Find the Best Iowa Psychology Degrees Online

Consider a Featured Online Psychology Program That Is Accepting Applicants

There are 20+ accredited universities in Iowa available for those that are interested in being a part of the field of psychology. Prospective students searching for a profitable field to work in cannot go wrong choosing psychology as a major. Iowa contains a number of popular cities to get a college education, most notably Ames, Iowa City, and Cedar Falls, where the three largest public institutions are located.

For online psychology programs in Iowa: the University of Iowa does offer an online MA in Psychology (more on that below).

Consider a Featured Online Psychology Program That Is Accepting Applicants

The University of Iowa: Online Master of Arts in Psychology

College students considering a path towards licensing in the state of Iowa should pursue multiple levels of degree programs in Psychology along the way. You can find inclusive programs like the online MA in Psychology at one of Iowa's most popular universities - the University of Iowa.

Topics you cover

The MA in Psychology includes concepts related to diverse treatment areas in the psychological field, normal and abnormal psychological development, and research in the field. Your experience in this program can help to increase your skills in research and practice along the way.

100% online program

One of the most attractive features of the Iowa's online MA in Psychology is that you can potentially complete this program 100% online. Most master's program consist of around 2 years of course work that is focused on providing you with intensive knowledge and practice within your specialized area.

The path to a doctorate

Since this state requires a minimum of a doctoral degree to be considered for licensing, you should prepare to engaging in a master's program as part of your overall path. Your state offers multiple flexible learning alternatives to assist you on your path.

University of Northern Iowa Undergraduate and Graduate Psychology Programs

At the University of Northern Iowa, students can find a variety of different degree programs. This university has undergraduate and graduate degrees that are built to train excellent and educated social service providers for the state of Iowa.

For undergraduates, there are options for psychology majors, minor, and certificate programs. Students that have already earned a degree in psychology may find the graduate program to be fitting at the University of Northern Iowa. There are three different emphases for students to choose from: Clinical Science, Social, and Individualized Studies. Regardless of which program is chosen, students will engage in active lab experiments, interactive classroom instruction, and thorough investigation into the theories and practice of historical psychologists.

Steps to Become a Psychologist in Iowa

1. Once you have identified your dream of becoming a licensed psychologist in Iowa, you should begin by obtaining all required degrees on the licensure pathway. The first degree option you should pursue is the Bachelor's in Psychology. This degree usually takes around 4 years to complete and may be generalist in nature. Some students may then choose to pursue a Master's in Psychology in order to shorten the length of time spent in doctoral level programs. There may be multiple degree specializations available at this level for you to choose from. This program can take around 2 years to complete at a full-time rate.
2. The next big step towards pursuing your dream of licensing is to choose a Ph.D. or Psy.D. program in Psychology to apply to. You should ensure that the program you are seeking holds current accreditation with the American Psychological Association (APA), since this is the leading accreditation agency for psychology programs in the U.S. Most doctoral level programs include some research and practical components, so you should be prepared to participate in all requirements throughout the program. Your doctoral program may take 3-5 years to complete depending on what level of degree you currently hold.
3. There are 2 forms of supervised experience that you may be required to participate in on your path to licensing. The first level of experience takes place during your doctoral degree and is counted towards the total required by your state. Once you have graduated from your degree program, your state requires that you participate in supervised clinical experience at a psychology-based agency and under a licensed psychologist. Completing these requirements can lead you into the next step of the licensure process
4. After you have completed all educational and experience requirements required by your state, you can then submit your application to your state licensing board for consideration. There are multiple documentation requirements that accompany the application process, which will be discussed in the next section. You may also be required to pay an application and licensing fee prior to moving forward with testing.
5. The last step towards becoming a psychologist in the state of Iowa is completing the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP). All psychologist prospects in the U.S. may be required to pass this examination as a final test of their skills and knowledge within this treatment field. This is a multiple-choice examination that includes concepts learned during your field experience, as well as throughout your bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degree programs. You may find some questions related to diagnosis, assessment, and even ethics on this test.

