How To Become a Psychologist in California 2025

Psychologists play an important role in helping us understand how the human mind works. There are many different types of psychologists; some provide mental health services, while others focus on research.

The steps on how to become a psychologist vary between states and are based on what type of psychologist you want to be. Keep reading to discover how to become a psychologist in California.

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: These professionals 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: These professionals work in school settings and help address educational, emotional, or behavioral challenges that students may face.

If you're wondering how long it takes to get a psychology degree, this will depend on the type of psychologist you want to be and whether or not you need a license. Some schools offer accredited online psychology degrees.

7 Steps To Become a Psychologist in California

To work as a licensed psychologist in California, you'll need to earn a doctorate degree and take the necessary steps to obtain a license. We've broken down these steps below.

Step 1: Earn a Bachelor's Degree

The first step to becoming a psychologist in California is to earn a bachelor's degree. These are four-year undergraduate degrees, and are necessary to proceed to graduate school.

While graduate programs require a bachelor's, most do not require a specific major. However, if you know you want to go into psychology, a bachelor's degree in psychology is a good place to start. At the very least, your bachelor's program should provide a good foundation in the social sciences.

Many schools in California offer affordable online psychology degrees, providing flexibility as you complete your undergraduate program.

Step 2: Earn a Master's Degree

Master's degrees are graduate degrees that take about two years of full-time study to complete. A master's program may or may not be necessary, depending on what type of psychologist you want to be and what school you want to go to for your doctoral program.

Not all doctoral programs require you to hold a master's degree. Some may even let you earn a master's degree in the process of earning your doctoral degree. Others don't require a master's, but will reduce the number of credits needed for the doctoral degree if you have one. This can be one of the fastest ways to become a psychologist.

If you want to become an industrial-organizational psychologist, you'll need at least a master's, but you won't necessarily need a doctorate. Because industrial-organizational psychologists don't typically need licenses, this is one of the fastest psychology degree online at the master's level.

Step 3: Complete a Doctoral Degree Program

To obtain licensure in California, you need to complete a doctoral program. There are two options for psychology students: a Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) or a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in psychology.

PsyD programs typically take three to six years to complete and are for those who want to work in clinical practice. PhDs in psychology are generally for those who want to go into academia or research, and take four to seven years to complete. However, you can still practice clinical psychology with a PhD.

Both types of degrees will lead to a psychology license in California � as long as you study through a program accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA). You can find a full list of accredited institutions on the APA website.

Your doctoral degree will provide coursework in your specific field of study. For example, a clinical psychology program will focus on topics such as mental health and how to provide psychological services. You'll also participate in supervised professional experiences. If you're in a PhD program, there will also be a heavy emphasis on research methods and completing a dissertation in your specialization.

Step 4: Complete Supervised Experience

Licensing requirements in California include completing 3,000 hours of supervised professional experience. You can complete some of this during your doctoral program, but at least 1,500 hours must be postdoctoral.

Your school may be able to help you secure a postdoctoral supervised practicum. Speak with your department head to learn about your options.

Step 5: Submit an Application for Licensure

Once you've completed your doctoral program and postdoctoral supervised experience, you have a few more licensure requirements to meet. First, you'll need to fill out all the prelicensure coursework required by the California Board of Psychology.

You'll also need to submit your fingerprints to the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for a criminal background check. Once you submit everything, including your application and the $236 application fee, you'll be able to take your licensure exams.

Step 6: Take the Necessary Exams and Courses

California requires two exams for psychology licensure: the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP) and the California Psychology Laws and Ethics Examination (CPLEE).

The EPPP is a knowledge-based exam that assesses your knowledge of psychology and clinical practice. The CPLEE tests your knowledge of laws and ethics as they relate to professional psychology.

There are also several courses that California requires applicants to take before they can obtain their psychologist license. These are:

• Human Sexuality
• Alcohol/Chemical Dependency Detection and Treatment
• Child Abuse Assessment
• Spousal or Partner Abuse Assessment, Detection, and Intervention Strategies
• Aging and Long-Term Care
• Suicide Risk Assessment and Intervention

Some of these courses may be available as part of your degree program, while others are independent training courses.

