Online Clinical Psychology Degree - Best of 2024

University Headquarters (HQ) is an industry-leading, independent educational organization that provides independent college rankings using a proprietary formula to create first class unbiased rankings. The team at University HQ strives to provide accurate and trustworthy rankings that highlights the best online programs for clinical psychology.

Compare Popular Online Psychology Programs

A career in clinical psychology begins with the right education, in this case a master's in clinical psychology program, and ends with a huge variety of opportunities throughout many fields within the psychology sector. Clinical psychologists address the behavioral health, emotional health, and mental health issues of either children or adults. They may deal with patients with mental and emotional disorders and offer mental health counseling if they work as a licensed professional counselor in clinical practice. Clinical counseling will help those who have issues with their mental health or emotional disorders to live better lives overall. You could also pursue research or therapy career pathways, both of which include observing, assessing, analyzing, and customizing treatments. Some clinical psychologists will specialize in specific disorders, and some will focus on specific age ranges of patients or research subjects. Or, if you wish to earn a doctoral degree but work outside clinical mental health counseling, you may also teach psychology students in a college or university setting; this may include undergraduate and graduate students. You may teach in-class and online students who are looking to earn their own clinical psychology degrees about human behavior, professional practice, clinical mental health counseling, and more.

To become truly successful clinical psychologists, students must complete at least a doctoral degree. Many individuals will pursue their education one degree at a time while gaining invaluable experience in alternative clinical psychology positions until all degree requirements and clinical hours have been completed. These jobs vary greatly based on education but include social work, addiction counseling, school counselors, research assistants, consultants, family therapists, and more.

Many clinical psychologists have irregular hours unless they work in private practice. However, evenings and weekends are quite common for everyone. The type of work environment will depend entirely on the field of study of each individual such as medical facilities, hospitals, outpatient rehab centers, home office, nursing homes, schools, businesses, government agency buildings, patients’ homes, research labs, and many others.

Search Programs

Overview of a Degree in Clinical Psychology

What Can You Do with an Online Clinical Psychology Degree?

A clinical psychology degree opens numerous career possibilities. With such a degree, people can choose from psychology-based fields, research positions, and professorships. If an individual wishes to pursue the route of therapy, they can specialize in disorders, communities, and age ranges. Some people prefer to work with children, young people, families, adults, or within the geriatric classification. The same is true for specific disorders such as anxiety, depression, eating disorders, PTSD, schizophrenia, dementia, personality disorders, and many others.

Or, you could choose to work as a professor, a researcher, or both. These individuals typically work at colleges and universities, for government agencies, in the private sector, or for other non-profits. Professors teach within a classroom, online, or a hybrid of both. Researchers typically work in a lab, in a clinical practice setting, at a hospital, and in other various locations. The courses one teaches and the clinical trials and studies in which one participates will often depend on the degree specialization.

Typical Online Clinical Psychology Degree Requirements

It’s possible to complete degrees in psychology and clinical psychology at all degree levels and in both undergraduate and graduate certificates. However, a doctorate in clinical psychology will be necessary to become a practicing psychologist. To reach this degree level, you will require a high school diploma or the equivalent to pursue either an online associate degree or a bachelor’s degree. Whether or not one requires an online master’s degree will depend upon the college or university and the clinical psychology program.

Some online doctorate programs in clinical psychology combine both an online master’s and a bachelor’s degree. Other PhD or PsyD programs will allow entry into the program with a bachelor’s degree and the appropriate prerequisite courses. At other higher learning institutions, a master’s degree or a graduate certificate will be necessary to apply for a doctorate degree in clinical psychology. Each state will have unique licensure and certification requirements, as well as supervised clinical hours for each doctoral candidate to complete.

Typical Clinical Psychology Certification Needs

Within clinical psychology, a variety of certifications can boost career prospects and skill development at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. It’s also important to understand that the completion of state licensure and clinical psychology certification will be necessary based on state regulations before one can become an official and legal practicing psychologist. These requirements will vary by state.

Find Your Online Psychology Program

Undergraduate Certificates

Clinical psychology certificates at the undergraduate level are ideal for skill development, career development, specialization, and to meet graduate degree entrance requirements. These certificates can be offered through higher learning institutions or by professional clinical psychology organizations. A minimum GPA may be necessary to enter these certificate programs and a bachelor’s degree may be necessary, or simply a minimum number of college credits in psychology and specific clinical psychology courses.

The undergraduate certificates available vary, but include these:

Alzheimer Caregiver Certification
Thanatology: Death, Dying and Bereavement Certification
Co-Occurring Disorders Specialist Certification
Personal/Life Coach Certification

Graduate Certificates

At the online master’s degree and post-graduate certification level, clinical psychology certifications are designed for specialization, salary increases, promotions, and career shifts. Some graduate certificates may require a program participant to have completed licensure as part of continuing education and licensure renewal. Each individual will have a unique reason or requirement for completing certifications at this level. Many of these certifications are available online at this time.

The subject matter for graduates certificates will vary greatly and may include:

Psychology Leadership
Clinical Health
Clinical Neuropsychology
Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology
Clinical Psychology
Geropsychology
Rehabilitation Psychology/Psychoanalysis
Behavioral and Cognitive Psychology
Group Psychology

Academic Standards for a Clinical Psychology Degree

While becoming a practicing clinical psychologist may seem like a never-ending process, it will one day come to an end, and each new stage of the process is as important as the last. If one begins with an associate degree at a community college or online school, a high school GPA of 2.0 or higher will be necessary. Of course, this will depend on the school you attend.

