Find the Best Montana Psychology Degrees Online

Consider a Featured Online Psychology Program That Is Accepting Applicants

Montana has a total of 10 accredited psychology schools for prospective students to choose from for on-campus options, but there are a number of nationwide accepting online psychology programs as well.

The first and most basic step towards becoming a psychologist in Montana is choosing undergraduate educational programs to begin your journey. Many learners considering this path choose bachelor's programs that focus on Psychology or Counseling to begin - depending on what types of psychological specialization they plan to work with in the future.

It may also be beneficial to move through the Master's in Psychology program in order to maximize the flexibility that online programs offer before engaging in in-person doctoral programs. The Bachelor's in Psychology program can take 4 years to complete while the master's program can often be completed in around 2 years on average.

Consider a Featured Online Psychology Program That Is Accepting Applicants

Steps to Become a Psychologist in Montana

1. The doctoral program that you choose for your path can be critical during the licensing determination phase of this process. Your state requires that you hold a doctoral degree that has current accreditation with the American Psychological Association (APA), making it vital to consider its accreditation status prior to applying. APA-accredited programs consist of the appropriate topics and in-person experiences required for future licensing. As you move through this doctoral program, you can experience both in-depth learning on diagnosis, assessment, and research, as well as intensive clinical observations and practice opportunities.
2. Field work is another very important component present on your path to becoming a psychologist. Since psychologists can work independently after receiving a license, the state requires that applicants engage in multiple phases of supervised experience under close supervision of licensed supervisors. Your first experience should take place during your doctoral program, followed by about 1 year of supervised experience in the field after graduation. While you are participating in this experience component you can provide individual services to those in need while being guided by currently licensed professionals.
3. The application process involved with becoming a psychologist in Montana includes providing thorough documentation of your field work experiences, as well as documentation pertaining to each of your educational programs. Your state board will review your degrees for accreditation and ensure that your supervised experience consists of the required elements for licensing. At this point you may also be required to pay any application or testing fees prior to moving forward with testing. Once your application is submitted you may also be required to participate in background testing - which is required for all licensees.
4. The Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP) is the board examination required for all incoming psychologists. All states currently require that applying professionals successfully pass this test prior to receiving their license to practice within each state. This test is an ultimate assessment of your knowledge of the field of Psychology and your abilities in terms of providing direct services to those seeking psychological services. You should work to ensure that the scores of your test are sent directly to the board for review after completion. Passing scores can be your final step towards becoming a licensed psychologist.

Learn About The Psychology Programs Offered at the University of Montana in Missoula

Missoula, Montana is home to the University of Montana. This college offers Bachelor’s and Doctoral degrees in Psychology and Master’s degrees in Psychology and School Psychology. Those seeking to be involved in the educational field will find that there is a constant need for effective and reliable school psychologists in this state.

The psychology program at the University of Montana provides courses in social psychology, research methods, and developmental studies. The curriculum is suitable for serious students looking to find a profitable career in psychology in the future. The atmosphere at the University of Missouri is supportive and cohesive. Instructors are always willing to provide assistance to students working hard toward a degree.

Psychology Scholarships in Montana

Montana can be a great place to pursue a degree and career in the versatile field of Psychology. When you are ready to begin engagement in degree programs, you should plan accordingly for the costs of your programs and the methods by which you will fund it.

Scholarships offered to students in this state can provide anywhere from $400 to $5,000 towards the cost of your degree, which can allow you to explore your field freely without the overwhelming burden of students loans and lasting debt. You can find scholarships through internet searches, universities, or large-scale psychological organizations.

The Randy Gerson Memorial Grant is an award promoted by the APA that can provide you with funds to support your research during a graduate degree program. This award can pay up to $6,000 towards research that focuses on couple or family dynamics or multi-generational processes.

The The Drs. Rosalee G. and Raymond A. Weiss Research and Program Innovation Grants can provide applicants with $1,000 and is influenced by innovation in the fields of psychological research at the doctoral level in Psychology degree programs. You can learn more about these scholarships through visiting the APA website.

Psychology Degrees in Montana

Consider a featured online psychology degree or related program.

Montana Psychology Licensing

• Residents in Montana that are planning to pursue careers as psychologists typically start with a doctoral program in the field of Psychology. Depending on which program you choose, you may have a rich experience filled with both in-class and field experiences to strengthen your skills in the field. Both the curriculum of your program and the required field experiences count towards your overall licensing requirements, making it vital to choose only APA-accredited programs along the way. Your state requires that the first half of your supervision hours take place during this level of degree program.
• Montana’s Board of Psychologists requires a total of 3,200 supervised clinical hours for incoming licensure applicants. Since you have completed the first half of your hours during your Ph.D. or Psy.D program, you can begin gaining hours towards the last half of what your state requires for licensing. This should take place in a postdoctoral setting under the close supervision of a licensed supervisor. You should also prepare to provide documentation of this experience to your state board during the application process. This portion of your supervised experience component should take around 1 year to finish.
• Prior to being authorized to move forward with board testing, you should submit your initial application for licensing to the Board of Psychologists for review. The Board holds an application packet for psychologists that you should request and complete before sending in with a $275 application fee. Along with you general application you should find background check authorization forms and education/work history documents. Once you have sent this information into the Board they can begin their review process and authorize you to sit for the board examination in Psychology.
• If you are applying to become a psychologist in the state of Montana, you will be required to sit for and pass a series of examinations relating to practice in your field. The first and most well-known examination for psychologist prospects in the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP). The EPPP is a test that is required of all applicants to licensing in this field and is filled with concepts related to assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of psychological illnesses in the field. Passing this test can lead you into the oral examination required by your state board.
• Completion of both examinations through your Board can lead you into the final phase of the licensing process. The test scores sent from this experience may be reviewed along with your initial application and official transcripts from all attended universities. Your state will issue a final decision after a thorough review of all of your provided information. Once you have been approved for licensing you should receive an approval letter along with a copy of your license in the mail.
• As a licensed psychologist in Montana, you are required to abide by the renewal processes outline by the state. Each psychologist licensed by the state may be required to submit a renewal application to the Board prior to the end of December each year. During this year, licensees should complete 20 CEU credits that are submitted biannually with their renewal application. The fees for licensure renewal in the state of Montana is currently $600.

A Quick Overview of Montana Psychology Careers

Finding a career in Montana can become easier with a degree in psychology. Having a degree in psychology provides learners with a certain distinction among other graduates. Employees that understand how people make decisions and how to effectively communicate are an asset to different companies, non-profit organizations, and government agencies.

The state of Montana has a licensure process that includes application, testing, and renewal for new and existing license holders. Clinical psychologists that have earned a license through the state currently have a median income of $53,260 in Montana.

The effort towards obtaining and degree and maintaining licensure in Montana pays off for those willing to work for it. Careers working with the public are regularly coming available and are being quickly filled by psychology professionals. This is a degree path that gives students a sense of pride, opportunity to help others, and a financially stable future.

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