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.

Hawaii Pacific University

HPU is home to a new degree program, a Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology, that’s expected to begin in fall 2020. Applicants without a psychology major as undergraduates are required to have at least 15 credits in psychology and statistics. HPU is seeking APA accreditation for the program.

• Institution type: Private, not-for-profit
• Campus: Honolulu
• Annual tuition: $47,200
• Degrees offered: PsyD in Clinical Psychology
• Accreditation: Western Association of Schools and Colleges, APA application pending
• Visit school: Click here

Chaminade University

Chaminade’s Honolulu campus is home to the Psy.D. formerly offered by the Hawaii School of Professional Psychology, a program accredited by the APA since 1998. After the school’s name change to Argosy and, later, nationwide closure of Argosy, the program moved to Chaminade, where its APA accreditation will run out once existing Argosy students complete the program, or 2023. Chaminade’s Psy.D. program is seeking APA accreditation in the meantime.

• Institution type: Private, not-for-profit
• Campus: Honolulu
• Annual tuition: $38,304
• Degrees offered: PsyD
• Accreditation: Western Association of Schools and Colleges, APA application pending
• 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 55 people have completed the program over the past decade, earning licensure at a 65% rate, fairly average for a Ph.D. program in which many students aren’t seeking professional licensure.

• Institution type: Public
• Campus: Manoa
• Annual tuition: $15,912 in-state, $37,392 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.

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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 about $55,000 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, counseling and school psychologists in Hawaii make an average of nearly $95,000 per year, almost 75% higher than the average employed resident of Hawaii, and one of the highest in the U.S.

Over the next decade, it’s expected that all jobs in the U.S. will see a steady growth rate of about 5%, but for clinical psychologists in Hawaii, that rate is expected to be much higher — 12.7%.