How To Become a Psychologist in New Jersey 2025

Becoming a psychologist is no easy feat. It requires a proper education, licensure, and hands-on training. Whether you want to work in a clinic, counseling office, school, or other area of the industry, you need to know how to become a psychologist and the steps you'll have to take to get there.

Keep reading to learn how to become a psychologist and what you can expect on this exciting career path. We'll discuss the steps required in New Jersey and the programs available.

What Does a Psychologist Do?

Psychologists assess, diagnose, and treat various mental, emotional, and behavioral health issues. Depending on your area of focus and career aspirations, you may have many different responsibilities in the practice of psychology.

In counseling roles, they conduct therapy sessions for individuals, families, and groups, developing treatment plans and administering mental assessments. In education, school psychologists may support students with their academics or mental health. Alternatively, forensic psychologists may consult with law enforcement or lawyers within the legal system.

5 Steps To Become a Psychologist in New Jersey

If you want to become a psychologist in New Jersey, know that there are a few steps you'll have to follow. There are strict educational requirements to become a psychologist, in addition to administrative steps. These steps cover various educational and professional obligations you'll have to meet.

Step 1: Earn a Bachelor's Degree

The first step toward becoming a licensed psychologist is earning an undergraduate degree. The fastest way to become a psychologist is to choose a major in psychology or a related field, taking courses in developmental psychology, statistics, research methods, and theory. It's important to do well in your bachelor's studies, as this will make it easier when the time comes to apply for graduate degree programs.

Step 2: Earn a Master's or Doctoral Degree

After you complete an undergraduate program, it's time to start looking for master's or doctoral programs. For clinical or counseling licensure, you'll typically need a PsyD or PhD from an accredited institution. Many psychologists obtain both a master's and doctoral degree. How long it takes to get a psychology degree will depend on the program you choose and whether you're a full-time or part-time student.

Step 3: Complete Supervised Experience Hours

All graduate psychology programs include practicum placements and full-time internships to give students clinical experience. After graduation, you'll need to complete additional postdoctoral supervised practice hours, totaling 3,500 hours.

Step 4: Pass the EPPP and Jurisprudence Examination

To become a psychologist, you'll need to pass the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology and New Jersey's jurisprudence exam, which covers ethics and laws regarding practice. Some schools track their graduates' pass rates, so be sure to look for programs with high success rates.

Step 5: Apply for Psychology Licensure

Once you've completed the educational and professional requirements, it's time to apply for your psychology license. As part of the licensure process, you'll submit your application, school transcripts, supervision documentation, and exam scores to New Jersey's Board of Psychological Examiners.

To keep your psychologist license up-to-date, you'll need to complete 36 hours of continuing education units every three years and submit for license renewal.

What Are the Best Degrees for a Psychologist?

While you may be able to work certain jobs in psychology with just a master's, a PsyD or PhD is the best for anyone hoping to work in the industry. A PhD favors research and academics, while a PsyD focuses on clinical practices. Which of the two is best will depend on your career goals. While you may be interested in finding accelerated psychology degree online to get started on your career quickly, know that it's rare to find fully online programs.

Top Psychology Degree Programs

If you're interested in a career in psychology, you want to attend the best program you can find. You may even be able to find accredited online psychology degrees. Here are five of the top psychology degree programs from accredited schools in New Jersey offering hybrid or in-person options.

1. Rutgers University

The PsyD graduate program from Rutgers University's School of Applied and Professional Psychology prepares students to work with children in various settings. This is one of the most affordable online psychology degree programs. Offering a hybrid modality, it is perfect for anyone who wants some freedom in their curriculum, as students can develop their own course plan to align with their professional goals.

Estimated tuition cost: $13,032 per semester (in-state); $21,732 per semester (out-of-state)

Accreditation: American Psychological Association (APA)

2. Fairleigh Dickinson University

The master's degree in forensic psychology from Fairleigh Dickinson University prepares students for entry-level careers in the field while laying the foundation for success in a doctoral program. Students can complete this program in one and a half years � meaning they can take the next step on their path sooner than many others.

Estimated tuition cost: $9,564 per semester (in-state and out-of-state)

Accreditation: APA

3. Kean University

The doctoral-level program at Kean University prepares students to work in clinical or school environments, offering numerous clinical and research experience opportunities. As one of the best PsyD programs, this model gives students wider options when it comes to their careers, allowing them to work in research and academics or clinical settings.

Estimated tuition cost: $964.10 per credit hour (in-state); $1,128.90 per credit hour (out-of-state)

Accreditation: APA

4. Montclair State University

The PhD in Clinical Psychology program from Montclair State University prepares students for careers as researchers or practitioners. This program emphasizes human rights, fairness, and dignity, ensuring students go into their professional lives with the tools to be effective in their work.

Estimated tuition cost: $8,964 per semester (in-state and out-of-state)

Accreditation: APA

5. Rowan University

Offering both an MA and an EdS in School Psychology, Rowan University is a great option for students looking to pursue both graduate-level degrees. While admission to the MA program does not guarantee admission to the doctoral program, it does give students the foundation to succeed there.

Estimated tuition cost: $838.85 per credit (in-state); $838.85 per credit (out-of-state)

Accreditation: APA

Skills of a Psychologist

To succeed at their jobs, psychologists require numerous professional and interpersonal skills. These include:

• Clinical assessment and diagnosis: You'll need to be familiar with the DSM-5 for diagnostic and assessment best practices.
• Critical thinking: As a psychologist, it's essential that you can solve complex problems, especially if you get into research.
• Ethics: Psychologists must maintain professional and legal standards, ensuring their patients get the best care.
• Empathy: While this is a challenging skill to teach, psychologists must be able to empathize with their patients to build trust.
• Communication: Being able to effectively communicate with your patients or members of your team is essential.

Careers and Job Outlook for Psychologists

As a psychologist, you'll have numerous career opportunities depending on your goals and passions. You could find work in clinical or medical facilities, schools, corporations, academia, and criminal justice. Over the next decade, this field is expected to continue growing, ensuring job security and offering choices for your career path.

What Is the Average Salary of a Psychologist in New Jersey?

In New Jersey, the average salary for a psychologist is over $115,000, depending on the specific area of the field you work in. This is well above the national average of $94,310 reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Explore Psychology Degrees

If you're looking for a meaningful career working with others to improve their lives, the field of psychology might be the right choice for you. Whether you prefer in-person or hybrid formats, there are options in the state of New Jersey for you. Keep exploring Learn.org to find the right program for you.