Psychology Programs in Kentucky

The need for optimal mental health and its correlation with a safe, thriving environment has never been more apparent. Everyone, including schools, companies, government, and hospitals, now understands the importance of positive mental health and is willing to work with professionals to facilitate it.

These organizations are destinations where psychologists in Kentucky are employed and will continue to secure placement and career growth for the upcoming decades. However, candidates must decide which institution to receive training to start a psychology career in the state.

Several options exist, and we highlight the best among them below. We also showcase some notable highlights and possible award/degree alternatives.

We also highlight the licensure and certification requirements to become a psychologist in Kentucky and the career projections.

Top Psychology Schools in Kentucky

The following are some high-quality destinations to earn a psychology degree in Kentucky.

Licensure & Certification

The Kentucky Board of Examiners of Psychology is responsible for issuing state licenses for psychologists in Kentucky. To acquire full licensure, candidates must have a doctoral degree and complete supervised professional practice.

They must also participate in national and state examinations and achieve passing scores.

Kentucky issues temporary licensing for psychologists, which may be available for candidates who have completed a master’s program and acquired some experience. Candidates who would be comfortable working as psychological associates or practitioners can start their careers with a master’s degree.

They’d need only 60 semester hours of graduate coursework and 5 years of experience. They will also have to pass a procedural examination.

For a full license, candidates must have a doctorate and at least 1,800 hours of post-doctoral practice experience.

Salary & Career Outlook

As a fresh psychologist in Kentucky, one can earn an annual average salary between $70,204 to $97,604. The first figure of $70,204 is pertinent for candidates who are just starting and are still among the lowest-paid (in the bottom 10%).

However, with time, candidates can continue to improve their earnings and finally end up in the second category of $97,604, which belongs to those who are in the midpoint of earners. Ultimately, the highest-paid psychologists in Kentucky can take home as much as $135,697 in average returns at the end of each year.

Even though we point out experience and time as the key factors influencing these figures, other factors also play a role, such as the candidate’s specialty area, employment establishment, location within the state, and professional reputation.

For the best locations with the highest average earning figure for psychologists in Kentucky, candidates may consider Frankfort and Middlesboro, with annual average salaries of $154,313 and $152,130, respectively.

Job Outlook

The field of psychology in Kentucky is expected to continue to increase in popularity, as it is everywhere else in the country. This increase in popularity will increase demand for professionals in this field, leading to thousands of job openings yearly.

A significant portion of these openings will result from existing psychologists either moving on to higher roles or new professions or retiring. More companies and schools will also work with psychologists to facilitate a favorable environment for students and workers.