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Virginia Psychology Doctorate Programs

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Students interested in their Psy.D. degree have many excellent options in Virginia. This is also one of the leading states in the employment of clinical psychologists, so you will have ample job opportunities upon graduation. This guide details the different PsyD programs available in Virginia, as well as how to earn your license to practice. Keep reading to learn more.

What’s On This Page

  • Quick Facts
  • Virginia PsyD Programs
  • Other Virginia Doctorate Programs
  • Virginia Psychologist Requirements
  • Virginia Doctorate Salary Outlook

Quick Facts:

  • George Mason is considered one of the top ‘up-and-coming’ universities in the nation.
  • Radford University has a student body of under 10,000 total students, making it an appealing mid-sized school.
  • Virginia residents can attend the University of Virginia for just $15,192 per year.
  • Radford sports nearly a 60% graduation rate for first-time, full-time students.
  • Attending George Mason University costs $10,952 per year in tuition.

List of Psy.D. Programs In Virginia

Below is a current list of universities in Virginia that offer an APA-accredited PsyD degree.

SEE ALSO: 5+ Best Online PsyD Programs

Radford University

Radford University offers an APA-accredited PsyD in Counseling Psychology with an emphasis on rural mental health, as well as on social justice, cultural diversity, and evidence-based practice in counseling psychology. This five-year program is intended for the student whose goal is to work as a psychologist in mental health institutions and settings where therapy, counseling, and psychological assessment are required. Each student completes a 2,000-hour internship that is approved by their faculty advisor.

  • Institution type: Public
  • Main campus: Radford, Virginia
  • Annual tuition: $6,171 per semester in-state, $12,343 out-of-state
  • Degrees offered: PsyD in Counseling Psychology
  • Accreditation: APA
  • Visit School: Click here

Regent University

Regent University offers a PsyD in Clinical Psychology that is accredited by the APA. The program will arm you with the clinical skills, including the practical application of therapeutical techniques, to treat and assess a variety of emotional, mental, and behavioral disorders. The degree is completed in five years and consists of 124 credit hours. Each student is mentored by a leader in psychology who is dedicated to your development as a professional and clinician.

  • Institution type: Public
  • Main campus: Virginia Beach, Virginia
  • Annual tuition: $875 per credit hour
  • Degrees offered: PsyD in Clinical Psychology
  • Accreditation: APA
  • Visit School: Click here

Divine Mercy University

Divine Mercy University offers a Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology that trains students to address modern mental health challenges by using advanced psychotherapy skills, psychological testing, and an emphasis on certain pathologies and concepts in the clinical psychology field. The program consists of 122 semester hours, and students are required to complete at least 1800 hours of clinical externship. The program is fully accredited by the APA.

  • Institution type: Private
  • Main campus: Sterling, Virginia
  • Annual tuition: $1,064 per credit hour
  • Degrees offered: PsyD in Clinical Psychology
  • Accreditation: APA
  • Visit School: Click here

Other Psychology Doctorates in Virginia

Earning your PsyD is a great choice if you want a more clinical-focused degree, but some students may prefer a traditional Ph.D. with its concentration on academic research. The universities below offer excellent Ph.D. in psychology programs in Virginia.

George Mason University

George Mason University offers a Ph.D. in Psychology that trains students in the vital applications and principals of psychology. The APA-accredited program offers students extensive knowledge of essential areas of psychology as well as practical experience in solving human problems in work, life, and school. Concentrations available include Applied Developmental Psychology, Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, Clinical Psychology, Human Factors, and Applied Cognition, and Industrial/Organization Psychology.

  • Institution type: Public
  • Main campus: Fairfax, Virginia
  • Annual tuition: $506 per credit hour in-state, $1,394 out-of-state
  • Degrees offered: PhD in Psychology
  • Accreditation: APA
  • Visit School: Click here

University of Virginia

The University of Virginia, founded by Thomas Jefferson, offers a Ph.D. in Psychology in several specialties, including clinical, cognitive, community, developmental, social, and quantitative psychology. The major goal of the Department of Psychology is to ready the doctoral student for clinical research, both applied and basic, as well as teaching at a university. The program is unique in that it has integrated training in both clinical and school psychology. This is a five-year, full-time degree that requires a one-year internship to graduate.

