Nevada Psychology Doctorate Programs

As people increasingly warm to the fact that they must tend to their mental health just as much as they do to their physical health, the demand for educated, licensed professionals who can make a difference will keep on growing.

Nevada is among the states with the highest rates of mental illness, depression and anxiety, and the state’s death rate from suicide is one of the highest in the nation.

That’s why many people who are interested in making a difference are considering a career as a licensed psychologist, helping provide counseling and therapy to others so they can better cope with their mental health and behavioral issues. Doing so in Nevada means being licensed by the state, and that’s a process that must include a doctoral degree in psychology, whether a more traditional Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy) or the increasingly popular Psy.D. (Doctor of Psychology).

Let’s explore the options for both of these degrees in Nevada, as well as what students need to know about all the steps they need to take to become professional psychologists here in the state.

What’s On This Page

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

List of PsyD Degree Programs in Nevada

No colleges or universities in Nevada offer Psy.D. degrees. The state psychology board prefers students to complete educational programs that have been accredited by the American Psychological Association, but students who attend non-APA-accredited institutions still can apply for licensure. These applicants will be required to submit supporting documentation that illustrates that their programs meet state standards.

That means that there are a few online Psy.D. programs that Nevada students could consider, though it’s important to keep in mind that the state requires a certain number of hours of supervised experience, much of which would be part of a Psy.D. program that’s conducted in-person but which is less common in online programs.

Capella University

Capella’s online Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology is designed to be flexible, and the program includes both online and in-person work outside of the internship or practicum experience. According to a Capella survey, 88% of doctoral graduates said what they learned in the program was immediately applicable in their careers.

• Institution type: Private, for-profit
• Campus: Online, headquartered in Minnesota
• Total expected tuition: $78,300
• Degrees offered: PsyD in Clinical Psychology
• Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
• Visit school: Click here

Alliant International University

Offered through the California School of Education (CSOE), Alliant International University is home to a fully online Psy.D. in Educational Psychology that’s split into two possible tracks, school psychology or school counseling. The program is relatively new, so the university has yet to publish career or licensure outcomes for graduates.

• Institution type: Private, for-profit
• Campus: Online, headquarters are in San Diego
• Total expected tuition: $64,835
• Degrees offered: PsyD in Educational Psychology
• Accreditation: Western Association of Schools and Colleges
• Visit school: Click here

Other Psychology Doctorates in Nevada

Nevada students aren’t out of luck if they prefer in-person programs, as the University of Nevada system offers a pair of APA-accredited Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology degrees.

University of Nevada

Nevada-Reno’s Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology has been accredited by the APA since 1972, while UNLV’s degree earned the APA stamp in 2005. Students at the Reno campus can gain practical experience at an on-site psychology services center, while UNLV boasts a wide range of psychology research labs. About 60 students have graduated from the Reno program since 2008-09, with 89% earning licensure, while the UNLV program had 55 graduates in that time who earned licensure at a 95% rate.

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

How to Become a Practicing Psychologist in Nevada

What does it take to become a psychologist in Nevada? Those interested in working professionally in the field must first earn state licensure in order to legally practice in the state. This is a several-step process that will take a number of years. Let’s check out the steps for becoming a psychologist in Nevada.

1. Get a bachelor’s degree in psychology or another relevant field. It’s not strictly necessary to have earned your undergraduate degree in psychology in order to become a licensed psychologist, but it certainly helps. That’s because majoring in psychology in college is the strongest signal to upper-level educational programs that you have a basic educational foundation in the subject. That said, some doctoral programs may accept applicants with undergraduate degrees in social work, biology or statistics.
2. Earn a Psy.D. or Ph.D. in psychology. The Nevada Board of Psychological Examiners requires applicants to complete a doctoral degree in psychology, which can be a Psy.D. or Ph.D. Applicants who complete non-APA-accredited programs must submit additional documentation during the application process.
3. Check off other state requirements. In addition to completing a doctoral program in psychology, licensure applicants must complete at least two years of supervised professional experience, including at least a year of postdoctoral experience. Once they complete that requirement, they will then be allowed to take the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology and the state jurisprudence exam.
4. Keep your license valid. Psychologist licenses in Nevada expire every other year, and professionals must complete at least 30 hours of continuing education each cycle. Additionally, the state board requires that at least six hours are devoted to scientific and professional ethics and standards, while at least two hours must be in evidence-based suicide prevention and awareness.

Nevada Clinical Psychologist Salary and Job Outlook

The average full-time worker in Nevada makes about $43,000 per year, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says. But psychologists in the state can earn considerably more. In fact, clinical psychologists in Nevada have an average annual salary of more than $83,000, which approaches double the average worker’s pay.

Nevada is also expected to see very rapid growth in psychologist jobs. In fact, while all American jobs are projected to grow by about 5%, clinical, counseling and school psychologist jobs are set to expand by nearly 22% in Nevada, making the state No. 4 in the nation for growth in this particular occupation.