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How long do you have to spend in school to get a Doctorate in psychology?

I ask because I want to know if I can even afford to be a psychologist. #clinical-psychology #counseling-psychology

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Ana’s Answer

Four years undergrad. What type of psychology doctorate are you seeking? You are interested in clinical and counseling psychology so you can opt for a PHd or a PsyD. The latter focuses a bit more on clinical training and experience and a bit less on research/scholarly activity, although there is still adequate training on it in PsyD programs as well in order for them to be accredited by the American Psychological Assn. I have a PhD but my son is in a combined MA/PsyD program in clinical psychology. Some graduate programs are very structured and designed to get you through most academic courses in 4 years so that you can be done with these requirements before you go on to your internship(5th) year. Graduate school tuition is expensive, plus you have living expenses - look for scholarships and opportunities for stipends where you can. Consider the cost of living in the areas that you apply to. Consider keeping the cost of undergrad low, and seek volunteer counseling or research-related activities to add to your resume when you apply to grad school which will demonstrate your dedication to your chosen field of study/work. Other ways to keep costs down may be to work between undergrad and grad school to accumulate funds and experience. Or work for a couple of years after the master's, then resume doctoral courses.

Ana recommends the following next steps:

Compare some PsyD and PhD programs and the course offerings. That might help you decide which is best for you.
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Daniel’s Answer

General PhD path is roughly:


  • 4 years undergrad
  • Couple years in PhD program completing courses, maybe starting research earlier
  • ??? years in PhD program chasing the paper grind, finishing with a dissertation.


So you're looking at 4 years undergrad, and anywhere between 3 (if you're really amazing) to 6,7+ years to complete the PhD. On the plus side, it can be easier to get tuition paid for you and get other comp in PhD programs (more true for some of the tech programs, but can still be true for lib ed stuff as well). So if you're ok at it, you get a stipend that covers costs, which sometimes requires you to teach undergrads or work in a lab or whatever.


Even if the PhD program itself doesn't cost you out of pocket (much if any), there's the opportunity cost because you make like less than minimum wage as a PhD student. So it is worth considering ahead of time.
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