Arkansas Psychology Doctorate Programs
Like most of the rest of the United States, mental health, including serious mental illness and substance abuse, is a huge problem in the state of Arkansas. And, like the rest of the country, few people in our state are getting help for their emotional and behavioral health problems.
The need for qualified, compassionate mental health professionals is a major reason why the Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) degree was developed in the 1960s and has become increasingly popular, offering exceptional opportunities for gaining hands-on experience.
Students interested in advanced psychology training in Arkansas have a couple of great options.
What’s On This Page
- Quick Facts
- Arkansas PsyD Programs
- Other Arkansas Doctorate Programs
- Arkansas Psychologist Requirements
- Arkansas Doctorate Salary Outlook
Quick Facts:
- Arkansas is home to 22 schools offering psychology degree programs, including both universities and not-for-profit colleges.
- 20 of these schools offer a bachelor’s degree, one offers an associate’s and six offer master’s or other advanced degrees.
- The University of Arkansas in Fayetteville ranks nationally among the top-200 schools offering the best graduate psychology programs, according to US News and World Report in 2022.
- According to the US News and World Report’s list of the 22 best colleges and universities in Arkansas, five schools that made that list also offer graduate psychology programs: the University of Arkansas, Arkansas Tech University, Henderson State University, Ouachita Baptist University, the University of Arkansas, and the University of Central Arkansas
List of PsyD Degree Programs in Arkansas
There are currently no PsyD programs in the state of Arkansas.
SEE ALSO: Best Online Accredited PsyD in Degree Programs
Other Psychology Doctorates in Arkansas
Listed below are two of the best schools for psychology degree programs available in Arkansas:
While no schools currently offer the Psy.D. degree in Arkansas, two of the state’s biggest educational institutions offer Ph.D. degrees in psychology, including the University of Arkansas and the University of Central Arkansas. Let’s take a closer look at both programs.
University of Arkansas
The J. William Fulbright College of Arts & Sciences is home to a Ph.D. program in clinical psychology and experimental psychology, offered at the University of Arkansas. The school’s clinical psychology Ph.D. program first earned APA accreditation in 1966, and over the past decade, 46 graduates have earned their Ph.D. from the program. The professional licensure rate over that time is 74%.
- Institution type: Public, not-for-profit
- Campus: Fayetteville
- Annual tuition: All students in the most recent school year received full tuition remission, a graduate stipend, and the option for 67% coverage of student health insurance
- Degrees offered: PhD in Clinical Psychology, PhD in Experimental Psychology
- Accreditation: PhD in Clinical Psychology is APA-accredited
- Visit school: Click here
University of Central Arkansas
Accredited by the APA since 2015, the University of Central Arkansas offers a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology that’s housed in the Health & Behavioral Sciences Department. 17 students have completed the program since 2014, and their licensure rate is 71% as of 2024.
- Institution type: Public, not-for-profit
- Campus: Conway
- Annual tuition: $7,385 in-state; $14,769 out-of-state
- Degrees offered: PhD in Counseling Psychology
- Accreditation: APA
- Visit school: Click here
How to Become a Practicing Clinical Psychologist in Arkansas
For most (but, importantly, not all) prospective psychologists, their educational journey begins with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. But, of course, that’s far from where it ends. Let’s take a look at the steps needed to become a licensed psychologist in Arkansas:
- Complete a bachelor’s degree in psychology or a closely related field. Generally, the programs we’ve explored don’t require a master’s degree before beginning the doctoral track, but it may be necessary for students who don’t have transcripts that show extensive psychology education.
- Earn a doctoral degree. The Ph.D. programs on our list generally will take at least five years to complete, and possibly longer, depending on whether a student completes an internship during their Ph.D. training.
- Fulfill the state’s licensure requirements. The Arkansas Department of Health Psychology Board reviews applications in the state for psychology licensure. That board requires a $200 application fee, three references, transcripts, proof of doctorate, background check results, at least 2,000 hours of supervised experience and passage of the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards with a scaled score of at least 500. Once all those requirements are met, candidates must then interview with board members, who will make a final determination.
- Maintain licensure. Earning your license isn’t the final step. That’s because you’ll have to do 20 hours of continuing education each year to renew your license annually.
Arkansas Clinical Psychologist Salary and Job Outlook
The average employee in Arkansas makes $51,250 per year, but the statewide average salary for clinical and counseling psychologists is $106,330, which makes psychologist jobs considerably more lucrative than the average position, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
These are also jobs in high demand, with a growth rate of 13.2% projected through the decade leading up to 2032 for psychologist jobs in Arkansas. That’s much higher than the overall national growth rate of 4%.
2023 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary figures shown here for Psychologists. Job growth projections are from the US Department of Labor-sponsored resource, CareerOneStop. Figures are based on state data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed December 2024.