How To Become a Psychologist in Oregon 2025

Psychologists focus on understanding and learning more about human behavior. They may work with patients in clinical settings or may work in research or academia.

All states require a license to practice psychology professionally, but the licensure requirements and how to become a psychologist varies by state. For example, in Oregon, applicants need to take a national and a state-specific licensure exam. Keep reading to learn more about how to become a psychologist in Oregon.

What Does a Psychologist Do?

Psychology is a field of study dedicated to understanding how the mind works. Psychologists are experts who work to further psychology research and knowledge, or help clients dealing with psychological conditions.

There are several different types of psychologists, including:

• Clinical and 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: School psychologists 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 between specializations.

6 Steps To Become a Psychologist in Oregon

To become a professional psychologist in Oregon, you need a license from the Oregon Board of Psychology. Licensure requirements include a doctoral degree, supervised experience, and licensure exams. We've broken down the steps to become a licensed psychologist in Oregon below.

Step 1: Earn a Bachelor's Degree

Before you can enter into a doctoral program, you need to complete a bachelor's degree. Bachelor's degrees are undergraduate degrees that take about four years to complete and are a requirement for entry into most graduate programs.

Many students who want to pursue a graduate degree in psychology choose to major in psychology for their undergrad program. This provides a solid foundation in psychology, and there are several accredited psychology programs online at the bachelor's level.

However, most graduate psychology programs do not require a specific undergraduate major. Choose something that aligns with the type of psychological services you want to provide. That could be a psychology degree, or, for example, could be something like education if you want to be a school psychologist.

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. You may or may not want to complete a master's degree depending on the doctoral program you're interested in.

Some doctoral degrees do not require a master's program. Others will reduce the credit hours you need if you already have a master's, which can be one of the fastest ways to become a psychologist in Oregon.

On the other hand, there are other types of mental health professionals, like counselors and marriage and family therapists, who only need master's degrees instead of doctorates. If you're more interested in a field like that, a master's is the best option.

Step 3: Complete a Doctoral Program

To qualify for a psychologist license in Oregon, you need to earn a doctoral degree in psychology. This can be a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in psychology, a Doctor of Psychology (PsyD), or a Doctor of Education (EdD) in school psychology.

PhDs focus on both research and clinical practice, while PsyDs are more heavily focused on clinical and counseling practice. Both typically include courses in your chosen field of psychology, research projects, and a supervised internship.

You can qualify for a psychology license in Oregon with either option, or an EdD in school psychology, so long as the program is accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) or the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA).

Your degree will provide coursework on your chosen field of psychology as well as research methods and clinical practice. You'll also be involved in research projects and hands-on experiences.

Step 4: Complete Supervised Experience

As part of your doctoral program, you'll participate in practicums and internships that will give you hands-on work experience in the field of psychology. However, you'll also need to participate in one year of postdoctoral supervised experience to qualify for licensure.

In Oregon, you must fill out a resident contract. Once that is approved, you'll be able to complete your year of supervised experience through a board-approved training program.

Step 5: Pass Licensure Exams

In Oregon, you must complete two exams as part of your license requirements. One is a national exam, and the other is state-specific.

The national exam is the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP). It's administered by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB) and tests your psychology knowledge.

Oregon psychologists will also need to take the Oregon Jurisprudence Exam. This exam measures your knowledge and application of state laws and regulations related to the professional practice of psychology, including the APA's ethical principles as adopted by the board.

Step 6: Obtain and Maintain Psychology Licensure

Once you've earned your doctorate from an accredited program, completed your supervised experience, and received passing scores on your exams, you'll be able to complete your application for licensure. You'll need to submit your official transcripts, pay the application fee, and complete a criminal background check.

To keep your license in good standing, you need to renew it every two years. To qualify, you'll need to meet the continuing education requirements: 40 hours of continuing education or professional development during that two-year period, which must include two hours of suicide risk assessment, treatment, and management.

What Are the Best Degrees for a Psychologist?

In Oregon, you need a doctoral degree to practice psychology and earn a license. Therefore, the best degrees are APA-accredited PhDs in psychology, PsyDs, or EdDs in school psychology.

There are, however, roles in counseling or social work that you can do with the proper master's, rather than a doctoral degree. For example, you could work as a mental health counselor, substance abuse counselor, or licensed social worker.

Top Psychology Degree Programs

A handful of colleges and universities in Oregon offer psychology programs. We've featured some of the No InterWiki reference defined in properties for Wiki called "Lhttps"! and PhDs in psychology below.

