Florida Psychology Doctorate Programs
Like everywhere else in the United States, Florida has a serious mental health crisis. That’s one reason why increasing numbers of students are interested in exploring advanced training in the field, especially the types of degrees that provide the foundation of professional licensure in psychology.
Several degrees are available in the state, but students have to follow a strict process to earn (and keep) their professional licenses here in Florida.
What’s On This Page
- Quick Facts
- Florida PsyD Programs
- Florida Psychologist Requirements
- Florida Doctorate Salary Outlook
Quick Facts:
- To become a licensed psychologist in Florida, you need 4,000 of experience, which equals two complete years of working full time.
- The Florida Board of Psychology is who you will apply to for licensing, and you’ll send them $305 for a filing fee, your application, and other supporting documentation.
- Pearson VUE administers the official exam you have to take for licensure, which will cost you $48.
- Your license has to be renewed every two years and you can do that online, but you have to complete 35 hours of continuing education during that two-year period.
- Most psychologists in Florida are counseling, clinical, or school psychologists, and they average nearly $76,000 per year in salary.
List of PsyD Degree Programs in Florida
Three APA-accredited Psy.D. degrees are available in the state of Florida. Let’s take a look at vital statistics about the three institutions and their Psy.D. offerings.
SEE ALSO: 5+ Best Online PsyD Programs
Florida Institute of Technology
Florida Tech’s Psy.D. degree program was first granted APA accreditation in 1983, and today the program offers four optional specialty tracks — family/child, forensic, neuropsychology and health psychology. More than 160 graduates have completed their degrees in the past 10 academic years, and 95% have earned professional licensure.
- Institution type: Private, not-for-profit
- Campus: Melbourne
- Annual tuition: $29,430
- Degrees offered: PsyD in Clinical Psychology
- Accreditation: APA
- Visit school: Click here
Nova Southeastern University
Nova Southeastern’s Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology, based at the system’s Fort Lauderdale campus, has been APA-accredited since 1983. The program offers several optional focus areas, including child/family, diversity, forensic, neuropsychology, health, psychodynamic psychotherapy and long-term mental illness. A second Psy.D. is available in school psychology, but that program is not APA-accredited. Over the past decade, 85% of the 600-plus graduates have gone on to earn professional licensure.
- Institution type: Private, not-for-profit
- Campus: Fort Lauderdale
- Annual tuition: $44,660
- Degrees offered: PsyD in Clinical Psychology, PsyD in School Psychology (non-APA-accredited)
- Accreditation: APA
- Visit school: Click here
Carlos Albizu University
Carlos Albizu University’s Miami campus is home to an APA-accredited Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology that offers focus areas in child, neuropsychology, forensic and health. Over the past 10 years, nearly 400 students have earned their degrees at the Miami campus, and the program’s licensure rate is 63%.
- Institution type: Private, not-for-profit
- Campus: Miami
- Annual tuition: $33,600
- Degrees offered: PsyD in Clinical Psychology
- Accreditation: APA
- Visit school: Click here
How to Become a Psychologist in Florida
The state of Florida has set aside a strict procedure to earn psychologist licensure in the state. Let’s take a look at what’s required.
- Earn a bachelor’s degree, ideally in psychology. It may not be strictly necessary to major in psychology as an undergrad, but a bachelor’s in the field will make you a much better doctoral candidate than some unrelated major. Other possible undergrad majors include biology and social work. Also, for those who already have degrees in some other area, earning a master’s degree could help bolster your doctoral application.
- Get your doctorate. Whether a Psy.D. or Ph.D., an APA-accredited doctoral degree is crucial for becoming licensed to practice psychology in the state of Florida. An Ed.D. degree also is accepted in Florida.
- Meet state requirements. In addition to a doctorate from an APA-accredited school, applicants in Florida must complete 4,000 hours of supervised experience, 2,000 of which is generally included in Psy.D. and Ph.D. programs. The remaining 2,000 hours must be supervised post-doctoral experience. Applicants must pass the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology and the Florida Department of Health Psychology Laws & Rules Examination.
- Remain licensed, and keep up with requirements. Once they’ve earned their license, Florida psychologists will need to be sure their practice isn’t interrupted by a lapsed license, and these licenses are up for renewal every two years.
Florida Clinical Psychologist Salary and Job Outlook
The average worker in Florida makes an annual wage of about $46,000, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, but the typical clinical psychologist in the state makes about $77,000. At the high end of the spectrum, well-qualified and experienced psychologists can expect to make about $126,000.
SEE ALSO: Florida Psychologist Salary Outlook
Clinical psychologist jobs are expected to expand by nearly 20% in Florida over the next decade, which is the seventh-fastest growth projection in the country for this occupation.