Doctorate in Clinical Psychology Program Guide
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A doctorate in clinical psychology can be the first step to an engaging, fulfilling career helping individuals and communities. If you’ve dreamed of becoming a licensed clinical psychologist, a doctoral degree is an essential step.
While four years or more of additional schooling can seem daunting, the guide below can help you find affordable programs, offer tips for admission, and highlight key considerations, including licensure and accreditation requirements. Discover diverse specializations, average salaries, and total costs of earning this valuable credential as you prepare to reach your career goals.
What Is a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology?
You can earn a doctorate in clinical psychology either as a Psy.D. or a Ph.D. The Psy.D. focuses more on clinical practice, whereas the Ph.D. emphasizes research; however, with either degree, you have focus options. The most reputable clinical psychology programs are accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA).
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
80-120
Required Credits
5-8 years (full-time)
Program Length
A Ph.D. in clinical psychology is a common path leading to work as a clinical psychologist or in research related to clinical psychology. Coursework includes substantial research methods and statistics training, and the program requires a dissertation for graduation based on original research.
Clinical psychology Ph.D. programs often allow you to choose a specialization, such as cognitive psychology, behavioral psychology, or forensic psychology. Classes focus on your chosen specialization, research, and key principles of clinical practice to prepare you to become a licensed psychologist.
There are no APA-accredited Ph.D. programs in psychology that are fully online, but some programs allow you to attend some classes online.
Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.)
70-120
Required Credits
4-6 years (full-time)
Program Length
A doctor of psychology or Psy.D. in clinical psychology is a direct path to gain relevant state licensure and begin clinical practice. While you’ll study research methodologies, a Psy.D. curriculum focuses primarily on clinical practice.
Some Psy.D. programs use the Engaged-Practitioner model to prepare students for field practice, with a secondary focus on scholarly research. With a Psy.D., you may choose a specialization such as child psychology, health psychology, or organizational psychology.
There are no entirely online APA-accredited Psy.D. programs. However, some programs offer online psychology courses or a hybrid format. It’s important to note that you can find online Psy.D. programs that are not APA-accredited, which means you won’t qualify for licensure or clinical practice in most states.
What Can You Do With a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology?
A Ph.D. in clinical psychology opens many career possibilities and specializations. You could pursue teaching at the graduate level, research, clinical practice, or consulting. In these roles, you may work in health clinics, physicians’ offices, outpatient care centers, hospitals, or other private businesses.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the top-paying industries for clinical psychologists include scientific research and development services, specialty hospitals, clinics and physicians’ offices, and educational support services.
Clinical Psychologist
Clinical psychologists work to support individuals, families, and organizations in a variety of settings. As a clinical psychologist, you build insights into the relationship between emotional, cognitive, and social processes and behavior. You diagnose and treat emotional and mental disorders and help people manage issues through psychotherapy.
Reminder: To work as a clinical psychologist, you typically must graduate from an APA-accredited doctoral program and become licensed in your state.
College Professor
Professors work in public or private colleges and universities, community colleges, or professional schools across the country, educating a new generation of psychologists. As a professor, you may publish scholarly papers, books, and research. Alternatively, you could work in private settings, such as offering courses for businesses or schools.
How Much Can I Make With a Doctorate in Clinical Psych?
$105,000
Average salary for Ph.D.
$96,000
Average salary for Psy.D.
Average salary varies by career, location, and experience. According to Payscale, the average salary for holders of a Ph.D. in psychology was $105,000 as of August 2024, but that leaves room for growth with additional years of experience.
According to the BLS, the states with the highest median salaries for clinical and counseling psychologists include Oregon, Kentucky, Washington, California, and New Jersey. The states with the highest employment of these psychologists include California, New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, and Massachusetts.
How Much Does a Doctorate in Clinical Psych Cost?
Before financial aid, the total cost of a doctorate in psychology averages out to around $200,000-$300,000. Costs vary depending on degree type, program length, and institution type. Generally, in-state tuition at a public institution yields the most significant savings, but financial aid can factor into that.
As a doctoral student, you may be eligible for assistantships, scholarships, student teaching, or work-study programs to help cover some of your education expenses. Some include tuition plus a stipend.
You can also access scholarships and grants through APA, along with college-specific financial aid and numerous grants for psychological research.
How to Get Into a Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program
Getting into a clinical psychology doctoral program requires careful preparation to showcase your strengths and program readiness. For acceptance, you will need a bachelor’s and master’s degree in psychology from an accredited institution. If you don’t yet have a master’s degree, you could also apply to a combined master’s-doctoral program.
The average acceptance rate for a Ph.D. program is 10%-15%, while the average for Psy.D. programs is as high as 40%. GPA requirements vary by program, but a GPA of 3.0 or higher can increase your chances of acceptance. Some Psy.D. programs may accept a GPA as low as 2.7.
For acceptance into a clinical psychology Ph.D. or Psy.D. program, you’ll typically need to provide:
- Official transcripts from your bachelor’s and master’s degree programs
- GRE scores (Strong GRE scores could help offset a lower GPA.)
- Essay or personal statement
- Letters of recommendation from colleagues, professors, or supervisors
- Information on any research experience
- CV or resume with any professional experience
How to Choose a Clinical Psychology Program
1. Identify your career goals.
Defining your career goals is the first step in applying for a graduate program. You can start by deciding whether you want to work in clinical settings, in research, or as a professor. Deciding where you want to work ensures that any program you’re considering meets state licensure requirements and allows you to pursue your chosen career.
2. Check for accreditation.
If you are pursuing a career as a psychologist, you should only consider psychology programs that are accredited by APA, due to licensure requirements. You can check APA’s directory before applying to a program.
If you plan to work in research or academia, APA accreditation may not be essential. However, it’s important to apply only to institutionally accredited schools to ensure the quality of the educational program.
3. Connect with faculty and alumni.
Faculty and alumni can offer insight into program structure, expectations, and career outcomes. Meeting with faculty can allow you to build rapport and find mentors whose research or clinical interests align with yours, helping you create a network.
Alumni can provide unique insights into the program, as they’ve been in your shoes. They can offer tips about student support, alumni networks, course structures, and more that can make your experience in the program easier.
4. Consider program format, length, and location.
While no doctoral programs in clinical psychology are 100% online, some offer online courses or hybrid programs. You can find programs with some asynchronous coursework that give you greater flexibility.
However, it’s important to realize that choosing a Ph.D. or Psy.D. program may require you to relocate or commute to school regularly. Consider the pros and cons of full-time versus part-time programs and course schedules to find a degree program that fits your life.
5. Compare funding packages.
A doctorate can be costly, especially if you choose a full-time program. Colleges recognize this and often offer generous funding packages to accepted students. Before applying, you can compare programs’ funding packages to understand which program will work best for your needs.
You can look for assistantships, work-study programs, graduate stipends, research grants, and other funding offers to reduce the total cost of tuition. It’s essential to compare funding once you’ve received offers of acceptance to make a final decision.
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Beyond the Doctorate
Once you’ve earned your doctorate, you will need to earn your license to practice psychology. The Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards, APA, and your state licensing board provide details on specific requirements, including costs, which typically range from $500-$1,000.
For state licensure, you must have a minimum number of state-required supervised clinical hours — an average of 2,000 hours during your internship. Many states also require around 2,000 postdoctoral supervised clinical hours for licensure. If you didn’t complete the hours during your degree program, you must complete them before sitting for the licensure exam.
You may be exempt from licensing in some states if you choose to work at a research laboratory, college, state or federal institution, or a corporation. You could also work as a postdoctoral researcher or fellow.
