Iowa Psychology Doctorate Programs

As more and more people begin to accept the fact that mental health is just as important as physical health, the stigma surrounding therapy, counseling and other aspects of mental healthcare continues to decline.

But as people seek treatment for anxiety, depression, addiction and more mundane emotional health issues, the need for qualified, trained professionals in the field will keep on growing. The need for licensed mental healthcare workers, such as psychologists, was the driving force in the development of the Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) degree in the 1960s, and many educational opportunities exist today for students interested in that career path.

Let’s explore the options for Psy.D. students in Iowa and learn more about what prospective psychologists in the state need to know in order to practice legally here.

What’s On This Page

• Iowa PsyD Programs
• Other Psychology Doctorates
• Iowa Psychologist Requirements
• Iowa Doctorate Salary Outlook

List of PsyD Degree Programs in Iowa

Currently, no schools offer Psy.D. degrees in Iowa, whether accredited by the American Psychological Association or not. Currently, no online Psy.D. degrees have earned the APA’s seal of approval. You can read more about the state’s licensure requirements below, but it’s important for future Iowa psychologists to understand that they must attend an APA-accredited institution if they wish to become licensed in this state.

Other Psychology Doctorates in Iowa

Two schools in the state of Iowa currently offer APA-accredited Ph.D. degrees in varying psychology specialties. Let’s take a look at what doctoral programs are available here in Iowa.

Iowa State University

Iowa State has been home to an APA-accredited Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology degree since 1973. About 40 students have completed the program since the 2009-10 school year, and 87% of them have gone on to earn professional licensure.

• Institution type: Public
• Campus: Ames
• Annual tuition: All students receive tuition remission and annual research or teaching fellowships or assistantships
• Degrees offered: PhD in Counseling Psychology
• Accreditation: APA
• Visit school: Click here

University of Iowa

UI’s psychology Ph.D. offerings include two APA-accredited degrees — clinical (accredited since 1948) and counseling (since 1980). The university also offers a school psychology doctorate for which APA accreditation has been placed on hold, but UI plans to restart that program in the near future. Students in the psychology department can gain unique experience at an on-site psychological services clinic, The Seashore Clinic. A total of 110 clinical and counseling graduates have earned their degrees in the past 10 years, and they’ve become licensed at an average rate of 89%.

• Institution type: Public
• Campus: Iowa City
• Annual tuition: Most students receive full tuition waivers
• Degrees offered: PhD in Clinical Psychology, PhD in Counseling Psychology
• Accreditation: APA
• Visit school: Clinical click here, counseling click here

How to Become a Practicing Psychologist in Iowa

A career as a professional psychologist in every state, Iowa included, starts with basic education in the subject, but that’s only the beginning. Let’s take a look at the educational, experiential and licensure steps involved in becoming a psychologist here in Iowa.

1. Complete a bachelor’s degree, ideally in psychology. Majoring in psychology isn’t legally required in the state, but an undergraduate degree in the subject will be important when it comes time to begin the advanced educational training required for licensure. Many upper-level psychology programs will not accept applicants without undergraduate or graduate degrees in the subject, so students should be sure to verify the admissions requirements for the programs they’re interested in.
2. Earn a doctoral degree. The Iowa Board of Psychology requires all licensure applicants to have a Psy.D. or Ph.D. from an APA-accredited institution, and the state has no mechanism for evaluating academic credentials beyond accreditation.
3. Meet other state requirements. In addition to securing a doctoral degree from an APA-accredited organization, applicants must complete 1,500 hours of supervised professional experience in order to be approved to sit for the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology.
4. Maintain your license. Psychologist licenses in Iowa expire every other year, and 40 hours of continuing education are required every cycle.

Iowa Clinical Psychologist Salary and Job Outlook

The average worker in the state of Iowa makes about $47,000 per year, according to the most recent data published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. But professional psychologists, including clinical, counseling or school psychologists, can expect to earn quite a bit more. In fact, the average wage for those professionals is more than $83,000.

Additionally, these jobs are expected to become much more plentiful in Iowa over the next several years. While the U.S. as a whole is projected to see 5% growth in jobs, clinical psychologist jobs in Iowa should expand by more than 12%.