Psychology Programs in Virginia

More than 60 psychology schools in Virginia allow residents to receive quality training to start their psychology careers. Each school focuses on specific disciplines within the field and offers an exact degree.

For instance, while some people prefer to start with an associate degree, others go for a bachelor’s degree in psychology programs and then a postgraduate program. It may also be beneficial for candidates to attend schools where they’ll find programs on all levels, including bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate programs.

The purpose of the guide on this page is to make selecting the right school easy for Virginia candidates. We do this by highlighting some of the most prominent psychology schools in the state and breaking down the specific awards and programs that these schools offer.

We also dedicate a few sections to exploring the licensure requirements for aspiring psychologists in Virginia and the salary ranges they may fall into throughout their careers.

Top Psychology Schools in Virginia

The entries below are some of the best psychology schools in Virginia.

Licensure & Certification

The Virginia Board of Psychology issues licenses for psychologists in three separate categories. These include the clinical psychology, applied psychology, and school psychology categories.

Candidates in counseling psychology also fall into the clinical psychology category. Other fields, such as social psychology, developmental psychology, and industrial-organizational psychology, fall into the applied psychology category.

Candidates for the first category in clinical psychology are expected to have a doctorate from an accredited institution. The educational requirements for those in the applied psychology category are also the same.

However, candidates in the school psychology category can receive a full license with only a Master’s degree from an accredited program.

In addition to the educational requirements, candidates must receive at least 1,500 hours of supervised professional experience and pass the EPPP (Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology).

Salary & Career Outlook

Individuals who are just beginning their careers as psychologists in Virginia may naturally not be able to earn as much as those who have been on the job for a while. This is why psychologists in the state are classified into three broad categories based on their average returns at the end of the year.

In the first category, we have the bottom 10%, which is still good enough to manage an annual average salary of $74,565. Conversely, we have the top 10%, where candidates take home an average annual salary of as high as $148,415 or even higher.

The third category comprises psychologists in the median range, who earn an annual average salary of $105,197, which is in line with the national average.

Location is another factor that can influence the salary of professionals in this field. In this regard, candidates in Fairfax enjoy the peak position as the highest-paid, making an annual average salary of $263,296.

Other notable locations to work in Virginia for a high annual return include Alexandria, with an annual average salary of $250,856, and Virginia Beach, with an annual average salary of $205,703.

Job Outlook

Psychology is a growing field in Virginia. There is an increased focus on mental health, both among individuals and within workplaces, aiming to improve employee mental health and productivity.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts at least a 10% increase in growth for psychologists across the country, with some specialty areas, such as clinical psychology, possibly enjoying a growth as high as 14%.

Of course, another notable reason for the openings is that fresh psychologists will be needed to replace those retiring or considering other professions.