Pennsylvania Psychology Doctorate Programs

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Pennsylvania PsyD Programs
Pennsylvania Psychologist Requirements
Pennsylvania Doctorate Salary Outlook

Quick Facts

West Chester University of Pennsylvania boasts a 57% licensure rate for students who graduated from their clinical psychology program between 2012 and 2022.
Bryn Mawr has an annual tuition of $83,250 including room and board.
Duquesne University reports that nearly 76% of all first-time students will end up graduating.
In-state annual tuition for Pennsylvania State is $20,234.
The graduation rate at Bryn Mawr is 86% for first-time, full-time students.

List of PsyD Programs In Pennsylvania

Below are programs in Pennsylvania where you can earn your Psy.D. This degree is a good option for students who want to work as clinicians in their psychology careers.

SEE ALSO: 5+ Online PsyD Programs

Indiana University of Pennsylvania

Indiana University of Pennsylvania offers a Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology that stresses the professional application of psychology based on a foundation in the scientific knowledge base of psychology. This four-year, APA-accredited program follows a practitioner model of training psychologists. There is an emphasis on professional application of psychology to a variety of human conditions and problems. Students are extensively supervised so that they develop robust skills in interpersonal relations, psychotherapy, psychological assessment, and community outreach.

Institution type: Private
Main campus: Indiana
Annual tuition: $17,599 in-state; $26,393 out-of-state
Degrees offered: Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology
Accreditation: APA
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Widener University

Widener University offers an APA-accredited Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology that will provide you with the skills and knowledge to become a scholar-practitioner psychologist. Students delve into the science behind psychology, and will apply their new knowledge in intervention, assessment, consultation, and supervision. Each student will have a practicum placement, paid internships, and tough dissertation research. All aspects of the program will provide you with on-the-job-training so you can eventually excel as a clinical psychologist. Most students graduate within five years and work as licensed clinical psychologists.

Institution type: Private
Main campus: Chester
Annual tuition: $39,864
Degrees offered: Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology
Accreditation: APA
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West Chester University

West Chester University offers a Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology that is accredited by the APA. It follows a practitioner-scholar model that prepares each student for leadership roles in psychology. Graduates of this four-year program will be ready to implement evidence-based practice to treat, assess, and prevent mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders, especially among those at greatest risk. Students also will be critical consumers of research and will be equipped to develop and evaluate interventions for the purpose of quality improvement and clinical decision making.

Institution type: Public
Main campus: West Chester
Tuition: $862 per credit in-state, $1,209 per credit out-of-state
Degrees offered: Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology
Accreditation: APA
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La Salle University

La Salle University’s Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology works to educate and train students in the practice and science of clinical psychology so they can work effectively in many professional psychology jobs, such as clinical research, psychotherapy, psychological assessment, and clinical research. The five-year program is based on the practitioner-scholar model of professional psychological training and stresses a cognitive-behavioral theoretical orientation. Embedded in the APA-approved curriculum are evidence-based practice, psychological science, psychological theory, ethics and professional standards, and awareness of and sensitivity to diversity.

Institution type: Private
Main campus: Philadelphia
Annual tuition: $46,215; $1,260 per credit
Degrees offered: Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology
Accreditation: APA
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Chestnut Hill College

Chestnut Hill College offers a Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology with optional concentrations in Couple, Family, and Child Therapy or Psychological Assessment. This doctoral program is accredited by the APA and prepares the doctoral student with skills in psychotherapy, psychological assessment, consultation, and supervision. Students learn clinical skills and also develop a broad base of academic knowledge that allows them to evaluate and contribute to the field of clinical psychology.

Institution type: Private
Main campus: Philadelphia
Annual tuition: $36,300; $1,100 per credit hour
Degrees offered: Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology
Accreditation: APA
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Immaculata University

Immaculata University offers a Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology that instructs students intensively in psychotherapy, psychological assessment, and other critical areas relevant to clinical psychology practice. The program is four years in length, APA-accredited, and encourages the development of your research skills through intensive coursework, independent research projects overseen by faculty, and dissertation. After graduation, students are ready to make scholarly contributions to the psychology field and take leadership roles in the field of mental health.

Institution type: Private
Main campus: Immaculata
Annual tuition: $25,470
Degrees offered: Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology
Accreditation: APA
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Chatham University

Chatham University offers a Psy.D. in Counseling Psychology that is distinguished by the practice of psychological counseling grounded in psychological science; focus on the client’s assets and strengths; and a strong commitment to inclusion, social justice, and diversity. The program requires between 85 and 103 credits to graduate and is accredited by the APA.

Institution type: Private
Main campus: Pittsburgh
Tuition: $1,160 per credit hour
Degrees offered: Psy.D. in Counseling Psychology
Accreditation: APA
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Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine

PCOM’s Psy.D. in School Psychology has been APA accredited since 2019. Not only has it earned the APA’s stamp of approval, its course sequence has been verified by the Association of Behavior Analysis International as qualifying graduates for the Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) credential. Designed to take between five and seven years to complete, graduates earn 111 credits in total. PCOM also offers a Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology that’s held APA accreditation since 2003. It’s a five-year, 89-credit program that includes two years of practicum experience.

