How To Become a Psychologist in Ohio 2025

Psychologists have an important role in helping us understand how the human mind works and why people do what they do. There are many different types of psychologists; some provide mental health services, while others focus on research.

The steps for how to become a psychologist vary between states. For example, all states require practicing psychologists to have a license, but Ohio requires an oral licensing exam that most other states do not. Keep reading to discover how to become a psychologist in Ohio.

What Does a Psychologist Do?

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.

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 psychologist: 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 Ohio

To become a professional psychologist in Ohio, you must complete a doctorate, fulfill supervised experience, and pass licensure exams. We've broken down these steps below.

Step 1: Earn a Bachelor's Degree

Bachelor's degrees are undergraduate degrees that take about four years of full-time study to complete. You must hold a bachelor's degree before you can move on to a graduate program.

Most graduate psychology degrees do not require a specific undergraduate major. However, many students choose to major in psychology. Many schools offer accredited psychology programs online at the bachelor's level.

You should choose an option 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, you could also major in education.

Step 2: Earn a Master's Degree

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.

However, a master's program may not be necessary, as not all doctoral programs require you to hold a master's degree.

Some allow you to earn a master's degree in the process of earning your doctoral degree. Others don't require a master's but will reduce the number of credits needed for the doctoral degree if you have one. This can be one of the fastest ways to become a psychologist.

On the other hand, some psychology-related careers require a master's but not a doctorate. For example, if you want to become a mental health counselor and marriage and family therapist, you'll just need a master's.

Step 3: Complete a Doctoral Program

To become a licensed psychologist in Ohio, you must have either a Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) or a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in psychology. Both options lead to licensure.

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.

It's always wise to choose a psychology program accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA). However, in Ohio, you can meet licensure requirements with a non-accredited program, but you may need more post-doctoral supervised experience.

Coursework for your psychology program will depend on your specialization and the type of degree you're earning. Most include core psychology courses, research opportunities, and an internship or other type of practical experience.

Step 4: Complete Supervised Experience

Like most states, one of the requirements to earn a psychologist license in Ohio is to complete supervised training experiences. In most states, you can complete up to half your hours while in your doctoral program and the other half after your program, but Ohio is a little different.

Ohio requires 3,600 clock hours, or roughly two years, of supervised experience. However, if you are studying at an APA-accredited institution, you can complete the full 3,600 hours while in your doctoral program.

This is tricky to do. Most internships take 1,500 to 2,000 hours, so you will need to supplement that with additional experiences. Otherwise, any hours remaining will need to be fulfilled after you graduate.

If your program is not APA-accredited, you can only complete half of your supervised experiences during your doctoral degree. The remaining 1,800 must be completed in a post-doctoral setting.

Step 5: Pass Exams and a Background Check

Before you can earn your psychology license in Ohio, you must pass two licensure exams and a background check. To get this process moving, you'll need to submit your psychology licensure application and the application fee.

Once the Ohio Board of Psychology has approved your application, you can take the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP). This is a knowledge exam created by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB) and is a licensing requirement in all states.

Ohio also requires an oral examination, which can be completed after you receive a passing score on the EPPP. This exam is administered by the Ohio State Board of Psychology.

If you want to become a school psychologist, the exam requirements are a little different. You'll need to submit your Praxis score for the school psychologist exam or hold a Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP) credential.

All applicants for a psychology license must complete a criminal background check. This can be done before or after the oral exam, but you cannot receive your license until the check is complete.

Step 6: Obtain and Maintain Licensure

You've earned your doctorate, completed the supervised professional experience requirements, and passed your exams and background check. Now, you can complete the application process and receive your professional license.

However, your work isn't done after you receive your license, even if you have years of experience behind you. In Ohio, psychologists must renew their licenses every two years � and school psychologists must renew theirs every five years.

To be eligible for renewal, psychologists must complete 23 hours of professional development or continuing education (CE) during this time. The CE must be earned through an approved program, such as those offered by the APA or the Ohio Psychological Association.

