Online Master’s in Clinical Psychology Guide

While a master’s degree is not required for doctoral study in clinical psychology, aspiring clinicians who earned a bachelor’s degree in an unrelated field can use a master’s in clinical psychology as a bridge to doctoral work. In some select states, a master’s in clinical psychology can help you achieve licensure as a licensed psychological associate (LPA).

Keep in mind that not every degree will help you qualify for licensure as a clinical psychologist. Read the guide below to understand whether a master’s in clinical psychology fits your needs.

If you want to work as a clinician, you need a doctoral degree to obtain licensure – and doctoral programs do not usually require applicants to hold a master’s degree. However, pursuing a master’s in clinical psychology may be the right choice for aspiring clinicians in certain circumstances.

For example, if you want to change careers to pursue clinical psychology and your undergraduate experience is in an unrelated field, a master’s degree can provide an educational bridge toward further doctoral study.

Additionally, students who want to increase their chances of acceptance into prestigious doctoral programs by raising their GPA, gaining more research experience, or obtaining stronger recommendations may benefit from a master’s degree.

Aspiring clinicians should ensure that their prospective graduate programs hold programmatic accreditation. The most important programmatic accreditation for graduate-level work comes from the American Psychological Association Commission on Accreditation (APA-CoA).

The APA-CoA evaluates master’s and doctoral programs, internships, and postdoctoral opportunities. Before applying to a graduate degree in clinical psychology, prospective students should check for APA-CoA accreditation to ensure the quality of its education and training.

In order to become a clinical psychologist, you must first complete an accredited bachelor’s degree. Students who major in psychology or a related field may proceed directly to a doctoral program after graduation, but if you majored in an unrelated area or need to build a more competitive application, consider completing a master’s in clinical psychology.

All clinical psychologists must complete an accredited doctoral degree, which typically takes 4-7 years of coursework, field training, and research. After completing a doctoral program, you must ensure that you meet your state’s requirements for supervised clinical experience. Hour requirements range from 1,500-6,000 hours.

Students must then pass the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP), apply for and obtain state licensure, and finally apply for jobs.

A master’s degree in clinical psychology differs from doctoral work in many ways including required fieldwork, flexibility, time to completion, and cost. The following table breaks down some key differences between master’s and doctoral programs in clinical psychology.

A master’s degree does not make a graduate eligible for licensure as a clinical psychologist. If you want to practice clinical psychology professionally, you must earn a doctoral degree. However, if you want to switch careers into clinical psychology, or if you need more experience before you apply to a doctoral program, then a master’s degree in clinical psychology may be the right fit for you.

If you are interested in a role similar to clinical psychology but you don’t want to practice as a clinical psychologist, consider a master’s degree in adjacent fields like mental health counseling or social work.

With an education in clinical psychology, you can pursue a variety of roles. Check out the list below to see some career pathways for graduates with clinical psychology degrees.

With a master’s degree in clinical psychology, you can become eligible for licensure as an LPA in select states. LPAs earned a median salary of $72,000 in 2024. With a doctoral degree, you can pursue a career as a licensed clinical psychologist, a role with a 2024 median annual salary of $95,830.