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Arizona is home to 1,970 psychologists, including 1,070 school psychologists and 720 clinical and counseling psychologists, according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Arizona psychologist salaries are comparable to national median salaries. Nationally, the median salary for clinical and counseling psychologists is $79,510, the median for industrial-organizational psychologists is $105,310, with all other psychologists earning a median $102,900.
Keep reading to learn more about psychologist licensing in Arizona and psychologist salaries in the state.
| Job Title | Lowest 10% | Median Annual Salary | Highest 10% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clinical and counseling psychologists | $30,000 | $77,450 | $126,110 |
| School psychologists | $59,260 | $78,210 | $100,040 |
| Psychologists, all other | $47,780 | $105,000 | $124,090 |
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
Online Doctorate Programs in Psychology
Psychologist Licensing in Arizona
The Arizona Board of Psychologist Examiners oversees psychology licensing and regulation in the state. Arizona's reciprocity rules for all licensed professionals, including psychologists, make it easy for an already-licensed psychologist to practice in Arizona through licensure by credential or licensure by universal recognition.
All psychologists who have held a license in another state for at least one year and have had no complaints filed against them, do not have a criminal history, and have never had to surrender their license (or had their license revoked) may work in Arizona while applying for licensure and receive accelerated license processing.
Because of the COVID-19 emergency, license review may take up to six weeks before being added to the agenda for the next board meeting.
License Requirements
Psychologist license in Arizona requirements include:
- A doctorate from a regionally accredited school, including a residency at that school
- A core program that includes examinations or the equivalent of three or more graduate semester hours in ethics, research, the biology of behavior, cognition, social drivers of behavior, individual drivers of behavior, individual assessment, and treatment
- At least three years of doctoral study, only one of which can be transferred
- A dissertation or equivalent research project
- 3,000 supervised, professional hours, including a 1,500-hour internship
- Passing the Examination for Professional Preparation in Psychology (EPPP)
You can see the detailed educational requirements from the Arizona state legislature.
Demand for Psychology in Arizona
In Arizona, more than 210 areas are designated mental health professional shortage areas; with only 10.6% of all mental health needs met. It would take an additional 184 practitioners, including psychologists, to fill the need.
While some urban areas are not experiencing shortages, needs are highest in rural areas and among the Navajo, Hopi, Hualapai, Tohono O'odham, White Mountain Apache, San Carlos Apache, Colorado River, and other Native American tribal lands. Working in designated shortage areas or for the Indian Health Service may make you eligible for scholarships or loan forgiveness, including full scholarships or total loan forgiveness.
Almost one in five Arizonans speak Spanish at home, with a Hispanic population of 31.7%. Another 5.3% are Native American, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. This creates a high need for linguistic and cultural competence, especially in underserved areas.