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Kansas Psychology Doctorate Programs

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Individuals who feel driven to help other people cope with and overcome emotional and mental health issues will likely find fulfillment in a career that lets them do just that. And there’s no doubt there’s a great need in society for compassionate, highly trained professionals who can address mental health problems, anxiety, addiction and the day-to-day stresses of life. This is a major reason why the Doctor of Psychology degree, or Psy.D. for short, was developed in the late 1960s, and today this degree is among the most rapidly growing graduate degrees.

The good news for students in Kansas is that there are several excellent programs in the state that offer a range of Psy.D. degrees and focuses. Let’s take a look at what prospective Psy.D. students in Kansas should know about their educational options and what goes into becoming a professional psychologist.

What’s On This Page

  • Quick Facts
  • Kansas PsyD Programs
  • Other Psychology Doctorates
  • Kansas Psychologist Requirements
  • Kansas Doctorate Salary Outlook

Quick Facts:

  • The University of Kansas uses an integrative approach in its PhD program combining science and practice in order to effectively train clinical psychologists in all areas of the discipline.
  • Tuition costs (including fees) for the University of Kansas is approximately $12,000 per year for fulltime in-state students and $25,000 per year for out-of-state students
  • Graduate programs at Kansas State University are designed to provide broad training in both subject matter and methodology.
  • Wichita State University uses an apprenticeship model for its PhD program, which provides students the opportunity to develop and implement innovative prevention programs within government facilities, human service organizations for client-centered care.
  • The Wichita State Program consists of 101 credit hours and 2,000 clinical practicum/internship hours for completion.

List of PsyD Programs in Kansas

Currently, only one Psy.D. degree is available in the state of Kansas, and it’s not yet been accredited by the American Psychological Association. However, several APA-accredited Ph.D. programs in psychology are available in the state. Let’s take a look at the doctoral programs here in Kansas.

SEE ALSO: 5+ Online Accredited PsyD Programs

Kansas City University

Kansas City University’s Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology hasn’t yet earned APA accreditation, though the designation is pending at this private medical school. With a unique focus area on geropsychology, KCU is a good option for students who want to tailor their education around that field despite the university not yet having the APA seal of approval.

  • Institution type: Private, not-for-profit
  • Campus: Kansas City
  • Annual tuition: $33,552
  • Degrees offered: PsyD in Clinical Psychology
  • Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission and North Central Association of Colleges and Schools; APA accreditation application hasn’t yet been approved
  • Visit school: Click here

Other Psychology Doctorates in Kansas

University of Kansas

The University of Kansas is home to a total of four APA-accredited Ph.D. programs in psychology, including clinical, counseling, school and clinical child. KU’s clinical psychology program first earned APA accreditation in 1949. A total of 58 students have completed the clinical psychology Ph.D. since the 2009-10 school year, and 93% have earned their professional licenses.

  • Institution type: Public
  • Campus: Lawrence
  • Annual tuition: Most admitted students will receive free tuition in addition to annual stipends
  • Degrees offered: PhD in Clinical Psychology, PhD in Counseling Psychology, PhD in School Psychology, PhD in Clinical Child Psychology
  • Accreditation: APA
  • Visit school: Click here

Wichita State University

Wichita State’s Ph.D. in Clinical-Community Psychology has been APA-accredited since 2005, and 32 students have earned their degrees since the 2009-10 school year. All graduates who have sought professional licensure in that time have received it.

  • Institution type: Public
  • Campus: Wichita
  • Annual tuition: $7,549 in-state, $18,539 out-of-state
  • Degrees offered: PhD in Clinical-Community Psychology
  • Accreditation: APA
  • Visit school: Click here

How to Become a Psychologist in Kansas

The path to becoming a licensed psychologist in Kansas starts with education, but it certainly doesn’t end there. Let’s explore what’s involved in this complex and rigorous career journey.

  1. Earn a bachelor’s degree in psychology or a closely related field. All applicants to doctoral psychology programs must have completed a bachelor’s degree program, and most institutions prefer prospective doctoral students to have completed their undergraduate education in psychology. Many schools will accept applicants who majored in closely related fields, though, such as social work or biology. Others may require non-psychology majors to complete a master’s degree in the field before applying.
  2. Get your doctorate in psychology, either a Psy.D. or a Ph.D. All licensure applicants in Kansas must have a doctoral degree in psychology, and the state gives preference to those who complete APA-accredited programs. Those who earn degrees from other schools still can apply, but they will need to work harder to verify that their doctoral meets the standards set forth in Kansas state law.
  3. Fulfill state requirements and sit for exams. Kansas requires 1,800 hours of supervised post-doctoral professional experience, but temporary licensure can be granted to those who haven’t completed that portion but have earned their degrees. Applicants must also score at least 500 on the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology.
  4. Maintain licensure. Licensed psychologists in Kansas must apply to renew their licenses every two years.

Kansas Clinical Psychologist Salary and Job Outlook

Clinical, counseling and school psychologists in Kansas have one of the lowest average salary figures among their counterparts across the country, with the average professional earning just under $70,000 per year in Kansas, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Still, this rate is considerably higher than the overall wage for all occupations in Kansas ($45,280).

SEE ALSO: Kansas Clinical Psychologist Salary

Not only that, but these roles are expected to become more prevalent in Kansas over the next decade. The state is projected to see growth of about 9.3% in clinical psychologist jobs, compared to the overall job growth in the U.S. economy, pegged at about 5%.