Fastest Way To Become a Psychologist in Texas 2025

Have you decided to pursue your passion for helping others' mental health? If you're at the start of your education, you might have questions about this field, especially if you want to get started quickly. While you will need to invest a lot of effort into earning your degree and other professional requirements, you can expedite the process by considering the steps for the fastest way to become a psychologist.

If you want to learn more about some of the fastest PsyD programs, read on. Learn what you can expect from this journey as a student in Texas and the programs that can help you start your career as soon as possible.

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

Becoming a psychologist in Texas tends to take between 10 and 12 years. However, the fastest way to become a psychologist could take around seven years if you need to earn your bachelor's degree or four years if you're ready to pursue your graduate degree.

Educational Requirements To Become a Psychologist in Texas

An aspiring Texas psychologist must earn a bachelor's degree and a graduate degree � either a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) or a Doctor of Psychology (PsyD).

If you're interested in the fastest way to become a psychologist, then you may want to choose a PsyD over a PhD. Though each program will vary, PhD degrees tend to require one to three more years than PsyD degrees.

Learn More: Education Required To Become A Psychologist

1. Earn Your Bachelor's Degree

Earning a bachelor's degree in the field of psychology is the first step you need to take. You may be able to enroll in a graduate program if you have a bachelor's degree in a related field, but it's best to stick with psychology.

Most undergraduate students earn this degree within four years, but dedicated students can complete it in only three years if they transfer relevant high school credits or take more courses each semester. You'll likely need to get approved by your university to earn more credits each semester.

2. Earn Your PhD or PsyD Degree

There are plenty of pros and cons to consider in the PhD versus PsyD debate. If time is your main concern, you'll likely be able to complete your PsyD degree one to three years faster.

If your GPA isn't as competitive as you'd like, enrollment in a PsyD program may be easier since they accept up to 100 students compared to 10 PhD students. It's important to keep in mind that PsyD programs aren't as common as PhD programs, though. The best online psychology schools offer at least one of these degrees, so you'll have options.

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

Psy students can take some clever shortcuts if they're eager to start their careers. Here are some ideas to help you move your education along as quickly as possible without missing any crucial steps.

1. Skip Your Master's Degree

In Texas, psychologists don't need to complete a master's program to get the education they need to pass their exams and earn their licenses. A full-time student typically takes two years to earn a master's degree, so moving on to a PsyD or PhD immediately after your bachelor's degree will save you a couple of years.

Since a master's degree isn't a requirement for enrolling in many graduate programs in Texas, each university has a robust coursework agenda to cover all of the bases.

2. Invest in College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) Tests

Do you consider yourself an expert on certain subjects you took in high school? CLEP tests give students the chance to skip required college courses as long as they pass an exam that proves they're knowledgeable in the subject. You have the option to take a CLEP exam for intro to psychology and 33 other subjects.

Each test costs around $93 � much cheaper than a traditional college course. This will save you time and money if you study hard and pass.

3. Use Transfer Credits

High school students who took any Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) classes can take an exam at the end of the school year to qualify for college credits. Like CLEP tests, AP and IB tests that are successfully transferred will likely show up as ''Pass'' on your college transcript.

It's definitely worth scheduling an appointment with your academic advisor to go over the transfer process to ensure that you get the credits you worked for.

4. Search for Accelerated Psychology Programs

Continuing education is a lot more flexible nowadays, thanks to distance learning and flexible program scheduling. If you can devote your time completely to your studies, you could seek out an accelerated psychology program that's more intensive but also faster.

For example, a traditional PsyD degree takes between four and five years to complete. With an accelerated program, you could have your graduate degree in hand within three years. It's always helpful to double-check with your prospective university to verify that you can complete their program within that timeframe.

5. Complete a Formal Internship During Your Graduate Degree

To become a clinical psychologist in Texas, you need to obtain 3,500 hours of supervised professional experience. While this may sound daunting, the excellent news is that Texas allows psychology students to complete up to half of these hours during their graduate studies. This means that you'll only need to spend an additional year pursuing this experience instead of two years.

Before you commit to an internship, discuss the opportunity with your university advisor and the psychologist you'll be working under. Doing this will ensure these hours can count toward your license.

Licensure Requirements for Psychologists in Texas

Once you've completed your graduate degree, you must complete a few more steps to fulfill your licensing requirements. The first thing you should do is obtain your provisional license. A Provisionally Licensed Psychologist is eligible to work in the psychology field while taking exams and completing postdoctoral experience.

There are two exams you need to pass in Texas. These include the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP) and the jurisprudence exam. You're allowed to score as low as 70% on your EPPP, but you need to score at least 90% for your jurisprudence examination.

You have to complete your EPPP before you can take your jurisprudence examination. This test demands a high grade because it was created by the Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists to ensure that all Texans receive the greatest mental health services possible.

The last thing you'll need to do before you apply for your psychology license is complete 3,500 hours of supervised experience. As previously stated, you can complete half of these hours while you're earning your PsyD or PhD to save time. You can expect to invest an additional year in gaining the other half of these supervised hours after you earn your degree.

Featured Psychology Doctoral Programs in Texas

Earning a graduate degree that's accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) will give you access to a wide range of careers once you're licensed. The APA doesn't endorse 100% online programs. Texas doesn't offer any hybrid programs, so you'll need to attend in-person classes to gain an APA-accredited degree.

University of North Texas

The University of North Texas offers a PhD in clinical psychology, behavioral psychology, and counseling psychology. You can expect to take classes on quantitative methods, exercise and health psychology, history and systems, and more. You'll need to complete 72 credit hours if you have a bachelor's degree but only 42 if you already have a master's degree.

• Time to completion: Five to six years
• Tuition cost: Around $5,651 per semester
• Accreditation: APA

Our Lady of the Lake University

Earning a PsyD at Our Lady of the Lake University also comes with a specialization in counseling psychology. This PsyD program offers over two dozen courses in addition to internships and the doctoral practicum. Some of the courses you can look forward to include life planning and career development, family processes across cultures, and cognition and emotion.

• Time to completion: Four years
• Tuition cost: $3,195 per course
• Accreditation: APA

Baylor University

Baylor University offers a PsyD program that boasts small class sizes and a focus on clinical research. The university ensures that students can earn up to 1,200 hours of pre-internship clinical practicum experience. Some courses include cognitive-behavior therapy, psychopathology and assessment of children, healthcare administration and supervision, and neuropharmacology.

• Time to completion: Four years
• Tuition cost: Around $2,651 per credit hour.
• Accreditation: APA

Explore Psychology Degrees

Pursuing psychology licensure is a major investment, but it doesn't have to take as long as you might expect. Using these steps and researching programs in Texas will ensure you're on your ideal path. Learn.org provides an extensive database of high-quality colleges and universities, so be sure to continue your research to find your perfect fit.