1. University of Oregon

The University of Oregon is a public research institution in Eugene, OR. It offers three accredited psychology PhDs: a PhD in clinical psychology, a PhD in counseling psychology, and a PhD in school psychology.

The goal of the clinical psychology program is to educate and train clinical science psychologists who conduct research, provide evidence-based interventions, and contribute to the advancement of psychological knowledge.

The counseling psychology degree focuses on training students in prevention and intervention with children and families, adults, and communities. In the school psychology program, graduates will be prepared to conduct and evaluate research, and to deliver evidence-based interventions to PreK-12 children and youth in schools and related settings.

• Estimated tuition cost: $16,821 per year (in-state); $30,726 per year (out-of-state)
• Accreditation: Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) and APA

2. Pacific University

At Pacific University, students can choose from a PhD and a PsyD in clinical psychology. The PhD prepares students to work in both research and healthcare environments, while the PsyD is for those who want to provide psychological services. The PsyD offers tracks in adult psychology, child psychology, health psychology, and neuropsychology.

Pacific University, a private, nonprofit institution, is located in Forest Grove, OR, though the psychology programs are offered through its Hillsboro, OR, campus. Students in the psychology degrees will have access to the school's in-house clinical psychology training facilities.

• Estimated tuition cost: $39,248 per year (in-state and out-of-state)
• Accreditation: NWCCU and APA

3. George Fox University

George Fox University offers a PsyD program that trains students to meet people in their time of need. George Fox is a private Christian university in Newberg, OR.

The PsyD program offers tracks in primary care psychology, child and adolescent psychology, and assessment. It offers mentorships to students and has a 100% internship placement rate.

• Estimated tuition cost: $15,785 per year (in-state and out-of-state)
• Accreditation: NWCCU and APA

4. Oregon Health and Science University

The clinical psychology PhD program at Oregon Health and Science University is dedicated to providing excellent training to the next generation of clinical psychologists. The program focuses on three key areas of study: health psychology, neuroscience, and intervention development and evaluation.

OHSU, located in Portland, OR, is a public, health science-focused research university. Its clinical psychology degree is offered through its School of Medicine, and is the only clinical psychology program in Oregon that is housed within a medical center.

• Estimated tuition cost: $21,786 (in-state and out-of-state)
• Accreditation: NWCCU and APA

5. Oregon State University

Oregon State University is a public research institution in Corvallis, OR. It offers a PhD in psychological clinical science that trains students in both research and service delivery within clinical psychology.

This is a relatively new degree program, so it is not yet accredited by the APA. However, the program has been designed to meet APA standards and lead to licensure in Oregon.

• Estimated tuition cost: $13,716 per year (in-state); $30,861 per year (out-of-state)
• Accreditation: NWCCU

Skills of a Psychologist

As you progress through your degree, you'll develop knowledge in psychological sciences, clinical assessment, and research methods. You'll also develop soft skills necessary for the profession, like:

• analytical thinking and critical thinking skills
• communication skills
• compassion and patience
• integrity and ethics
• interpersonal skills
• observational skills
• problem-solving skills

You'll have the opportunity to further hone these soft skills as you participate in clinical practice.

Careers and Job Outlook for Psychologists

Nationwide, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) expects jobs for psychologists to increase by 7% by 2033. In Oregon, the job outlook for psychologists is also good, but varies by career. For example:

• Clinical and counseling psychologists: expected growth of 23%
• Industrial-organizational psychologists:expected growth of 16%
• School psychologists:expected growth of 7%
• Other psychologists:expected growth of 9%

Based on this data, the job outlook for psychologists in Oregon, especially clinical and counseling psychologists and industrial-organizational psychologists, is extremely positive.

What Is the Average Salary of a Psychologist in Oregon?

Salary for psychologists in Oregon also varies by career as well as by location:

• Clinical and counseling psychologists:Median annual salary of $132,550, higher than the national median of $95,830. Salaries are highest in the Salem, OR, area, with a median of $134,440, and lowest near Boise City, ID, with a median of $76,380.
• Industrial-organizational psychologists:Median annual salary of $94,180, lower than the national median of $109,840. No area data is available for I-O psychologists in Oregon.
• School psychologists:Median annual salary of $113,180, much higher than the national median of $86,930. Salaries are highest in the Portland, OR, area, with a median of $120,130, and lowest again near Boise City, with a median of $61,630.
• Other psychologists:Median annual salary of $82,960, lower than the national median of $117,580. However, those in the Eugene/Springfield, OR, area have a median salary of $127,470.

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

Find the perfect psychology program for you by exploring the options featured on Learn.org. Reach out to individual schools to learn more about how they can help you reach your psychology career goals.