How To Become a Psychologist in Mississippi 2025

<p>Psychology is a field focused on human behavior. Psychologists may work in academic or research settings, or they may work with patients in clinical settings. </p> <p>The steps to <a href="https://learn.org/articles/how_to_become_a_psychologist.html">become a psychologist</a> vary by state. For example, most states require a license to practice psychology professionally, but Mississippi requires two licensure exams instead of one. Keep reading to learn more about how to become a psychologist in Mississippi. </p> <h2 id="section---WhatDoesAPsychologistDo">What Does a Psychologist Do?</h2> <p>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. </p> <p>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: </p> <ul><li><b>clinical and counseling psychologists</b>: 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. </li><li><b>forensic psychologists</b>: Forensic psychologists study psychology within the context of the legal system. They may be called in to assess a suspect's mental state. </li><li><b>industrial-organizational psychologists</b>: 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. </li><li><b>neuropsychologists</b>: These psychologists analyze how damage to the nervous system and brain affects cognitive and behavioral processes. </li><li><b>school psychologists</b>: School psychologists work in educational settings and help address educational, emotional, or behavioral challenges that students may face. </li></ul><p><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> will depend on the type of psychologist you want to be and whether or not you want to work in a clinical practice setting. </p> <h2 id="section---6StepsToBecomeAPsychologistInMississippi">6 Steps To Become a Psychologist in Mississippi</h2> <p>In Mississippi, as in most states, practicing psychologists must be licensed through the Mississippi Board of Psychology. Licensure requirements include holding a doctoral degree in psychology, completing supervised experience, and passing licensure exams. We've broken down the steps below. </p> <h3 id="section---Step1EarnABachelorSDegree">Step 1: Earn a Bachelor's Degree</h3> <p>The first step to becoming a psychologist is to earn a bachelor's degree. Bachelor's degrees are undergraduate degrees that take about four years to complete. You typically must have a bachelor's degree in order to move on to a graduate program. </p> <p>Most graduate psychology programs do not require a specific undergraduate major, so you don't have to choose to major in psychology. However, many students choose a psychology major because it provides them with a strong foundation for graduate study, and there are many schools with <a href="https://learn.org/articles/online_psychology_degree_mississippi.html">accredited psychology programs online</a> at the bachelor's level. </p> <p>If you choose a major other than psychology, it should still provide you with a solid foundation in the social sciences and relate to the field of psychology you want to pursue. For example, if you want to be a school psychologist, you could major in education. </p> <h3 id="section---Step2ConsiderAMasterSDegree">Step 2: Consider a Master's Degree</h3> <p>Master's degrees are a type of graduate degree that takes around two years to complete, 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 need to earn a master's depending on the doctoral program you choose. </p> <p>Many doctoral programs do not require students to have a master's degree. Others don't require it, but will reduce the number of overall credits needed for the doctoral degree if you've completed a master's program. This 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>. </p> <p>There are also careers that are adjacent to psychology but require a master's and not a doctorate. For example, you could earn a master's in counseling psychology to become a mental health or behavioral health counselor, or earn a master's in social work to become a social worker. </p> <h3 id="section---Step3CompleteADoctoralProgram">Step 3: Complete a Doctoral Program</h3> <p>Licensed psychologists in Mississippi must hold a doctorate degree in psychology. These are most commonly a Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) or a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in psychology. </p> <p>PsyDs are geared toward those who want to go into clinical practice, while PhDs provide broad coverage of both research methods and clinical practice. Both options lead to licensure in the state of Mississippi, so long as the program is accredited by the American Psychological Association or otherwise approved by the board. </p> <p>In your graduate program, you'll take coursework on psychological theory, human behavior, and research methods. You'll likely also engage in research projects, hands-on practicum, and an internship. </p> <h3 id="section---Step4FulfillSupervisedExperience">Step 4: Fulfill Supervised Experience</h3> <p>Approved PsyD and PhD programs in Mississippi are required to include a one-year internship in the practice of psychology. However, to earn your psychology licensure, you'll need additional, postdoctoral supervised experience. </p> <p>The board requires one year, or at least 1,800 hours, of supervised experience that includes direct service, training, and supervisory time. This experience must be through an APA or Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) training program. </p> <h3 id="section---Step5ApplyForLicensureAndTakeRequiredExams">Step 5: Apply for Licensure and Take Required Exams</h3> <p>Once you've completed graduate school and your supervised experience, you can begin the application process for licensure in Mississippi. You'll need to submit documentation from your doctoral program and supervised experience and pass a background check. </p> <p>When your application is approved, you'll be able to take the necessary exams. There are two exams required for licensure in Mississippi. </p> <p>The first is the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP), a national exam administered by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB). This exam tests your knowledge of the practice of psychology. </p> <p>The second is an oral examination for the state of Mississippi. It's administered by the state board and is a jurisprudence exam that assesses your knowledge of the law as it applies to psychology practice. </p> <h3 id="section---Step6MaintainLicensure">Step 6: Maintain Licensure</h3> <p>Mississippi requires licensees to renew their license every year. To qualify for renewal, your licensure must be in good standing, and you must have completed at least 20 hours of continuing education (CE) during the year. </p> <p>The CE requirement ensures that you're up-to-date on new psychological and health service discoveries and practices. Your CE must come through a board-approved source, like the APA or the Mississippi Psychological Association (MPA). </p> <h2 id="section---WhatAreTheBestDegreesForAPsychologist">What Are the Best Degrees for a Psychologist?