Psychology Programs in Hawaii

The Bureau of Labor Statistics highlights the state of Hawaii as a highly favorable destination to practice as a psychologist. Professionals in disciplines such as clinical and counseling psychology and school psychology earn very competitive salaries and enjoy consistent demand for their expertise.

Of course, as with most states across the country, anyone looking to become a successful psychologist here must dedicate a significant amount of time to receiving undergraduate and postgraduate training. Finding the right destination to receive such training can be very valuable to a psychologist’s career, not just in the beginning but throughout it.

For this reason, we have highlighted below several top-class psychology programs in Hawaii and the universities responsible for them. We have also provided an overview of the awards/degrees and possible requirements.

Top Psychology Schools in Hawaii

Aspiring psychologists in Hawaii may consider the following schools for their training.

Licensure & Certification

The Hawaii Board of Psychology regulates the state field of psychology. It is part of the Hawaii Professional and Vocational Licensing Department and expects candidates looking to earn a license to have met the educational, examination, and post-doctoral requirements.

The educational requirements involve completing a doctoral program accredited by the American Psychology Association. The program must include at least 3 semester hours of credits in psychology history and systems, research methodology, statistics and psychometrics, and professional standards. Candidates must also complete at least 1,900 hours of postgraduate supervised practice.

For the examination requirements, candidates are expected to pass the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology exam. Afterward, they may officially send their licensure application via the Professional and Vocational Licensing website.

Doing so requires a $50 non-refundable application fee.

Those who haven’t earned a doctorate yet may be able to use a master’s degree to secure temporary placement as marriage and family therapists or industrial-organizational therapists.

Salary & Career Outlook

Psychologists in Hawaii may start their careers with an annual average salary of $106,796. This will put them among the lowest-paid, but they may soon find themselves earning around $190,777, which is the most common figure for candidates at the midpoint of their careers.

Further up on the salary spectrum are the highest-paid psychologists in the state, taking home an annual average salary of $340,802.

The most significant factors responsible for where a psychologist in Hawaii will fall in the salary spectrum include the particular specialty area they practice in, their years of experience on the job, professional leverage, and their work arrangement (full-time and part-time salaries aren’t the same, for instance).

The highest-paying destinations to be a psychologist in Hawaii are Kapolei, with an annual average salary of $172,443, and Honolulu, with an annual average salary of $111,067.

Job Outlook

Psychology disciplines in Hawaii are expected to continue growing, with several thousands of jobs created in the upcoming decade. This is according to predictions revealed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics and other employment platforms across the country.

The growth is set to arise as a result of the need to replace workers who are retiring or exploring other professions, more mental health awareness among the population, and the need for more school psychologists to promote students’ mental health.