Navigating the EPPP: Reflections from Early Career Psychologists
For students transitioning into their early professional careers, preparing for the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP) can be a particularly anxiety-provoking milestone. The breadth of content and the pressure surrounding the exam can create stress, leading many early career professionals to feel uncertain about their readiness. To provide perspective and guidance, we are pleased to feature two early career psychologists: Hemy Choi, Ph.D., who graduated in 2024 and successfully completed the EPPP in 2025, and Peggy Tull, Ph.D., who graduated in 2023 and successfully completed the EPPP in 2024. Both generously share their experiences, offering reflections and strategies to support other early professionals navigating this challenging process.
Finding Strength in Community and Persistence
Hemy Choi, Ph.D.
“As I walk out, a warm breeze hits me, and I hear the words, “I passed,” tumble out of my mouth. I hear my wife gasp on the other side of the phone as she scrambles to pick me up from the testing center. I ended the call, and launched myself into her arms as the stress of studying for six months sobbed its way out of me.
The Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP) was the most difficult academic milestone I needed to complete. If someone asked me today, “what is one thing you would like to never do again?”, I would say, “the EPPP!” This exam required such a wide breadth of knowledge; I am still shocked this chapter is truly closed.
I gave myself ample time since I worked a full-time staff position at a university counseling center and tend to read slowly. I studied with two wonderful co-workers, and we met multiple times a week. It helped keep spirits high by either seeing each others’ progress or collectively dreaming about passing the EPPP. Kind mentors and past classmates provided me with their notes along with frequent encouragements and check-ins, and my wife regularly quizzed me.
By month two, I consistently studied every day, taking off a day or two when I needed a break. The in-person 100 -question practice exam helped to increase exposure to the testing center I scheduled to take the EPPP. I placed study materials around my apartment, and took notecards to work to review between client sessions. Around four months in, I created a more specific study plan with the remaining topics I needed to learn, and I began scheduling the rest of my practice exams for each Saturday morning.
Finally, I took off work for the final week of studying. I stepped into the last phase of intensive practice exams paired with creating powerpoints for concepts I continued to get wrong. Looking back, the only thing I would change is using teaching as a study method earlier in my process. Other folks shared the benefit of listening to EPPP based podcasts, more intensively studying for three to four months as opposed to six months to increase retention, or studying more on their own. Each person taking the EPPP can have a unique process, and I hope you can be gentle with yourself as you figure out what works best for you.
Facing Anxiety with Flexibility and Self-Compassion
Peggy Tull, Ph.D.
“Throughout graduate school, when someone would bring up the EPPP, I would usually tune out. The very idea of this exam made me feel so stressed that I went to the classic not-actually-helpful way to deal with anxiety: avoidance. To be fair, there were enough other things to worry about (dissertation, internship, laundry) that there was always something else I could focus on and still be productive. When the EPPP became really the only thing I had left to focus on, I still delayed a bit, originally telling myself I’d start in October, then December, then February… finally, I did what I often encourage clients to do—look for the very first step and do that, and only that.
Even though it was not that long ago, I have trouble remembering what my actual first step was. Did I make my account first, or pay for a study program? I honestly cannot remember, but I know whatever my first step(s), I didn’t take another one for a month. I was fortunate that I wasn’t really under pressure to have my exam passed any time soon, so I let myself have the time I needed to mentally prepare.
I ended up taking about three and a half months to study, if you don’t count my do-nothing month. I set up an Excel sheet that was like how I organized goals in the past, with weekly and daily goals for each month, adjusting as needed. I repeatedly got the advice that you should study in the way you have always studied best. Since I have always learned best by teaching, that meant that my lovely, patient wife got to hear a lot about what I was reading and studying. We had recently gotten into hiking, and I would be climbing up a hill, staring at my feet to make sure I didn’t trip, talking about different developmental milestones children have, or why you would use one medication rather than another.
Apart from my wife, I studied by myself. Some lessons I learned along the process were to set realistic goals that take your wellbeing into consideration (just because you have six free hours in a day does not mean you need to take them all for studying), take breaks (especially when you find yourself getting frustrated about why on earth that’s the right answer), and make use of as many free resources as you can access (though if any of them end up unhelpful, just focus on what works!). I also didn’t follow my study program exactly, but focused on what I knew worked for me, such as making physical rather than digital flashcards, listening to podcasts about psychology concepts, and not taking practice tests anymore when I had a sense that they would just make me doubt myself. Anxiety management is the most critical part of the test. Whatever you can take away from your life that stresses you out, that’s going to help you with this test.
The thing I stand by the most is my plans for the day of the test. I knew regardless of the outcome, I wanted to go on a long, strenuous hike, so I could tire out my body instead of just my mind. Having some plan that you do no matter what a great motivator is. It was certainly strange going hiking after passing the exam, because suddenly I didn’t need to review any concepts or theories with my wife. Happily, we got to talk about things that are interesting to both of us.
For those looking to take the test, take it easy on yourself, and do what works for you. Be flexible, and kind, and remember that this test isn’t your whole life. Let yourself rely on the people who will be there for you and go get a nice dinner together once you complete this step. You got this.”