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Virginia is a great state to launch a career as a licensed psychologist. O*NET Online, a Department of Labor resource, projects strong employment growth of 11% for clinical, counseling, and school psychologists in Virginia from 2020 to 2030.Find out how to become a psychologist in Virginia. This guide covers the licensing process, the demand for psychologists in the state, and potential career paths.
Popular Online Psychology Doctoral Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
Psychologist Salaries in Virginia
As a psychologist in Virginia, your earning potential may vary depending on the specialization you choose. This table illustrates the state's salary trends for various psychology disciplines using data published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) in May 2023:
| Job Title | 10th Percentile | 50th Percentile (Median) | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clinical and counseling psychologists | $49,330 | $84,440 | $163,220 |
| School psychologists | $42,580 | $78,990 | $147,140 |
| Psychologists, all other | $68,070 | $115,320 | $153,420 |
Psychologist Licensing in Virginia
The Virginia Board of Psychology is the state's licensing agency for psychologists, processing all licensure applications and renewal requests.
State rules offer two paths to licensure: by examination or endorsement. The examination path requires earning a doctoral degree from an accredited program, completing 1,500 supervised hours, and passing the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP).
The endorsement path is a reciprocity program that allows currently licensed psychologists in good standing to transfer their practice credentials to Virginia. It is available to psychologists with licenses issued by recognized agencies in the U.S., Canada, and select other locations, whose practice standards meet those used in Virginia.
Virginia Psychology License Requirements
To obtain your initial license to practice as a psychologist in Virginia, you must follow these six main steps:
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1
Complete a doctoral degree (a Psy.D. or a Ph.D.) in psychology from an American Psychological Association (APA)- or Canadian Psychological Association CPA-accredited program. The APA does not currently accredit any fully online psychology degree in Virginia or any other state. -
2
Accrue at least 1,500 hours of supervised experience training under a licensed psychologist. You must accrue all hours in no less than one year but in no more than three years. This experience must include at least two hours of individual supervision for every 40 hours of eligible experience. -
3
Submit your licensure application to the Virginia Board of Psychology. Documentation requirements vary depending on the exact type of Virginia psychology license you're seeking. A $200 application fee applies to candidates seeking initial licensure as a clinical, applied, or school psychologist. -
4
Submit a criminal background check performed by an authorized law enforcement agency. Note that criminal convictions on felony charges may disqualify you, as may any documented history of recurrent substance use. -
5
Take and pass the EPPP given by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards. -
6
Submit an attestation indicating that you have read and intend to comply with Virginia's approved professional practice codes and applicable laws.
Demand for Psychology in Virginia
Projections Central lists the following Virginia-specific 2020-30 growth projections for various psychology specializations:
- Clinical, counseling, and school psychologists: +10.8%
- Industrial-organizational psychologists: -12.5%
- Psychologists (all other): +1.8%
According to September 2022 research from the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF), Virginia meets less than half (42.1%) of its overall need for mental health professionals. While Virginia's rate handily outperformed the national average of 27.7%, it still indicates a significant shortfall.
Among Virginia residents with clinical symptoms of an anxiety or depressive disorder, 28.1% said they needed therapy but did not receive it, in the month preceding May 2022 KFF polling.
Virginia also experienced a surge in substance use disorders and overdoses from June 2021 to June 2022, as the state saw its substance use disorder rates double among both adults and young people. This trend indicates an urgent need for mental health professionals specializing in addiction treatment.
Page last reviewed on May 30, 2024