Find the Best Pennsylvania Psychology Degrees Online

Consider a Featured Online Psychology Program That Is Accepting Applicants

There are over 110 colleges that offer a psychology degree in Pennsylvania. There are a number of psychology degree programs in Pennsylvania, ranging from an Associate’s degree in Counseling to a Doctorate degree in Clinical Psychology. Many entry level positions in human services and customer service look fondly on psychology graduates, knowing that they have the knowledge of human behavior that is needed for the position.

Any student in Pennsylvania that is planning to achieve a license in Psychology should complete an American Psychological Association accredited doctoral program as the next major step on their path. Doctoral programs last around 4 years and are required to be complete in person. The first portion of your program may include advanced learning in diagnosis, assessment, and treatment, while the later terms can include intensive internship opportunities with actual psychologists in the field. The balance of learning and practice can contribute to your success upon entering the field.

Consider a Featured Online Psychology Program That Is Accepting Applicants

Overview of a Few Campus and Online Psychology Degrees

Edinboro University: Online Master's in Educational Psychology

Residents of Pennsylvania seeking out degree options in Psychology can choose from a wide variety of specialization options in this field. Many learners choose to pursue early education programs in Educational Psychology to help them prepare for licensing options in this field.

Edinboro University currently provides learner with the opportunity to pursue their Master's in Educational Psychology completely online. This program consists of courses that can help you comprehend childhood psychological development and its role in the learning process.

Part of this program can also include a look into cognitive development, the learning process, and behavior management from the perspective of a psychological professional. Learners in this program may also have the opportunity to engage in further learning about psychological assessments relevant to Educational Psychology.

On your path to becoming a psychologist, you should choose bachelor's and master's programs that best contribute to your specialized treatment field. This additional training at these lower degree levels can provide you with an excellent foundation of skills to utilize when working with clients in the treatment field.

Chestnut Hill College Graduate and Undergraduate Psychology Degrees

Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia has a very structure psychology program. Offering both undergraduate and graduate degrees, students can choose the path they desire with the option to change to a different path at any time. The classes at Chestnut Hill provide typical psychological oriented courses such as Developmental Psychology, as well as some more focused courses for each program. For students in Pennsylvania, the quality of education is the most important factor when choosing a school to attend, and this school definitely provides the quality that future professionals deserve.

Steps to Become a Psychologist in Pennsylvania

1. One of the basic and initial steps on your path to becoming a psychologist is beginning your collegiate experience with an applicable degree program. A lot of new learners on this path choose the Bachelor's in Psychology as their introductory degree option due to the curriculum and its relevance to the field. You could also complete a Master's in Psychology to help shorten the amount of time it takes you to graduate from your Ph.D. or Psy.D. program. You should review what your future doctorate program requires prior to making a commitment to any degree program.
2. After your Doctoral program, gaining experience through internships is only the first half of what is required in your state during the licensing process. Once graduated from your doctoral program, you can locate a field placement within your chosen specialized treatment area to begin your post-doctoral experience requirement. This typically lasts around 1 calendar year and should help you gain insight into professional practice through observation and supervised direct practice. Your state may require that you submit all verification forms from your experience at the time of full licensing.
3. A big step along this professional path is learning what your state requires during the application process and submitting all information timely. The application packet may include the need for school transcripts and information pertaining to your supervised experience. Each state may also have their own fee schedule for application, background testing, and licensing. All fees may also be paid when submitting your initial application.
4. The last step on your journey to becoming an approved and licensed psychologist is passing the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP) and your state's jurisprudence examination. The EPPP requires that you commit to studying and preparations since it is a national board examination for all practitioners in this field. You should submit passing scores from this examination directly to Pennsylvania's licensing board to be approved as a psychologist in this state.

Psychology Scholarships in Pennsylvania

Scholarship opportunities have long been a great way to supplement the costs of higher education. If you are considering this intensive path towards licensing as a psychologist, you should do your best to seek out any scholarship options that can help you lower the costs of your journey.

Scholarships can be obtained through application to local community offerings, private providers, and even through national organizations. The APA also provides a list of current scholarship offerings on their website.

