How to Become a Psychologist in Oklahoma
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If you’re planning to become a psychologist in the state of Oklahoma, it will make you happy to know that the job market for psychologists is good. The Oklahoma Employment Security Commission expects the state’s healthcare industry to grow by almost 40,000 employees by 2030. This means that finding a job shouldn't be an issue, and psychologists are offered competitive pay for their work.
A psychologist studies the mind and human behavior with the goal of helping individuals live healthy, happy lives. They assess and treat patients on a case by case basis, and being responsible for a person’s health and well-being is a very large responsibility. The state of Oklahoma understands this and seeks to ensure all of their psychologists are trained and experienced enough to handle this responsibility. Therefore, they have laid out a strict set of requirements that individuals must meet in order to become psychologists.
Education Requirements for Psychologist Licensing in Oklahoma
The required education for a psychologist in the state of Oklahoma is governed by Psychologists Licensing Act. This act requires individuals to complete a doctoral program accredited by the American Psychological Association and it must be clearly labeled as a psychology program. The state offers up a few fantastic doctoral programs, including those available at Oklahoma State University and the University of Oklahoma. Find a full list of campus-based and online programs in psychology here.
If you are planning to become a school psychologist, the doctoral requirement doesn't apply to you. You will need to graduate from a regionally accredited or NASP approved school psychology program. Read more about Oklahoma psychology degrees and schools.
Most doctoral programs will require an additional 3 to 5 years of study. Many include internships and supervised residencies which will help you accumulate the required amount of supervised professional experience. Choosing the right program often comes down to personal preference and geographic convenience.
Supervised Professional Experience Requirements for a Psychologist
The rules and statutes of Oklahoma require individuals to have at least 2 years of postdoctoral experience in psychology. One of those years can be a pre-doctoral internship in the areas of clinical, counseling or school psychology. Individuals must also have 3 academic years of study leading to the Doctoral Degree, including 2 years of full-time, on-campus graduate study excluding internship.
Note: To learn more about how to earn a psychology license in the state of Oklahoma, please visit the Oklahoma Board of Examiners of Psychologists.
Examinations for the Psychologist License in Oklahoma
When you’ve completed your education and supervised experience, you’ll be required to pass 3 different examinations before being issued a license. The Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP) is the standard psychology exam and covers academic topics such as the basics of behavior, assessment and diagnosis, intervention and more.
It is a 225 question test that is multiple choice, and you must pass with a scaled score of 500 or better. In addition to this test, you must take the Oklahoma Jurisprudence Examination with a score of 70% or better. This test covers the specifics of psychology within the state of Oklahoma, including the code of ethics. Finally, you’ll take an oral examination administered by the board.
Psychology Career Outlook in Oklahoma
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that there were approximately 350 clinical and counseling psychologists in Oklahoma in May 2022. It was reported that these psychologists earned an annual median wage of $88,070. The BLS defines the median wage as the “center line,” meaning that half of psychologists in Oklahoma earn more than this amount while the other half earn less. The lowest ten percent of psychologists on a national level earned lower than $42,760 and the top ten percent earned an annual median wage exceeding $168,790.
Find information regarding tuition, financial aid, enrollment dates, and curriculum by requesting information from the programs below:
Additional Psychology Resources for Oklahoma:
- Oklahoma Counselor Licensing
- Oklahoma Social Work Licensing
- Oklahoma Marriage and Family Therapist Licensing
- Explore Additional Psychologist Careers
2022 US Bureau of Labor Statistics and Oregon Employment Department job market trends and salary figures for clinical and counseling psychologists are based on national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed July 2023.
