North Dakota Psychology Doctorate Programs
With Americans increasingly accepting the reality that caring for their mental health is every bit as important as tending to their physical health, the stigma surrounding counseling, therapy and other treatment methods for emotional problems has continued to recede.
But with growing acceptance comes growing utilization of mental health services, which has placed a strain on the system that will only be alleviated by increasing the number of qualified, licensed psychologists. In every state, North Dakota included, becoming a psychologist means following an educational, experiential and exam-based journey that culminates in a license to practice in the state.
The biggest step may be a Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) or Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree, but completing a doctoral is far from the only step. Let’s take a look at state regulations surrounding licensure and what academic options are available for students in North Dakota.
What’s On This Page
- North Dakota PsyD Programs
- Other North Dakota Doctorate Programs
- North Dakota Psychologist Requirements
- North Dakota Doctorate Salary Outlook
List of PsyD Degree Programs in North Dakota
No colleges or universities in North Dakota offer Psy.D. degrees that are accredited by the American Psychological Association, which is a prerequisite for obtaining a license to practice in the state. Currently, no online Psy.D. degrees have earned the APA’s seal of approval.
Other Psychology Doctorates in North Dakota
There are two degrees offered within the state of North Dakota that can help prospective psychologists qualify for the examinations necessary to earn licensure, and both are offered at the same school.
University of North Dakota
UND is home to a pair of APA-accredited Ph.D. degrees in psychology, with the clinical degree earning accreditation in 1969, followed by the counseling degree in 1987. Nearly 120 students have completed their clinical or counseling psychology doctorates at UND in the past 10 academic years, and their licensure rate averages out to about 85%.
- Institution type: Public
- Campus: Grand Forks
- Annual tuition: Most students receive tuition waivers
- Degrees offered: PhD in Clinical Psychology, PhD in Counseling Psychology https://und.edu/programs/counseling-psychology-phd/
- Accreditation: APA
- Visit school: Click here
How to Become a Practicing Psychologist in North Dakota
Working as a psychologist in the state of North Dakota means meeting several requirements related to education, test scores and professional experience. Here’s a look at what is required to get and keep a psychologist license in the state.
- Complete your undergraduate education, ideally with a psychology major. The state of North Dakota does not explicitly require students to earn bachelor’s degrees in psychology, but an undergraduate major in the field is important for moving up the educational ladder. Those without psychology degrees on their undergraduate transcripts may find it more challenging to earn admission into doctoral-level programs, and a doctorate is a requirement for licensure.
- Earn a doctoral degree, including a Psy.D. or Ph.D. North Dakota requires all applicants for psychologist licenses to complete an APA-accredited doctoral program, which can culminate in either a Psy.D. or Ph.D. No process exists in the state to evaluate programs that are not accredited by the APA. Doctoral programs must include at least 1,500 hours of supervised internship experience.
- Meet other state requirements. In addition to an APA-accredited doctoral degree, applicants must complete at least 1,500 hours of supervised professional experience, must score at least 500 on the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology and must pass the state’s oral jurisprudence examination.
- Keep up with license renewals. North Dakota psychologists must complete 40 hours of continuing education every two years in order to keep their licenses valid.
North Dakota Clinical Psychologist Salary and Job Outlook
A typical worker in North Dakota earns a full-time annual wage of just over $50,000. But trained psychologists can expect to earn a lot more, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. In fact, the average salary for clinical psychologists in North Dakota is more than $92,000, which is the 10th-highest in the country.
Not only do they make considerably more than their fellow residents, psychologists jobs are growing rapidly in the state. While all jobs in the U.S. are expected to expand by about 5% over the next decade, clinical, counseling and school psychologist jobs in North Dakota are projected to experience about 17% growth.