How To Become a Psychologist in Oklahoma 2025

<p>Psychologists focus on understanding and learning more about human behavior. They may work with patients in clinical settings or may work in research or academia. </p> <p>All states require a license to practice psychology professionally, but the specific licensure requirements and <a href="https://learn.org/articles/how_to_become_a_psychologist.html">how to become a psychologist</a> vary by state. Keep reading to learn more about how to become a psychologist in Oklahoma. </p> <h2 id="section---WhatDoesAPsychologistDo">What Does a Psychologist Do?</h2> <p>Psychology is a field of study that strives to understand how the mind works. Psychologists are experts who may work to further psychology research and knowledge or help clients dealing with psychological conditions. </p> <p>There are several different types of psychologists, including: </p> <ul><li><b>Clinical and counseling psychologists:</b> These psychologists meet with patients to help resolve emotional, behavioral, and mental disorders. They may work in private practice or within a healthcare facility. </li><li><b>Industrial-organizational psychologist:</b> Industrial-organizational (I-O) psychology looks at the psychology of workplaces. These psychologists may help to boost productivity or organizational dynamics. </li><li><b>Neuropsychologists:</b> These psychologists study how damage to the brain can affect behavior. </li><li><b>School psychologists:</b> These professionals work in school settings, helping diagnose students with developmental or behavioral delays and creating plans to help them succeed in school. </li></ul><p>If you're pursuing licensure, the educational requirements to become a psychologist are about the same for all types of psychologists. However, <a href="https://learn.org/articles/how_long_does_it_take_to_get_a_degree_in_psychology.html">how long it takes to get a psychology degree</a> can vary slightly between specializations. </p> <h2 id="section---6StepsToBecomeAPsychologistInOklahoma">6 Steps To Become a Psychologist in Oklahoma</h2> <p>In Oklahoma, professional psychologists must hold a license from the Oklahoma State Board of Examiners of Psychologists (OSBEP). Licensure requirements include a doctoral degree, supervised experience, and passing licensure exams. We've highlighted the key steps below. </p> <h3 id="section---Step1EarnABachelorSDegree">Step 1: Earn a Bachelor's Degree</h3> <p>Before you can enter into a doctoral program, you need to complete a bachelor's degree. Bachelor's degrees are undergraduate degrees that take about four years to complete and are a requirement for entry into most graduate programs. </p> <p>Many students who want to pursue a graduate degree in psychology choose to major in psychology for their undergrad program. This provides a solid foundation in psychology, and there are several <a href="https://learn.org/articles/online_psychology_degree_oklahoma.html">accredited psychology programs online</a> at the bachelor's level. </p> <p>However, most graduate psychology programs do not require a specific undergraduate major. Choose something that aligns with the type of psychological services you want to provide. That could be psychology or education if you want to be a school psychologist. </p> <h3 id="section---Step2ConsiderAMasterSDegree">Step 2: Consider a Master's Degree</h3> <p>Master's degrees are graduate degrees that usually take about two years of full-time study, although some schools offer <a href="https://learn.org/articles/fastest_online_psychology_degree_programs.html">accelerated psychology degrees online</a> that allow you to finish faster. You may or may not want to complete a master's degree, depending on the doctoral program you're interested in. </p> <p>Some doctoral degrees do not require a master's program. Others will reduce the credit hours you need if you already have a master's, which can be one of the <a href="https://learn.org/articles/how_fast_can_i_become_psychologist.html">fastest ways to become a psychologist</a> in Oklahoma. </p> <p>There are also other types of mental health professionals, such as counselors and marriage and family therapists, who only need master's degrees instead of doctorates. If you're more interested in a field like that, a master's is the best option. </p> <h3 id="section---Step3CompleteADoctoralDegree">Step 3: Complete a Doctoral Degree</h3> <p>To become a licensed psychologist in Oklahoma, you'll need to earn a doctoral degree. The most common options are a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in psychology or a Doctor of Psychology (PsyD). </p> <p>PhDs focus on both research and clinical practice, while PsyDs are more heavily focused on clinical and counseling practice. Both lead to licensure in Oklahoma as long as the program is accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) or otherwise approved by the OSBEP. </p> <p>PsyDs and PhDs in psychology typically include coursework in psychology, research projects, and supervised experiences. These degrees often take five to six years to complete. </p> <h3 id="section---Step4FulfillSupervisedExperienceHours">Step 4: Fulfill Supervised Experience Hours</h3> <p>In Oklahoma, you must have two years of supervised experience to receive your psychology license. Up to one year of that experience can be earned through the pre-doctoral internship in your doctorate program. </p> <p>The remaining year must be done through an approved postdoctoral training program. You must be working under the supervision of a licensed psychologist. </p> <h3 id="section---Step5PassLicensureExams">Step 5: Pass Licensure Exams</h3> <p>Oklahoma requires two licensure exams for psychologists. One is a national exam, and the other is a state-specific exam. </p> <p>The national exam is the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP). This exam is administered by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB) and tests your knowledge of psychology. </p> <p>In Oklahoma, applicants must also take the state jurisprudence exam. This exam covers the rules of the OSBEP, the Psychologists Licensing Act, the Code of Ethics, and Oklahoma mental health laws. </p> <h3 id="section---Step6ObtainAndMaintainLicensure">Step 6: Obtain and Maintain Licensure</h3> <p>Once you've completed an accredited graduate program, finished your postdoctoral experience, and received a passing score on the exams, you can finish the application process for psychology licensure in Oklahoma. To do so, you'll need to submit all applicable records and documents, submit to a criminal background check, and pay the application fee. </p> <p>To maintain your psychology license, you must renew through the OSBEP every year. Renewal requires completing at least 20 continuing education (CE) hours, including three credits of ethics. Your CE must be through an accredited program like one offered by the APA or Oklahoma Psychological Association. </p> <h2 id="section---WhatAreTheBestDegreesForAPsychologist">What Are the Best Degrees for a Psychologist?</h2> <p>In Oklahoma, a doctoral degree is required to become a licensed psychologist. As a result, the best degree is a PsyD or a PhD in psychology from an accredited program. </p> <p>There are, however, master's degrees that lead to counseling and human service roles in related fields. For example, you could earn a master's in mental health counseling, marriage and family therapy, or social work. </p> <h2 id="section---TopPsychologyDegreePrograms">Top Psychology Degree Programs</h2> <p>A few colleges and universities in Oklahoma offer psychology programs. We've featured some of the <a href="https://learn.org/articles/online_psyd_programs.html">best PsyD programs</a> and PhDs in psychology below. </p> <h3 id="section---1.OklahomaStateUniversity">1. Oklahoma State University</h3> <p>Oklahoma State University is a public research institution in Stillwater, OK. It offers three APA-accredited PhDs in clinical psychology, counseling psychology, and school psychology. </p> <p>The clinical psychology degree emphasizes clinical psychology theory, assessment and treatment, and research. It offers four tracks: clinical child psychology, health psychology and behavioral medicine, pediatric psychology, and adult clinical psychology. </p> <p>The counseling psychology program trains students for professional practice as a counseling psychologist in medical, public and family service, academic, private practice, or community settings, while the school psychology option prepares graduates to work in educational settings. </p> <p>All three options lead to licensure in Oklahoma. Comprehensive financial aid packages are available to graduate students in these programs. </p> <ul><li><b>Estimated tuition cost:</b> $5,611 per year (in-state); $21,114 per year (out-of-state) </li><li><b>Accreditation:</b> Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and APA </li></ul><h3 id="section---2.UniversityOfTulsa">2. University of Tulsa</h3> <p>At the University of Tulsa, students can earn a PhD in clinical psychology that's accredited by the APA. The program covers core areas, such as psychology, research methods, personality, and psychopathology, as well as principles of psychological assessment and intervention, and professional issues in clinical psychology. </p> <p>TU, a private Christian research university, is located in Tulsa, OK. It offers numerous fellowship and assistantship opportunities to help students pay for their PhD program. </p> <ul><li><b>Estimated tuition cost:</b> $26,532 per year (in-state and out-of-state) </li><li><b>Accreditation:</b> HLC and APA </li></ul><h3 