Hawaii Psychology Doctorate Programs
Like the rest of the United States, mental health is a growing problem in Hawaii. Rates of anxiety, severe mental illness and other emotional problems are on the rise. Not only that, but Hawaii is also experiencing a shortage of trained mental health professionals, making it more difficult for those who need help to get access to it.
Fortunately, several advanced degrees in psychology are available here in Hawaii, which is the most important education step for those with the desire to help others cope with their emotional and behavioral health problems.
Let’s take a look at the educational opportunities for Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) students in Hawaii, and learn about the steps that must come after a doctoral program in order to practice as a psychologist in the state.
What’s On This Page
- Hawaii PsyD Programs
- Other Psychology Doctorates
- Hawaii Psychologist Requirements
- Hawaii Doctorate Salary Outlook
List of PsyD Degree Programs in Hawaii
Students in Hawaii have a limited number of options for completing their doctoral degrees in psychology, but whether they choose to complete a Psy.D. or a Ph.D., students should understand what programs exist here in Hawaii.
Chaminade University
Chaminade’s School of Education and Behavioral Sciences is the proud host of its Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology. The latest incarnation of a program with a long history, it has been fully accredited by the APA since 2021. Ranked as the 16th-best program of its kind in the nation, students have the opportunity here to avail themselves of the largest psychological assessment library in the state. Chaminade also offers an Ed.D. in Educational Psychology, an Ed.S. in School Psychology, and a Doctorate in Marriage and Family Therapy, however none of these hold APA accreditation.
- Institution type: Private, not-for-profit
- Campus: Honolulu
- Annual tuition: $42,080
- Degrees offered: PsyD
- Accreditation: APA
- Visit school: Click here
Other Psychology Doctorates in Hawaii
University of Hawaii
The University of Hawaii at Manoa offers a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology that’s been accredited by the APA since 1972. In addition to a traditional Ph.D. psychology program, UH also gives students access to more hands-on learning than is sometimes present in Ph.D. psychology tracks thanks to an on-site cognitive behavioral therapy clinic. A total of 48 people have completed the program over the past decade, earning licensure at a 79% rate, fairly average for a Ph.D. program in which many students aren’t seeking professional licensure.
- Institution type: Public
- Campus: Manoa
- Annual tuition: $15,600 in-state, $33,648 out-of-state; many students receive tuition remission
- Degrees offered: PhD in Clinical Psychology
- Accreditation: APA
- Visit school: Click here
How to Become a Practicing Clinical Psychologist in Hawaii
State licensure is required before an individual can legally practice as a psychologist in Hawaii. Generally, the process follows a pretty standard path, and here’s what that looks like.
- Complete a bachelor’s degree program, ideally in psychology. It’s not strictly necessary for licensure applicants to have done their undergraduate work in psychology, but it’s quite helpful for the remaining academic steps. For those who majored in a closely related field, such as social work or biology, it may be necessary to take remedial courses at the doctoral level or to complete a master’s degree in psychology before applying.
- Earn a doctoral degree. Hawaii regulators require applicants to hold a doctoral degree in psychology, educational psychology or clinical psychology. Programs can be regionally accredited, and clinical psychology programs should be APA-accredited. Those wishing to streamline the application process should consider limiting their academic search only to APA-accredited programs, as that will allow them to skip much of the documentation necessary for degree-holders whose programs were not APA-accredited. Additionally, the doctoral program must include a supervised internship period of at least 1,900 hours.
- Meet other state requirements. In addition to a doctoral degree in psychology, applicants are required to complete 1,900 hours of postdoctoral supervised experience. Prospective licensees are then eligible to take the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology.
- Ensure your license remains active. Hawaii psychologist licenses expire every two years.
Hawaii Clinical Psychologist Salary and Job Outlook
The average worker in Hawaii earns $65,030 per year, according to estimates from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. But psychologists in the state can expect to earn considerably more. In fact, clinical and counseling psychologists in Hawaii make an average of $92,780 per year, almost 43% higher than the average employed resident of Hawaii.
Over the next decade, it’s expected that all jobs in the U.S. will see a steady growth rate of about 4%, but for clinical and counseling psychologists that rate is nearly double — 7%.
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.