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Arizona Psychology Doctorate Programs

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Mental health is a serious concern all over the country and the world, and it’s no different here in Arizona. In fact, the state’s suicide rate (18 per 100,000 people) is considerably higher than the U.S. rate (14 per 100,000).

The good news for Arizonans who want to help make a difference, several prestigious universities in the state offer advanced degrees, including Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees that can help compassionate people become trained to practice as psychologists.

What’s On This Page

  • Quick Facts
  • Arizona PsyD Programs
  • Other Psychology Doctorates
  • Arizona Psychologist Requirements
  • Arizona Doctorate Salary Outlook

Quick Facts

  • Arizona is home to 19 schools offering psychology degree programs.
  • Four of these schools offer an associate’s program, thirteen offer a bachelor’s, and ten offer a master’s or other advanced psychology degree.
  • Kiplinger’s Best Values in Public Colleges, 2017, lists Arizona State University – Tempe at #70 in-state and #82 out-of-state, and ASU – West at #91 and #89 in-state and out-of-state.
  • ASU – Tempe has the highest graduation rate at 67%, and Arizona Christian University has the highest transfer-out rate, at 49%.
  • Emy-Riddle Aeronautical University and ASU – West have the highest and lowest net prices, at $32,681 and $8,692, respectively.

List of PsyD Degree Programs in Arizona

Four universities in Arizona offer doctoral degrees in psychology. Let’s take a closer look at the important statistics students should know before making their educational decisions.

SEE ALSO: 5+ Best Online PsyD Programs

Midwestern University

Midwestern University’s Psy.D. degree at its Arizona campus was first accredited by the APA in 2011. With a program designed to be completed in four years with an option for a five-year track, and highly motivated students may opt to pursue a specialty in neuropsychology. Since the 2009-10 school year, 100 graduates have completed the program, which has a licensure rate in that same time of 92%.

  • Institution type: Private, not-for-profit
  • Campus: Glendale
  • Annual tuition: $37,517
  • Degrees offered: PsyD in Clinical Psychology
  • Accreditation: APA
  • Visit school: Click here

Other Psychology Doctorates in Arizona

University of Arizona

At its flagship campus in Tucson, the University of Arizona offers a slate of Ph.D. degrees housed in multiple disciplines within the school, including psychology and education. First earning accreditation from the APA in the 1960s, these programs have quite a long history, indeed. Clinical psychology Ph.D. graduates from the university over the past 10 years have a licensure rate of 83%.

  • Institution type: Public, not-for-profit
  • Campus: Tucson
  • Annual tuition: Admitted students generally receive free tuition and annual stipends through their education
  • Degrees offered: PhD in School Psychology, PhD in Clinical Psychology, PhD in Cognition and Neural Systems, PhD in Social Psychology
  • Accreditation: APA
  • Visit school: Click here

Arizona State University

Accredited by the APA since the 1970s, Arizona State’s pair of psychology programs cover two of the most commonly requested psychology degrees — clinical and counseling. The clinical Ph.D. includes 1,500+ hours of clinical internship, which equates to two years of training within the community, and an average of 80% of graduates of the two programs in the past 10 years have become professionally licensed.

  • Institution type: Public, not-for-profit
  • Campus: Tempe
  • Annual tuition: Typically, students accepted into the Ph.D. programs will have their tuition covered and will receive annual stipends while they work on their degrees
  • Degrees offered: PhD in Clinical Psychology and PhD in Counseling Psychology
  • Accreditation: APA
  • Visit school: Click here

Northern Arizona University

Northern Arizona’s Ph.D. in Counseling and School Psychology only recently earned APA accreditation (in 2017), and the program is offered through the Department of Educational Psychology. No cohorts have completed the program yet, so it’s unknown how successful it will be at preparing licensed psychologists.

  • Institution type: Public, not-for-profit
  • Campus: Flagstaff
  • Annual tuition: Most doctoral students will qualify for free tuition and annual stipends
  • Degrees offered: PhD in Counseling and School Psychology
  • Accreditation: APA
  • Visit school: Click here

How to Become a Practicing Clinical Psychologist in Arizona

For many people who are working as psychologists, their academic journey began with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. That’s certainly a valid path, including for students here in Arizona, but getting an undergrad degree is far from the only step. Let’s see what it takes.

  1. Get your bachelor’s degree. Usually, it’s not necessary to complete a master’s degree before pursuing a Ph.D. But for those who did not focus on psychology or a closely related field during their undergraduate college experience, a master’s degree can help illustrate aptitude and commitment to the field.
  2. Earn a doctoral degree. Both for Psy.D. students and Ph.D. students, doctoral programs are the natural next step after earning their bachelor’s degree in psychology, as the programs are required by state officials for licensure.
  3. Meet requirements and apply for licensure. The Arizona Board of Psychologist Examiners is the authority that grants or denies applications for licensure in the state. Requirements in Arizona include earning a doctorate, completing 1,500 pre-internship hours, 1,500 internship hours and completion of the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology. The initial licensure fee is $500.
  4. Renew your license. Psychologist licenses in Arizona need to be renewed every two years, so be sure to complete all continuing education courses and submit any renewal fees.

Arizona Clinical Psychologist Salary and Job Outlook

Clinical, counseling and school psychologists in Arizona earn an average of about $65,000 per year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. While this is higher than the overall average wage for all workers in the state, which is about $50,000, the state is one of the worst-paying, unfortunately. But sought-after job candidates can earn about $100,000.

SEE ALSO: Arizona Clinical Psychologist Salary Outlook

Over the next several years, the U.S. economy is expected to add about 5% of the number of jobs it has now, but clinical psychologist positions in Arizona look to grow by nearly 25%, the third-highest growth rate projected in the U.S. for the job.