Step 7: Obtain Licensure and Pursue Psychology Roles

After you've submitted all necessary documentation and passed the EPPP and CPLEE, you can apply for initial licensure. To maintain your licensure, complete continuing education and renew your license periodically.

With your license secured, you can now pursue jobs as a psychologist. Some clinical psychologists prefer to go into private practice, while others work for mental health services providers, hospitals, or other types of healthcare facilities. School psychologists often work for school districts.

What Are the Best Degrees for a Psychologist?

Those who want to go into clinical practice will need to earn either a PhD in psychology or a PsyD. A doctoral degree is required for licensure in California.

A master's degree in psychology is usually sufficient for industrial-organizational psychologists. It may also qualify you for roles such as family therapist or mental health counselor.

Top Psychology Degree Programs

California is home to some of the nation's best PsyD programs and PhDs in psychology. We've highlighted some of these below.

1. University of California, Berkeley

The University of California, Berkeley is a public research institution in Berkeley, CA. It offers a PhD in psychology with concentrations in behavioral and systems neuroscience, clinical science, cognition, cognitive neuroscience, developmental, and social-personality psychology.

Each concentration has its own path of study, mixing coursework, clinical experiences, and research projects. The school guarantees 10 semesters of funding for doctoral students, making this a highly affordable option.

Estimated tuition cost: $12,762 per year (in-state); $27,864 per year (out-of-state)

Accreditation: Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission (WASCUC) and APA

2. University of California, Los Angeles

At the University of California, Los Angeles, students can earn a PhD in psychology. This program offers multiple areas of emphasis, including clinical psychology, cognitive neuroscience, developmental psychology, and social psychology.

UCLA, a public research university, is located in Los Angeles. Its psychology program is focused on providing rigorous scientific training through a number of the school's research facilities. As with UCB, UCLA offers several funding options for students.

Estimated tuition cost: $12,762 per year (in-state); $27,864 per year (out-of-state)

Accreditation: WASCUC and APA

3. University of Southern California

The University of Southern California offers a PhD in psychology through its Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences. USC is a private research university in Los Angeles.

The PhD program offers research areas in brain and cognitive science, clinical science, developmental psychology, quantitative methods and computational psychology, and social psychology. All PhD students receive an annual stipend and health benefits.

Estimated tuition cost: $69,904 per year (in-state and out-of-state)

Accreditation: WASCUC and APA

4. University of California, Irvine

The PhD in psychology at the University of California, Irvine is offered through the School of Social Ecology. It includes specializations in affective science, clinical psychology, developmental psychology, health psychology, and social and personality psychology.

UC Irvine, located in Irvine, CA, is a public research university. It offers guaranteed support for the first five years of the program, including tuition, fees, and a stipend.

Estimated tuition cost: $12,762 per year (in-state); $27,864 per year (out-of-state)

Accreditation: WASCUC and APA

5. Pepperdine University

Pepperdine University is a private Christian institution in Malibu, CA. It offers a PsyD in clinical psychology through its School of Education and Psychology.

The program blends academics, clinical training, and research to prepare students for careers as licensed clinical psychologists. It has a 100% licensure rate and a 97% postdoctoral internship rate.

Estimated tuition cost: $43,400 per year (in-state and out-of-state)

Accreditation: WASCUC and APA

Skills of a Psychologist

Psychologists need several skills to perform their job well. These include:

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

Careers and Job Outlook for Psychologists

In general, jobs for California psychologists are expected to increase over the next decade. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*Net, the job outlook for common psychology careers in California looks like this:

• clinical and counseling psychologists: 21% growth
• industrial-organizational psychologists: 12% growth
• school psychologists: 6% growth
• other psychologists: 7% growth

These are generally the same as or higher than the national outlook for psychologists, which the BLS expects to be a growth of 7%.

What Is the Average Salary of a Psychologist in California?

The average salary of a psychologist in California varies by type of psychologist:

• clinical and counseling psychologist: $114,520 per year
• industrial-organizational psychologists: $140,540 per year
• school psychologists: $118,310 per year
• other psychologists: $147,650 per year

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

Explore Psychology Degrees

Find the perfect psychology degree by exploring the options featured on Learn.org. Reach out to individual schools to learn more about how they can help you achieve your career goals.