How to become a psychologist in Georgia
The state of Georgia requires all of its psychologists to have a doctoral degree in psychology from an accredited or approved school. Your doctoral degree must be in psychology or a closely related field such as educational psychology.
The educational requirements for Georgia are very similar to what other states require for the psychologist license. To practice in this state, a minimum of a PsyD or Ph.D. is required.
What Are the Education Requirements to Become a Psychologist in Georgia?
After you have gained you master’s degree you must continue with higher education and achieve a doctorate degree, either a Ph.D. or a PsyD, before you can meet the requirements for licensure in the state of Georgia.
In order to gain licensure as a psychologist in the state of Georgia, you must gain a degree at doctorate level; this is necessary to comply with the licensure requirements. You may study for a Ph.D. or a PsyD in psychology or a closely related field and the degree must be from an approved educational institution. Read more on GA psychology degree programs.
Georgia Psychologist Work Experience and Examination Requirements
While studying for the last year of your doctorate you are required to complete an internship that meets the standards of the American Psychological Association or equally the Georgia State Board of Psychologists. Following completion of your doctorate degree, either a Ph.D. or a PsyD you must then begin to gain 1500 hours of supervised experience. Licensure requirements in Georgia demand that this experience must be completed within a two-year period, further stipulations are that 500 of the required hours must involve direct client contact and a licensed psychologist must supervise all hours.
Once you have achieved the necessary total of supervised hours you can then complete the application for licensure, you can find the form and further instructions on the Georgia Board of Examiners website. The board will then evaluate your application and if it is approved you will then be eligible to sit the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP). The Georgia board of psychologists will contact you if you are eligible with further information on the exam.
Note: For detailed information about how to earn a psychology license in Georgia, please see the Georgia board of psychology overview of licensure as a psychologist.
What Can I Do with a PsyD vs a Ph.D. in Georgia?
Once you have completed your doctorate degree you have met all of the educational requirements for licensure and you are well on your way to practicing as a psychologist in Georgia. Whether you chose to complete a Ph.D. or PsyD will now have some impact on your career options. Due to the nature of the course, PsyD graduates are suited to very clinical careers that involve large amounts of patient contact. Ph.D. graduates, on the other hand, can also consider the possibility of working in research or teaching.
Though both counted as doctorate degrees the program of a Ph.D. differs greatly to that of a PsyD. A Ph.D. program has a heavy emphasis on research and requires all of its students to produce a thesis that contains original research and contributions to the field of psychology. A PysD, on the other hand, is a shorter course, meaning its students are more likely to self-fund instead of gaining funding. PsyD students are also asked for a shorter thesis than Ph.D. students, this is because it does not have the same level of research involved.
Psychology Career Outlook In Georgia
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual salary for psychologists in Georgia ranges from $79,730 to $90,680 depending on specialty. However, with the top 10% of clinical and counseling psychologists in Georgia earning $129,000 and more, psychology professionals in the state seem to have plenty of room to advance.
Find information regarding tuition, financial aid, enrollment dates and curriculum by requesting information from the programs below:
Additional Psychology Resources for Georgia:
- Georgia Counselor Licensing
- Georgia Social Work Licensing
- Georgia Marriage and Family Therapist Licensing
- Explore Additional Psychologist Careers
2022 US Bureau of Labor Statistics job market trends and salary figures for psychologists in Georgia are based on national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed July 2023.