  • Institution type: Public
  • Main campus: Charlottesville, Virginia
  • Annual tuition: $784 per credit hour in-state, $1,289 out-of-state
  • Degrees offered: PhD in Psychology
  • Accreditation: APA
  • Visit School: Click here

Old Dominion University

Old Dominion University’s Department of Psychology is part of the Virginia Consortium Program in Clinical Psychology. This Ph.D. in Psychology program is offered jointly by ODU, Eastern Virginia Medical School, and Norfolk State University. The program is accredited by the APA. The five-year Ph.D. program stresses ethics, multiculturalism, research, assessment, intervention, consultation, supervision, and leadership. The first two years of the program are mostly didactic, although students do work in clinical practice and research. The primary goal of the Ph.D. program is to help students become highly proficient in the integration of theory, research, and practice.

  • Institution type: Public
  • Main campus: Norfolk, Virginia
  • Annual tuition: $547 per credit in-state, $1,383 per credit out-of-state
  • Degrees offered: PhD in Psychology
  • Accreditation: APA
  • Visit School: Click here

Virginia State University

Virginia State University offers a Ph.D. in Health Psychology with an emphasis on research on behavioral risk factors that affect health, including stress, at-risk sexual practices, drug use, sedentary lifestyles, smoking, and noncompliance with health treatment plans. It also studies health service provisions disparities and research in minority communities, looking at issues including diabetes, hypertension, and obesity. Students can focus on either Clinical Health or Behavioral and Community Health Sciences.

  • Institution type: Public
  • Main campus: Petersburg, Virginia
  • Annual tuition: $11,989 per semester in-state, $22,994 out-of-state
  • Degrees offered: PhD in Health Psychology
  • Accreditation: APA
  • Visit School: Click here

How To Become A Practicing Psychologist In Virginia

Acquiring your license to practice psychology at a professional level in the state of Virginia requires years of school and cooperation with the Virginia Psychology Board. You’ll have to accomplish several different tasks en route to acquiring your license and these tasks and tests will take place over a seven-year period, at least.

Individuals hopeful to acquire their license for practice in Virginia must first start by achieving their bachelor’s and master’s degree from a certified facility. Pursuing a bachelor’s degree will take up to four years of full-time study that will entail nearly 120 total credit hours. Moving on from a bachelor’s degree, students will proceed to acquire their Masters of Science or Masters of Arts degrees. Your Master’s degree will take an additional two years and up to 54 total credits depending on the institution. In order to get into an MA program, you’ll have to submit your GMAT and GRE scores.

After your Master’s is complete, you’ll move on toward your doctoral work. You’ll want to graduate with a Doctor of Psychology (PsyD degree) or the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in psychology. There are differences between the two degrees, so refer to the APA website for their distinctions. During your doctoral program, you’ll have to complete at least three years of study while providing evidence of an internship. Some studies will require you to engage in a hands-on practicum as well.

Once you’ve completed your primary education, you are ready to pursue certification:

  1. Getting licensed to practice in Virginia requires at least 1,500 total hours of supervised, professional experience (SPE). This experience must be garnered after your post-doctoral experience and under the appropriate supervision of a licensed practitioner of psychology. These hours must be accrued in a three year period at most, but also no shorter than 12 months.
  2. After you’ve completed your SPE, you will submit a written evaluation from your supervisor to the Board.
  3. The Virginia Psychology Board may also require face-to-face client interactions, as noted in the application that you will be filling out.
  4. Once you’ve submitted your Registration of Residency form, you’ll be able to move on to your examinations. The exams mandated by the Virginia Psychology Board include:
    1. Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (500 score to pass)
  5. After you have successfully passed the EPPP within a two-year period, you will be ready to submit your Licensure by Examination form to the Board, along with the $200 filing fee. Along with this document, you must submit several additional forms which will include:
    1. Internship Verification, Post-Degree Supervision Verification, Verification Of Pre-Doctoral Supervised Practicum Hours
    2. Self Query Report, Official Transcript w/ Graduate Degree, EPPP Clinical Scores
    3. Areas of Graduate Form, NPDB Form
  6. After all of your forms have been received and verified, the Board will move forward with your licensure.

Virginia Clinical Psychologist Salary and Job Outlook

The state of Virginia is looking to lead the charge into the future regarding the field of clinical psychology. According to research by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Virginia has projected a stunning 18.3% employment growth trend over the next ten years for clinical psychologists.

SEE ALSO: Virginia Clinical Psychologist Salary Outlook

Additionally, clinical psychologists in the state of Virginia are considered the top earners in the state with a mean annual wage of $87,000. The top earners in the field are making more than $150,000 annually as practicing clinical psychologists.