</h2> <p>In Mississippi, practicing psychologists must have a doctoral degree. As a result, the best degrees are either a PhD in psychology or a PsyD. </p> <p>If you want to go into counseling instead of psychology, you can pursue a master's degree in an area like mental health counseling or marriage and family therapy. </p> <h2 id="section---TopPsychologyDegreePrograms">Top Psychology Degree Programs</h2> <p>Mississippi has a handful of colleges with psychology degrees for graduate students. We've highlighted 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.UniversityOfMississippi">1. University of Mississippi</h3> <p>The University of Mississippi is a public research institution in Oxford, MS. It offers an APA-accredited PhD in clinical psychology that trains students to become competent psychology researchers and clinicians. </p> <p>The program includes a one-year internship and is designed to lead to psychology licensure. Comprehensive funding options are available to help students pay for their doctoral degree. </p> <ul><li><b>Estimated tuition cost:</b> $9,612 per year (in-state); $28,440 per year (out-of-state) </li><li><b>Accreditation:</b> Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), APA </li></ul><h3 id="section---2.MississippiStateUniversity">2. Mississippi State University</h3> <p>At Mississippi State University, students can earn a PhD in clinical psychology or a PhD in school psychology. The clinical psychology program prepares graduates for both academic careers and clinical practice, while the school psychology program trains students to excel in educational settings. </p> <p>MSU, a public research university, is located in Mississippi State, MS. Both PhDs listed above are APA-accredited and designed to lead to state licensure. </p> <ul><li><b>Estimated tuition cost:</b> $10,052 per year (in-state); $27,487 per year (out-of-state) </li><li><b>Accreditation:</b> SACSCOC and APA </li></ul><h3 id="section---3.UniversityOfSouthernMississippi">3. University of Southern Mississippi</h3> <p>The University of Southern Mississippi offers three APA-accredited PhDs: a PhD in clinical psychology, a PhD in counseling psychology, and a PhD in school psychology. USM is a public research university in Hattiesburg, MS. </p> <p>Students in the clinical psychology program develop a range of competencies in clinical psychology practice and research. The counseling psychology degree prepares students to work in a variety of healthcare settings, including academia and private practice. </p> <p>The school psychology program, meanwhile, trains students to identify strengths and needs across diverse clients, interpret assessment data, and develop corresponding interventions. All three programs qualify students for licensure in Mississippi. </p> <ul><li><b>Estimated tuition cost:</b> $9,888 per year (in-state); $11,888 per year (out-of-state) </li><li><b>Accreditation:</b> SACSCOC and APA </li></ul><h3 id="section---4.JacksonStateUniversity">4. Jackson State University</h3> <p>The PhD in clinical psychology at Jackson State University provides students with a firm basis in statistics, research design, and experimental methodology. The program helps students develop a comprehensive knowledge base and skill set in clinical psychology. </p> <p>JSU, located in Jackson, MS, is a public research university. Its PhD in clinical psychology is APA-accredited and qualifies students for state licensure. </p> <ul><li><b>Estimated tuition cost:</b> $8,690 per year (in-state); $11,690 per year (out-of-state) </li><li><b>Accreditation:</b> SACSCOC and APA </li></ul><h3 id="section---5.WilliamCareyUniversity">5. William Carey University</h3> <p>William Carey University is a private Christian school in Hattiesburg, MS. It offers a Master of Science in counseling psychology. </p> <p>This program offers concentrations in Christian counseling, general counseling, gerontology, child and adolescent counseling, and school psychology. While it does not qualify students for psychology licensure, students may qualify for roles in counseling or ministry settings. </p> <ul><li><b>Estimated tuition cost:</b> $11,400 per year (in-state and out-of-state) </li><li><b>Accreditation:</b> SACSCOC </li></ul><h2 id="section---SkillsOfAPsychologist">Skills of a Psychologist</h2> <p>Psychologists need to have a deep knowledge of the field of psychology as well as psychology practice and research methods. They also need a number of soft skills, such as: </p> <ul><li>analytical and critical thinking skills </li><li>communication skills </li><li>compassion and patience </li><li>integrity and confidentiality </li><li>interpersonal skills </li><li>observational skills </li><li>problem-solving skills </li></ul><p>You'll develop these skills as you move through your degree programs and as you participate in clinical practice. </p> <h2 id="section---CareersAndJobOutlookForPsychologists">Careers and Job Outlook for Psychologists</h2> <p>The <a href="https://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/psychologists.htm#tab-1">Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)</a> expects jobs for psychologists to increase by 7% nationwide by 2033. In Mississippi, some psychology careers will see growth in the next decade, but not all. </p> <p>For example, jobs for clinical and counseling psychologists are expected to increase by 16%. However, jobs for school psychologists won't increase at all and will remain steady. Jobs for other types of psychologists will likely increase by about 7% in the state. </p> <h2 id="section---WhatIsTheAverageSalaryOfAPsychologistInMississippi">What Is the Average Salary of a Psychologist in Mississippi?</h2> <p>The average salary for psychologists in Mississippi tends to be below the national average, although it varies by location. </p> <p>Clinical and counseling psychologists in Mississippi have a median annual salary of $92,390, less than the national median of $95,830. Those in upper east Missouri earn a median of $100,990, while those in the Jackson, MS, area earn a median of $78,230. </p> <p>The national median annual salary for school psychologists is $86,930, much more than the median in Mississippi, which is $60,200. The disparity isn't as large for other psychologists, who earn a median salary of $111,430 compared to $117,580. Localized data is not available for these roles in Mississippi. </p> <p>To help maximize your salary, try to keep your costs low while in school and avoid taking out 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>Start your journey toward a psychology career by exploring the accredited programs featured on Learn.org. Reach out to individual schools to learn how they can help you reach your psychology career goals.</p>