The path to licensure for academic psychologists: How tough is the road?

What obstacles are faced by academic psychologists seeking professional licensure? Data presented here from all U.S. jurisdictions suggests that licensure requirements vary greatly across states and in some areas may be quite difficult to fulfill within the context of an academic position. Results of a survey of training directors of clinical and counseling doctoral programs accredited by the American Psychological Association indicated that, although licensure is expected of most faculty, a number of challenges may impede this goal. Programmatic efforts to facilitate licensure of new faculty, as well as implications of our findings, possible remedies, and recommendations to new faculty, are presented.