How to Become a Psychologist in Kentucky
If you’re planning to become a psychologist in the state of Kentucky, you’ll be glad to know that there is a great job market for psychologists. In fact, it’s one of the top twenty fastest growing careers in the “Bluegrass State,” according to the Kentucky Labor Market Information. This means that you should expect to find a job fairly easily and that you will be offered competitive pay. However, before that can happen, you’ll need to earn your license to practice psychology within the state.
The requirements for obtaining licensure include strict educational, experience and examination requirements. Psychologists shoulder a huge amount of responsibility when they work with their clients, whether it’s treatment for mild depression, severe and debilitating PTSD or something else. This is why the state wants to ensure that their psychologists are properly qualified to handle the responsibility. The state takes those requirements very seriously.
Education Requirements for Psychologist Licensing in Kentucky
A lot of focus will be placed on your education when you’re pursuing a career in psychology. You will need to graduate from a doctoral program in psychology that is regionally accredited. Kentucky offers up a few choices, including those available at the University of Kentucky and the University of Louisville. You can find a full list of campus-based and online courses for psychology here.
Depending upon the doctoral program you choose, it will likely take you anywhere from 2 to 4 years. In addition to that, you may have the chance to complete a supervised residency or an internship, which can help you accumulate the necessary supervised professional experience, which is required by Kentucky law. Explore KY psychology degree programs and schools.
Supervised Professional Experience Requirements for a Psychologist
Your next step (both during and after you complete your doctoral program) is to gather the required supervised work experience. The state of Kentucky requires 2 years (3,600 hours) of supervised experience, the first of which can be earned while you’re still in school. However, the remainder of the experience must be obtained post-doctorally and at least 100 hours of that time should be under the direct guidance of a qualified supervisor.
Note: To learn more about how to earn a psychology license in the state of Kentucky, please visit the Kentucky Board of Examiners of Psychology.
Examinations for the Psychologist License in Kentucky
The final step in the psychology career path is to take the board-required examination and pass. The exam that is required is the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology. This test is required by all other states, and tests the candidate’s knowledge of the basics of psychology, as well as diagnosis, assessment, supervision, intervention and more. It’s a multiple-choice examination and you’ll have about 3 hours and 20 minutes to complete it.
Psychology Career Outlook in Kentucky
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that there are approximately 1,120 clinical, counseling and school psychologists in the state of Kentucky, and they earn an annual median wage of $53,480. The “median wage” is considered the middle line, meaning that half of the psychologists in Kentucky earn more than this amount while the other half earns less.
