Psychology Programs in New Jersey

Candidates looking to become successful psychologists in New Jersey can consider several possible sub-specialties. First, cognitive psychologists clearly understand how the brain works, including cerebral processes such as problem-solving and memory.

We also have developmental psychologists who examine the process of growing and changing throughout a lifetime, from infancy to old age. Of course, there are even more disciplines to go along with these.

What they all have in common, however, is the need for rigorous training to begin a career. Aspiring psychologists in New Jersey who want to know the best places to receive a comprehensive education in various disciplines will be glad to know they have come to the right page.

Below, we explore the top colleges and institutions in New Jersey and the psychology programs they offer. We also highlight the licensure and certification considerations and the career outlook for psychology in the state.

Top Psychology Schools in New Jersey

These are the top colleges and universities in New Jersey for candidates who want to receive their psychology degrees.

Licensure & Certification

New Jersey’s regulatory body for psychologists is the New Jersey State Board of Psychologist Examiners. Candidates who want to receive full licensure from the board must have a doctorate, practice experience, and passing scores in national and state examinations.

The national examination for prospective psychologists in the country is the Examination for Professional Practice of Psychology. For the state examination, students are tested on their knowledge of ethics and laws orally. Candidates must pass the state exam within 90 days of being notified that they have passed the national examination.

For the work experience requirements, aspiring psychologists in New Jersey are expected to have 1,750 hours of experience through an internship before completing their doctoral programs and 1,750 hours of experience via a supervised practice environment after completing their doctoral programs.

Those with lower degrees may begin their careers by finding employment as human resources specialists or psychiatric technicians, among other roles.

Salary & Career Outlook

In New Jersey, psychologists may earn an annual average salary of $316,917. This would place them in the highest-paid category, where professionals in the top 10 percent are found.

They may also find themselves in the bottom 10% category, and at this point, they will take home an average annual salary of around $136,411.

Lastly, the most common category of psychologists in New Jersey is those in the midpoint of earners, who take home an annual average salary of $207,920.

As with most states across the country, the specific location where a psychologist works in New Jersey will play a big part in determining their annual average salary. Their experience and specialty areas will also impact this, as will other relevant factors.

Jersey City has the highest salary average for psychologists in New Jersey, hovering around $219,111 per year. Wayne follows, with an annual average salary of $126,891, followed by Neptune City, with an annual average salary of $124,494.

Job Outlook

Aspiring psychologists in New Jersey will be glad to know that the profession’s positive projections are expected to continue over the upcoming decade. This will lead to thousands of openings and better annual average salary figures.

Other factors contributing to the positive projections include better mental health awareness among the average population, the need to replace aging workers, and hiring of school psychologists to work with regional institutions.