What Are the Best Degrees for a Psychologist?

A doctoral degree is required for licensure in Ohio. 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 usually sufficient for counseling roles, such as family therapist or mental health counselor.

Top Psychology Degree Programs

Several colleges and universities in Ohio offer accredited doctorate degrees in psychology. We've highlighted some of the best PsyD programs and PhDs in psychology below.

1. Ohio State University

Ohio State University is a public research institution in Columbus, OH. It offers two accredited psychology PhDs, one in clinical psychology and one in school psychology.

The clinical psychology program aims to develop clinical research scientists and offers specialty training in psychopathology, health psychology, or neuropsychology. The school psychology program blends research methods and clinical practice to prepare leaders who work with youth from all backgrounds.

Comprehensive funding opportunities are available to students in both programs. Other non-licensure PhD fields of psychology at OSU include cognitive psychology, developmental psychology, and quantitative psychology.

Estimated tuition cost: $12,890 per year (in-state); $41,729 per year (out-of-state)

Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and APA

2. Case Western Reserve University

At Case Western Reserve University, students can earn a PhD in clinical psychology. This program prepares students to conduct cutting-edge research, become engaging teachers, and provide empirically supported treatments in various settings.

CSRU, a private, nonprofit research university, is located in Cleveland. Its clinical psychology offers two tracks: an adult track and a child and family track, as well as a pediatric specialization within the child and family track.

Estimated tuition cost: $53,930 (in-state and out-of-state)

Accreditation: HLC and APA

3. Kent State University

Kent State University offers accredited PhDs in clinical psychology and school psychology. Kent State is a public research university in Kent, OH.

The clinical psychology program blends research and clinical training and offers specialties in adult psychology and child and adolescent psychology. The school psychology degree offers extensive training and fieldwork to create highly trained school psychologists.

Estimated tuition cost: $12,483 per year (in-state); $23,352 per year (out-of-state)

Accreditation: HLC and APA

4. Miami University

The Department of Psychology at Miami University offers a joint master's and PhD in clinical psychology. This program focuses on creating both researchers and clinicians who are intelligent and compassionate.

Miami University, located in Oxford, OH, is a public research institution. The psychology department here also offers non-licensure PhDs in brain, cognitive, and developmental sciences and social psychology.

Estimated tuition cost: $14,349 per year (in-state); $35,389 per year (out-of-state)

Accreditation: HLC and APA

5. Ohio University

Ohio University is a public research institution in Athens, OH. It offers an accredited PhD in clinical psychology through its Psychology Department.

This program trains students in both clinical skills and research. It offers optional tracks in applied quantitative psychology and clinical child psychology.

Estimated tuition cost: $9,444 per year (in-state); $17,436 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

You'll learn the basics of these skills in your degree program, but really have a chance to harness these in your internships and practicums.

Careers and Job Outlook for Psychologists

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) expects jobs for psychologists to increase nationwide by 7% by 2033. The outlook for Ohio, specifically, is also positive. The outlooks for common psychology careers include:

• clinical and counseling psychologists: increase of 5% by 2033
• industrial-organizational psychologists: increase of 5% by 2033
• school psychologists: increase of 10% by 2033
• other types of psychologists: increase of 6% by 2033

What Is the Average Salary of a Psychologist in Ohio?

The median annual salary for psychologists in Ohio depends primarily on the field of psychology. It also depends on the location.

The median salary for clinical and counseling psychologists in Ohio is $102,830 per year. Those in the Dayton, OH, area have the highest median salary, about $112,100 per year.

School psychologists are also paid the highest in the Dayton area. The median salary in Ohio is $86,930 per year, but in the Dayton area, the median is $102,920 per year.

The median salary for other types of psychologists is $131,310 in Ohio. Area data is not available for these roles, and salary information is not available for industrial-organizational psychologists in Ohio, either.

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

Start your journey toward a career in psychology by exploring the programs featured on Learn.org. Reach out to individual schools to learn more about their psychology degrees.