Psychology in Virginia: Learn About Becoming a Psychologist in VA

Updated September 9, 2022 · 1 Min Read

Find out how to become a psychologist in Virginia, including the average Virginia psychologist salary, demand for mental health care professionals in the state, and licensing information.

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Virginia's population of over 8 million people comes with a wide range of career opportunities for psychologists. The demand for mental health practitioners in Virginia remains high.

Becoming a psychologist in Virginia involves completing your educational degree, on-the-job training, and becoming licensed. Keep reading to find out what you need to know about your next career move, including information on Virginia psychologist salaries.

Psychologist Salaries in Virginia

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), a Virginia psychologist's salary can range from $50,810-$205,920 per year, depending on the location and job setting. In 2021 the BLS reported the average salary in the U.S. for psychologists at $81,040.

Psychologist Salaries in Virginia
Job Title Lowest 10% Median Annual Salary Highest 10%
Clinical and counseling psychologists $50,810 $83,080 $205,920
School psychologists $61,700 $79,500 $128,280
Industrial-organizational psychologists $62,300 $83,230 $189,100
Psychologists, all other $61,550 $107,630 $134,780

Source: BLS

Online Doctorate Programs in Psychology

Psychologist Licensing in Virginia

The Virginia Board of Psychology is the licensing authority in the state. Depending on your focus area and level of education when beginning your education, most doctoral programs take 4-6 years to complete. Students with a master's degree usually finish their doctoral program in less time.

License Requirements

Psychologist licensing in Virginia requirements include:

  • Complete a doctoral degree (a Psy.D. or a Ph.D.) in psychology from an institution accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA).
  • Complete on-the-job (verified field) experience at a board-approved internship.
  • Procure an additional 1,500 hours supervised work (under a Virginia licensed psychologist), besides verified field experience.
  • Apply for licensure and get approval to take the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP).
  • Take and pass the EPPP given by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards.

Find out about the difference between a Ph.D. and a Psy.D. here.

Demand for Psychology in Virginia

The HRSA Health Workforce reports that by 2030, the national workforce of psychologists could increase by 13%, or up to 103,440 professionals due to a growing population and many current psychologists nearing retirement age. In addition, the BLS projects a growth of 8% from 2020-2030 for psychologists across the United States.

The Kaiser Family Foundation examined mental health professional shortage areas (HPSAs) by state and found that Virginia holds a 42.6% unmet demand. This percentage translates to a need of 114 practitioners.

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