How To Become a Psychologist in Michigan 2025

Psychologists, whether they work in a clinical or research setting, are dedicated to understanding human behavior. They play an important role in helping care for those with mental health conditions or developmental delays, and as a result, becoming a psychologist requires a lot of education.

The steps that outline how to become a psychologist vary between states. For example, all states require practicing psychologists to have a license, but Michigan has several tiers of licenses for psychologists. Keep reading to discover how to become a psychologist in Ohio.

What Does a Psychologist Do?

Psychology is a field of study dedicated to understanding how the mind works. Psychologists are experts in this field who work to further psychology research and knowledge or help clients dealing with psychological conditions.

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 psychologists: 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 professionals work in school settings, helping diagnose students with developmental or behavioral delays and creating plans to help them succeed in school.

If you're pursuing licensure, the educational requirements to become a psychologist are about the same for all types of psychologists. However, how long it takes to get a psychology degree can vary slightly.

6 Steps To Become a Psychologist in Michigan

Michigan has several levels of psychology licenses, depending on your education and the specific role you want to pursue with your license. We've broken down the steps to earning these licenses below.

Step 1: Earn a Bachelor's Degree

No matter what type of psychologist license you want to earn in Michigan, you need to have a graduate degree. Before you can earn a graduate degree, you need a bachelor's degree, which is a four-year undergraduate degree.

Most graduate psychology degrees do not require a specific undergraduate major. Whatever you choose should give you a good foundation in the social sciences, and psychology is a common choice. Many schools offer accredited psychology programs online at the bachelor's level.

Overall, you should choose a major that corresponds to the field you want to study. Psychology is a great option � but if you want to be a school psychologist, for example, then you could also major in education.

Step 2: Earn a Master's Degree and Consider a Limited License

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

Not all doctoral degrees require you to earn a master's first, so if you want to earn a doctoral degree, a master's may not be necessary. However, there are certain types of licenses in Michigan that allow you to practice with a master's degree.

A master's program will qualify you for a Master's Temporary Educational Limited License (TTLP) for those who are pursuing post-master's work experience. You can also qualify for the Master's Limited License Psychologist (LLP) option. This allows you to work under the supervision of a fully licensed psychologist.

Earning a master's is one of the fastest ways to become a psychologist in Michigan. However, it's important to note that a master's degree isn't enough to allow you to engage in the full scope of psychology practice.

Step 3: Complete a Doctoral Degree Program

To become licensed and be able to practice professionally in Michigan, you need to earn a doctorate degree in psychology. There are two types of doctorate degrees in psychology: a Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) or a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in psychology. If you want to become a school psychologist, a Doctor of Education (EdD) in school psychology is acceptable as well.

PsyD programs are less common but are specifically for those who want to become practicing psychologists. PhDs are more focused on research, but many also train students for clinical practice. EdDs in school psychology are specifically for the field of school psychology. All three lead to licensure, provided they're accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA).

In your program, you'll have a mix of coursework, research opportunities, and hands-on internships. Before you can participate in your internship, you'll need to secure a Doctoral Temporary Educational Limited License (TLLP) through the Michigan Board of Psychology.

Step 4: Fulfill Supervised Experience Requirements

To qualify for professional licensing in Michigan, you'll need to fulfill the supervised experience requirement. In addition to the internship or practicum in your doctoral degree, you must complete 2,000 hours of post-doctoral supervised experience.

To participate in this experience, you'll need to obtain a Doctoral Education Limited License (DLLP), which allows you to work under the supervision of a licensed psychologist to fulfill your supervised experience requirement. This license is good for one year and can be renewed up to five times.

Step 5: Pass the EPPP and Complete the Application Process

In Michigan, like in most states, you need to take and pass the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP). This is a standardized knowledge test developed and administered by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB).

You are eligible to take the EPPP with a master's TLLP or DLLP. You must score at least 350 to obtain the master's LLP and at least 500 to obtain the psychology license.

In addition to the EPPP, there are a few other licensure requirements you need to fulfill to qualify for full licensure. You'll need to submit your application, including your official transcripts and supervisor evaluation form. You'll also need to pass a criminal background check and complete human trafficking training and implicit bias training.

Step 6: Find a Job and Maintain Licensure

Once you've earned your state license, you can start pursuing jobs in psychology. Often, you can leverage connections you've made in your doctoral-level internship or post-doctoral experience.

Although you may be working as a psychologist, your licensure requirements aren't done yet. You must renew your license every two years to keep it in good standing.

