The Psy.D. program was first proposed in 1965 at the Chicago Conference on the Professional Education of Clinical Psychologists. The idea was controversial, and approval to move forward with creating a pilot model for the program came within a close vote margin. During the Vail Conference in 1973, the Psy.D. first became recognized by the American Psychological Association. While the Psy.D. followed the doctoral training of the Ph.D., it took into account the need for professional training for prospective psychologists.
Psy.D. graduates are eligible to obtain licensure in all 50 states. Career choices for graduates holding a Psy.D. include child or adult psychology, geriatric psychology, industrial psychology, developmental psychology, social psychology, forensic psychology and experimental psychology. Psy.D. graduates can also become professors in colleges and universities; however, they may find it more difficult to find a teaching position than an individual who possesses a Ph.D.
Prior to beginning a Psy.D. program, students are required to obtain a bachelor's degree, which typically takes four years to complete. Some students prefer to move on to a master's degree program before continuing on to a Psy.D., generally adding an additional two years of higher education. The Psy.D. program itself usually takes students four to seven years to complete.
According to San Diego State University's Department of Psychology, at the time of publication, the U.S. has 56 Psy.D. programs that the American Psychological Association has accredited.