Fastest Way To Become a Psychologist in Georgia 2025

If you live in Georgia and are planning to become a psychologist, you have some of the fastest PsyD programs to choose from. It's important to understand that there is no quick career path for aspiring psychologists.

That said, there are ways to get where you're going more quickly than average. The field of psychology requires many years of training and supervised experience, but it's possible to reduce the overall timeframe it takes to accomplish each step. Keep reading as we explore the fastest way to become a psychologist.

How Long Does It Take To Become a Psychologist in Georgia?

It typically takes about 10 to 12 years to become a psychologist in Georgia. Students must complete many levels of preparation, and each one takes time.

Prospective psychologists spend many years in college completing undergraduate and graduate programs. They must also complete experience requirements and pass exams to earn state licensure.

Educational Requirements To Become a Psychologist in Georgia

As noted, psychologists must gain various educational credentials before they become licensed to practice in Georgia. Let's take a closer look at the steps you'll need to follow.

1. Earn a Bachelor's Degree

All aspiring psychologists must earn a bachelor's degree. This is essential for being accepted into graduate programs, which in turn are required for state licensure. Most bachelor's degree programs take full-time students four years to complete.

Your bachelor's degree need not be a psychology program. Some top bachelor's degrees for aspiring psychologists also include social work, sociology, human services, and various healthcare programs.

2. Earn a Master's Degree

Many Georgia psychology students go on to earn a master's degree in psychology or a related field such as mental health counseling, or behavioral sciences. These graduate-level programs typically take one to two years to complete.

Completing a master's program is an optional step for psychologists in Georgia. That said, getting a master's from a top online psychology school help you fulfill doctoral program prerequisites or explore specializations like developmental psychology, clinical psychology, and industrial-organizational psychology.

3. Earn a Doctoral Degree

Even if you earn a master's degree, your graduate studies don't end there. You must also pursue an American Psychological Association (APA)-accredited psychology degree at the doctoral level, which can take anywhere from four to seven years for full-time learners.

Students can choose between a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) psychology and a Doctor of Psychology (PsyD). PhD programs are often research-intensive and lead to careers in research, academia, and more. PsyD programs focus on practical applications and often lead to careers as clinical psychologists, counseling psychologists, and school psychologists.

4. Complete Internships and Postdoctoral Training

A crucial part of your training as a psychologist is the hands-on work experience requirements necessary for licensure. These experiences may be gained through practicums, internships, and post-doctoral opportunities.

Georgia students must gain 800 hours of client contact while completing their graduate degrees. They must then complete a 2,000 APA-accredited internship followed by 1,500 hours of supervised post-doctoral training.

5. Complete Continuing Education

Finally, once students have met all requirements and earned their psychology licenses, they must complete ongoing education to maintain those licenses. This helps ensure students stay up-to-date on psychology laws and best practices.

In Georgia, you must renew your license by December 31 of every even-numbered year. You must complete 40 hours of continuing professional education before the renewal deadline to keep your license active.

How To Become a Georgia-Licensed Psychologist in the Shortest Timeframe

Though there are many steps you must take on your psychology journey, there are ways to make each step go a little quicker. Let's explore the fastest way to become a psychologist through some tips you can follow.

1. Earn College Credit in High School

If you're still in high school, you can get a head start on your bachelor's degree by enrolling in dual-credit or advanced-placement classes. These programs allow you to take college courses and earn college credit before completing your post-secondary studies.

You must meet strict academic standards to enroll in these classes, but if you pass enough of them, you can shave a year or more off your bachelor's degree. Some dual-credit programs even allow students to graduate high school with an associate degree, potentially saving them two years or more of time on their college experience.

2. Utilize Transfer Credits

If you have previous college experience but didn't graduate, you may be able to apply the credits you earned toward your current program. Many schools accept 60 to 90 credits toward a bachelor's degree program (consisting of at least 120 credits).

In addition to traditional college credits, you can also earn transfer credits through:

• CLEP tests and other credit-by-examination programs
• testing out of general education college courses
• gaining credit for qualifying work experience

3. Study Year-Round

Most schools permit students to take classes during the summer semester to help them get ahead in their studies. Other schools, especially those offering online programs, let enrollees study at their own pace, making it easy for them to keep studying year-round.

Doing this takes commitment and self-motivation, as you will face intensive course schedules for several years. But studying continuously throughout the year, and moving from one program to the next without taking any breaks, can help you save a lot of time during your education.

4. Enroll in Accelerated or Combined Degree Programs

Some schools provide accelerated or self-paced programs that allow students to progress through the same amount of coursework in a shorter timeframe. These programs typically enable students to earn a bachelor's degree within three years or less or a master's degree in one year or less.

Other schools provide combined degrees, also called 4+1 programs. Students in these programs can take a certain amount of graduate-level coursework while still working toward their undergraduate degree, earning both a bachelor's and a master's within five years or less.

5. Consider Direct-Entry Doctoral Programs

Direct-entry doctoral programs allow students to skip their master's degree. While traditional doctoral programs require a master's degree for admission, direct-entry programs admit students who only have bachelor's degrees.

By skipping your master's degree, you can save as much as two years of full-time study. This, in turn, makes it possible to pursue psychologist licensure sooner.

Licensure Requirements for Psychologists in Georgia

Perhaps you're still wondering exactly what it's going to take to become a licensed psychologist in Georgia. What is the licensure process like, and what do you have to do to get licensed?

Candidates must apply for a license by completing an application, passing a background check, documenting citizenship or legal immigration, and providing any other requested documentation. Submitting these documents allows aspiring psychologists to register with the Georgia State Board of Examiners of Psychologists.

Candidates must then complete the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP). This exam is administered by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB) and is an essential part of the license application process.

After completing the EPPP, candidates must then pass Georgia's jurisprudence exam and a board-issued oral examination.

Upon passing all of these examinations, candidates will be granted their state licenses.

Featured Psychology Doctoral Programs in Georgia

Completing an APA-accredited doctoral program is key to becoming a licensed psychologist. Though Georgia doesn't offer online or hybrid PsyD programs meeting these standards, several top schools provide in-person programs. Let's look at some of the best.

Georgia Southern University

Georgia Southern University in Statesboro provides a direct-entry PsyD program consisting of at least 112 credit hours of coursework. This program is designed for students interested in generalist practice.

Students learn key competencies such as intervention through psychotherapy and related techniques. They can choose to enroll either full-time or part-time.

• Time to completion: five years
• Tuition cost: $4,986 per year on average
• Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), APA

University of Georgia

The University of Georgia is a large public school in Athens. Students can pursue doctoral degrees in clinical psychology and industrial-organizational psychology.

These programs are research-oriented while also placing a strong emphasis on applied knowledge. Students in these programs can go on to seek careers in private practice, government agencies, businesses, and various other settings.

• Time to completion: five years
• Tuition cost: $8,878 per year on average
• Accreditation: SACSCOC, APA

Georgia State University

Georgia State University is located in Atlanta and offers a PhD in psychology with eight specializations. These specializations include community psychology, cognitive and affective neuroscience, and clinical psychology.

Students in the program work on research teams guided by a mentor. They have ample opportunities to conduct research and prepare for their specific career goals with tailored coursework options and concentrations.

• Time to completion: five years
• Tuition cost: $7,164 per year on average
• Accreditation: SACSCOC, APA

Explore Psychology Degrees

If you're ready to become a psychologist in Georgia, explore the programs available through colleges on Learn.org. Contact any of the schools to learn more about their programs and to find the best option for you.