How To Become a Psychologist in Nevada 2025

Nevada could always use more trained psychologists and psychological assistants in locations like Las Vegas, Reno, and even other rural areas. There are many aspiring professionals who would like to know how to become a psychologist, which requires years of education, supervised experience, and other rigorous training.

Our approach involves outlining all the educational requirements, application processes, and licensing requirements in Nevada. Continue reading to find our three-step strategy on how to become a psychologist.

What Does a Psychologist Do?

Psychologists serve many important roles involving the study and clinical treatment of mental health and behavioral disorders. Whether a psychologist studies topics and produces original research or treats patients face-to-face, there are several educational requirements to become a psychologist.

If you intend to enter this rewarding field, you should know how long it takes to get a psychology degree. This includes obtaining a bachelor's degree and completing a doctoral program.

Although the process may last several years, there are ways to complete the educational requirements faster by enrolling in an accredited online psychology degrees. Online degree programs offer the chance to study at one's own pace, either part-time or full-time.

3 Steps To Become a Psychologist in Nevada

Check out this step-by-step guide to earning your credentials and licensure. These three steps offer the fastest way to become a psychologist in the State of Nevada.

Step 1: Earn a Bachelor's Degree

Earning a bachelor's degree is always the first step toward becoming a school psychologist, clinical psychologist, social worker, substance abuse counselor, or other private practice. You may not need to major in psychology to qualify for graduate school acceptance, but it helps to complete coursework in topics such as clinical psychology, family therapy, school psychology, healthcare psychology, and other high-demand areas.

If you know you wish to enter graduate studies soon, consider enrolling in an accelerated program to finish undergraduate requirements quicker. You can use our resources to find the fastest psychology degree online and complete your education at least a year earlier.

Step 2: Get a Doctorate in Psychology

Some states allow you to become a psychological assistant with just a master's degree, but many careers require a doctorate. Licensed psychologists usually pursue either a Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) or a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) from an accredited institution. These degrees often take between three to six years to complete and represent the last major hurdle before passing the difficult Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP).

Most psychology doctoral programs require face-to-face training on-campus � including practicum courses and jobs as a psychological intern. There is, however, a growing volume of accredited PsyD programs online, where you can take more doctoral classes without driving to the campus.

Step 3: Get Experience & Licensed

You shouldn't wait until you've finished your doctoral program to become familiar with the licensure requirements from the State of Nevada Board of Psychological Examiners. The last step is to make sure you have all the remaining license requirements complete. This includes working for at least 3,700 hours of supervised clinical experience, along with passing scores on the EPPP exam and Nevada state exam.

Then, all you must do is pay the licensing application fee, submit professional references, and undergo criminal background checks. Once your psychology license has gained approval, you should receive notification from the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB).

What Are the Best Degrees for a Psychologist?

Most psychological services jobs require a doctorate in Nevada, which means you should consider a PsyD or PhD academic track. This would qualify you for work as a clinical therapist, substance abuse counselor, or school psychologist; it also allows you to prescribe medication and other treatment protocols.

The other thing you should remember is that these advanced degrees aren't cheap. Some universities charge over $12,000 each year for tuition alone. Fortunately, with our help, you can find the most affordable online psychology degree, making it easier to complete coursework remotely at affordable tuition rates.

Top Psychology Degree Programs

Check out these Nevada universities that offer doctoral degrees in psychology. Each institution receives accreditation from review boards, like the American Psychological Association (APA) or Nevada Psychological Association (NPA).

1. University of Nevada - Reno

The University of Nevada - Reno offers a PhD in clinical psychology. All accepted graduate students receive funding between $2,200 and $2,500 per month for 10 or 12 months. It strongly emphasizes a scientific approach to studying the field but also offers clinical training opportunities as well.

• Estimated tuition cost: $353.50 per credit hour (in-state); $388.75 per credit hour (out-of-state)
• Accreditation: APA

2. University of Nevada - Las Vegas

The University of Nevada - Las Vegas (UNLV) also offers a PhD in clinical psychology. First and second-year PhD students often obtain funding through graduate assistantships, whereas by the third year, they become teaching assistants with the responsibility of teaching two introductory undergraduate courses. Students complete the requirements for a master's degree through the first two years before finishing the full 93-credit PhD.

• Estimated tuition cost: $344.25 per credit hour (in-state); $25,695 per year (out-of-state)
• Accreditation: APA

3. Nevada State University

Nevada State University offers a School Psychology Education Specialist (EdS) degree. The program format features a hybrid of on-campus and remote learning for 63 credit hours (with a 1,200-hour internship). Admissions are competitive and students must have at least a 3.0 grade point average (GPA) for acceptance.

• Estimated tuition cost: $353.50 per credit hour (in-state); $353.50 per credit hour (out-of-state)
• Accreditation: Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)

Other Psychology Degrees

Besides those three options, prospective psychologists can earn their credentials by enrolling in accredited graduate programs at one of these other nearby institutions. These programs offer terminal graduate degrees, which are acceptable to state psychology boards in every state.

University of Utah

The University of Utah's PhD program allows students to pursue one of four concentrations: social psychology, clinical psychology, cognition and neural science, or developmental psychology. The psychology department considers its program to be intensive research training in these concentrations with the possibility of careers in counseling and therapy.

• Estimated tuition cost: $394 per credit hour (in-state); $1,182 per credit hour (out-of-state)
• Accreditation: APA

University of Arizona

The University of Arizona offers a 54-credit psychology PhD program with several specializations, such as behavioral sciences and health services. The admissions process is highly competitive, accepting only 6.74% of applicants. Graduate students can offset the high tuition rates by applying for waivers, accepting teaching assistantships, or earning merit scholarships.

• Estimated tuition cost: $12,700 per year (in-state); $23,400 per year (out-of-state)
• Accreditation: APA

Skills of a Psychologist

Psychologists must possess great time-management skills, attention to detail, cultural competency, empathy, and awareness of changes in the psychology field. This requires you to stay current with new research but also means you should practice soft skills as much as possible, if you provide face-to-face counseling with patients.

You can develop these skills while you're still a pre-doctoral intern or psychological trainee. Almost all APA-accredited programs feature some internship, practicum, or pre-doctoral training to help you gain experience working with patients.

Careers and Job Outlook for Psychologists

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports a growth rate of 7% for psychologist jobs across the country, particularly in health service settings. In Nevada, many professionals work for schools, local governments, or set up private practice in areas, like Reno and Las Vegas, after obtaining a psychologist license. There is always a steady demand for clinical psychologists, marriage and family therapists, and school psychologists.

What Is the Average Salary of a Psychologist in Nevada?

The BLS also reports a median salary of $94,310 for psychologists in the U.S. This figure may be lower for psychological assistants and considers several sub-fields and career paths requiring psychology licensure.

Although most psychologists work full-time, there are some professionals who work for either a per-diem or hourly wage. The median wage for hourly workers is about $45 per hour.

Explore Psychology Degrees

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