How to Become a Psychologist in Minnesota
Those who plan to become psychologists in the state of Minnesota can expect to enjoy a thriving job market. In fact, according to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, the industry will grow 7% through the year 2022 (Note: Data is specifically for clinical, counseling, and school psychologists). This means that new psychologists will have excellent opportunities and will be offered competitive pay and benefits. However, there are several requirements that must be met before a license can be issued.
The educational, experience and examination requirements are in place to ensure that a professional is adequately qualified and ready to enter the industry as a practicing psychologist. Often times, a patient’s overall mental health and well-being lies in the hands of their psychologist. This is a large responsibility and the state of Minnesota takes the responsibility and their requirements very seriously.
Education Requirements for Psychologist Licensing in Minnesota
The state of Minnesota requires individuals to graduate from a doctoral program with a major in psychology. The educational institution must be regionally accredited and must meet the additional standards of the Board. The doctoral rule doesn’t apply to individuals who are pursuing a career in school psychology. Those individuals will need to complete a master’s program in school psychology before fulfilling the additional requirements of the state of Minnesota. Learn more about available MN psychology degree programs and schools.
Doctoral programs are all different, but most last between 2 and 4 years, and may include supervised residencies and/or internships.
Supervised Professional Experience Requirements for a Psychologist
Future psychologists will need to complete at least one full-time year (or the equivalent in part-time work) in the psychology industry. This must be completed post-doctorally and under the guidance of a licensed psychologist.
Note: To learn more about how to earn a psychology license in the state of Minnesota, please visit the Minnesota Board of Psychology.
Examinations for the Psychologist License in Minnesota
Individuals are required to pass the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP), which is the industry standard examination for psychologists. The test consists of 225 multiple-choice questions and you’ll have about 3 hours and 20 minutes to complete it. The test is given at various locations throughout the country, and you’ll need to work with the Board of Psychology to be approved to take the test and then to receive your acceptance or rejection.
Psychology Career Outlook in Minnesota
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that there are approximately 2,430 clinical, counseling and school psychologists in the state of Minnesota, and they earn an annual median wage of $64,380. The “median wage” is considered the middle line, meaning that half of the psychologists in Minnesota earn more than this amount while the other half earns less.
