Find the Best Maine Psychology Degrees Online

Consider a Featured Online Psychology Program That Is Accepting Applicants

Maine offers a variety of different undergraduate and graduate degrees at 13 accredited universities. Earning a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology opens doors to many interesting career fields, but most states, Maine included, require a doctorate in psychology degree to practice clinically (be sure to look below to see the full licensing information on Maine).

At colleges in Maine, Clinical psychology is the most popular graduate degree program available for psychology.

Consider a Featured Online Psychology Program That Is Accepting Applicants

The University of Southern Maine: Online Master's in Educational Psychology

If you reside in the state of Maine and are looking for a master's program to help you on your path to licensing, the University of Southern Maine may have just what you are looking for. This university currently offers an online Master's in Educational Psychology with an emphasis in Applied Behavior Analysis.

This program would be ideal for prospects that have an interest in working primarily with children in the school environment. The curriculum for this program can allow you to further explore the environmental influences of behavior, as well as some common modifications to utilize when seeking positive behavior reinforcement.

This 2-year program can be completed entirely in the online environment. A majority of this program focuses on behavior modification principles with additional studies and practice in psychological and behavioral research - both of which can be incredibly useful skills for later practice in the field.

Choosing licensing in the field of Psychology may include several different stages of education and practice. Your determination to meet your state's requirements can lead you into many fascinating degree programs designed to strengthen your skills in the field.

Steps to Become a Psychologist in Maine

1. There are currently multiple degree levels required for incoming psychologists in the state of Maine. The first degree requirement on the list is the Bachelor's in Psychology. Completion of this degree program typically takes 3-5 years and includes introductory topics, historical development, and diverse treatment areas in the field of Psychology. You should also seek to complete the Master's in Psychology as a prerequisite requirement for your doctoral degree program. Master's programs can usually be completed in 2-3 years and typically accompany concentration options for you to choose from to better prepare for the learning experiences ahead.
2. Once you are prepare to apply to doctoral degree programs in your field, you should consider the accreditation of each option prior to applying. Your state may require that you enroll in a program that holds current APA accreditation, so that you participate in an approved curriculum geared towards future licensing. This part of your journey may take around 4 years to complete and includes both classroom and field experiences to best prepare you for the requirements ahead. You can find accredited programs easily through a review of accredited programs on the APA website.
3. The field experience requirement for licensing as a psychologist includes multiple experience components during and after your doctoral degree program. During the last couple of years of your program, you may participate in internships and residencies that introduce you to the practice of psychologists. There is typically around 1 years of experience opportunities in your degree program that can count towards your total requirement. Post-doctoral experience can take place in any treatment setting under the supervision of a licensed psychologist. You should choose a treatment field that aligns with your career goals and complete your final year of experience with a psychologist in your practice area.
4. Your state may require that you hold off the application process until after you have finished your supervised experience components. Once you have made it to this point, you should gather your supervision documentation, official transcripts, and proof of citizenship to send to the board for licensure consideration. Your licensing division may also require that you complete an application packet and submit to background testing as part of the initial requirements for licensing. If you have sent all information to the board, you should be notified of your approval for testing once a review of your documentation has been completed.
5. The last and final step towards becoming a psychologist in the state of Maine is sitting for the board examination for incoming psychologists. The national examination that you can take in this phase is the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP). This exam includes concepts related to assessment, diagnoses, ethical considerations, and psychology-based treatments in the public domain. It can test your practice skill set that you gained through both your educational program and your supervised experience components. Passing scores are required by the board prior to your approval as a licensed psychologist.

Psychology Scholarships in Maine

The path to becoming a psychologist in the state of Maine includes many different levels of educational programs. If you are considering involvement in these programs, you should provide yourself with the added support of financial aid and scholarship opportunities as often as possible.

There are multiple financial assistance opportunities provided for college students at all levels, including federal grants, federal loans, and work-study programs. In some areas, you may also have access to a wealth of scholarship opportunities designed especially for psychology-based programs.

Scholarships like the APF Graduate Student Scholarships can provide chosen applicants with $2,000 or $5,000 towards their graduate program in Psychology. This opportunity can be found through the American Psychological Association and may be offered from year-to-year as available.

The APF Queen-Nellie Evans Scholarship is a scholarship offered to applying minority students that plan to contribute to community work in the field of Psychology. This scholarship totals $4,000 towards the cost of your degree program.

Psychology Degrees in Maine

Consider a featured online psychology degree or related program.

Maine Psychology Licensing

• Future psychologists in Maine typically begin their path during the Ph.D. or Psy.D. in Psychology. These programs were designed to prepare students for psychological practice through in-depth studies and in-person experiences. Your licensing application should include documentation from your doctoral experience, which should total around 1 year for APA-accredited programs. Your doctoral program is incredibly important to your development in this field due to the reviewed and approved curriculum and the organized supervision components that it consists of.
• After completing your supervision components within your doctoral degree program, you can them move forward to gaining hours towards the total needed before your licensing application. The state of Maine requires that you finish a total of 3,000 hours, with 1,500 being allowed during your doctoral experience. The second half of your experience hours should take place under the direct supervision of a licensed psychologist currently working in a practice that aligns with your future practice area. All documentation from this experience should be sent to the Board at the time of full licensing application.
• The Maine Board of Examiners of Psychologists is the state agency you should familiarize yourself with during the licensing process. Once all of your supervision hours have been completed, you should submit your full application for licensing to the Board for review. A total of $321 should also be sent to the Board along with your application and documents pertaining to your degree programs and professional references. Once all documentation has been received and thoroughly reviewed by the state, you should receive notification of your approval for board testing.
• The required examinations for psychologists in the state of Maine include both a local jurisprudence examination and the national Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP). The EPPP is an in-depth examination that consists of elements learned during your degree program and while experiencing the field of Psychology under the supervision of licensed practitioners. This is the most challenging of the 2 tests required by your state. The local jurisprudence examination may focus specifically on the laws of ethical practice in your state and is a final requirement prior to receiving your license.
• Completion of your degree program, all field experience, and testing can be followed by approval for licensing as a psychologist in the state of Maine. All documents supporting these milestones should be held by the state so that they can begin their final review for your initial approval. Once all of your information has been thoroughly reviewed for accuracy, you should receive final notification of your approval along with your official license number and renewal date in the mail. It is at this point that you can officially practice as a licensed psychologist within your state.
• Holding a license in Psychology in Maine also comes with its own responsibilities. This state requires that you engage in the upkeep of your license through yearly renewals and continuing education. Your licensed should be renewed each year by submitting a renewal application along with a $125 fee. You may also be required to provide evidence of at least 40 continuing education hours gained throughout your yearly recertification cycle. Continuing education credits can be gained through engaging in APA-accredited courses and conferences throughout the year.

What You Should Know for Maine Psychology Careers

There are currently 220 clinicians working in Maine, making wages from $45,440 to $120,990 per year. The average clinical psychologist earns $69,660 per year in the state of Maine. This is one of the most popular careers in psychology for existing professionals in this field. In order for psychological professionals to be able to diagnose, assess, and treat mental illnesses in the state of Maine, they must apply for and be approved for licensure directly through the state department.

The state of Maine requires that applicants obtain a doctoral degree from an accredited university and complete 2 years of experience in a psychological position. Individuals that receive career-specific master’s degree can qualify for licensure based on requirements for their specific licenses.

If learners choose to take the undergraduate path, there are plenty of employment opportunities in entry level human resource positions as well as sales representatives and psychiatric technicians.

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