profession now considers essential for independent practice.

This guide explains everything you need to know about the differences between EPPP Part 1 and Part 2—from format to scoring to state requirements—and gives you a complete picture of how each exam fits into your path toward psychology licensure.

👉 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 Purpose of EPPP Part 1 vs. Part 2

The first major difference lies in the purpose of each exam.

EPPP Part 1: Knowledge

Part 1 is the traditional exam most candidates know.
Its goal is simple:
Assess whether you have the foundational scientific and theoretical knowledge required for independent psychological practice.

It evaluates whether you understand:

• Psychological theories
  
• Cognitive and developmental models
  
• Biological bases of behavior
  
• Assessment and diagnosis
  
• Research methods
  
• Ethics
  
• Treatment models
  
• Professional standards
  

In other words, Part 1 is about what you KNOW.

EPPP Part 2: Skills

Part 2 goes beyond knowledge and evaluates what you can DO with what you know.

Its purpose is to measure real-world competencies such as:

• Clinical decision-making
  
• Ethical problem-solving
  
• Communication
  
• Assessment interpretation
  
• Treatment planning
  
• Crisis response
  
• Cultural competence
  
• Professional behavior
  
• Supervisory judgment
  

Part 2 was created because modern licensing boards want candidates to demonstrate applied skills—not just academic knowledge.

This exam focuses on how you think, how you respond, and how you solve clinical problems in realistic scenarios.

2. Format and Structure: The Two Exams Are Completely Different

One of the biggest differences between Part 1 and Part 2 is the test format. These exams do not look or feel similar.

EPPP Part 1 Format

• Multiple-choice
  
• 225 total questions
  
• 175 scored, 50 unscored pretest items
  
• 4 hours and 15 minutes
  
• Administered at Pearson VUE
  
• One-best-answer style
  
• Heavy emphasis on reading comprehension
  
• Linear exam (not adaptive)
  

Part 1 is a traditional standardized knowledge exam. It’s predictable in structure, testing domain-based content.

EPPP Part 2 Format

EPPP Part 2 uses a simulation-based design, making it more similar to exams used in medicine, nursing, and other applied professions.

Its format includes:

1. Video-based vignettes

Actors portray clients, supervisors, coworkers, or crisis situations.

2. Audio recordings

Simulated sessions, phone calls, or ethical dilemmas you must interpret.

3. Interactive tasks

Selecting interventions, responses, or decisions in real time.

4. Complex branching scenarios

Your choices may alter what information you see next.

5. Applied multiple-choice questions

Still present, but focusing on skills rather than factual recall.

6. Timed modules

You are guided step-by-step through scenarios, simulating the pace of real practice.

Part 2 feels more like being tested on clinical reasoning, not content memorization.

3. Skills Assessed in Part 2

EPPP Part 2 evaluates six broad competency areas. These reflect the real-world skills psychologists use daily.

1. Assessment and Intervention

This domain focuses on:

• Selecting appropriate assessment tools
  
• Interpreting assessment data
  
• Making differential diagnoses
  
• Choosing treatment approaches
  
• Tracking client progress
  

Scenarios may involve a video of a client describing symptoms or a mock report with inconsistencies you need to identify.

 

2. Ethical and Legal Standards

Part 2 heavily emphasizes ethical decision-making. You may be asked to:

• Handle a confidentiality dilemma
  
• Respond to potential harm
  
• Make choices around dual relationships
  
• Navigate legal reporting obligations
  

Ethics is woven into every competency area because it’s central to practice.

3. Professional Communication

You may need to demonstrate:

• Clear communication with clients
  
• Conflict resolution with a colleague
  
• Coordination with a medical provider
  
• Consultation with a supervisor
  
• Navigating boundaries
  

Good communication is a core expectation of licensed professionals.

4. Cultural Competence

Scenarios will test:

• Awareness of cultural dynamics
  
• Bias-free decision-making
  
• Adaptation of interventions to cultural context
  
• Recognizing systemic issues
  
• Responding to cultural identity themes
  

This aligns with modern ethical standards requiring psychologists to practice with cultural humility and awareness.

5. Risk Management

You may face scenarios involving:

• Suicidal ideation
  
• Threats of harm
  
• Client instability
  
• Substance use
  
• Safety planning
  
• Documentation requirements
  

These scenarios evaluate how well you can manage crises and maintain client safety.

6. Professional Behavior

Part 2 assesses how psychologists conduct themselves, including:

• Time management
  
• Organization
  
• Response to feedback
  
• Professional responsibility
  
• Conflict navigation
  

These are essential for competent practice.

4. Who Is Required to Take Part 2?

Not all jurisdictions require Part 2 yet. Requirements are rapidly evolving.

States That Require Only Part 1

Most states still require only Part 1 (Knowledge).

These jurisdictions accept the traditional EPPP structure and have not yet adopted Part 2.

States That Require Part 1 + Part 2

A limited and growing number of jurisdictions have adopted EPPP Part 2 as a mandatory component of licensure. This list changes regularly as more boards evaluate the exam.

Some boards require:

• Part 1 → before supervised practice
  
• Part 2 → after supervision or before full licensure
  
• Both → before independent practice
  

Always check your board’s most current rules.

