How To Become a Psychologist in Idaho 2025

If you want to learn how to become a psychologist, you'll need to research the steps as they can vary slightly between states. All states require that practicing psychologists receive a state license, but the specific licensure requirements can be a little different.

In most states, like Idaho, the educational requirements to become a psychologist include a doctoral degree. You'll also need to complete supervised experience and pass a licensure exam. Keep reading to learn more about how to become a psychologist in Idaho.

What Does a Psychologist Do?

Psychologists are specialists who study human behavior and mental processes. The job duties of a psychologist may include:

• conducting psychological assessments
• diagnosing mental health conditions
• developing treatment plans
• counseling patients
• helping patients manage stress and emotional issues

Many psychologists focus on a specific field of psychology, like clinical psychology, counseling psychology, forensic psychology, or school psychology.

5 Steps To Become a Psychologist in Idaho

To become a licensed psychologist in Idaho, you'll need a doctoral degree and to pass the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP). We've broken down the various steps below.

Step 1: Earn a Bachelor's Degree

Before you can start a graduate program, you need to earn a bachelor's degree. These are usually 120 credit hours and take about four years of full-time study to complete.

If your goal is to become a psychiatrist, you'll likely want to major in psychology or another field of social sciences. However, not all graduate degrees in psychology require you to major in psychology as an undergrad.

Step 2: Consider a Master's Degree

Before you begin your doctoral program, you may want to earn a master's degree. A master's isn't required for all psychology doctorates, but a master's in psychology may reduce the number of credits you need for your doctoral program. This can be one of the fastest ways to become a psychologist.

Several schools offer accredited online psychology degrees. These allow students to work or take care of other responsibilities while going to school. You can also find some of the accelerated psychology degrees online at the master's level.

Step 3: Complete a Doctoral Program

The Idaho Board of Psychologist Examiners requires applicants for psychology licensure to have graduated from an accredited institution of higher education with a doctoral degree in psychology. Applicants with a doctoral degree in a related field may be accepted on a case-by-case basis.

There are two types of doctoral degrees you can earn in psychology. The first is a Doctor of Psychology (PsyD), which is designed to lead to licensure and prepare you for clinical practice. The other is a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in psychology, which can also lead to licensure but tends to be more research-focused.

How long it takes to get a psychology degree depends on which option you choose, whether you study full-time or part-time, and whether you have a master's degree or not. Typically, doctoral degrees in psychology take anywhere from three to seven years to complete.

Learn More: The Fastest PsyD Programs

Step 4: Fulfill Supervised Experience Requirements

In Idaho, as in most states, applicants seeking psychology licenses must have completed two years of supervised experience. This ensures they have real-world experience in their field.

One year of experience can be earned during your doctoral degree through a practicum or internship. However, at least one year of supervised practice must be post-doctoral.

Step 5: Pass the EPPP and Obtain Licensure

Another licensure requirement in Idaho is to pass the EPPP. This is a national exam developed and administered by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB).

Once you've met that and all other licensing requirements, you can apply for a license with the Idaho board. This includes submitting an application fee and passing a background check. When your application has been approved, you'll receive a license packet in the mail.

Idaho requires psychologists to renew their professional license every two years. Your renewal date will be on your birthday. To qualify, you'll need to complete continuing education requirements through an approved provider like the American Psychological Association (APA) or the Idaho Psychological Association.

After five years of practicing as a licensed psychologist, you can apply for a senior psychologist license in Idaho. To learn more about licensure requirements in Idaho, visit the Board of Psychologist Examiners website.

What Are the Best Degrees for a Psychologist?

The best degree for a psychologist depends on their career goals and desired specialty. In Idaho, a doctoral degree is required to obtain a psychologist license.

A PhD in Psychology is ideal for research and academic roles, while a PsyD focuses more on clinical practice � both lead to licensure in Idaho.

Master's degrees won't qualify you for general psychology licensure, but can lead to other types of mental health professional roles in counseling, social work, or marriage and family therapy. A master's in school psychology from a program approved by the Idaho State Board of Education will qualify you for a role as a school counselor.