To qualify for renewal, you'll need to complete 30 credits of continuing education (CE) during that two-year period. The CE must be through a provider approved by the board.

What Are the Best Degrees for a Psychologist?

A doctoral-level degree is required for professional licensure in the state of Michigan. Psychologists who want to go into clinical practice will need to earn either a PhD in psychology or a PsyD. For school psychologists, a Doctor of Education (EdD) in educational or school psychology is also valid.

A master's degree in psychology is typically sufficient for counseling roles, such as family therapist or mental health counselor. In Michigan, you can work in a supervised psychology setting with a master's-level degree.

Top Psychology Degree Programs

A handful of schools in Michigan offer APA-accredited doctoral programs in psychology. We've featured some of the best PsyD programs and PhDs in psychology below.

1. University of Michigan

The University of Michigan is a public research institution in Ann Arbor, MI. Its Department of Psychology offers a PhD in clinical psychology that leads to professional licensure.

The program is designed to develop clinical psychologists through rigorous training in research, teaching, ethics, assessment, and more. Comprehensive funding packages are available to students in this program, and additional PhDs in psychology that do not lead to licensure are also available.

Estimated tuition cost: $28,554 per year (in-state); $57,444 per year (out-of-state)

Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC), Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System (PCSAS), and APA

2. Michigan State University

At Michigan State University, students can earn a PhD in clinical psychology or a PhD in school psychology for licensure. Both programs prepare students to make a difference in clinical and research settings within their chosen specialty.

MSU, a public research institution, is located in East Lansing, MI. Students in the clinical psychology program are guaranteed at least four years of full funding.

Estimated tuition cost: $21,432 per year (in-state); $41,508 per year (out-of-state)

Accreditation: HLC, PCSAS, and APA

3. Wayne State University

Wayne State University offers both a PhD in clinical psychology and a PhD in counseling psychology. Wayne State is a public research university in Detroit.

The clinical psychology degree offers intensive training in clinical neuropsychology and child/adolescent psychology, with additional opportunities in related fields. The counseling program prepares students to address personal and interpersonal functioning across the lifespan.

Estimated tuition cost: $15,937 per year (in-state); $34,519 per year (out-of-state)

Accreditation: HLC and APA

4. Eastern Michigan University

The PhD in clinical psychology at Eastern Michigan University is APA-accredited and leads to professional licensure. The program provides students with knowledge of psychological assessment, therapy, research, and program development and evaluation.

EMU, located in Ypsilanti, MI, is a public research university. Students in the clinical psychology PhD program can choose a specialization in adult clinical, applied behavior analysis, assessment, developmental psychopathology, or health psychology.

Estimated tuition cost: $17,748 per year (in-state); $30,758 per year (out-of-state)

Accreditation: HLC and APA

5. Western Michigan University

Western Michigan University is a public research institution in Kalamazoo, MI. It offers accredited PhDs in clinical psychology and counseling psychology.

The clinical psychology program prepares graduates to function in professional roles that involve teaching, research, administration, and direct clinical service. The counseling psychology degree places an emphasis on blending theory, research, and practice.

Estimated tuition cost: $19,154 per year (in-state); $28,732 per year (out-of-state)

Accreditation: HLC and APA

Skills of a Psychologist

Psychologists need a strong foundation in psychological theory, clinical practice, and research methods. However, there are also several soft skills they need, including:

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

Your psychology education will help you gain these skills. You'll develop them even further through your hands-on practice.

Careers and Job Outlook for Psychologists

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects jobs for psychologists to increase by 7% nationwide by 2033. Growth is also expected in Michigan, specifically, though how much growth depends on your career.

Clinical and counseling psychologists in Michigan are expected to see a growth of 11% in the same time frame, while school psychologists will have a growth of only 1%. Meanwhile, other types of psychologists are expected to see a 4% growth.

What Is the Average Salary of a Psychologist in Michigan?

Psychologists in Michigan tend to earn less than the national average for their roles, although it depends slightly on where they live.

For example, clinical and counseling psychologists in Michigan have a median salary of $80,030 per year, while the national median is $95,470 per year. But those in the Saginaw, MI area average $96,270 per year, slightly higher than the national average.

School psychologists have a median annual salary of $76,980, while the national median is about $10,000 more per year. There is nowhere in Michigan where the median is higher than the national median.

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 programs featured on Learn.org. Reach out to individual schools to learn more about admissions, enrollment, and financial aid.