5 Fastest PsyD Programs in California for 2025

In most states, including California, to work as a professional psychologist, you need to earn a doctoral degree. Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) degrees are a common choice and typically lead to state licensure.

These degrees will teach you core concepts of psychology and provide you with hands-on experiences in the field. Most take several years to complete, but some schools offer accelerated PsyD programs. Keep reading to discover the fastest PsyD programs in California.

What Is a PsyD Program?

PsyD programs are professional doctorate degrees designed to prepare students to work as psychologists in clinical and counseling settings. They are typically intended to lead to state licensure.

Most of these doctoral programs require two to three years of psychology coursework followed by one to two years of practicum and internships, although accelerated PsyD programs are sometimes available. Some PsyDs offer specializations, like clinical psychology or school psychology.

PsyDs are slightly different from Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in psychology programs. While both can allow you to become a licensed psychologist, PhDs are more research-oriented. As a result, it's much easier to find PsyD programs with no dissertation.

How Fast Can I Earn My PsyD in California?

In California, most PsyD programs that are accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) take five to six years to complete. A few offer degree programs that take as few as four years.

If you have previously taken graduate-level courses, you can accelerate your program with transfer credits. However, many California PsyD programs are cohort-based, meaning that even if you have transfer credits, you still finish at the same pace as the other students in your cohort.

Are There Any 3-Year PsyD Programs in California?

While some schools in the U.S. may offer 3-year PsyD programs online or in-person, no school in California offers a PsyD with a three-year degree plan. The fastest programs allow you to finish within four years.

However, as mentioned, some schools will accept transfer credits. Depending on the school, this could allow you to finish up to a year faster.

Fastest APA-Accredited PsyD Programs in California

Although several colleges and universities in California offer accredited PsyD programs, most take five or six years to complete. Below, we've listed a few shorter programs as well as some that allow you to finish more quickly with transfer credits.

Note that the APA does not currently accredit online psychology programs. As a result, there are no accredited online PsyD programs in California, although some may allow you to complete a portion of your coursework online.

1. Pepperdine University

Pepperdine University is a private research institution in Malibu, CA. It offers one of the nation's top PsyD programs, a doctorate in clinical psychology.

This clinical psychology program requires three years of coursework and supervised clinical training followed by a year-long internship and clinical dissertation. Students must hold a master's degree for this program and are can transfer in nine additional graduate credit hours.

• Average in-state tuition: $2,055 per credit
• Average out-of-state tuition: $2,055 per credit
• Time to completion: Four years without transfer credits
• Accreditation: Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission (WASCUC) and APA

2. The Chicago School

At The Chicago School, students can earn a PsyD in clinical psychology that will prepare them to serve diverse communities. The program typically takes five years to complete, but students can transfer in up to 21 graduate credits.

The Chicago School, a private, psychology-focused school, is based in Chicago. However, it has several campuses across the U.S., including Anaheim and Los Angeles. The Anaheim campus offers specializations in child and adolescent psychology and forensic psychology, while the LA campus offers specializations in child and adolescent psychology, health psychology, and neuropsychology.

• Average in-state tuition: $1,815 per credit
• Average out-of-state tuition: $1,815 per credit
• Time to completion: Five years without transfer credits
• Accreditation: WASCUC and APA

3. National University

National University offers a PsyD in clinical psychology with concentrations in trauma psychology, neuropsychology, integrated healthcare, and correctional and forensic psychology. National University is a private, nonprofit institution based in San Diego.

The clinical psychology program is offered on the school's Pleasant Hill campus. While it normally takes five years to complete, it does accept applicable transfer credits. It also offers year-round enrollment, so you can get started more quickly.

• Average in-state tuition: $1,114 per credit
• Average out-of-state tuition: $1,114 per credit
• Time to completion: Five years without transfer credits
• Accreditation: WASCUC and APA

4. Palo Alto University

Palo Alto University's PsyD program is offered through a partnership with Sanford University. Students cover topics like research, ethics in healthcare, assessment, and intervention.

PAU, located in Palo Alto, CA, is a private school focused on healthcare. Its PsyD program typically takes five years, but students can transfer in up to 24 graduate credits.

• Average in-state tuition: $21,048 per term
• Average out-of-state tuition: $21,048 per term
• Time to completion: Five years without transfer credits
• Accreditation: WASCUC and APA

5. Alliant International University

Alliant International University is a private, for-profit institution headquartered in San Diego. It offers a PsyD in clinical psychology through its California School of Professional Psychology.

The school offers this program at campuses in Fresno, LA, Sacramento, San Diego, and San Francisco, and some locations offer specializations. The program typically takes four years but does accept transfer credits.

• Average in-state tuition: $1,475 per credit
• Average out-of-state tuition: $1,475 per credit
• Time to completion: Four years without transfer credits
• Accreditation: WASCUC and APA

How We Rank Schools

To choose the programs listed above, we focused on:

• Accreditation: Every school is regionally accredited, and each program holds accreditation from the APA.
• Program length: We found the shortest programs in California or those that allow transfer credits to shorten the program length.
• Affordability: All schools either offer scholarships and other types of financial aid or accept outside aid.

FAQs About Accelerated PsyD Programs in California

Finding an accelerated PsyD program in California can be difficult. We've clarified some frequently asked questions below.

Are There Any 2-Year PsyD Programs in California?

There are no two-year PsyD programs in California. The fastest PsyD programs are four years.

For a PsyD program to be accredited by the APA, it has to meet certain standards. Part of this is that the school must require each student to complete the following:

• complete three years of study
• at least two of those years must be at the school that is conferring the degree
• complete an internship of at least one year after completing those three years of study

As a result, the fastest a student could complete an accredited PsyD at any university is three years. The fastest way to become a psychologist is to find a three or four-year program that runs year-round.

What Can I Do With a PsyD Degree?

Most people who graduate with a PsyD work as clinical or counseling psychologists. There are many types of psychologists, each focusing on a specific area of psychology, like child psychologists, neuropsychologists, or forensic psychologists.

Many schools offer specializations so you can focus on the particular area of psychology you want to pursue. For example, if you want to be a forensic psychologist, you'll need to earn a PsyD in forensic psychology.

Do Online PsyD Programs Require In-Person Clinical Training?

Online PsyD programs do require in-person clinical training. The APA requires accredited programs to include a psychology internship of at least one year or more.

Many programs also include clinical experiences and practicums before the internship. During your internship, you'll get hands-on experiences in a location that corresponds with your area of study. For example, if you're earning a PsyD in neuropsychology, you'll intern at a neuropsychology clinic.

What Financial Aid Is Available for PsyD Students?

PsyD programs aren't usually as well-funded as PhD programs, but there are still many options available to PsyD students. Schools often offer scholarship opportunities as well as assistantships to help students pay for their degrees.

You can also apply for outside scholarships and grants through independent organizations. Additionally, while it can be harder to secure federal or state aid for doctoral programs, you should still fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to see what you qualify for.

Explore Online Doctorate Degrees

Find the perfect PsyD degree for you by exploring the options featured on Learn.org. Reach out to individual schools to learn more about their admissions requirements, program schedules, and financial aid.