A doctor of psychology is a professional who holds a doctoral degree in psychology, qualifying them to diagnose and treat mental health conditions, conduct psychological assessments, and provide psychotherapy. The term most often refers to someone with a PsyD (Doctor of Psychology) degree, though psychologists with a PhD in psychology also carry the title. Both paths require years of graduate study, supervised clinical experience, and a national licensing exam before independent practice.
PsyD vs. PhD in Psychology
Two main doctoral degrees lead to becoming a licensed psychologist, and they differ primarily in emphasis. A PsyD program places greater weight on clinical training early in the program, preparing graduates to work directly with patients from the start. A PhD program leans more heavily on research, typically requiring both a master’s-level research project and a larger doctoral dissertation. PsyD students complete a doctoral research project too, but it tends to be smaller in scope.
The practical tradeoff: PhD programs often have more funding opportunities (fellowships, teaching assistantships), but they accept far fewer students each year. PsyD programs generally admit larger cohorts, which means higher acceptance rates but often more tuition out of pocket. Both degrees lead to the same license and the same scope of practice once you graduate and complete all requirements.
What the Training Looks Like
Doctoral psychology programs typically take five to seven years to complete. Credit-hour requirements vary by concentration. A clinical psychology track may require a minimum of 72 graduate credit hours beyond a bachelor’s degree, while a counseling psychology track can require 120 or more semester hours, including coursework and dissertation research.
Coursework covers psychopathology, psychological assessment, research methods, ethics, and evidence-based therapy approaches. Students also complete extensive supervised clinical placements throughout their training, working with real clients in clinics, hospitals, or community mental health settings. Before graduating, most programs require a predoctoral internship of around 2,000 hours at an approved site. This internship is a full-year, full-time commitment and often the final major hurdle before earning the degree.
Both PsyD and PhD students must also complete a significant research component. PhD candidates propose, conduct, and defend an original dissertation. PsyD candidates typically complete a doctoral project that may take the form of a clinical case study, program evaluation, or smaller-scale research study.
Licensing Requirements
Earning the degree is not enough to practice independently. Every U.S. state and Canadian province requires doctoral psychologists to pass the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP), a standardized national exam. All 66 member jurisdictions of the licensing board require a passing score of at least 500 on Part 1, which tests foundational knowledge. Some jurisdictions also require Part 2, a skills-based exam.
Most states additionally require one to two years of supervised postdoctoral experience before granting a full, unrestricted license. The exact hour count varies by state, so requirements depend on where you plan to practice. Once licensed, psychologists must complete continuing education to maintain their credentials.
What a Doctor of Psychology Can Do
Licensed psychologists diagnose mental health conditions, administer and interpret psychological testing (such as IQ assessments, personality inventories, and neuropsychological batteries), and provide individual, group, couples, and family therapy. They are trained in multiple evidence-based treatment approaches, including cognitive behavioral therapy, psychodynamic therapy, and other modalities.
One key distinction from psychiatrists: psychologists do not attend medical school. Psychiatrists earn an MD or DO, complete a medical residency, and prescribe medication as a core part of their practice. Psychologists historically could not prescribe, but that has been changing. Seven U.S. states now allow appropriately trained psychologists to prescribe psychiatric medications, as do Guam, all federal military services, the Indian Health Service, and the U.S. Public Health Service. New Mexico became the first state to grant this authority in 2002. Psychologists who want to prescribe typically need an additional master’s degree in clinical psychopharmacology on top of their doctoral training.
Recognized Specializations
After licensure, psychologists can pursue board certification in a recognized specialty. The American Psychological Association recognizes 17 specialties, including:
- Clinical neuropsychology: assessing and treating conditions related to brain function, such as traumatic brain injuries or dementia
- Forensic psychology: working within the legal system on competency evaluations, custody assessments, and criminal cases
- Clinical health psychology: helping patients manage chronic illness, pain, and the psychological side of medical conditions
- Clinical child and adolescent psychology: specializing in developmental and behavioral issues in younger populations
- Industrial-organizational psychology: applying psychological principles to workplaces, including hiring, leadership, and employee well-being
- Clinical psychopharmacology: the specialty pathway for psychologists seeking prescriptive authority
Other recognized specialties include school psychology, rehabilitation psychology, geropsychology, couple and family psychology, police and public safety psychology, and serious mental illness psychology. Board certification in any of these requires additional postdoctoral training and supervised experience beyond the general license.
Career Outlook and Salary
The median annual salary for psychologists was $94,310 as of May 2024, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Earnings vary widely depending on specialty, setting, and geographic location. Psychologists in private practice, hospital systems, or forensic settings often earn above that median, while those in community mental health or academic positions may earn less.
Job growth looks strong. Employment of psychologists is projected to grow 6 percent from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average for all occupations. Demand is driven by greater public awareness of mental health, expanded insurance coverage for psychological services, and growing need in schools, correctional facilities, and healthcare systems. Psychologists who hold specialty certifications or who practice in underserved areas tend to have the most opportunities.