The Clarkston Scholars Program is a unique scholarship option that can provide up to $10,000 to learners within 4-year programs in the state of Pennsylvania. You can apply to this scholarship option prior to January of each year, making it a great option for learners preparing for a program in the near future.

School-specific scholarship options for Psychology majors may also be offered within the state of Pennsylvania. Penn State offers the Engaged Scholarship in Psychology to learners that have shown excellence within their studies and have applied to be considered for this financial aid support.

Psychology Degrees in Pennsylvania

Consider a featured online psychology degree or related program.

Pennsylvania Psychology Licensing

• When you begin classes in your APA-accredited doctoral program in Psychology, you have essentially entered the licensing phase of your journey. This type of degree program is the first major component required from you in this process. The course work and the field work present within these programs are both huge requirements for licensing and may be thoroughly reviewed during the application process. All transcripts from this program should be sent directly to the Pennsylvania State Board of Psychology upon completion.
• After receiving confirmation of your graduation and degree, you can begin the initial application process for psychologists through your state’s board. Filling out the initial application can include submission of any letters of recommendation and fees associated with background check testing. The application fee required at this stage is currently $105 and must be paid prior to moving forward in the licensing process.
• The experience required to becoming a licensed psychologist in Pennsylvania totals 4,000 supervised hours. The first 2,000 hours may be gained during your Ph.D. or Psy.D. program, since they are filled with rich in-person opportunities due to their accreditation. The second 2,000 portion of your experience should be completed in around a 12 month period in an approved internship placement after graduation from your doctoral degree. The state of Pennsylvania can authorize you to begin the second half of your experience once your initial application has been processed.
• The end of your supervision component for licensing can commence your participation in board testing. The Examination for Professional Practice (EPPP) should be the first of 2 tests required by your state. The EPPP is a multiple-choice examination that tests your skills and abilities in professional Psychology. All license prospects may be required to sit for this examination, which includes questions relating to assessment, testing, and treatment. In addition to passing this test, you may also be required to sit for the state-specific Pennsylvania Psychology Law Examination (PPLE). This test focuses more on what ethics and practice guidelines are required by your state.
• Completion of your degree program, experience requirements, and testing can be an exciting experience that is fulfilling for learners along this path. These are the final steps for licensing that should be followed by a final application to the Board for consideration. The Board will then review all required documentation – transcripts, supervised experience verification forms, letters of recommendation, and test scores – to determine your final approval for licensing.
• When you are licensed and approved, you can begin your direct practice in this state. However, you should remain vigilant about the renewal requirements for psychologists in your state to maintain your license over time. The renewal cycle for psychologists is currently 2 years, with applications due every other November. You should also be sure to complete all continuing education credits as required during each renewal period. The fee for renewal should also be submitting with a renewal application and totals $300.

Pennsylvania State Board of Psychology

The Pennsylvania State Board of Psychology is located in Harrisburg, and is responsible for the licensing, monitoring, educating of psychologists to ensure proper practices in the state.

Address:
Pennsylvania State Board of Psychology
P.O. Box 2649
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17105-2649
Phone (717) 783-7155
Website

Pennsylvania Psychology Careers

The median income for clinical professionals in Pennsylvania is $62,330 per year (BLS). With the earning potential at this level, clinical psychology is a popular career path for psychology students. Depending on the area, clinical psychologists gain earnings that are comparable to many high stake white collar positions.

The respect that comes with being a psychological professional really makes the job worthwhile. With such prestige, these degrees are highly desired by college students. The art of human behavior is one that can pay off over time, with the demand for these professionals constantly growing.

In Pennsylvania, the state requires that psychologists be licensed through their state-specific licensing process. Once licenses are obtained, professionals can seek employment in the field of their choice. In both mental health and educational settings, professionals will provide assistance to individuals that want to make a change in their lives. The care that a psychologist can provide is irreplaceable by other means. Finding a career in Pennsylvania is not difficult with a degree in psychology.

Neighboring States

If you are unable to find the right fit within Pennsylvania, you can look at programs in neighboring states. There are many excellent programs in Ohio, Maryland, New Jersey, and New York. If long commutes make traveling across state lines untenable, explore Online Psychology Programs. You can save a lot of time by studying online and still get a quality education.

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