Psychology Programs in Wisconsin

In Wisconsin, an aspiring psychologist may start their career by earning a bachelor’s degree, then a master’s degree, and then a doctorate. They may want to receive training at all these levels at the same universities.Another option is to start at the basic level at one university and then transfer to another university for higher education.

Regardless of their approach, candidates are always advised to spend the time needed to choose the right training programs for their specific psychology discipline. We aim to make this process easier for interested individuals by providing various resources below.

We overview Wisconsin’s prominent colleges and universities offering psychology degrees. Then, we break down these programs and reveal the specific specialty training and awards that they offer.

Lastly, we conclude with an overview of the licensing steps for psychologists in the state and the possible salary figures to expect at the end of every year.

Top Psychology Schools in Wisconsin

These are the top colleges and universities for candidates wanting to receive their psychology degrees in Wisconsin.

Licensure & Certification

The Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services sets the licensure requirements for most psychologists in the state. The only exceptions are school psychologists and social psychologists authorized by the Department of Public Instruction.

For clinical psychologists and those not in research or school psychology, candidates must have a doctorate and meet the experience and examination requirements to receive a full psychology license.

Concerning the examination requirements, candidates must pass a national examination known as the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology. They must pay $600 for this exam, and those who fail on the first attempt may retake it after 3 months.

For the supervised practice requirements, candidates must receive 3,000 hours of professional experience. Half of this must be obtained through a pre-doctoral arrangement, while the other half must be obtained through a postdoctoral arrangement.

Salary & Career Outlook

Generally, psychologists in Wisconsin can expect to take home an annual average salary of $73,423 if they are among the bottom 10% and an annual average salary of $147,446 if they are among the top 10%. If they find themselves in the median category of the spectrum, they will take home an annual average salary of $104,048.

Of course, much of this will depend on how long the psychologist in question has been working in the field. Their credentials, specialty areas, and specific locations in the state will also contribute significantly to their yearly earnings.

Making location the predominant factor with all else equal, Platteville has the unique appeal of being the highest-paying city for psychologists in Wisconsin. Psychologists in this city earn an annual average salary of $120,924.

They are followed by those in La Crosse, who earn an annual average salary of $112,746, and those in Milwaukee, who make an annual average salary of $110,224.

Job Outlook

The positive projections for psychology that started decades ago are expected to maintain an upward rise. Several fields and sub-disciplines within the profession are expected to experience a more than 14% increase in demand between 2021 and 2031.

Many of these positions will arise because more individuals will seek mental health care, and more corporate employers will hire psychologists to facilitate a positive work environment.