How To Become a Psychologist in North Carolina 2025
You can become a psychologist in North Carolina in a few years through various psychology programs, including roles in school psychology and clinical psychology.
If you are interested in learning how to become a psychologist, it is important to understand that each state sets its own requirements. Practicing as a psychologist within North Carolina requires a graduate degree, as well as licensure through the state.
There are different psychology program options as well as different types of psychology licenses. Continue reading to learn how to become a psychologist in North Carolina.
What Does a Psychologist Do?
Job responsibilities vary by role. The main types of psychologists are industrial-organizational psychologists, clinical and counseling psychologists, and school psychologists. Industrial-organizational psychologists work within companies and are not licensed for traditional practice, but the other types of psychologists are licensed and can actually practice psychology outside of workplace relationships.
School psychologists work to improve student experiences through efforts such as addressing behavioral issues and counseling students. Counseling and clinical psychologists can evaluate and treat mental health issues that people may be dealing with, including families and individuals. Psychologists may also review, conduct, and publish research relating to the field of psychology.
<h2 id="section---4StepsToBecomeAPsychologistInNorthCarolina">4 Steps To Become a Psychologist in North Carolina</h2><p>There are a few things that you need to do to become a psychologist. First, complete the educational requirements to become a psychologist. If you're wondering <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>, the answer is that it depends.
</p><p>There are different types of <a href="https://learn.org/articles/online_psychology_degree_north_carolina.html">accredited online psychology degrees</a>, and the time that it takes depends on your background. Below, we'll explain the four main steps to becoming a psychologist.
</p><h3 id="section---Step1EarnABachelorSDegree">Step 1: Earn a Bachelor's Degree</h3><p>To complete a graduate degree, you will first need to earn a bachelor's degree. Some schools offer a dual-degree program that enables students to earn both, but most psychology programs are designed as graduate degree programs alone. While graduate psychology program admission requirements vary by school, many psychologists earn their bachelor's degree in fields like education, psychology, or other social sciences.
</p><h3 id="section---Step2CompleteAGraduatePsychologyProgram">Step 2: Complete a Graduate Psychology Program</h3><p>To become a fully licensed psychologist, you will need an Educational Specialist (EdS) degree to become a school psychologist or a doctoral degree to become a clinical or counseling psychologist. You can also complete a master's degree in psychology to earn licensure as a psychological associate, which allows you to gain invaluable experience while working toward full licensure (if you choose to pursue it).
</p><p>The <a href="https://learn.org/articles/fastest_online_psychology_degree_programs.html">fastest psychology degrees online</a> may fit your needs, depending on the role that you are interested in pursuing.
</p><h3 id="section---Step3MeetRequirementsAndTakeAnExam">Step 3: Meet Requirements and Take an Exam</h3><p>In addition to the completion of a graduate program, you need to have supervised experience and practice to gain licensure. Psychology graduate programs that are designed to prepare you for licensure have clinical experiences built in, allowing you to complete the requirements during your program. The final requirement is to earn a passing score on the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP).
</p><h3 id="section---Step4ApplyForLicensure">Step 4: Apply for Licensure</h3><p>Once you have completed the academic and practical requirements, you can apply for licensure through the North Carolina Psychology Board. Each application is reviewed individually, as the NC psychology board has specific license requirements that it considers (i.e., credit hours, background check, and faculty qualifications).
</p><p>Graduates of master's degree programs can obtain a provisional license and become licensed psychological associates. The NC board of psychology issues permanent licenses, although psychologists should complete continuing education and renew their license every two years.
</p><h2 id="section---WhatAreTheBestDegreesForAPsychologist">What Are the Best Degrees for a Psychologist?</h2><p>The best psychology degree program depends on whether you want <a href="https://learn.org/articles/affordable_online_psychology_degree_north_carolina.html">cheapest online psychology degree</a> or perhaps the most flexible or accelerated program. The main types of psychology degrees include master's degrees, EdS degrees, and doctoral degrees.
</p><p>You can become an industrial-organizational psychologist or psychologist assistant with a master's degree, a school psychologist with an EdS. If you want to become a fully licensed psychologist, you need either a Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) or a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Psychology. While the two doctoral programs have a lot of similar features and competencies, the PsyD is more practice-oriented, while the PhD is more research-focused.
</p><h2 id="section---TopPsychologyDegreePrograms">Top Psychology Degree Programs</h2><p>Multiple schools offer graduate programs in psychology, with options for <a href="https://learn.org/articles/online_psyd_programs.html">accredited PsyD programs online</a>. You can explore the top five schools that offer graduate psychology programs in North Carolina below.
