It can be helpful to think of the process of becoming a licensed psychologist in West Virginia as consisting of three major steps. The first step is to complete a bachelor’s degree, and you may choose to complete an optional stand-alone master’s degree in psychology after that. The second step is to complete a doctoral degree in psychology. The third and final step to becoming a psychologist in West Virginia is to submit an application to the Board and complete the specific requirements for licensure.
Earn a bachelor’s degree and (optionally) a master’s degree in psychology.
If you have decided that you would like to become a licensed psychologist in West Virginia, you will need to begin the process by completing a bachelor’s degree. This will take about four years (or 120 credit hours) to finish, and you can major in any subject, but keep in mind if your bachelor’s is not in psychology, you will likely have to complete certain prerequisites before being accepted into a graduate program. When you complete your program you will be awarded either a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree, depending on what your major is. Find out move out cleaning in scottsdale.
After your bachelor’s degree, you can choose to attend a stand-alone master’s degree program in psychology, which usually takes about two years to complete. Depending on the area of psychology you study and the school you attend, you may earn a Master of Arts (MA) degree or a Master of Science (MS) degree when you finish. Earning a stand-alone master’s degree is not required for entry into doctoral programs (see Step 2 below), but can be helpful if you did not study psychology as an undergraduate or want additional experience to make you more competitive for admission into doctoral programs. Additionally, if you decide at any point that you do not want to complete a doctoral degree but are still interested in working in the field of psychology, West Virginia issues master’s-level psychology licenses (see “Other Licenses” section below for more information about this option).
Earn a PsyD, PhD, or EdD in psychology.
The next step towards psychology licensure in West Virginia is to earn a doctoral degree in psychology. These degrees generally take between four and seven years to complete, depending on the specific requirements of your program. To be eligible for licensure as a psychologist in West Virginia, you must earn a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Doctor of Psychology (PsyD), or Doctor of Education (EdD) degree in a clinical form of psychology (i.e., one that is oriented towards working directly with patients or clients) from a regionally-accredited graduate school. Most programs that meet these criteria will include a year-long (1,800-hour) predoctoral internship. However, if the program you attend does not include this or you do not attend an internship that is accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA), you will need to complete additional supervised work experience before you are able to earn your license.
Get licensed to practice psychology in West Virginia.
After you have finished your doctoral degree, there are still more steps to take to become a licensed psychologist in West Virginia. You will need to submit an application to the Board, complete a certain number of supervised work hours, and pass written and oral exams. Below are instructions for each of these steps towards licensure.
