How Long Does It Take to Earn a PsyD?

The amount of time it takes to complete a Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) program varies by institution and may also be affected by a number of other factors. But looking at PsyD program length alone provides an incomplete picture of how long it takes to earn a PsyD. This is because holding a bachelor’s degree and, often, a master’s degree are PsyD program prerequisites—and it can take years to earn those.

A PsyD Road Map

So how long does it take to earn a Doctor of Psychology if we also include the time it takes to earn a bachelor’s and a master’s? Let’s take a look at the following potential road map.

Step 1: Bachelor’s Degree

It is not always necessary to hold a bachelor’s degree in psychology to pursue a doctoral degree in psychology—some doctoral programs are willing to admit learners who hold a bachelor’s in a discipline other than psychology. But holding a bachelor’s degree in any discipline is a requirement on the path to pursuing doctoral study.

Although they are sometimes referred to as “four-year degrees,” undergraduate degree programs, such as a bachelor’s degree in psychology, may take more or less than four years to complete. That’s because time to completion may be impacted by various factors, including breaks, course loads and transfer credits. In fact, according to data from the National Center for Education Statistics, only 49.1% of students completed a bachelor’s degree program within four years.¹

Undergraduate  programs often require successful completion of 120 semester credits, though some programs could require more. California Southern University’s Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Psychology online degree program is a 120-credit program that takes four years to complete, assuming full-time status.^*

^* Many factors can impact your time to completion, such as course loads, course extensions or repetitions, transfer or proficiency credits, and approved leaves of absence. The program length provided does not include these adjustments.

Step 2: Master’s Degree

How many years does it take to earn a master’s degree in psychology? While some programs are designed to be completed in two to three years, others involve a longer time commitment. Consider, for example, CalSouthern’s Master of Science and Master of Arts degree programs in psychology:

• The MS in Psychology degree program is a 42-credit program that can be completed in two to three years,^* assuming full time status.
• The MA in Psychology with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy degree program, which has a clinical focus, is a 60-credit program that can be completed in four years,^* assuming full-time status.

^* Many factors can impact your time to completion, such as course loads, course extensions or repetitions, transfer or proficiency credits, and approved leaves of absence. The program length provided does not include these adjustments. For the MS program, the program length will vary depending on the concentration selected. For the MA program, the program completion time also depends on an individual learner’s time needed to complete required practicum courses.

Some institutions offer master’s/PsyD combined programs, which essentially allow learners the ability to earn a master’s while pursuing their doctorate. The master’s degree earned may be an MS in Psychology or MA in Psychology, but it could also be a different type of graduate degree, such as an MBA. For learners who are interested in studying psychology only, a combined program may not always be a proper fit.

Do you need a master’s to pursue a PsyD? It depends. Some PsyD programs, like the one at CalSouthern, require learners to hold an MA or MS in Psychology or a related field before applying to the program.

It is important to understand that holding a master’s degree in psychology won’t necessarily shorten PsyD program length. That’s because not all institutions are willing to accept credits for courses completed in other graduate programs; some may have strict transfer credit policies that make it unlikely that any credits will be eligible for transfer, while other programs may be willing to accept a limited number of credits, particularly if those credits were earned in a master’s program at that same institution. Because there is no hard-and-fast rule, it is your responsibility to make sure that you fully understand your chosen program’s transfer credit policies.

Step 3: Doctoral Degree in Psychology

By the time someone is ready to start applying to doctoral degree programs in psychology, they have likely invested at least four to six years in post-secondary degree programs (a minimum of four years as an undergrad plus a minimum of two years as a graduate student in a master’s degree program). So how long is a PsyD program expected to take to complete?

According to National Science Foundation (NSF) survey data, in 2022, the median number of years taken to complete a research doctorate in psychology (PhD in Psychology) was 5.7.² And although the NSF does not provide information on how long it takes to complete an applied doctorate in psychology (PsyD), a review of various PsyD programs suggests that they take comparatively less time to complete. What accounts for this difference? Perhaps one factor could be that PhD programs place a greater emphasis on conducting research, while PsyD programs place a greater emphasis on skills needed for clinical practice. Another factor could be that PhD programs require candidates to develop a dissertation (which must be based on original research), while PsyD programs may only require a doctoral project (which can have a narrower, practitioner-based focus).

CalSouthern’s Doctor of Psychology program can take four to five years to complete, on average, assuming full-time status.^*

^* Many factors can impact your time to completion, such as course loads, course extensions or repetitions, transfer or proficiency credits, and approved leaves of absence. The program length provided does not include these adjustments. Program completion time also depends on an individual learner’s time needed to complete all required doctoral project requirements which varies by learner.

Online PsyD Programs

In addition to the overall time commitment, learners who are interested in pursuing a doctoral degree in psychology should also consider whether they are willing to relocate or take leave from their current employment.

Online PsyD programs may offer a more convenient way for learners to work toward achieving academic goals. CalSouthern’s Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) program is 100% online, making it easier for working adults to study when it is most convenient for them. The curriculum includes a mix of core and elective courses and culminates in a Doctoral Comprehensive Examination and completion of a doctoral project.

Step 4: Internships and Licensing

In most U.S. states, anyone practicing psychology or using the title “psychologist” must be licensed, and in all U.S. states and the District of Columbia, independent practitioners must be licensed where they work. Although laws regarding licensure vary, most clinical and counseling psychologists need a , an internship and supervised professional experience.³

Adding It All Up

When you add up the above—at least four years to earn a bachelor’s degree, at least two to four years to earn a master’s degree and at least four years to earn a PsyD—the total time commitment involved in earning a doctorate in psychology might feel like a lot. But it does not need to feel impossible. CalSouthern’s 100% online psychology degree programs offer a convenient way for working adults to pursue their academic goals. We also offer personalized, one-on-one mentorship for learners in our programs as well as affordable tuition options.

CalSouthern cannot guarantee employment, salary, or career advancement. Not all programs are available to residents of all jurisdictions. CalSouthern does not accept applications from residents of Massachusetts, New York, and certain foreign countries. REQ2054598 7/2024

¹ The 49.1% figure applies to the 2016 cohort, the most recent cohort for which data is available. National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), “Table 326.10. Graduation rate from first institution attended for first-time, full-time bachelor’s degree-seeking students at 4-year postsecondary institutions, by race/ethnicity, time to completion, sex, control of institution, and percentage of applications accepted: Selected cohort entry years, 1996 through 2016,” https://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d23/tables/dt23_326.10.asp (table prepared in 2023).
² National Science Foundation (NSF), Survey of Earned Doctorates, “Table 1-12, Median years to research doctorate, by historical major field of doctorate: Selected years, 1972–2022,” https://ncses.nsf.gov/pubs/nsf24300/data-tables (last visited 7/29/2024).
³ Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, “Psychologists,” https://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/psychologists.htm (last visited 7/29/2024).