Doctoral programs in clinical psychology are offered by a number of universities around the U.S. For example, Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey offers a five-year program for which applicants must have completed at least a four-year bachelor's degree program, including courses in introductory psychology and statistics. Fairleigh Dickinson prefers applicants who have evidence of prior work experience and scholarly activity such as publications and presentation of papers.
Students who want to the apply for the Ph.D. clinical psychology program at St. John's University in New York must take the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) general test if they studied psychology at the undergraduate level, or the GRE psychology subject test if they were non-psychology majors. Applicants to these programs also generally must submit several letters of recommendation, psychology-course writing samples and a statement of professional goals.
Applicant finalists for Seattle Pacific University's five-year Ph.D. clinical psychology program must also submit to personal interviews.
Classes at Fairleigh Dickinson University include psychopathology, clinical research methods, and intellectual assessment. Other courses cover biological bases of behavior and diversity issues in clinical psychology. Students at St. John's University learn about cognitive psychology, multivariate statistics and developmental psychology. Courses at Seattle Pacific University include sex therapy, psychopharmacology, addictive behavior and ethics/law in clinical psychology. Students at Seattle Pacific University can take courses such as health psychology or organizational behavior for more intense study in a particular discipline area.
Students in Ph.D. clinical psychology programs must typically complete practicums in which they conduct client interviews, perform psychological testing and participate in in-house clinical projects under the supervision of clinical faculty. Students also typically complete a year-long internship, which can help students land jobs and become prepared for state licensure/certification requirements. Such hands-on projects are available at mental health centers, hospitals and physical rehabilitation centers. These internships allow students to practice assessment and counseling skills under the supervision of a licensed Ph.D. clinical psychologist. Typiucally, students must also complete a dissertation based on original research.
Students should make sure their clinical psychology program is accredited by the American Psychological Association, which will certify that it has met established standards for training in this field. Most states require licensed clinical psychologists to have proof of a Ph.D., to have completed a state-approved internship and to have one to two years of professional experience. Most states also offer a standardized written test supplemented with extra oral or essay questions. Some states require clinical psychologists to renew their licenses periodically by completing continuing education requirements.
The American Board of Professional Psychology also awards specialty certification in areas such as psychoanalysis and clinical health. This voluntary certification requires individuals to have a Ph.D., be licensed by the state, complete postdoctoral training in the specialty, have several years of experience and pass a specialty board examination.