id="section---3.OklahomaCityUniversity">3. Oklahoma City University</h3> <p>Oklahoma City University offers an APA-accredited PsyD in clinical psychology. OCU is a private Christian school in Oklahoma City. </p> <p>The PsyD prepares students to provide evidence-based psychological services in various settings to address a range of client mental health needs. Graduates will be able to provide a variety of evidence-based mental health services, including comprehensive psychological evaluations, psychotherapy services, supervisory services, and consultative services. </p> <ul><li><b>Estimated tuition cost:</b> $10,620 per year (in-state and out-of-state) </li><li><b>Accreditation:</b> HLC and APA </li></ul><h3 id="section---4.UniversityOfOklahoma">4. University of Oklahoma</h3> <p>The PhD in psychology at the University of Oklahoma is not designed to lead to licensure but to create research scientists. It offers areas of specialization in cognitive psychology, applied social and developmental psychology, industrial-organizational psychology, and quantitative psychology. </p> <p>OU, based in Norman, OK, is a public research university. It provides assistantship opportunities that cover tuition costs and offer a stipend for living expenses. </p> <ul><li><b>Estimated tuition cost:</b> $9,174 per year (in-state); $25,963 per year (out-of-state) </li><li><b>Accreditation:</b> HLC </li></ul><h3 id="section---5.SouthernNazareneUniversity">5. Southern Nazarene University</h3> <p>Southern Nazarene University is a private Christian institution in Bethany, OK. It offers a Master of Arts in applied psychology and a Master of Science in counseling psychology. </p> <p>While neither program leads to licensure, both provide a solid foundation for graduate study. The counseling psychology program also meets the requirements for the Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) credential in Oklahoma. </p> <ul><li><b>Estimated tuition cost:</b> $12,600 per year (in-state and out-of-state) </li><li><b>Accreditation:</b> HLC </li></ul><h2 id="section---SkillsOfAPsychologist">Skills of a Psychologist</h2> <p>Degree programs help you gain knowledge in psychological theory, practice, and research. They'll also help you develop key soft skills needed for a career in psychology, such as: </p> <ul><li>analytical thinking and critical thinking skills </li><li>communication skills </li><li>compassion and patience </li><li>integrity and ethics </li><li>interpersonal skills </li><li>observational skills </li><li>problem-solving skills </li></ul><p>You'll also further develop these skills as you progress through clinical experiences like practicums and internships. </p> <h2 id="section---CareersAndJobOutlookForPsychologists">Careers and Job Outlook for Psychologists</h2> <p>Nationwide, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) expects jobs for psychologists to increase by 7% by 2033. Growth is positive in Oklahoma as well, though it varies by career. </p> <p>Clinical and counseling psychologists in Oklahoma should see an increase of 15% in the same time frame. Roles for school psychologists are expected to go up 6%, and other psychologists will likely see an increase of 5%. </p> <h2 id="section---WhatIsTheAverageSalaryOfAPsychologistInOklahoma">What Is the Average Salary of a Psychologist in Oklahoma?</h2> <p>Like the job outlook, the median annual salary for psychologists varies by career. It can also vary significantly based on where in the state you work. </p> <p>For example, clinical and counseling psychologists in Oklahoma have a median salary slightly below the national average &mdash; $91,140 per year compared to $95,830 per year. However, those in the Tulsa, OK, area earn a median salary of $119,830 per year. </p> <p>School psychologists in Oklahoma have a median annual salary of $61,420, far less than the national median of $86,930. Those in the OKC area earn a median of $65,970 per year, but those in the Tulsa area only earn a median of $51,970 per year. </p> <p>Conversely, other psychologists, including neuropsychologists, earn a median annual salary of $147,010 in Oklahoma &mdash; much more than the national median of $117,580. No additional area data is available for psychologists in this category. </p> <p>You can maximize your salary by keeping costs low while in school and avoiding student loans when possible. Look for some of the <a href="https://learn.org/articles/affordable_online_degrees_psychology.html">most affordable online psychology degrees</a> and take advantage of financial aid opportunities. </p> <h2 id="section---ExplorePsychologyDegrees">Explore Psychology Degrees</h2> <p>Find the perfect psychology program for you by exploring the options featured on Learn.org. Reach out to individual schools to learn more about how they can help you reach your psychology career goals.</p>