The Key Steps to Becoming a Clinical Psychologist
Learn how to become a clinical psychologist and what you can expect once you enter this career.
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Key Takeaways
- Clinical psychologists help people with mental health conditions in settings like hospitals, schools, and private practices.
- They typically need 8-12 years of education and experience, including a doctorate in psychology.
- The field is expanding, with a projected 13% job growth from 2023 to 2033.
Clinical psychologists address mental, emotional, and behavioral conditions in various settings, from professional practice to research. Most states require a doctorate in clinical psychology for licensure and independent practice. Learn about the entire process of becoming a clinical psychologist in this guide.
Steps to Become a Clinical Psychologist
While each state sets its requirements for licensure, the first step to becoming a clinical psychologist is to earn a bachelor’s in psychology or a related field. You can continue your studies in a master’s program, or depending on the school, you can enroll in a doctoral program directly after earning your bachelor’s.
- 1
Earn a Bachelor’s Degree
A bachelor’s degree in psychology or a related field prepares you for graduate studies in clinical psychology. Most schools offer bachelor’s in general psychology, including concentrations or electives with a clinical focus.
- 2
Consider a Master’s Degree
A master’s in clinical psychology provides advanced training in theory, research, and practice. You might also consider a combined doctoral program that enables bachelor degree-holders to earn their master’s and doctoral programs simultaneously.
- 3
Earn a Doctoral Degree
Most states require a Ph.D. or a Psy. D. to apply for psychologist licensure and practice independently. While both degrees can prepare you for licensure, the Ph.D. generally emphasizes scientific inquiry and research, while the Psy.D. emphasizes hands-on clinical training.
- 4
Satisfy Internship and Supervised Clinical Requirements
Most doctoral programs require students to complete several years of part-time practicum experience and one year of full-time internship. Most states require completion of 1-2 years of additional supervised practice at the postgraduate level for licensure. Because the number of mandated hours varies for each state, you should always check with the licensing board where you intend to practice to learn about current requirements.
- 5
Pursue State Licensure
Obtaining a license in most states requires a passing score on the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP), the national exam for clinical psychology. Some states require performance standards exams, such as jurisprudence or ethics exams, in addition to the EPPP.
How Long Will Becoming a Clinical Psychologist Take?
It generally takes between 8-12 years to become a licensed clinical psychologist, allowing time for advanced education and supervised experience requirements. Related clinical careers in mental health counseling and social work take less time because they do not require a doctoral degree.
| Job | Time to Become |
|---|---|
| Clinical Mental Health Counselor | 6-8 years |
| Clinical Social Worker | 7-8 years |
| Clinical Psychologist | 8-12 years |
How to Continue Your Education as a Clinical Psychologist
You must maintain your clinical psychologist license by fulfilling continuing education (CE) credits and renewal requirements specific to your state board. Each licensing board establishes the length of the renewal period and the number and type of continuing education credits you need to complete during the renewal period. Renewal requires submitting an application, fees, and documentation of CE credits.
How Much Does a Clinical Psychologist Make?
Becoming a clinical psychologist can be rewarding. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects jobs for clinical and counseling psychologists to grow by 13% between 2023-2033, faster than the national average for all occupations.
Clinical psychologists also earn higher-than-average salaries. In 2024, these professionals made a average annual salary of $106,600, with the top 10% of earners approaching $170,000 yearly.
$94,480
Average Annual Clinical Psychologist Salary
$60.00
Average Hourly Clinical Psychologist Salary
Source: Payscale, Jan. 2025
Frequently Asked Questions About Becoming a Clinical Psychologist
Becoming a clinical psychologist takes 8-12 years of education, plus 1-2 years of supervised internship and postdoctoral experience working under a licensed psychologist. The exact requirement for supervised experience depends on each state’s regulations, and the time spent in school depends on your program’s pace and whether you attend part-time or full-time.
