How to Become a Psychologist in Ohio
Men and women who plan to learn and practice psychology in “the Buckeye State” will be glad to know that the psychology industry is growing at a rate comparable to other states in the US. The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services estimates that psychologist jobs in the state of Ohio will grow by 10.9% through the year 2020. This means new positions opening up and new opportunities for future psychologists.
Mental illness can be debilitating, and it’s the number one cause of disability in the United States. Those who suffer from mental illness often turn to their psychologists for help, and the process of helping these individuals can be very involved. The state of Ohio understands this and therefore requires that all professionals be properly qualified before being issued a license. To ensure this, the state has several educational, experience and examination requirements that must be met.
Education Requirements for Psychologist Licensing in Ohio
All individuals pursuing a psychology career (aside from those pursuing a career in school psychology) must earn a degree from a doctoral program before being licensed. The program must be accredited by a national or regional accrediting agency such as the American Psychological Association.
The state offers up some great choices as far as doctoral programs go, including the Ph.D. Program in Experimental Psychology offered by Ohio University. Discover the various psychology degrees in Ohio.
Different doctoral programs can take different lengths of time to complete; typically between 3 and 7 years. The program mentioned above from Ohio University takes 5 years. Some programs include internships and supervised residencies which can help you begin accumulating supervised experience.
Supervised Professional Experience Requirements for a Psychologist
When you’re on the path to becoming a psychologist, your training doesn’t end when you obtain your doctoral degree. According to Ohio laws, you must earn at least 2 years of supervised professional experience in psychology work. The law requires that one of these years be composed of a pre-doctoral internship that takes place under the direction of a licensed psychologist.
Note: To learn more about how to earn a psychology license in the state of Ohio, please visit the Ohio State Board of Psychology.
Examinations for the Psychologist License in Ohio
The last step in becoming a psychologist in the state of Ohio is to take the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP). This test is considered the industry standard, and covers academic topics such as research, treatment and intervention, different bases of behavior and more. The test is a multiple-choice test made up of more than 200 questions. Upon completion of the test, the board will provide acceptance or rejection information to the candidate.
Psychology Career Outlook in Ohio
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that there were 3,300 clinical, counseling and school psychologists in Ohio in May of 2011. It was reported that these psychologists earned an annual median wage of $76,050. The median wage is defined as the middle line; half of psychologists in Ohio earn more than this middle line while the other half earn less. On a national level, the lowest ten percent of psychologists earned lower than $39,060 while the top ten percent earned an annual median wage in excess of $110,410.
