Kentucky Psychology Doctorate Programs
The need for compassionate, highly trained professionals in the field of psychology is great and growing all the time. That’s why so many students are drawn to doctoral degrees in psychology, such as the Psy.D. degree, or Doctor of Psychology.
Several Psy.D. degrees can be earned right here in Kentucky. Let’s learn more about the educational options in the commonwealth as well as what’s required to earn professional licensure here.
What’s On This Page
- Quick Facts
- Kentucky PsyD Programs
- Other Psychology Doctorates
- Kentucky Psychologist Requirements
- Kentucky Doctorate Salary Outlook
Quick Facts:
- In Kentucky, 27 not-for-profit schools offer programs in psychology with 15 of those schools providing an advanced degree.
- Spalding University’s PsyD program has the highest licensure rate of all APA-accredited programs in the state.
- Eastern Kentucky University offers the least expensive PsyD degree of all APA-accredited schools in the state.
- You can get licensed by reciprocity in Kentucky if you’ve been licensed in another state and meet other requirements.
- Other psychological credentials in the state include Psychological Practitioner, Psychological Associate, and Health Service Provider.
List of PsyD Degree Programs in Kentucky
Three Psy.D. degree programs are available in the commonwealth of Kentucky, including two that are accredited by the APA. Let’s take a look at the vital statistics of the programs and schools that offer them.
Spalding University
The Psy.D. program at Spalding University first earned APA accreditation in 1989. Today, the program offers a range of specialty options, including geriatric, neuro, forensic, and health psychology. 202 graduates earned their Psy.D. from Spalding between 2014 and 2024, and the licensure rate over the past decade is 93%.
- Institution type: Private, not-for-profit
- Campus: Louisville
- Annual tuition: $37,980
- Degrees offered: PsyD
- Accreditation: APA
- Visit school: Click here
Eastern Kentucky University
Eastern Kentucky University’s Psy.D. program gained APA accreditation in 2018. In addition to a full-time year-long internship, the program also includes a 27-hour practicum early in the curriculum. The GRE is required for application. 43 students earned their Psy.D. from this program to-date, and their licensure rate after graduation is 86%.
- Institution type: Public
- Campus: Richmond
- Annual tuition: $22,196 (in-state and out-of-state)
- Degrees offered: PsyD
- Accreditation: APA
- Visit school: Click here
Western Kentucky University
Western Kentucky University’s Department of Psychology offers a Psy.D. in Applied Psychology that was designed to adhere to APA guidelines, but the program has not yet been granted provisional or final accreditation. Still, interested students can choose from two possible specializations, clinical or school. The clinical psychology concentration has pathways for students entering with a bachelor’s degree or with a master’s degree. 20 students completed the program between 2015 and 2024, and 70% of them became licensed after graduation.
- Institution type: Public
- Campus: Bowling Green
- Annual tuition: $18,600 in-state, $27,500 out-of-state
- Degrees offered: PsyD in Applied Psychology
- Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission; school is taking steps to move towards APA accreditation
- Visit school: Click here
How to Become a Psychologist in Kentucky
Being able to work as a psychologist in Kentucky involves not only earning an advanced degree like a Psy.D. but also completing a several-step application process. Let’s take a look at the steps required to get your psychologist license here in Kentucky.
- Get your bachelor’s degree in psychology or a closely related field. If your undergrad degree is in psychology, you should be able to simply apply for the Psy.D. program of your choice. But if your bachelor’s degree is in a different field, you may need to take remedial courses, or you could be a less-attractive candidate. Also, some Psy.D. programs require students to have master’s degrees, so be sure to find out what’s required at the schools to which you plan to apply.
- Earn a doctoral degree. Most Psy.D. programs combine rigorous coursework with thousands of hours of hands-on work helping people deal with their mental and behavioral health issues, and some of these programs will help you meet the professional experience requirements set forth by Kentucky regulators.
- Meet state requirements. Licensure applicants in Kentucky must meet several requirements as part of the application process, including completing at least 3,600 hours of supervised professional experience, half of which must be from clinical services. Applicants who meet all requirements can apply for a temporary license, which will let them take the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (a minimum score of 500 is required), as well as the two state exams (rules and ethics) necessary to be granted a license.
- Remain licensed and keep up with requirements. Psychologists in Kentucky must renew their licenses every three years and must complete 39 hours of continuing education during the period.
Kentucky Clinical Psychologist Salary and Job Outlook
The overall average wage for Kentucky workers is $54,030, considerably lower than the average salary for clinical and counseling psychologists in the commonwealth, $105,140, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Over the next decade, jobs for clinical psychologists are expected to increase by 11.1% in Kentucky, which is several times higher than the projected growth rate for all jobs in the state.
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.