How To Become a Psychologist in Kentucky 2025

Psychology is a field focused on human behavior. Psychologists may work in academic or research settings, or they may work with patients in clinical settings.

The steps to become a psychologist vary by state. For example, most states require a license to practice psychology professionally, but Kentucky has multiple licenses with different requirements. Keep reading to learn more about how to become a psychologist in Kentucky.

What Does a Psychologist Do?

Psychologists are professionals who study thought processes, emotions, and behavior. They do this by observing, interpreting, and recording how people relate to each other and their environments.

There are several different types of psychologists, each with a different focus. The educational requirements to become a psychologist vary slightly between the different types. Common types of psychologists include:

• Clinical and counseling psychologists: These psychologists assess, diagnose, and treat mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders. They typically work within their own practice, and often focus on specific types of populations or specific families of disorders.
• Forensic psychologists: Forensic psychologists study psychology within the context of the legal system. They may be called in to assess a suspect's mental state.
• Industrial-organizational psychologists: I-O psychologists study how people function in the workplace. They work with businesses to improve employee productivity and organizational dynamics. These types of psychologists do not usually need a license.
• Neuropsychologists: These psychologists analyze how damage to the nervous system and brain affects cognitive and behavioral processes.
• School psychologists: School psychologists work in educational settings and help address educational, emotional, or behavioral challenges that students may face.

How long it takes to get a psychology degree will depend on the type of psychologist you want to be and whether or not you want to work in a clinical practice setting.

6 Steps To Become a Psychologist in Kentucky

To work as a professional psychologist in Kentucky, you need a license. Kentucky offers several types of licenses that vary in scope of practice. We've broken down the basic requirements to become a psychologist below.

Step 1: Earn a Bachelor's Degree

The first step to becoming a psychologist is to earn a bachelor's degree. Bachelor's degrees are undergraduate degrees that take about four years to complete. These are required to move on to a graduate program.

Most graduate psychology programs do not require a specific undergraduate major, so you don't have to choose a major in psychology. However, many students choose to major in psychology because it provides them with a strong foundation for graduate study, and there are many schools with accredited psychology programs online at the bachelor's level.

Step 2: Earn a Master's Degree

Master's degrees are a type of graduate degree that take around two years to complete, although some schools offer accelerated psychology degrees online that allow you to finish faster. You may or may not need to earn a master's depending on the type of psychology career you want.

In Kentucky, there are two licensure options for students with master's degrees but not doctoral degrees. The first is the psychological associate license (LPA), which allows you to perform certain tasks under the supervision of a licensed psychologist who is also a health service provider.

After two years of supervised experience, you can apply for a psychological practitioner license (LPP). This license allows you to work with less supervision, but your scope of practice is more limited than that of a psychologist.

However, both types of licenses require more credit hours than you typically receive from a master's program. As a result, to earn these licenses, you will need to take on additional coursework. Some students pursue this route after they've completed a year or so of doctoral coursework so they can work in the psychology field while earning their doctorate.

If your goal is to become a fully licensed psychologist, you may not need to complete a master's degree, as not all doctoral psychology programs require one. That being said, some will reduce your overall credit load if you already have a master's, which can be one of the fastest ways to become a psychologist.

Step 3: Complete a Doctoral Program

To become a professional psychologist in Kentucky, you need a doctoral degree. This can be a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in psychology, a Doctor of Psychology (PsyD), or a Doctor of Education (EdD) in school psychology.

All three options lead to psychology licensure in Kentucky, so long as the program is accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) or is otherwise approved by the Kentucky Board of Examiners of Psychology.

PhDs in psychology can be for those who want to focus on research or for those who want to focus on clinical practice. APA-accredited programs will prepare students for both, while non-accredited programs are primarily for those who want to go into research or academia.

PsyDs are specifically for individuals who want to practice psychology. EdDs in school psychology are for those who want to practice in educational settings.

Your psychology program will include coursework in your chosen field of psychology. You'll likely also complete research projects and participate in practicums and an internship.

Step 4: Fulfill Supervised Experience Requirements

To become either a licensed psychologist or a psychological practitioner in Kentucky, you need two years of supervised experience. To earn your LPP, you must complete this practice after becoming an LPA.

For those wanting to become licensed psychologists, you can complete up to half your supervised experience hours as part of the internship in your doctoral program. The remainder must be completed through post-doctoral supervised professional experience.

Step 5: Pass Licensure Exams

Applicants for licensure in Kentucky need to take different exams depending on which license their pursuing.

For a psychology license, LPA, or LPP, applicants must take the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP). This is a national exam developed by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB) that tests your psychology knowledge.

For the LPP or the standard psychology license, you'll also need to take two additional, state-specific exams. These include a jurisprudence exam of Kentucky mental health law and a competency exam of ethical principles and professional practice.

Step 6: Obtain and Maintain Licensure

Once you've passed the necessary exams, you can finish your application. This includes submitting any additional licensure requirements, like an application fee or a criminal background check.

All types of psychology licenses in Kentucky must be renewed every three years. To qualify for renewal, you'll need to complete 39 hours of continuing education (CE) during this time. This education must come from an approved or accredited institution or training program.

