Does Oklahoma Need Another Mental Health License? Oklahoma Psychological Association Says "Yes!"
Does Oklahoma need another licensed mental health practitioner? Recently the Oklahoma Psychological Association released a white paper authored by Caleb Lack, Ph.D. and Scott Secor Ph.D., which advocates for the addition of a master’s-level licensed psychologist.
The consideration of a master’s-level licensed psychologist, the white paper contends, is in response to the state’s severe mental health workforce shortage. Currently, Oklahoma ranks last in the nation for the supply of psychologists, meeting only 46% of the identified need (Healthy Minds Policy Initiative, 2023) With just 600 practicing psychologists compared to over 13,000 masters-level licensed mental health providers, such as Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFTs), and Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs), the demand for psychological services continues to outstrip supply.
Historically, the American Psychological Association (APA) has opposed master’s-level licensure, citing concerns about competition within the field. The reality in Oklahoma, the OPA white paper contends, is that the competition already exists—the ratio of other mental health professionals to psychologists is 21:1 (OPA MLP White Paper, 2024)
In a recorded message played to the OPA town hall held on January 31, 2025 and February 2, 2025, Dr. Scott Secor called the growth of master’s-level licenses (LPC, LMFTs, LADCs, and LCSWs) an “existential threat” to field of psychology, noting that psychologists have been increasingly “side lined” in Oklahoma.
In addition, he commented that while many master’s-level licensed clinicians are effective, others are “trained just enough to be dangerous” and that master’s level practitioners need to be brought back “into the fold of psychology.”
Currently, there are twenty states that have master’s-level licensed psychologists. The licensed practitioners go by a variety of different names, dependent upon the state. https://www.apa.org/monitor/2025/01/trends-masters-level-professionals. The scope of practice also varies, with some licenses requiring continual oversight by a doctorate level psychologist, much like a nurse practitioner or physicians assistant. Other licensed master’s-level psychologists can practice independently after supervision. Both scenarios are being explored by the Oklahoma Psychological Association (OPA town hall meeting February 2, 2025)
Advocates argue that a master’s-level licensure in psychology would strengthen the field of psychology and ensure that more practitioners are trained in evidence-based psychological interventions under rigorous ethical and professional standards. Currently, Oklahoma’s mental health graduate programs are not required to be accredited by a national professional body, such as CACREP ( OPA town hall meeting February 2, 2025)
There was no mention in either of the first two OPA virtual town hall meetings of OPA advocating for the end of other Oklahoma licenses, LPCs, LMFTs, LADCs or LCSWs nor an effort to require individuals holding those licenses be overseen by a doctorate level psychologist.
Last, advocates hope that the master’s-level licensed psychologist would become involved in the OPA and APA membership and professional advocacy, giving life to the associations. The role that master’s-level licensed psychologists could have in those associations is unclear. While both the APA and the OPA have Associate memberships available to master’s level practitioners, associate members are not allowed to vote in the APA or OPA. There are currently no plans to allow associate members to vote in the organizations (town hall meeting )
The Oklahoma Psychological Association will hold its last town hall meeting on March 26, 2025 at 12 PM CST. The town halls are open to association members and the general public.
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