How to Become a Psychologist in Maryland
Maryland has a thriving psychology industry, so those who plan to learn and practice psychology in the “Old Line State” shouldn’t have a problem finding a position once they’ve obtained licensure. According to the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulations, psychology jobs will grow by about 11.7% through the year 2020. Before you can start practicing, you will need to earn a license. There are several educational, experience and examination requirements you must fulfill first.
There are many reasons that the state has such a strict set of requirements, but for the most part, it’s to ensure that those who are licensed are highly qualified and ready to assume the responsibility of being a psychologist. A psychologist is often a patient’s greatest ally when it comes to battling and managing mental or emotional illnesses. The psychologist assesses, diagnoses and prescribes a treatment plan for the patient, as well as monitoring the patient’s progress on that plan. In order to manage this correctly, the psychologist needs a rich and varied education and experience to pull from.
Education Requirements for Psychologist Licensing in Maryland
The next step to becoming a psychologist in Maryland is to graduate from a doctoral program in psychology. The program must be accredited by the American Psychological Association or listed in the designated doctoral programs by the Council for the National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology. Maryland offers up several great doctoral programs; you can find a full list of campus-based programs and online programs here.
Learn more about the various psychology degrees in Maryland.
Supervised Professional Experience Requirements for a Psychologist
Your next step in earning a license in psychology in the state of Maryland is to accumulate the required supervised professional experience. You’ll need at least 2 years of professional experience, or a minimum of 3,250 hours. At least 75% of that experience must be professionally supervised by a licensed psychologist. Note: To learn more about how to earn a psychology license in the state of Maryland, please visit the Maryland Office of the Secretary of State.
Examinations for the Psychologist License in Maryland
The final step in becoming a psychologist in the state of Maryland is completing the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP). This test measures a future psychologist’s grasp of psychology and topics like the bases of behavior, assessment, diagnosis, intervention, etc. It’s a multiple-choice test consisting of 225 questions. It is administered at various testing locations all over the country and the average cost (which is subject to change from year to year) is about $600.
Psychologist Career Outlook In Maryland
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that there were 2,270 clinical, counseling and school psychologists in the state of Maryland as of May of 2011. These psychologists earned an annual median wage of $70,730. The BLS defines the “annual median wage” as the center of a range of data. This means that half of the psychologists in Maryland earned more than $70,730 while the other half earned less. On a national level, the lowest 10% of psychologists earned lower than $39,060 while the top 10% earned an annual median wage that was $110,410 or higher.
