How Many Years Does it Take to Become a Psychologist?
Earning a Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) or Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (PhD) is a key step to becoming a psychologist, but it’s far from the only one. You’ll also need to gain a considerable amount of pre-professional experience and prepare for exams before you finally qualify for licensure through your state’s board of psychology.
From undergrad to full licensure, it takes 12 to 15 years to become a psychologist. Here’s a breakdown of what that looks like.
Undergrad: 4 Years
While earning a bachelor’s of psychology is a great way to start your journey, it’s not your only option. You can start your career with a four-year degree in just about any subject. However, a degree in sociology, social work, counseling, or even a more STEM-oriented field like statistics or biology can be helpful later on.
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Master’s Degree: 2 Years
If you didn’t earn a bachelor’s in psychology or another closely related subject, you may want to consider earning a generalist master’s in psychology, or one in clinical or counseling psychology before jumping into a PsyD program. A master’s can be earned in about two years.
During this time, you’ll take classes on both foundational and advanced psychology principles. The exact makeup of your schedule will depend on what type of program you choose. For example, if you earn a Master of Clinical Psychology, you’ll spend a lot of time on measurement and assessment. If you go the Master of Counseling Psychology route, you’ll focus more on treatment-focused research and psychotherapy.
In your second year, you’ll have the opportunity to practice your skills through a practicum. During your practicum, you’ll work under the supervision of a licensed psychologist treating patients or conducting research. Practicums are typically completed on a part-time basis while you’re also taking classes.
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Doctoral Degree – PsyD or PhD: 5 to 7 Years
You don’t necessarily need a master’s to earn a PsyD, but it can put you on the lower end of the five to seven-year timeline. But no matter where you are when you get to this point, you’ll accomplish three specific things outside of taking classes. How schools schedule these tasks can also have an impact on how long it takes to earn your degree.
1. Your Dissertation
Your dissertation is an original, independent project in which you’ll conduct psychological research and write a lengthy paper on it. Dissertations are often a couple hundred pages long, at minimum.
While your dissertation is an ongoing project, one of the very last things you’ll do before earning your PsyD is a dissertation defense. During your dissertation defense, you’ll give a presentation on your work and field questions from a panel of expert faculty.
Keep in mind, though, that while most PsyD programs require a dissertation, some do not. Instead, these programs require either a doctoral research project that’s a little less intense than a dissertation or some sort of project that displays your high skill level.
2. Your Practicum
Around your second or third year of studies, you’ll complete a supervised practicum. You’ll work on your clinical and counseling skills part-time in a real-world setting, usually two or three days a week. Similar to a masters-level practicum, you’ll attend classes at the same time.
3. Your Internship
In addition to a practicum, PsyD students also complete a full-time internship during one of their later years of study. You’ll have a supervisor, but you’ll be able to practice with more autonomy than during your practicum.
All in all, your PsyD program will keep you extremely busy. You might be able to maintain part-time employment during your early years, but once you’re juggling practicums and internships, program administrators don’t recommend that students work at all outside of their study-related fieldwork.
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Earning Your Psychologist License: 1 to 2 Years
With your doctorate in hand, you only have one step to complete: earning your license to practice. How long it takes to earn your license relies largely on the standards set by your state’s board of psychology, but the process takes anywhere from one to two years.
In that time, your main priority will be accruing post-doctoral experience hours. Similar to internships, you’ll work independently, but check in and work regularly with a fully-licensed, board-approved psychologist supervisor.
Before you get fully licensed, you’ll also need to pass the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards’ (ASPPB) Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP). As of early 2025, most states only require future licensees to take EPPP Part 1, a test made up of 225 multiple-choice questions. However, the ASPPB plans to make EPPP Part 2 mandatory everywhere in 2026.
EPPP Part 2 features more types of questions (scenario-based, short answer, etc.) that focus on the application of theory to real-world practice. The ASPPB advises licensees to take the EPPP as soon as they can after graduation.