How to Become a Counseling Psychologist
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A counseling psychologist evaluates, diagnoses, and treats mental health conditions to help individuals improve their quality of life. These mental health professionals can find employment opportunities in various settings providing services to diverse client populations across the lifespan.
If you are considering a career in counseling psychology, check out our guide to learn more about education and licensing requirements and career prospects.
What Is a Counseling Psychologist?
Counseling psychologists work with people who need help navigating emotional and mental health challenges in their lives. Their educational training prepares counseling psychologists to use multiple therapeutic approaches, develop treatment plans, and provide guidance and support to address clients’ needs.
Counseling psychology professionals can find employment in hospitals, mental health centers, and community clinics or work independently in private practice. They may pursue teaching and research positions in higher education. Corporations and businesses hire counseling psychologists to address workplace issues and conduct employee training.
How to Become a Counseling Psychologist
After completing a four-year bachelor’s degree in psychology, you need at least a master’s in counseling psychology, which takes 2-3 years. Many states require a doctorate to qualify for licensure and independent practice, adding six or more years to your educational timeline.
- 1
Earn a Bachelor’s Degree
A bachelor’s degree in general psychology, counseling psychology, or a related field such as sociology, social work, or human services provides aspiring counseling psychologists with a strong foundation for graduate study. - 2
Consider a Master’s Degree
A master’s degree in counseling provides opportunities to pursue specializations in marriage and family therapy, substance use counseling, and child and adolescent counseling. Students may earn their master’s before entering a doctoral program or choose a combined program to earn their master’s while completing doctoral requirements. - 3
Earn a Doctoral Degree
Licensure in most states requires a Ph.D. in counseling psychology, emphasizing research and teaching, or a Psy.D. degree leading to clinical practice roles. Doctoral students typically finish either degree in less than six years. - 4
Satisfy Internship and Supervised Clinical Requirements
An internship is a required component of a doctoral program, completed during your last year of study. Site placements must have approval from the American Psychological Association. Along with the internship hours completed during your doctoral training, most states require two additional years of supervised clinical experience for licensure. - 5
Pursue State Licensure
State licensure requirements vary, but all licensing boards require a passing score on the Examination for the Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP). Candidates usually take the EPPP after completing all supervised clinical practice hours. Some states also require jurisprudence and oral exams.
Counseling Psychology Licensure
All candidates seeking licensure as a counseling psychologist must complete a master’s or doctoral program from a regionally accredited university and a required amount of supervised experience. You can pursue state licensure as a psychologist after completing these requirements and any necessary exams.
Once you enter practice as a licensed counseling psychologist, you must complete a minimum number of continuing education hours and renew your license every two or three years as determined by your state licensing board. You should always check with the licensing board in the state where you intend to practice for current information about licensing requirements and procedures for transferring licenses acquired in another state.
Counseling Psychologist Salary and Career Outlook
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), which combines data for counseling and clinical psychologists, the career outlook for these professionals is promising. How much you can make depends on several factors, including where you work, the employment setting, and years of experience. In 2023, the clinical and counseling psychologist salary range went from as low as $48,820 to a high of $168,870.
The BLS projects that the employment of clinical and counseling psychologists will increase by 13% between 2023-2033, much higher than the national average for all occupations.
The projected growth for these two specialized psychology roles is more than double the projected growth of any other psychologist field tracked by the BLS. The increasing demand for more accessible psychological services in hospitals, schools, mental health centers, and social service agencies drives the promising career outlook.
| Annual Salary Percentile | Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 10% | $48,820 |
| 25% | $66,050 |
| Median (50%) | $96,100 |
| 75% | $129,020 |
| 90% | $168,870 |
Frequently Asked Questions About Becoming a Counseling Psychologist
It takes approximately 10-16 years to become a licensed counseling psychologist, including 10-14 years of schooling and two years of supervised postdoctoral experience. After earning a four-year bachelor’s, you can save time by entering a dual doctoral program combining master’s and doctoral studies, which you can complete in approximately 4-6 years.