What Are the Best Degrees for a Psychologist?

If you want to be a fully licensed professional psychologist in Kentucky, a doctoral-level degree is needed. These can include a PhD in psychology or a PsyD from an accredited institution.

If you're interested in becoming a psychological associate or psychological practitioner, you can earn a master's degree and then pursue additional semester hours through certificate programs or other types of master's-level coursework.

Top Psychology Degree Programs

Kentucky has a handful of programs that lead to licensure in the state. We've highlighted some of the best PsyD programs and PhDs in psychology below.

1. University of Kentucky

The University of Kentucky is a public research university in Lexington, KY. It offers three accredited psychology PhDs in clinical psychology, counseling psychology, and school psychology.

All three programs provide students with a blend of research and clinical experience so they can pursue research roles or work hands-on with clients. Non-licensure PhDs in developmental, social, and health psychology and cognitive neuroscience are also available.

• Estimated tuition cost: $13,251 per year (in-state); $34,845 per year (out-of-state)
• Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), APA (all three programs), Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System (CPSAS) (clinical psychology), and National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) (school psychology)

2. University of Louisville

At the University of Louisville, students can earn a PhD in clinical psychological science. This program prepares students to conduct and evaluate research while becoming competent in implementing evidence-based practices.

The University of Louisville, a public research institution, is located in Louisville, KY. The university also offers a joint MS/PhD in psychological science.

• Estimated tuition cost: $14,932 per year (in-state); $30,350 per year (out-of-state)
• Accreditation: SACSCOC and APA

3. Eastern Kentucky University

Eastern Kentucky University offers a PsyD in clinical psychology through its Department of Psychology. EKU is a public university in Richmond, KY.

This PsyD trains students to provide evidence-based, ethical services to a broad range of clients and in a variety of settings. Several funding options are available to help students pay for their program.

• Estimated tuition cost: $10,494 per year (in-state); $14,328 per year (out-of-state)
• Accreditation: SACSCOC and APA

4. Spalding University

The PsyD in clinical psychology at Spalding University was one of the first PsyD programs in the U.S. It uses a curriculum based on scientific principles and evidence-based practice to prepare students to work with children, adolescents, and adults.

Spalding University, located in Louisville, KY, is a private Catholic institution. It offers areas of emphasis in forensic psychology, geropsychology, health psychology, and neuropsychology in this program.

• Estimated tuition cost: $12,380 per year (in-state and out-of-state)
• Accreditation: SACSCOC and APA

5. Western Kentucky University

Western Kentucky University is a public institution in Bowling Green, KY. It offers a PsyD in applied psychology with a concentration in clinical psychology that trains students to become both practitioners and scholars.

While the program is not APA-accredited, the school is in the process of seeking accreditation, and the program still qualifies students for licensure in Kentucky. WKU also offers a Master of Arts (MA) in psychology that qualifies students for psychological assistant licensure.

• Estimated tuition cost: $12,140 per year (in-state); $18,340 per year (out-of-state)
• Accreditation: SACSCOC

Skills of a Psychologist

Psychologists need a deep knowledge of psychological theory, research methods, and clinical practice, which they often develop in their degree programs. However, they also need a number of soft skills, such as:

• analytical and critical thinking skills
• communication skills
• compassion and patience
• integrity and confidentiality
• interpersonal skills
• observational skills
• problem-solving skills

While they'll learn some of these skills in their degree programs, they also further develop them during practicums and internships.

Careers and Job Outlook for Psychologists

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) expects jobs for psychologists to increase by 7% nationwide by 2033. In Kentucky, most psychology careers are expected to see growth, but not all.

Jobs for clinical and counseling psychologists should increase by 11% in the same time frame, and jobs for school psychologists should increase by about 2%. Employment for other psychologists, including neuropsychologists, should increase by about 4%. However, jobs in industrial-organizational psychology aren't expected to increase or decrease.

What Is the Average Salary of a Psychologist in Kentucky?

The average salary for psychologists in Kentucky also varies by career, as well as by location.

Counseling and clinical psychologists in Kentucky have a median annual salary of $116,480, compared to the national average of $95,830. Psychologists in many nonmetro areas of western Kentucky and south central Kentucky earn that much, but those in the Ashland, KY, area only have a median of $64,200 per year.

School psychologists have a median salary of $69,130 per year, far lower than the national median of $86,930 per year. However, those in the Cincinnati metro area have a median annual salary of $90,830 per year. On the other hand, those in south central Kentucky have a median salary of only $65,640 per year.

Other psychologists in Kentucky earn a median salary of $124,550 per year, more than the national median of $117,580 per year. This salary is pretty consistent for all reported areas across the state.

To help maximize your salary, try to keep your costs low while in school and avoid taking out student loans when possible. Look for some of the most affordable online psychology degrees and take advantage of financial aid opportunities.

Explore Psychology Degrees

Start your journey toward a psychology career by exploring the accredited programs featured on Learn.org. Reach out to individual schools to learn how they can help you on your psychology career path.