How To Become a Psychologist in Illinois 2025

Psychologists play an important role in helping us understand why people behave the way that they do. That's why in most states, including Illinois, professional psychologists need a doctoral degree and a license.

If you want to know how to become a psychologist, there are several steps to consider. In Illinois, the pathway also depends on the type of professional psychologist you want to be. Keep reading to learn more about how to become a psychologist in Illinois.

What Does a Psychologist Do?

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

There are several different types of psychologists, including:

• Clinical psychologists: Also called counseling psychologists, these psychologists meet with patients to help resolve emotional, behavioral, and mental disorders. They may work in private practice or within a healthcare facility.
• Industrial-organizational psychologist: Industrial-organizational (I-O) psychology looks at the psychology of workplaces. These psychologists may be called in to help boost productivity or organizational dynamics.
• Neuropsychologists: These psychologists study how damage to the brain can affect behavior.
• School psychologists: These psychologists work in educational settings, helping diagnose students with developmental or behavioral delays and creating plans to help them succeed in school.

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 need a license.

In most states, psychologists cannot dispense medication. However, Illinois is one of the few exceptions, as it offers a license for prescribing psychologists. There are additional educational requirements to become a psychologist who prescribes medication.

7 Steps To Become a Psychologist in Illinois

To hold a job as a clinical psychologist or prescribing psychologist in Illinois, you need a license, which requires a doctoral degree, supervised work experience, and passing necessary exams. We've broken down the steps below.

Step 1: Earn a Bachelor's Degree

The first step toward becoming a licensed psychologist is earning a bachelor's degree. Bachelor's degrees are four-year undergraduate degrees and are required to move on to a graduate program.

There is generally no specific bachelor's degree needed for a graduate degree in psychology. However, your undergraduate major should be in a field that provides a good understanding of the social sciences, like psychology. Many schools offer accredited psychology programs online at the bachelor's level.

If you want to become a prescribing psychologist, there are certain undergraduate subjects you'll need to take:

• medical terminology
• chemistry or biochemistry with lab (two semesters)
• human physiology
• human anatomy
• anatomy and physiology
• microbiology with lab
• general biology or cell and molecular biology

While you can always go back and take these courses at a later time, it's often less expensive to take them as part of your undergraduate program. Consider a major in psychology with a minor in something like biology or health sciences.

Step 2: Earn a Master's Degree

Master's degrees are graduate degrees that take about two years of full-time study to complete, although some schools offer accelerated psychology degrees online that allow you to finish faster.

Not all doctoral programs require you to hold a master's degree, and accept students with just bachelor's degrees. Some let you earn a master's degree in the process of earning your doctoral degree.

Others don't require a master's program 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're looking to become a prescribing psychologist, there are several credit hours you will need to complete. A master's degree provides a good chance to complete these credits. Look for programs focused on psychopharmacology to help you fulfill these requirements.

Step 3: Complete a Doctoral Program in Psychology

To qualify for clinical psychologist licensing in the state of Illinois, and later for prescribing psychologist licensure, you need a doctoral degree. There are two doctoral-level options for psychology students: a Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) or a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in psychology.

PsyD programs are less common but are specifically for those who want to become practicing psychologists. They typically take three to seven years to complete, on average. PhDs in psychology are for those who want to go into research or academia and for those who want to pursue clinical practice. These take four to eight years of full-time study.

Both options will fulfill the licensure requirements in Illinois, as long as you choose either a program that's accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) or one that is otherwise approved by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR). You can find a list of accredited programs on the APA website.

Your doctoral program will be a mix of coursework, research, and hands-on experiences. To earn your psychology licensure in Illinois, you will need to complete 400 hours of practicum experience during your doctoral program.

Step 4: Complete Supervised Experience

In addition to the 400-hour practicum, future Illinois psychologists must also participate in one year of supervised clinical experience. This experience must take place after you've completed your doctoral degree.

Your postdoctoral experience can be through practicums, internships, or similar types of supervised professional experience. These typically need to be through organized training programs and must involve hands-on work in clinical practice.

Step 5: Apply for Licensure

Once you've completed your doctoral program and required supervised experience, you can submit your application for licensure to the Clinical Psychologists Licensing and Disciplinary Board. Every application is reviewed by the board on an individual basis.

The board may request additional information or ask you to appear for oral interviews. Once the board deems you eligible, you'll be able to sit for the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP).

Step 6: Take the EPPP

The EPPP is a standardized exam that most states require for clinical psychology licensure. This exam is developed by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB) and assesses your psychology knowledge.

You cannot schedule this exam until your application has been approved by the board. Once you pass the exam, you can continue to obtain your license.

Step 7: Obtain and Maintain Your Psychology License

After you've submitted all paperwork and passed your EPPP, you'll be eligible to obtain your clinical psychology license in Illinois. However, your work isn't over yet.

You must renew your psychology license every two years. During those two years, you must complete continuing education requirements (CE). This continuing education needs to be through an approved professional organization, like the APA or the Illinois Psychological Association (IPA).

