Psychology Programs in Alaska

Psychology is a comprehensive field with diverse disciplines and numerous applications in the real world. In Alaska, individuals looking to become successful psychologists have no shortage of training destinations to consider.

From the University of Alaska in Anchorage and Fairbank to the Alaska Pacific University, candidates can consult these institutions to receive extensive training, earn undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, and start their careers fulfilling the state’s requirements.

In the list below, we don’t list the best places to receive training as a prospective psychologist in Alaska; we break down these institutions and explore what they offer. By the time they’re done reading, interested individuals will have a clear understanding of which schools suit them best and what awards/degrees they can look to earn by enrolling there.

Top Psychology Schools in Alaska

The following are some of the best training programs for aspiring psychologists in Alaska.

Licensure & Certification

The Board of Psychologists and Psychological Associate Examiners in Alaska is responsible for issuing a license to psychologists in the state. Without this license, candidates cannot work without supervision.

To become a licensed psychologist in Alaska, individuals must complete a doctoral degree, pass their licensing examination, and gain real-world experience under supervision.

It is possible to receive a temporary license as a psychologist in Alaska without meeting all of these requirements, but you must meet most of them, including completing a doctoral degree.

Those who have completed a master’s degree and have clinical experience may receive a license as a psychological associate. For their professional examination, the state of Alaska — like most states across the country — uses the EPPP (Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology) for licensure purposes.

As for the postdoctoral experience, candidates are expected to acquire 1,500 hours of experience under supervision.

Salary & Career Outlook

At the beginning of their careers, physiologists in Alaska tend to earn an annual average salary of $190,397. This figure, obtained from a survey of physiologists in the state, is considered to be in line with the national average.

As one would expect, earning more than this figure and less is possible. In the first category, candidates earning the most take home around $361,290, ranking them among the bottom 10%. In the other category, psychologists in Alaska who are among the bottom 10% take home an annual average salary of $100,338.

The remote location and harsh climate in Alaska contribute to psychologists earning higher salaries than other places in the country. Within the state, factors such as experience level, specialization, professional reputation, nature of employer, and specific locations all play key roles in influencing where a candidate falls on the salary spectrum.

Juneau and Fairbanks are the cities with the highest salaries for physiologists in the state, with annual average salaries of $157,634 and $122,977, respectively.

Job Outlook

Just like on a national level, the projection for psychologists in Alaska on a state level is very promising. Thanks to various factors, including the increase in awareness regarding mental health, demand for professionals in this field is expected to increase steadily.

The field is already popular in the state, and several established psychologists will retire in the next decades, requiring new psychologists to take their place.

An aging population and a consistent demand for school psychologists will also push the demand higher every year.