States Considering Adoption

Many states are currently in review phases or piloting the exam. Even if Part 2 is optional today, it may become required in future years.

What This Means for You

If you plan to move states later, it’s smart to:

• Track requirements in multiple jurisdictions
  
• Understand which states require one exam vs. both
  
• Stay updated through your board
  

The profession is moving toward competency-based evaluation.

5. Cost Differences Between Part 1 and Part 2

The fee structure differs significantly.

EPPP Part 1 Costs

• $600 exam fee
  
• $79.56 Pearson VUE fee
  
• Board application fee
  
• Background check fees (variable)
  

EPPP Part 2 Costs

Part 2 is more expensive because of the interactive, simulation-based design.

Costs may include:

• Higher exam fee (varies by jurisdiction)
  
• Additional administrative or technology fees
  
• Board review fees (for post-exam credentialing)
  

Some candidates report spending:

• $600–$1,000+ for Part 2
  
• Plus costs for study materials
  

Part 2 is an investment, just like Part 1.

6. Which Exam Is Harder?

This is one of the most common questions, and the answer depends on your strengths.

EPPP Part 1 Is Harder If:

• You struggle with memorization
  
• You dislike theoretical concepts
  
• You have trouble with multiple-choice reasoning
  
• You have difficulty managing long exams
  
• You lack strong domain knowledge
  

Part 1 is broad, dense, and knowledge-heavy.

EPPP Part 2 Is Harder If:

• You dislike applied reasoning
  
• You struggle with ambiguity
  
• You’re uncomfortable with clinical decision-making
  
• You dislike video or interactive tasks
  
• You need more clinical experience
  

Part 2 is realistic and fast-paced. It requires confidence in your clinical judgment.

The Real Answer: They Test Different Forms of Intelligence

Part 1 tests your academic knowledge.
Part 2 tests your professional competence.

Both are important. Both matter.
 Neither is “easy,” but both are passable with strategy and preparation.

7. How to Prepare for Part 1 vs. Part 2

Because the exams are different, your preparation must reflect the exam style.

How to Prepare for EPPP Part 1 (Knowledge)

Focus on:

• Study guides
  
• Domain summaries
  
• Full-length practice exams
  
• Flashcards
  
• Ethics review
  
• Timed multiple-choice practice
  
• Reinforcing weak domains
  

Your brain needs to learn the rhythms and logic of EPPP-style questions.

How to Prepare for EPPP Part 2 (Skills)

Focus on:

• Case scenarios
  
• Clinical reasoning practice
  
• Applied ethics
  
• Crisis simulations
  
• Communication strategies
  
• Decision-making exercises
  
• Cultural competence training
  

You must learn to respond to real-time problems—not recall facts.

8. How Each Exam Fits Into Your Licensure Timeline

The sequence of when you take each exam depends on your jurisdiction.

Common Pathways

Pathway A (Most Common)

1. Take Part 1 before or during postdoc
   
2. Take Part 2 after postdoc
   
3. Complete jurisprudence exam
   
4. Achieve full licensure
   

Pathway B (Early Entry Jurisdictions)

1. Take Part 1 during graduate school
   
2. Complete internship
   
3. Complete postdoc
   
4. Take Part 2
   
5. Become licensed
   

Pathway C (Part-2-Required Jurisdictions)

1. Take Part 1
   
2. Take Part 2
   
3. Complete other board requirements
   
4. Get licensed
   

Your board defines the order—not ASPPB.

9. Why the Two-Part System Exists

The psychology profession is evolving. The public expects providers to be knowledgeable, ethical, culturally competent, and skilled in real-world decision-making.

A single knowledge exam cannot fully capture modern professional competency.

The two-part model:

• Aligns psychology with other healthcare professions
  
• Ensures new psychologists demonstrate both knowledge and skills
  
• Improves public protection
  
• Supports standardization across jurisdictions
  
• Reflects the complexity of clinical work
  

This structure represents the future of licensure.

10. Should You Be Nervous About Part 2?

Many candidates worry about EPPP Part 2 because it’s new and unfamiliar. But here’s the truth:

You already practice these skills every day.

You’ve sat with clients, handled ethical dilemmas, navigated complex emotions, applied treatment models, made judgment calls, and communicated with teams.

Part 2 simply asks you to demonstrate the skills you’ve been building for years.

With practice, exposure to scenarios, and steady preparation, Part 2 becomes manageable—and even interesting. Many candidates report that it feels more “natural” than Part 1.

You’re not starting from zero.
 You’re refining what you already know how to do.

👉 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

Understanding the differences between EPPP Part 1 (Knowledge) and EPPP Part 2 (Skills) helps you plan your licensure journey with clarity and confidence.

Part 1 tests your academic grounding.
Part 2 tests your applied competence.

Together, they ensure that psychologists entering independent practice are fully prepared—both intellectually and professionally—to provide safe, ethical, and effective care.

No matter which exam you face, remember:
You’ve trained for this.
You’ve prepared for this.
And you are absolutely capable of passing both parts with the right strategy.

You’re stepping into the next chapter of your career, and you’re right on track.