How to Become a Clinical Psychologist

BLS describes clinical and counseling psychologists together, and the description fits the clinical side of the work:

“Clinical and counseling psychologists typically interview clients, administer diagnostic tests, and provide psychotherapy to individuals, families, and groups. They help clients identify their strengths and available resources to prevent or manage problems, and they design behavior modification plans that they help clients to implement.”

BLS OOH, Psychologists: What Psychologists Do, types of psychologists

APA has recognized clinical psychology as a specialty since 1998. It defines the specialty this way:

“Clinical psychology is the psychological specialty that provides continuing and comprehensive mental and behavioral health care for individuals, couples, families, and groups; consultation to agencies and communities; training, education and supervision; and research-based practice.”

APA, Clinical Psychology (last updated September 2022)

In APA's description the methods are assessment through interviews and psychological tests, intervention with evidence-based approaches for individuals, families and groups, supervision and training of students, and consultation with health and behavioral health professionals. BLS adds that clinical and counseling psychologists sometimes work with a specific population, such as older people, and that some states permit clinical psychologists to prescribe medication.

APA names hospitals, schools, counseling centers, group or private health care practices and hospital systems as good places to launch a clinical career (APA). Most psychologists work full time, but part-time work is common (BLS).

BLS's wage survey counts where the jobs are. These five industries employ the most clinical and counseling psychologists:

Independent practice as a clinical psychologist runs through a doctorate and a state license. APA says:

“In most states, the independent practice of psychology requires a doctoral degree and a state license.”

APA, A Career in Clinical or Counseling Psychology

To become a clinical psychologist, take these steps in order:

1. Earn a bachelor's degree. BLS says applicants to graduate-level psychology programs typically have a bachelor's degree in a field such as psychology, education, or social science (BLS).
2. Complete a doctorate, a PhD or a PsyD. Ph.D. programs usually emphasize research that culminates in a dissertation, while Psy.D. programs focus on applying psychological principles to working with clients or patients. As part of either program, students are typically required to complete an internship (BLS). Most doctoral degrees take five to seven years to complete (APA).
3. Complete the internship. APA says that to practice in clinical, counseling or school psychology you complete a one-year internship as part of your doctoral study. The APPIC internship guide explains how students match to one.
4. Gain supervised experience. Most psychologists need supervised experience to qualify for licensure, which may include an internship or postdoctoral training (BLS).
5. Earn the state license. Clinical and counseling psychologists are licensed in every state. School psychologists also typically need a credential, such as a license or certification from their state’s board of education. Licensure typically requires applicants to have earned a master’s or doctoral degree and completed supervised experience (BLS). A PsyD is a degree. The license comes from the state board, and the EPPP guide covers the national exam.

Why a PsyD Fits Those Who Want to Become a Clinical Psychologist

“Some universities and professional schools offer a PsyD degree in lieu of the traditional research PhD or EdD degree. PsyD degrees, with their emphasis on clinical psychology, are designed for students who want to do clinical work.”

APA, A Career in Clinical or Counseling Psychology: Making It Happen

Each program on this site's rankings is on APA's list of accredited doctoral programs. The PsyD and PhD comparison sets the two doctorates side by side.

BLS reports pay for clinical and counseling psychologists as one occupation, Clinical and Counseling Psychologists (SOC 19-3033), so the figures below describe both jobs and match the counseling psychologist page.

The bands are percentiles of the wage distribution for the occupation, not years of experience.

Median Pay for Clinical Psychologists in the Five Largest States

“Demand for clinical and counseling psychologists is projected to increase as more people turn to psychologists for help with their problems.”

BLS OOH, Psychologists: Job Outlook, Employment

For psychologists as a whole BLS projects 6 percent growth from 2025 to 2035, faster than the average for all occupations, with about 11,300 openings a year. The job counts here come from BLS Employment Projections, which include self-employed workers, so they run higher than the wage and salary counts in the pay section.

Readers who want to become a clinical psychologist can start here: 92 of the 117 ranked programs hold APA accreditation in clinical psychology or in a combined area that includes it. See the PsyD programs accredited in clinical psychology, or the APA-accredited PsyD programs ranked nationally. Each list is ordered by one score built from published program data, and the methodology page shows how it is made.