Psychology Programs in North Carolina

Social Psychology is a field that explores how people think. It dives into the finer aspects of human feelings and behaviors, seeking to understand how social contexts influence these important elements of our existence.

As important as it is, social psychology is one of many disciplines available to aspiring psychologists in North Carolina. This flexibility in specialty choice is only one of the reasons why Psychology continues to grow in popularity, not only in North Carolina but worldwide.

Below, we explain some key process elements to help candidates looking to start a psychology career in the state. We touch upon the licensure requirements and projected annual earnings based on a few conditions.

Most importantly, however, we outline the best colleges and universities offering highly-rated psychology programs for candidates in North Carolina.

Top Psychology Schools in North Carolina

The following are among the best psychology schools in North Carolina.

Licensure & Certification

North Carolina’s requirements for aspiring psychologists are similar to those of other states nationwide. Candidates are expected to have met the educational requirements and completed supervised practice before they can be fully licensed.

The North Carolina Psychology Board sets these requirements.

For the educational requirements, candidates must complete a doctoral degree program accredited by the American or Canadian Psychological Association. They may be able to secure employment in supplementary positions or some disciplines like school counseling with a master’s degree.

Before receiving a doctorate, they must complete 1,500 hours of internship. After completing their doctorate program, they will complete another 1,500 hours of postdoctoral practice.

Lastly, to be fully licensed as a psychologist in North Carolina, individuals must pass the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP).

Salary & Career Outlook

While psychologists in North Carolina can expect to possibly earn an annual average salary of $70,630 to begin their careers, candidates will be glad to know that this figure can get as high as $138,620 once they manage to optimize certain factors and scale their earnings to be among the top 10%.

Of course, most psychologists in the state don’t fall among the bottom or top earning categories but are instead among the average earners. In this case, they can expect to manage an annual average salary of $98,948, which is also well in line with the national average for other states.

As for the factors that can be optimized to move from lower to higher earning categories, we have location, experience level, specialty credentials, and specific employers. The best places with the highest-paying average salaries for psychologists in North Carolina include Raleigh and Greensboro, with annual average salaries of $170,932 and $142,974, respectively.

Psychologists in Greenville manage an average salary of $125,919 at the end of the year.

Job Outlook

Psychologists in North Carolina already enjoy a high volume of demand for their expertise and earn an impressive salary. Candidates entering the field will be glad to know that this is expected to continue, with even more demand for psychologists in the state and across the country.

The boost in demand is said to arise thanks to better awareness among the population for optimal mental health. More companies and organizations are also working with psychologists to foster a thriving mental health environment for employers.