Psychology Scholarships in Iowa

The path to higher education should include in-depth planning towards the financial elements associated with achieving your degree. One of the first steps you should take when considering enrollment into online programs is to file the FAFSA each year.

Use the APA and APF as a resource

When seeking out scholarship opportunities, be sure to check out common psychological agencies like the Association for Psychological Science - which provides multiple funding sources for learners that seek to extend psychological research in the field. Alternative agencies like the American Psychological Foundation may also have scholarship opportunities for students in specialized fields such as behavioral and reproductive psychology.

Many scholarship options can be found for learners entering undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Our team recommends that you seek out funding sources locally and at the national level to help cover the costs of your multiple educational programs on the path to becoming a psychologist.

Psychology Degrees in Iowa

Consider a featured online psychology degree or related program.

Iowa Psychology Licensing

• The state of Iowa requires that applicants for licensing hold at minimum a Doctoral degree in Psychology prior to consideration. Essentially, enrollment into a doctoral degree program in this field could be considered your first step in the licensing process. The American Psychological Association (APA) is the only agency that accredits doctoral programs suitable for licensing within your state, so you should access this resource when seeking out a program to enroll in prior to submitting your application to any university.
• During your degree program, you may be required to engage in a predetermined set of courses that align with the licensing requirements in your state. In addition to this specific course outline, you can also participate in around 1 year of field experience that can count towards the total required by your state’s licensing department. The field experience component is supervised by licensed psychologists and may take place in multiple treatment settings throughout the program. Documentation of this experience should be submitted to your state board at the time of application.
• After graduation from your program, you should prepare yourself for an additional year of supervised clinical experience in the field. This last portion of your supervision requirement should take place in a psychological practice that best aligns with the specialization you choose for your licensing. You may be required to choose a licensed supervisor to complete this element of licensing and keep all documentation pertaining to individual meetings, hours of supervised experience, and specific goals and outcomes of your interactions.
• Completion of your final round of supervised experience should then lead you to applying for licensure in your state. The Iowa Board of Psychology manages all applications for licensing and should be your main resource when seeking information about the licensing process. The Board requires that at the time of application, you send in your complete application packet, background check release forms, documentation of supervised experience, a $120 application fee, and all official transcripts for all attended universities. Once all of your information has been received, you may be set up for background testing and approved for national board testing in your field.
• Once you have met all the documentation requirements of the Board, you can then sit for the national examination for incoming psychologists. The Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP) is an accumulative examination that was designed to test your knowledge in this treatment field using all experience and educational experience you have received thus far. You may be required to submit passing scores directly to the Board once complete in order to be approved for licensing within your state.
• Having completed all requirements outlined by the Iowa Board of Psychology, you can now be approved for licensing. You may still be required to maintain your license through biannual renewals, which include sending in a renewal application along with a $170 fee every 2 years. In addition to your renewal application, you should also provide proof that you have completed at least 40 hours of continuing education courses from an accredited CEU provider. This requirement will remain in place throughout the duration of your licensure.

Iowa Board of Psychology

The Iowa Board of Psychology is located in Des Moines, and is responsible for the licensing, monitoring, educating of psychologists to ensure proper practices in the state.

Address:
Iowa Board of Psychology
321 East 12th Street
Lucas State Office Bldg, 5th Floor
Des Moines, Iowa 50319-0075
Phone: (515) 281-4287
Website

Iowa Psychology Careers

As mentioned, in order to obtain licensure to be a clinical psychologist in Iowa, the state requires that individuals take part in a licensing exam. The application process is conducted directly through the state department and requires proof of graduation among other documents in order to complete.

Once the licensure is obtained, graduates can find work in many different settings. Working with hospitals to provide mental health care to patients, Clinical psychologists are the most popular field of psychology in Iowa. Graduate degrees are not the only way to find a career in psychology.

Having a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology can provide entry-level career opportunities in human and social services. Some professionals have found that having an undergraduate degree in psychology has provided a reliable career tool just as a graduate degree would.

Top Psychology Degrees

Clinical

Substance Abuse

Counseling

Organizational

School

Social Work