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Montana Psychology Doctorate Programs

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As the stigma surrounding treatment for anxiety, depression and other emotional and behavioral health problems continues to recede, the demand for compassionate, qualified professionals who can provide this treatment will keep rising.

The good news for individuals who are drawn to this field is that there are many educational opportunities available that can provide them with the education and experience necessary to earn professional psychologist licensure, which is a requirement in every state (including Montana).

Whether they pursue a Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) or Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), students should be well-informed about what educational opportunities exist here in Montana, as well as what their legal obligations are when seeking licensure.

What’s On This Page

  • Montana PsyD Programs
  • Other Montana Doctorate Programs
  • Montana Psychologist Requirements
  • Montana Doctorate Salary Outlook

List of PsyD Degree Programs in Montana

There currently are no Psy.D. degrees offered within the state of Montana, whether accredited by the American Psychological Association or another organization. However, applicants for licensure in the state may attend non-APA-accredited institutions, though they will face additional hurdles in the licensure application process. There are a couple of online Psy.D. programs that could meet state standards despite not being APA-accredited.

California Southern

CalSouthern’s online Psy.D. was formulated with California’s requirements for licensure in mind, but the 100% online delivery method allows students across the country to benefit. Montana students who choose this program would be advised to include an optional internship as part of their course of study, as it’s strongly recommended by the state licensing board.

  • Institution type: Private, for-profit
  • Campus: Online, headquartered in California
  • Total expected tuition: $35,970
  • Degrees offered: PsyD
  • Accreditation: Western Association of Schools and Colleges
  • Visit school: Click here

Ashford University

Ashford University has started a new online Psy.D. program with seven possible specialties — criminology, educational leadership, health, industrial-organizational, mediation and sports. Students can complete most of their coursework online, but three in-person weekend workshops are required, but with the school’s headquarters in California, the journey won’t be as long for Montana students as for those in the eastern U.S.

  • Institution type: Private, for-profit
  • Campus: Online, headquartered in California
  • Total expected tuition: $76,404
  • Degrees offered: PsyD
  • Accreditation: Western Association of Schools and Colleges
  • Visit school: Click here

Other Psychology Doctorates in Montana

Two other psychology doctorates are available in the state of Montana, both at the same university.

University of Montana

The University of Montana’s Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology earned APA accreditation in 1970, while the institution’s Ph.D. in School Psychology is considerably newer, first becoming accredited in 2015. Students benefit from an on-campus training center, the Clinical Psychology Center, and students in the clinical degree track can select from a couple of optional focus areas, child/adolescent and neuropsychology. More than 50 students have completed either degree in the past 10 years, and they’ve gone on to earn licensure at about a 72% clip.

  • Institution type: Public
  • Campus: Missoula
  • Annual tuition: Most students receive tuition waivers and teaching or research assistantships
  • Degrees offered: PhD in Clinical Psychology, PhD in School Psychology
  • Accreditation: APA
  • Visit school: Clinical click here, school click here

How to Become a Practicing Psychologist in Montana

Becoming a psychologist in Montana means meeting several educational requirements, having many hours of experience and passing examinations. But once you earn your license, you still need to maintain it. Let’s take a look at what’s required to earn licensure in the state.

  1. Earn your bachelor’s in psychology or a closely related field. Majoring in psychology as an undergraduate is generally the fastest and best path to becoming a licensed psychologist in Montana. That said, there are closely related fields that can also be a step on your path, including social work or biology. Remember to pay close attention to all admissions requirements for programs to which you plan to apply, as many doctoral programs will not admit applicants without bachelor’s or master’s degrees in the subject.
  2. Complete an APA-accredited graduate program. The Montana Board of Psychology requires applicants to have either a clinical psychology doctoral from an APA-accredited institution or a Psy.D. or Ph.D. from a non-APA-accredited school along with completion of an APA-accredited clinical psychology retraining program. It’s also possible to receive your license if you haven’t attended an APA-accredited institution, but those applicants will be required to submit significant additional documentation to verify that the program meets state standards.
  3. Fulfill all other state requirements. Applicants must complete 3,200 hours of supervised professional experience, half of which may come from doctoral internships. At least half must be postdoctoral, but the time may not include more than six months of supervised research or teaching experience, meaning that no more than six months may be in non-clinical settings. Once they’ve completed the necessary professional experience, they may then take the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology and the state’s oral examination before the psychology board.
  4. Remain licensed, and keep up with requirements. Psychologist licenses in Montana expire every other year, and professionals must complete 40 hours of continuing education each cycle.

Montana Clinical Psychologist Salary and Job Outlook

Clinical, counseling and school psychologists in Montana earn an average of about $64,000 per year, according to the most recent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. While this is on the low side for this particular profession, it’s still quite a bit higher than the overall average full-time wage in the state, which is about $45,000.

These jobs are also expected to become much more common in Montana over the next decade or so. In fact, it’s projected that they’ll grow at a 12.5% rate, more than double what’s expected for all U.S. jobs (5%).