Step 8: Consider a Prescribing Psychologist License

Once you've received your clinical psychology license, you may want to consider furthering your career and earning a prescribing psychologist license.

As mentioned, there are several undergraduate subjects you'll need to take to qualify for this license. You'll also need to take at least 60 semester hours of undergraduate or graduate coursework that includes the following subject areas:

• pharmacology
• clinical psychopharmacology
• clinical anatomy and integrated science
• patient evaluation
• advanced physical assessment
• research methods
• advanced pathophysiology
• diagnostic methods
• problem-based learning
• clinical and procedural skills

Additionally, you'll need to complete a full-time practicum of at least 14 months of supervised clinical training and pass the Psychopharmacology Examination for Psychologists (PEP).

What Are the Best Degrees for a Psychologist?

Those who want to become licensed psychologists in Illinois must earn a doctoral degree in psychology. This can be either a PsyD or a PhD in psychology. Many programs offer specializations so you can focus on a specific field of psychology, such as counseling psychology or school psychology.

A master's degree in psychology can be helpful as well, especially if you want to work as a mental health counselor or substance abuse counselor. However, it will not be enough to qualify you for licensure.

Top Psychology Degree Programs

Several colleges and universities in Illinois offer doctorate degrees in psychology. We've highlighted some of the best PsyD programs and PhDs in psychology below.

1. Northwestern University

Northwestern University is a private, nonprofit research institution in Evanston, IL. It offers two PhDs in clinical psychology that prepare students to become licensed clinical psychologists.

The first is offered through the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences and primarily focuses on clinical research while also providing training in the diagnosis and treatment of emotional disorders.

The second is through the Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago. This program emphasizes the integration of evidence-based science and clinical practice. Comprehensive funding options are available for both programs.

Estimated tuition cost: $53,452 per year (in-state and out-of-state)

Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and APA

2. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

At the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, students can choose from two accredited PhD programs. The first is a PhD in counseling psychology, and the second is a PhD in clinical-community psychology. Both stress the importance of blending research and professional practice.

UIUC, a public research university, is based in Champaign, IL. The university also offers non-licensure PhDs in fields like behavioral neuroscience, developmental psychology, and industrial-organizational psychology.

Estimated tuition cost: $15,986 per year (in-state); $31,114 per year (out-of-state)

Accreditation: HLC and APA

3. University of Illinois Chicago

The University of Illinois Chicago offers an APA-accredited PhD in clinical psychology. UIC is a public research university in Chicago.

This program emphasizes the integration of research and clinical work and provides experiences that enable students to learn evidence-based assessment and treatment approaches. PhDs in brain and cognitive science, community and applied developmental psychology, and social and personality psychology are also available.

Estimated tuition cost: $14,390 per year (in-state); $24,588 per year (out-of-state)

Accreditation: HLC and APA

4. DePaul University

The College of Science and Health at DePaul University offers a PhD in clinical psychology. This is a combined master's/doctoral degree and offers two tracks: community psychology and child psychology.

DePaul University, located in Chicago, is a private Catholic institution. It also offers PhDs in psychological science and industrial-organizational psychology.

Estimated tuition cost: $22,959 per year (in-state and out-of-state)

Accreditation: HLC and APA

5. Loyola University Chicago

Loyola University Chicago is a private Catholic school in Chicago. It offers PhDs in clinical psychology, counseling psychology, and school psychology, all three of which lead to licensure.

The clinical psychology program is offered through the Department of Psychology and prepares students for work in both research and clinical settings. The counseling psychology and school psychology programs are offered through the School of Education and are both primarily geared toward professional practice.

Estimated tuition cost: $20,970 per year (in-state and out-of-state)

Accreditation: HLC and APA

Skills of a Psychologist

In addition to understanding human behavior, there are several skills that psychologists need to have. These include:

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

Many of these skills you'll develop in your degree program, but some you'll develop the most through hands-on practice.

Careers and Job Outlook for Psychologists

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), jobs for psychologists are expected to increase by 7% across the U.S. over the next decade. In Illinois, those numbers look a little different depending on the career field.

Jobs for clinical and counseling psychologists in Illinois are expected to increase by 11% in the same time frame. That's an average of 330 new job openings each year.

Roles for school psychologists are expected to increase by 2%. That's not as much as counseling and clinical psychologists, but it is still an average of 260 roles per year. For other types of psychologists, no growth is expected, but there's no decline in roles either.

What Is the Average Salary of a Psychologist in Illinois?

The average salary of a psychologist in Illinois depends on the type of psychologist. For example:

• clinical and counseling psychologists have a median annual salary of $97,470.
• school psychologists have a median annual salary of $80,220
• other psychologists have a median annual salary of $81,270

Where you work also affects your salary. Unsurprisingly, large urban areas like the Chicago metro, the Springfield area, and the St. Louis, MO metro have the highest salaries in the state.

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 for you by exploring the programs featured on Learn.org. Reach out to individual schools to learn how they can help you reach your psychology career goals.