Institution type: Private
Main campus: Philadelphia
Annual tuition: School: $33,697; Clinical: $42,997
Degrees offered: Psy.D. in School Psychology, Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology
Accreditation: APA
Visit School: School, Clinical

Point Park University

APA-accredited since 2019, PPU’s Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology makes a point to focus distinctively on community. Its 90 credits are designed to be completed in five years, and students even manage to hit the mark early. Those who’ve graduated from this program over the past four years took an average of 4.9 years to finish. The program is also one of the most affordable in the Pittsburgh area.

Institution type: Private
Main campus: Pittsburgh
Tuition: $1,177 per credit
Degrees offered: Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology
Accreditation: APA
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Duquesne University

DU’s Psy.D. in School Psychology has proudly held APA accreditation since 2015, and it’s also endorsed by the National Association of School Psychologists. Offered through the School of Education, the GRE is optional for this 91-credit program. Of the 80 students who’ve earned this degree between 2014 and 2024, 40% went on to pursue careers in licensed roles.

Institution type: Private
Main campus: Pittsburgh
Annual tuition: $45,450; $1,515 per credit hour
Degrees offered: Psy.D. in School Psychology
Accreditation: APA
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Marywood University

Marywood’s Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology has held APA accreditation since 2006. The GRE is not required when applying to this 117-credit program, and there are tracks for post-bachelor’s and post-master’s students. The school’s in-house psychology clinic makes it particularly well-suited to gaining clinical experience.

Institution type: Private
Main campus: Scranton
Annual tuition: $34,500; $1,000 per credit
Degrees offered: Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology
Accreditation: APA
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Holy Family University

The bachelor’s-to-Psy.D. pathway for this Counseling program requires 102 credits, while the master’s-to-Psy.D. pathway requires between 78 and 90 credits. Master’s-entry students from psychology-related fields like social work and public health are welcome to apply. This program has contingency accreditation from the APA until March of 2025 when enough student outcome data will be available for the school to be considered for full accreditation. In the meantime, graduates are considered to have completed a program with full APA accreditation.

Institution type: Private
Main campus: Philadelphia
Annual tuition: $21,600
Degrees offered: Psy.D. in Counseling Psychology
Accreditation: APA on contingency
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Carlow University

This 93-credit Counseling Psychology Psy.D. has held APA accreditation since 2011. With some online courses available, the program advertises a completion time of as few as 48 months, however the average time to graduation for cohorts over the past decade is 4.84 years. Social justice values are emphasized in this program, which follows a practitioner-scholar education model.

Institution type: Private
Main campus: Pittsburgh
Annual tuition: $32,396
Degrees offered: Psy.D. in Counseling Psychology
Accreditation: APA
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How To Become A Practicing Psychologist In Pennsylvania

Becoming a board-certified psychologist in the state of Pennsylvania requires a rigorous amount of work both inside and outside of the classroom. To become a practicing psychologist in Pennsylvania, you will have to complete your education at an approved university. You will require both a Bachelor’s Degree and a Master’s Degree in the field of psychology. In order to attain both of those degrees, you’ll need to acquire nearly 200 total credit hours spanning up to six years.

After you’ve completed your Master’s degree the next logical step toward your license will be obtaining your Doctorate Degree. There are different doctorates available to you and you can reference them by reading the American Psychological Association (APA) standards for Pennsylvania. No matter what doctoral program you choose to pursue, you must also complete at least 1,500 hours of supervised experience with an APA approved internship. Once you’ve accomplished this task, you are ready to pursue your license officially.

First, you will need to approach the Pennsylvania Board of Psychology in order to submit your first application. This application will cost you a non-refundable fee of $105. Along with your application, you will need to provide your transcripts and official degree status. You’ll also need to supply a National Practitioner Data Bank Self Query Report as well as a Letter of Good Standing.
Once your documents are in order, you will also submit a criminal background check that is dated within the prior 90 days. You can acquire this documentation from your local state police department. You will also have to submit a child abuse clearance form provided by the Department of Public Welfare. In rare instances, the Board will demand further documentation.
Along with your documentation, you will also have to provide proof of one year or 1,750 supervised hours of work experience from an approved internship. Half of those hours must be spent in supervised, face-to-face contact with clients.
Once all of your internships and documents are filed, you’ll have to pass a pair of licensing exams. These exams are incredibly difficult, and many aspiring psychologists will spend up to six months preparing for them. You will need to pass the following tests:

- Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology
- Pennsylvania Psychology-Law Examination

With your tests completed, you can submit your final application to the Pennsylvania Board of Psychology. If you meet or exceed all requirements, you will be granted your license.

Despite the rigorous process required to attain your license, psychologists in Pennsylvania are in a great position now and in the future. There are more than 7,500 practicing and certified psychologists in Pennsylvania, and more are being added every single day.

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Pennsylvania Clinical Psychologist Salary and Job Outlook

Clinical and counseling psychologist jobs in Pennsylvania are forecast to increase by 9.5% over the next decade. That’s far better than the state’s average job growth rate of 2.5% over that time.

The average annual salary for counseling and clinical psychologists in Pennsylvania is $80,400 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Those in the top ten percent, the bracket PsyD-prepared psychologists fall into, earned $126,250 that year.

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.