Fastest Way To Become a Psychologist in New York 2025

A doctoral degree in psychology prepares you for a fulfilling career in mental health. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the field of psychology is expected to experience a 7% increase by 2033, making it an appealing career path. On top of this, the average salary is over $92,000.

Since the American Psychological Association does not accredit 100% online psychology degrees, if you are looking for accelerated PsyD programs, you'll have to opt for a hybrid option. Below, we'll provide some tips that New York students can take advantage of to graduate sooner. Read on to learn more about fastest way to become a psychologist.

How Long Does It Take To Become a Psychologist in New York?

It typically takes 10 or more years to become a psychologist in New York if you attend school full-time. This includes the time it takes to earn a bachelor's degree, a master's degree, and a doctoral degree, in addition to completing supervised field experience and earning your license. Below, we'll discuss more about the fastest way to become a psychologist.

Educational Requirements To Become a Psychologist in New York

To become a licensed psychologist in New York, there are strict educational requirements you must meet. First, you'll need to complete a four-year degree program, preferably in a related field. In New York, you have the option of receiving a master's degree, or you can go right on to a doctoral program. You have two doctorate options�a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and a Doctor of Psychology (PsyD).

From there, you need to complete supervised experience hours and take the licensure exam. We'll go into more detail about these steps below.

1. Earn Your Bachelor's

The first step toward becoming a psychologist is to complete a bachelor's program. Typically, earning a degree in psychology or a related field gives you the best foundation for continuing to a master's or doctoral program.

While it generally takes four years to complete a bachelor's program, you may be able to earn a degree in just three years if you enroll in an APA-accredited psychology program online. This will require you to take on a more intense course load, but the payoff is being able to graduate sooner. Some accelerated

2. Earn Your Master's (Optional)

Although it is not a requirement in New York, some students decide to earn their master's degrees before going on to a doctoral program. A master's allows you to select a concentration, which may be helpful in your future career. Completing a master's program in psychology will take about two years.

3. Earn Your Doctorate

To become a licensed psychologist in New York, you will need a doctorate�either a PhD in psychology or a PsyD. A PhD is typically reserved for those interested in research and experimentation. A PsyD is more suited for anyone who wants to open a private practice. PsyD programs focus on clinical psychology to prepare you for a career in mental health treatment.

Earning your doctorate can take five to seven years, depending on your program and course load. PsyD programs are typically faster to complete than PhD programs.

4. Complete Supervised Experience and Pass the Licensure Exam

The final steps to becoming a licensed psychologist are completing supervised professional experience and passing your licensure exam. For field experience, students must complete 3,500 clock hours over two years under the supervision of a qualified, licensed psychologist. One of these two years of supervised experience is completed as a practicum while earning your doctorate.

Once you've completed all the educational requirements and supervised hours, you must pass the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP) offered by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB). You must score at least a 70% on the test to pass, after which you'll send in the remainder of the required documents to receive your license.

How To Become a New York-Licensed Psychologist in the Shortest Timeframe

Below, we provide some tips you can use to become a psychologist in New York as quickly as possible. You can combine several of these options to start your career soon.

1. Take on a More Intense Course Load

While it generally takes four years to earn a bachelor's degree, you can take on an increased course load to graduate sooner. The typical college semester is 12 to 18 credits. If you constantly take 18, you can cut down your time to completion.

2. Transfer Credits From Another Institution

If you already have college credits from another institution, you may be able to transfer them to a psychology program. This will shorten the time it takes to graduate, as you'll have fewer courses you'll need to take.

3. Look for an Accelerated Doctoral Program

Some schools offer accelerated doctoral programs that can be completed in as few as three years compared to the typical five to seven. While this can lead to graduating faster, the increased course load can also result in burnout. Doctoral-level courses are difficult, and adding more to your load can prove challenging.

4. Take Practice Exams

Passing the licensing exam is the last step toward becoming a psychologist in New York. However, failing will undoubtedly increase the time it takes to start your career. While the exam is offered multiple times per year, you can only fail four times.

To increase your chances of passing, you should take practice exams to prepare. You can find practice EPPP exams online to test your knowledge ahead of your real exam.

5. Consider an Online Program

Online programs give students a lot of flexibility and control over their education. Similar to accelerated programs, students can complete their degrees faster via online programs by taking increased course loads. This is also a more convenient option, particularly for working adults or single parents.

Licensure Requirements for Psychologists in New York

New York State has specific, strict eligibility requirements for becoming a licensed psychologist. According to the New York State Education Department Office of the Professions, hopeful psychologists must be in good moral standing, be at least 21 years old, and meet specific education requirements.

As for education, license applicants must hold a graduate degree from an American Psychological Association (APA)-accredited institution. Applicants must also satisfy the Child Abuse Identification Reporting requirement, which requires them to take courses in identifying and reporting abuse.

You must also meet experience requirements, which include 3,500 hours of supervised work in the field. This includes 1,750 hours while earning your degree and 1,750 post-doctoral hours. With the completion of these supervised hours, you can take the EPPP exam to receive your license. The New York State Board for Psychology requires a score of at least 75.

Featured Psychology Doctoral Programs in New York

New York is home to some of the best psychology doctorate programs in the country. Below is a list of featured PsyD and PhD programs in the state.

St. John's University

Accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) and the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP), St. John's PhD program offers both a general and bilingual path. By the time of graduation, students will have completed all the educational requirements for licensure in New York.

• Time to completion: five years, possibly faster for students entering the program with a master's degree
• Tuition cost: $1,660 per credit
• Accreditation: APA, NASP

Pace University

Pace University's school-clinical child psychology program prepares students for careers working with children and families through mental health challenges. With this degree, graduates can work in either education or private practice as school counselors or clinical psychologists.

• Time to completion: five years
• Tuition cost: $1,490 per credit
• Accreditation: APA, NASP

The City College of New York

CCNY's PhD program in Clinical Psychology is among the most prestigious in the country. With a strong focus on psychodynamic therapy, students will benefit from the program's emphasis on research.

• Time to completion: five years
• Tuition cost: $4,965 per semester, $965 per credit for out-of-state
• Accreditation: APA

Explore Psychology Degrees

As the field of psychology continues to grow, there will be more and more opportunities for prospective psychologists to find the perfect job for them. Visit Learn.org today to explore psychology degree programs near you.