Top Psychology Degree Programs

A few programs in and around Idaho offer doctorate degrees in psychology. We've highlighted some of these below.

1. Idaho State University

Idaho State University is a public research institution in Pocatello, ID. It offers a PhD in clinical psychology that aims to produce educated clinical psychologists.

Students admitted to the PhD program also earn a Master of Science (MS) degree. The APA-accredited program takes about five years and includes coursework on psychological evaluation and diagnosis, ethical and professional issues, and psychology throughout the lifespan.

• Estimated tuition cost: $498.13 per credit (in-state); $$1,198.13 per credit (out-of-state)
• Accreditation: Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) and APA

2. University of Idaho

At the University of Idaho, students can earn a PhD in experimental psychology with an emphasis in human factors. This program studies how humans interact with technology and the built environment.

The University of Idaho, a public research institution, is located in Moscow, ID. Its PhD in experimental psychology includes a master's degree as well.

• Estimated tuition cost: $618 per credit (in-state); $1,687 per credit (out-of-state)
• Accreditation: NWCCU

3. University of Oregon

The University of Oregon offers a PhD in psychology. The public research university is located in Eugene, OR.

The clinical psychology PhD is accredited by the APA and takes six to seven years to complete. However, students can also choose specializations in other areas like neuroscience or social psychology, which may take less time.

• Estimated tuition cost: $642 per credit (in-state); $1,172 per credit (out-of-state)
• Accreditation: NWCCU and APA

4. Washington State University

The PhD in clinical psychology at Washington State University (WSU) is accredited by the APA. The program allows students to focus on areas like adult psychopathology, health psychology, clinical child and adolescent psychology, and neuropsychology.

WSU, located in Pullman, WA, is a public research university. It also offers a PhD in experimental psychology.

• Estimated tuition cost: $705 per credit (in-state); $1,512 per credit (out-of-state)
• Accreditation: NWCCU and APA

5. University of Montana

The University of Montana is a public research institution in Missoula, MT. It offers an APA-accredited PhD in clinical psychology.

This program includes coursework on social, biological, developmental, and individual bases of behavior, as well as statistics and research methodology. It typically takes four to five years to complete.

• Estimated tuition cost: $7,990 a year (in-state); $28,676 a year (out-of-state)
• Accreditation: NWCCU and APA

Skills of a Psychologist

There are several skills that psychologists need to thrive in their careers. These include:

• communication and listening
• confidentiality
• critical thinking
• empathy and emotional intelligence
• organization
• problem solving
• research and analytics
• time management

The best PsyD programs and PhDs in psychology teach students advanced psychological concepts while also helping them develop the above skills.

Careers and Job Outlook for Psychologists

The job outlook for psychologists is very positive in Idaho, although it varies based on the type of psychology career. According to O*Net and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the job outlook for psychologists in Idaho for the next ten years looks like this:

• clinical and counseling psychologists: growth of 17%
• industrial-organizational psychologists: growth of 22%
• school psychologists: growth of 17%
• all other psychologists: growth of 10%

What Is the Average Salary of a Psychologist in Idaho?

Like the job outlook, the average salary of a psychologist in Idaho depends on the type of psychology. Some examples include:

• clinical and counseling psychologists have a median annual salary of $74,820
• school psychologists have a median annual salary of $61,600
• all other psychologists have a median annual salary of $122,720

Location can also make a difference. For example, counseling and clinical psychologists in Boise City, ID, have an annual median salary of $76,380, while those in nonmetro areas are closer to $64,020. Likewise, school psychologists make a median of $73,730 in the Logan, UT, metro, while those in Idaho Falls only make about $60,620 per year.

To help with finances, look for one of the most affordable online psychology degree programs so you don't have to go deep into student loan debt.

Explore Psychology Degrees

Start your journey toward a psychology career by exploring the programs featured on Learn.org. Reach out to individual schools to learn more about admissions, enrollment, and financial aid, including scholarships for online students.