For a state with a population of less than one million, Montana ranks significantly above the national average in rates of drug abuse and mental illness. These healthcare challenges fuel the demand for licensed psychologists and counselors, with the Projections Central projecting a 19% growth for substance abuse disorder and mental health counselors by 2026.

With less than a third of Montana’s adult population holding a bachelor’s degree or higher, expanding educational access through distance learning has become a priority in the state. Montana’s 20 psychology colleges offer fully online programs, mainly at the associate and bachelor’s levels.

This guide provides information about earning an online psychology degree in Montana, such as licensing requirements and salary opportunities.

The severe shortage of mental health care professionals in Montana allows graduates of online and campus-based psychology programs to compete on the same footing for entry-level and advanced positions. An online psychology degree delivers the same quality education as a traditional brick-and-mortar program while offering additional flexibility.

Many schools feature fully online formats with options for part-time attendance, while others incorporate hybrid courses with face-to-face requirements. Although some schools offer accelerated programs, online degrees typically require the same amount of time to complete as traditional programs.

The state’s only doctoral program in psychology at the University of Montana does not offer an online option. Montanans interested in a graduate-level online psychology degree may have to incorporate in-person residencies in their plan of study or enroll in an out-of-state online school.

Psychology programs vary widely in their programmatic emphasis and structure. While schools do not share a standardized curriculum, the courses below represent some common undergraduate offerings.

Becoming a licensed psychologist, counselor, or therapist in Montana requires several steps and adherence to nationally-established licensure procedures. Whether you plan to enroll in an online or campus-based psychology program, make sure you understand the degree and license requirements for your intended career.

A licensed counselor or therapist in Montana must hold at least a master’s degree in psychology or an approved field of study. Each licensed clinical social worker must complete an accredited master’s in social work program to practice in the state. A bachelor’s in psychology provides a strong academic foundation for the graduate programs that offer the following specialized licenses.

Montana faces severe mental healthcare shortages. Although one of the most sparsely populated states, Montana reports rates higher than the national average for alcoholism, drug addiction, and suicide, and the state currently employs less than a quarter of the mental health providers needed to serve its residents.

In response to these challenges, employment prospects continue to expand for licensed psychologists, counselors, and therapists with specialized training in alcohol and drug abuse disorders, suicide prevention, and rehabilitation treatment. Substance abuse, behavior disorder, and mental health counselors can expect to earn an average annual salary of $45,160 in Montana, compared to the national average of $47,920.

While Billings and Missoula, the two largest cities in Montana, offer the best salaries for psychologists who specialize in clinical, counseling, and educational settings, licensed psychologists, counselors, and therapists in all fields can expect increasing employment opportunities across the state.

Source: BLS, Projections Central

Source: BLS

Before choosing an online psychology degree in Montana, you should always check with your intended program for information about requirements and costs. You can find answers below to some of the most frequently asked questions about distance learning and psychology.

Almost all advanced positions in psychology require a master’s or doctoral degree, following the completion of a four-year undergraduate degree. Consequently, becoming a licensed psychologist or counselor can take up to ten years or more. Most psychology master’s programs in Montana require 35-55 credits completed in two years, while a doctoral student can expect to take approximately 100 credits throughout a four- or five-year program.

Distance learners will find their online coursework as demanding and challenging as a traditional classroom. Online psychology degrees offered by accredited colleges and universities maintain the same high academic standards as their campus-based programs. While web-based programs allow you the freedom to work on your own schedule, you still must employ time management skills to finish assignments and respect deadlines.

While a bachelor’s degree establishes the foundation of core theories and concepts for the scientific study of psychology, graduate programs can provide a broader knowledge base, emphasizing practice and research to prepare students for specialized careers. Psychologists in every specialty must develop cultural sensitivity and the communication and interpersonal skills necessary to work with diverse groups.

Students exploring online psychology colleges in Montana can find degrees at the associate, bachelor’s, and master’s levels, along with specializations in substance abuse and addiction, community health counseling, and school and general psychology. Choosing the best program to fit your needs depends largely on your academic interests and professional goals.

When selecting an online program, always ensure that it’s accredited by a reputable agency. In Montana, most of the finest universities carry accreditation through one of the seven regional accrediting agencies spread throughout the nation, like the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.

In general, regional accreditation is considered more prestigious and granted to nonprofit schools, while vocational and technical programs are accredited nationally. All of these agencies must meet the standards of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and the U.S. Department of Education. Both sites maintain databases where students can easily check the status of any school. The best psychology programs also hold accreditation by the APA.

Many students pursuing an online psychology degree in Montana use internships and fellowships to complete their required field experiences. Internships tend to be short-term positions that a student can take to sample a career, and they’re often unpaid. Fellowships, on the other hand, are usually specific projects undertaken with universities or research labs, and they’re often underwritten by grants and offer a stipend. Regardless, both programs make for great ways to start accruing hours toward licensure.

Learners pursuing an online psychology degree in Montana can find opportunities for internships and fellowships throughout the state in urban and rural areas, as well as in government, university, and private settings. These placements provide valuable research training and clinical experiences working with children, Native Americans, veterans, and other underserved groups.

WMMHC is the largest mental health provider in Big Sky Country, with centers in 15 counties providing services to both children and adults. Specialties include chemical dependency and child counseling.

With more than 3,000 employees, the sprawling Billings Clinic boasts the most extensive team of mental health workers in the state to serve clients from Montana and Wyoming. Billings has a psychiatric center and a behavioral clinic, in addition to providing telepsychiatric services and hospital consultations.

On the campus of Montana State in Bozeman, the center specializes in the mental health problems afflicting the nation’s rural places. Research projects have included youth intervention, brain imaging and depression, non-opioid treatments for chronic pain, and online cognitive behavioral therapy.

MSH is the state’s official psychiatric facility, offering in-patient psych services to individuals with serious mental illness, as well as addiction counseling, educational programs, and group therapy.

While not strictly a research center, MHCF provides funding for mental and behavioral research projects in the state, especially among children and native populations. The foundation also actively addresses staffing shortages in mental health care across the state.

Professional associations have become increasingly important as psychology expands in specialties and licensing areas. Practitioners, educators, researchers, and students join these organizations to stay updated about new developments in their field, licensure changes, and legislation affecting professional practice. Distance learners can take advantage of reduced membership rates to receive information about internships and scholarships, networking events, and employment opportunities.

The discipline of psychology leads to many rewarding career paths, requiring highly trained and licensed specialists. This database of all accredited online psychology degrees in Montana can help you choose the best program for achieving your academic and professional goals.

National survey data made available by Montana’s Department of Public Health and Human Services reveal the serious mental health care challenges facing the state. Montana’s suicide rate has grown to twice the national average. Montana ranks 43rd overall in the U.S. for the prevalence of mental illness and the corresponding access to treatment services.

The state government and privately-funded organizations have recently begun to develop initiatives to expand addiction treatment and rehabilitation services and increase the number of licensed psychologists. The state’s strategic plan to address substance use disorder provides a roadmap to reduce drug overdose deaths, decrease the number of Montanans abusing substances, and increase the number of residents in treatment or recovery.

The Montana Healthcare Foundation has announced a call for proposals to fund three areas of mental health treatment: an integrated behavioral health plan to coordinate physical and mental health care, a substance use disorder prevention and treatment program, and an initiative focusing on pregnant women to reduce neonatal and newborn drug exposure and perinatal complications.