How To Become a Psychologist in Wisconsin 2025

Wisconsin has several licensure requirements for anyone seeking to enter the psychology or psychiatry career fields. You can learn how to become a psychologist by developing a coherent strategy for completing an undergraduate education, graduate degrees, postdoctoral internships, and passing the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP).

This process may take at least seven to 10 years to complete � especially if you include the supervised experience hours required for a psychologist license. This article offers you a step-by-step guide for how to become a psychologist in Wisconsin.

What Does a Psychologist Do?

The reason there are so many educational requirements to become a psychologist is because of the complexity and seriousness of the work they do. Some psychologists are responsible for diagnosing and treating mental and behavioral disorders among diverse patients. Others focus on academic endeavors, including research and development into new treatment strategies.

The next section will show you the best ways to master these skills, including how long it takes to get a psychology degree in areas like mental health, school psychology, family therapy, and other sub-fields. Regardless of which psychology concentration you select, all professionals must possess at least a bachelor's degree to qualify for employment.

3 Steps To Become a Psychologist in Wisconsin

Follow these three steps to navigate through the education process and fulfill every licensing requirement. These steps outline how to earn a bachelor's degree, get into graduate school, acquire supervised practice, and get a passing score on the EPPP exam.

Step 1: Earn a Bachelor's Degree

The first step to becoming a licensed psychologist involves completing a bachelor's degree in the field, which usually involves about 120 hours of coursework over a four-year time frame. Students can finish this quicker by pursuing an accelerated psychology degree online.

Our website has plenty of information regarding the best accredited online psychology degrees in Wisconsin and anywhere in the U.S. As you complete your degree, you should strive to get the best grades possible to make yourself a more attractive applicant for competitive graduate programs.

Step 2: Go to Graduate School

Graduate school is the next important step for anyone who wishes to advance to higher employment positions in the profession. This means earning at least a master's degree, but many motivated professionals will pursue either a Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) or a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in the field. Those two doctoral degrees grant you the opportunity to administer clinical services or conduct sophisticated field research, respectively.

Step 3: Get Supervised Experience & Pass Exams

Once you've finished the educational requirements, the next step is to focus on the specific licensing requirements set forth by the American Psychological Association (APA) or the Wisconsin Psychology Examining Board (WPEB). State law requires prospective psychologists to complete at least 3,000 supervised hours before qualifying for a Temporary Act 10 Credential, an interim license, allowing you to begin private psychological services.

You can also apply for a Temporary Act 10 and receive reciprocity if you earned your license in another state. Full licensure has several specific requirements, which involve background checks and academic verifications, along with completing the license application.

It also governs the license renewal process. After you've obtained a psychology license, you must maintain it by taking continuing education work throughout the rest of your career.

What Are the Best Degrees for a Psychologist?

Several advanced degrees are available for prospective psychologists. The most common are the Master of Science (MS) in Psychology, Master of Arts (MA) in Psychology, or either a PsyD or PhD for doctoral candidates. Before enrolling in these programs, consider your specific career goals and whichever jobs you wish to attain.

While many advanced positions require a PsyD or PhD, it is still possible to find lucrative positions with a master's degree. Don't forget to start your education with a reputable bachelor's degree, which you can earn faster and more affordably by enrolling in the cheapest online psychology degree programs.

Top Psychology Degree Programs

Here's a list of reputable master's degree and doctoral programs in Wisconsin. Each receives academic accreditation from review boards, such as the APA or Wisconsin Psychological Association (WPA).

1. University of Wisconsin - Madison

The University of Wisconsin - Madison offers in-person training and instruction through its psychology PhD program. This is a rigorous and comprehensive curriculum of coursework and practicum experience, designed to prepare students to pass licensing exams and find full-time professional practice.

The Department of Psychology offers graduate students cutting-edge research facilities, such as the Harlow Primate Laboratory, where they can conduct animal-based research into behavior, pharmaceutical, and anatomical topics.

Estimated tuition cost: $12,325 (in-state); $25,651 (out-of-state)

Accreditation: APA

2. Marquette University

Marquette University offers a PhD in clinical psychology, which requires full-time attendance on its campus. The doctoral program lasts about five years, plus an additional year for postdoctoral internships.

This PhD opportunity focuses on developing ''scientist-practitioners,'' making graduates well-rounded and prepared for careers in academia, private practice, or public service in Wisconsin. Marquette is also one of few schools to offer lower tuition for out-of-state residents, according to its website.

Estimated tuition cost: $18,810 (in-state); $16,740 (out-of-state)

Accreditation: APA

3. University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

The University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee has PhD concentrations in clinical psychology, health psychology, and neuroscience. It also offers a terminal master's degree program. The PhD program seeks to train well-rounded generalists while also providing specialized training in high-demand areas, such as substance abuse, developmental disorders, web-based interventions, and pediatric psychology.

Estimated tuition cost: $12,728 (in-state); $26,158 (out-of-state)

Accreditation: APA

4. Wisconsin School of Professional Psychology

The Wisconsin School of Professional Psychology grants a PsyD degree to prospective clinical psychologists in several subfields. The program boasts of an 83% licensure rate among its graduates. It also places 100% of students into lucrative internships, fosters smaller class sizes, and offers classes taught by real-world, licensed professionals with years of practical experience.

Estimated tuition cost: $48,750 (in-state); $48,750 (out-of-state)

Accreditation: APA

5. University of Wisconsin - Whitewater

The University of Wisconsin - Whitewater has a master's degree program, which specializes solely in training future school psychologists. This unique opportunity grants students both a master's in psychology and the chance to combine that credential with an Educational Specialist Degree (EdS). The program allows students to earn the master's degree in their first year, complete the coursework for the EdS in the second year, and finish with a school psychology internship during the final year.

Estimated tuition cost: $585.74 per credit (in-state); $1,200.20 per credit (out-of-state)

Accreditation: Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) and National Association of School Psychologists (NASP)

Skills of a Psychologist

Psychologists must be empathetic and compassionate to best serve their patients, especially during face-to-face counseling. Since the field receives substantial regulatory scrutiny, psychologists must also be able to pay attention to details and comply with all Wisconsin statutes governing psychology before beginning private practice.

Finally, psychologists must possess critical thinking and time-management skills to accommodate the always busy practice of psychology. If these sound like your strong suit, then check out the fastest way to become a psychologist and put these skills to good work, serving patients in Wisconsin.

Careers and Job Outlook for Psychologists

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), psychologist careers should experience a solid growth rate of 7% between 2023 and 2033. This reflects a shortage in the profession, particularly among school psychologists, social work professionals, counseling psychologists, and clinical psychologists in rural areas of the state.

If you'd like to take advantage of this excellent career growth, and help communities address these shortages, then consider enrolling in one of the best PsyD programs. Clinical psychology is one of the fastest-growing fields and commands a high salary in public, private, or non-profit settings.

What Is the Average Salary of a Psychologist in Wisconsin?

The BLS also reports that psychologists earn just over $94,000 a year as a median salary. This figure includes well-compensated roles, such as school psychologists, senior clinical psychologists, health psychologists, and various other professional service positions. Just remember that reaching that salary may take multiple years of practical experience, including interim psychologist roles, before earning the highest salaries.

Explore Psychology Degrees

Learn.org welcomes you to explore the rest of our online resources for accredited psychology degree programs in Wisconsin and anywhere else in America. We have large volumes of information to help you find top bachelor's degrees, graduate programs, professional licensure, and more.