How to Become a Psychologist in Nebraska
Nebraska has an average job market for psychologists, and those professionals are offered competitive salaries and benefits. The Department of Labor reports that the growth rate for clinical psychologist jobs in the state is 11% through 2030. For individuals who have met the educational, experience and examination requirements, it shouldn’t be difficult to find a job. Many individuals in the state of Nebraska place their mental health and overall well-being in the hands of their psychologists, so the state takes the required qualifications very seriously.
Before individuals earn licensure within the state, they are not permitted to use the title “psychologist,” and because the state wants to ensure that individuals who have licenses are properly qualified, there are strict requirements that must be met in order to obtain one.
Education Requirements for Psychologist Licensing in Nebraska
The Nebraska Statutes Relating to Psychology state that individuals who have obtained a doctoral degree from a program of graduate study in professional psychology are on the right track to obtaining a psychology license. This program must meet the standards of accreditation adopted by the American Psychological Association. The one exception to this rule is for individuals who are studying to become a school psychologist. These individuals must obtain a Bachelor’s Degree as well as complete an internship and satisfy the additional requirements of the state of Nebraska.
There are a few different options as far as Doctorate Degrees go, and most will take between 3 to 7 years to complete. Some programs include internships and/or supervised residencies. Explore the various psychology degrees in NE.
Supervised Professional Experience Requirements for a Psychologist
These statutes also state that individuals must complete 2 years of supervised professional experience. An eligible internship that meets the standards of accreditation of the American Psychological Association can take the place of one of these years. The remaining time must be completed after the individual obtains the Doctorate Degree, and must be supervised by a licensed psychologist within the state of Nebraska.
Note: To learn more about how to earn a psychology license in the state of Nebraska, please visit the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.
Examinations for the Psychologist License in Nebraska
There are 2 examination requirements to obtain a psychologist license in the state of Nebraska. The first is the EPPP or Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology. This test is administered by the ASPPB, or the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards, and consists of about 200 multiple-choice questions.
The second examination is the Board Developed Examination, which consists of 2 separate parts. The first part is a 106-question, multiple-choice written test that covers the ethics of psychology in Nebraska, regulations, research, HIPAA, schools and more. This is an open-book examination. The second part of the test is an oral examination, which consists of 5 questions taken from the open-book examination. Individuals are permitted to use their examination and answer sheet as a reference. This will be administered by the Board.
Psychologist Career Outlook In Nebraska
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that as of May 2022, there were 850 clinical, counseling, school, and other types of psychologists in the state of Nebraska. These psychologists earned an annual average wage between $77,650 and $89,700 depending on specialty. Nationally, the lowest 10% of clinical psychologists earned lower than $42,760 per year while the top 10% earned higher than $168,790.
Find information regarding tuition, financial aid, enrollment dates, and curriculum by requesting information from the programs below:
Additional Psychology Resources for Nebraska:
- Nebraska Counselor Licensing
- Nebraska Social Work Licensing
- Nebraska Marriage and Family Therapist Licensing
- Explore Additional Psychologist Careers
2022 US Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET (a website sponsored by the US Department of Labor) job market trends and salary figures for clinical and counseling psychologists, school psychologists, and psychologists (all other) are based on national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed July 2023.