</p><h3 id="section---1.UniversityOfNorthCarolinaAtGreensboro">1. University of North Carolina at Greensboro</h3><p>The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) offers multiple psychology programs, including:
</p><ul><li>sports psychology (master's and doctoral)
</li><li>Master of Arts (MA) in Psychology
</li><li>PhD in psychology (social, developmental, cognitive or clinical psychology specialization)
</li><li>MA/PhD dual degree program
</li></ul><p>Each psychology program is available on campus and provides students with a faculty mentor as they move through their programs.
</p><p><b>Estimated tuition cost:</b> $299 per credit (in-state); $1,150 per credit (out-of-state)
</p><p><b>Accreditation:</b> Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
</p><h3 id="section---2.AppalachianStateUniversity">2. Appalachian State University</h3><p>Appalachian State University, or App State, offers an MA in psychology and PsyD in Clinical Psychology dual-degree program. Students can earn the MA on campus after two years of full-time study and continue into the doctoral psychology program. They can choose concentrations in psychological science or clinical psychology for the master's program and receive supervised experience and real-world practice.
</p><p><b>Estimated tuition cost:</b> $299 per credit (in-state); $1,253 per credit (out-of-state)
</p><p><b>Accreditation:</b> SACSCOC
</p><h3 id="section---3.EastCarolinaUniversity">3. East Carolina University</h3><p>East Carolina University offers multiple psychology programs that prepare students for psychology licensure:
</p><ul><li>MA in industrial/organizational psychology
</li><li>school psychology dual-degree: MA and Specialist in School Psychology (SSP)
</li><li>PhD in clinical health psychology
</li><li>PhD in pediatric school psychology
</li></ul><p>ECU's doctoral-level programs are accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA), and the MA/SSP program is accredited by the National Association of School Psychologists.
</p><p><b>Estimated tuition cost:</b> $442 per credit (in-state); $1,210 per credit (out-of-state)
</p><p><b>Accreditation:</b> SACSCOC
</p><h3 id="section---4.NorthCarolinaAgriculturalAndTechnicalStateUniversity">4. North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University</h3><p>North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, or NC A&T, offers a PhD in applied psychology program with two concentration options: social-community psychology and cognitive-behavioral neuroscience. NC A&T also offers a Master of Science (MS) in health psychology program that can serve as a foundation for doctoral studies or be applied in various settings. Both programs are offered on campus and emphasize ethics, research, critical issues, and critical care.
</p><p><b>Estimated tuition cost:</b> $294 per credit (in-state); $1,005 per credit (out-of-state)
</p><p><b>Accreditation:</b> SACSCOC
</p><h3 id="section---5.UniversityOfNorthCarolinaAtChapelHill">5. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill</h3><p>The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, often referred to as ''Carolina,'' offers a PhD in school psychology as well as a broader PhD in psychology program with six concentration options. The clinical psychology concentration is ranked among the best in the nation. It enables graduates to secure respected internships both in and outside of the state.
</p><p>Both programs are offered on-campus and are accredited by the APA Commission on Accreditation.
</p><p><b>Estimated tuition cost:</b> $598 per credit (in-state); $1,635 per credit (out-of-state)
</p><p><b>Accreditation:</b> SACSCOC
</p><h2 id="section---SkillsOfAPsychologist">Skills of a Psychologist</h2><p>There are a few key skills that psychologists should have or should develop during their coursework and practicum. Psychologist skills include communication, ethics, problem-solving, patience, and active listening. In addition, it is important for psychologists to have an eagerness to learn, as they continuously improve their knowledge through research.
</p><h2 id="section---CareersAndJobOutlookForPsychologists">Careers and Job Outlook for Psychologists</h2><p>The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) compiles data and projections about different professions. It provides information about what those positions require and involve in day-to-day activities. BLS projects a 7% growth in the field of psychology, adding an estimated 14,000 positions nationwide. Of the different types of psychologists, the greatest growth is expected for counseling and clinical psychologists (13%) though 2033.
</p><p>The <a href="https://learn.org/articles/fastest_way_to_become_a_psychologist_north_carolina.html">fastest way to become a psychologist</a> includes applying any prior coursework to your psychology program and enrolling full-time. Those who want to become fully licensed practicing psychologists can obtain a psychology assistant license upon completing their master's-level program, allowing them to fulfill practice requirements while completing their doctoral program.
</p><h2 id="section---WhatIsTheAverageSalaryOfAPsychologistInNorthCarolina">What Is the Average Salary of a Psychologist in North Carolina?</h2><p>The mean annual salary for psychologists in North Carolina is between $69,060 (school psychologists) and $111,190 (other psychologists). Clinical and counseling psychologists have a mean salary of $91,390, while industrial-organizational psychologists make $86,400 on average. Average earnings are higher for each role at the national level, but earnings depend on specific employers and experience.
</p><h2 id="section---ExplorePsychologyDegrees">Explore Psychology Degrees</h2><p>You can discover more great programs and career pathways on Learn.org. Contact schools directly if you find programs that you are interested in pursuing.</p>