Psychology Programs in West Virginia
Psychology schools in West Virginia offer programs in various disciplines, with many awards in sight. For instance, some schools offer bachelor’s degrees in general psychology as their only psychology offerings. In contrast, some offer master’s and doctorate programs in fields such as school psychology, industrial-organizational psychology, and clinical psychology, among others.
Anyone looking to become a successful psychologist in the state must take the time needed to choose the right training program. The resources below seek to make this process easier by showing students the best destinations to consider and the programs they can enroll in at these schools.
We also provide a few more guides regarding the licensure requirements for psychologists in West Virginia and the projections for the field in this state over the next decades.
Top Psychology Schools in West Virginia
The following are among the best psychology schools in West Virginia.
Shepherd University
Shepherdstown, WV Online + Campus
Shepherd University's Bachelor of Arts in Psychology program boasts highly rated faculty members who have not only developed a high level of experience in an academic capacity but have also achieved impressive things in clinical practice and research.
Tuition
$6,702 - $15,774Contact
(304) 876-5000
admission@shepherd.edu
Wheeling University
Wheeling, WV Online + Campus
Wheeling University offers online and in-person training programs for aspiring psychologists in the state. For instance, applicants seeking a bachelor's degree will be glad the school's Bachelor of Science in Psychology program allows both on-campus and online learning.
Tuition
$400 - $735 per CreditContact
(304) 243-2000
admiss@wju.edu
West Virginia University
Morgantown, WV Online + Campus
West Virginia University's bachelor's degree program for psychologists doesn't just aim to teach technical skills in the field but also aims to produce well-rounded candidates. This means graduates are usually sound in technical topics but have excellent analytical, research, and critical thinking skills.
Tuition
$362 - $1,564 per CreditContact
(304) 293-0111
wvuadmissions@mail.wvu.edu
West Virginia State University
Institute, WV Online + Campus
West Virginia State University is another prominent institution in West Virginia with an excellent Department of Psychology. Known as the Department of Psychology and Sociology, students can apply to earn a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology or participate in other Minor in Psychology programs.
Tuition
$9,570 - $14,990Contact
(304) 766-3000
admissions@wvstateu.edu
Marshall University
Huntington, WV Online + Campus
Several psychologists in West Virginia started their careers thanks to the psychology department at Marshall University in Huntington. The University offers several certificate programs, but the bachelor's degree program in psychology is the most popular.
Tuition
$4,581 - $11,036 per SemesterContact
(304) 696-3170
admissions@marshall.edu
Bethany College
Bethany, WV Online + Campus
Along with an excellent Bachelor's degree program in psychology with a general track, Bethany College in Bethany, West Virginia, also offers students the opportunity to choose a concentration and start their careers on a solid footing.
Tuition
$21,600 - $33,830Contact
(304) 829-7000
enrollment@bethanywv.edu
Licensure & Certification
The West Virginia Board of Examiners for Psychologists sets the state’s psychology licensing requirements. The board does not distinguish between subdisciplines.
This means that as long as candidates can attain full licensure, they work in whichever capacity they feel like. To receive full licensure, applicants must pursue a doctorate from an accredited program.
Those with a master’s degree can earn full licensure after working under supervision for at least five years.
For those seeking full licensure, another consideration to meet is the experience requirement. In this regard, they are to complete two years of supervised experience, with the first year being an internship and the second year being in a postdoctoral practice environment.
Lastly, aspiring psychologists in West Virginia are expected to pass the national board examination (EPPP) and the state oral examination.
The EPPP incurs an examination cost of $600.
Salary & Career Outlook
One factor that candidates must consider in predicting their annual average salary as psychologists in West Virginia is their specific location within the state. In this regard, candidates in Charleston enjoy the highest figure, with an annual average salary of $174,530.
Other prominent locations in the state include West Columbia, with an annual average salary of $163,256, and Beckley, with an annual average salary of $117,685.
Other factors that can greatly boost a psychologist’s salary in West Virginia include location, experience level, specialty credentials, and professional reputation.
Generally, professionals in the state can expect to earn an annual average salary of $92,388 if they are among the bottom 10% or $157,247 if they are among the top 10%.
They will most likely take home an annual average salary of $120,531 or more if they are among the median earners.
Job Outlook
The demand for counseling psychologists in the country is expected to grow by a whopping 14%, while clinical psychologists are also expected to experience a similar boom in demand. All fields of psychology are expected to keep growing in the coming decades in West Virginia and all around the country.
The increase in mental awareness among regular individuals and the prioritization of staff mental health in corporate environments are contributing to this growth.
School psychologists, as are substance abuse counselors, are also experiencing a boom in demand.