For those pursuing a bachelor’s degree, the GPA requirements will typically be higher, such as a high school or associate degree GPA of 2.5 or higher. ACT or SAT requirements will also be established by the higher learning institution.

Once an individual is prepared to pursue a master’s degree, students must have respectable GPAs of 3.0 or higher and quite possibly be required to complete the GRE with a minimum requirement. Again, these standards vary by school. A formal thesis or a comprehensive exam may be necessary to complete these degrees successfully.

To gain entrance into doctoral programs that do not include both a master’s degree and a doctoral program, it will be essential to graduate from a college or university with regional accreditation. It will also be beneficial to graduate from an accredited master’s program. GPAs, certifications, professional organization memberships, and work experience are also influencing factors.

Exam/Experience Needed for an Online Clinical Psychology Degree?

To become a fully practicing clinical psychologist, each individual will be required to complete state licensure, clinical psychology certification, and between 3,000 and 6,000 hours of clinical work under authorized supervision. For any other non-psychology-related career, exams and experience will depend upon the degree level and job title. One may have to take the GRE exam. An internship may be necessary. And exams are also required to complete certain master’s degree programs.

Clinical Online Psychology Degree Options

To become a fully practicing clinical psychologist, several degrees will be necessary. You can begin with an online associate degree and end with a doctorate degree. Most people begin with a bachelor’s degree or a combination of a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree. Some programs offer an online master’s and doctorate dual degree program. Or you can pursue a clinical psychology doctorate degree program immediately after the bachelor’s degree program in the right circumstances.

Associates Degrees Range $26,000 - $33,000
Bachelor’s Degrees Range $50,000 - $85,000
Master’s Degrees Range $30,000 - $1,200,000

Online Associate Degree in Clinical Psychology

For individuals who wish to begin with an online associate degree, it’s best to consider specific degrees as a way to secure jobs related to psychology upon graduation or to be able to apply for bachelor’s degree programs in clinical psychology. Many online psychology associate degrees are available today from community colleges and online degrees. It may also be a good idea to pursue science-related degrees to complete the necessary course requirements at the bachelor’s degree level if one intends to transfer to a four-year clinical psychology program.

The following are some examples of possible courses in an online associate degree clinical psychology degree program:

Personality Types and Theories
Psychological Disorders
Developmental Stages
Social Influence
Applied Statistics
Research Methods
History and Systems
Social Psychology

Read More About an Associates in Clinical Psychology

Online Bachelor’s Degree in Clinical Psychology

At the online bachelor’s degree level, it’s essential to pursue psychology degrees. A psychology major is the best way to gain internships in psychology careers, as well as to be able to apply for psychology-related jobs upon graduation. One aspect that varies at the bachelor’s degree level from the associate degree level is the option to specialize or choose a concentration. This can help set graduates apart when they apply for graduate programs or help them gain an advantage in the highly competitive job market.

Here are some examples of possible clinical psychology bachelor’s degree courses:

Intro to General Psychology
Intro to Drugs and Behavior
Sex, Evolution and Human Behavior
Developmental Psychology
Psychology of Education
Cognitive Psychology
Intro to Abnormal Psychology
Social Psychology

Read More About Bachelor’s in Clinical Psychology

Find Online Psychology Programs

Online Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology

Before selecting an online master’s degree, it’s important to consider whether a master of arts or a master of science is most ideal for one’s career aspirations. An online Master of Science in Clinical Psychology is often the preference for individuals seeking a career in research and sciences.

You can also select a psychology specialization at the master’s degree level. This will begin the proper training, education, and experience necessary for a long-term career in a wide array of psychology arenas including education, research, or therapy.

The following are some examples of courses for a master’s degree in clinical psychology:

Psychology of Social Media
Sensation and Perception
Statistics
Biological Basis for Abnormal Behavior
Forensic Assessment
Conflict and Negotiation
Criminal Behavior and The Prison System
Psychometrics

Online degree program concentrations and specializations are also diverse, and may include some of these options, depending on the school you attend:

Experimental Psychology
Industrial-Organizational Psychology
Forensic Psychology
Clinical Psychology
Social Psychology
Child Development
Sexual Psychology
Sport Psychology

Read More About Masters in Clinical Psychology

What Can You Do with a Clinical Psychology Degree?

The career options with a clinical psychology degree depend on the degree, the state you work in, and your employer. An individual with an associate degree will primarily be eligible to apply for entry-level support positions in various psychology fields such as social service assistants, human services assistants, substance abuse counselors, psychiatric technicians, and psychiatric aides.

With a bachelor’s degree in clinical psychology comes greater responsibility, greater pay, and greater career options including positions as substance abuse counselors, behavioral disorder counselors, social worker case manager, human resources manager, market research analyst, polygraph examiner, child development specialist, research assistant, technical writer, criminal investigator, employment counselor, and many others.

Once an individual has an online master’s degree, they can explore more mental health and therapy-based careers. This, too, is based on the state and employer requirements, but may include positions such as marriage and family therapists, school counselors, mental health counselors, probation officers, and more.

At the PhD and PsyD level, you can become a fully practicing clinical psychologist in all states, or a professor or research psychologist. Many individuals will choose various clinical psychology specializations at this level including forensic psychology, sport psychology, industrial-organizational psychology, criminal psychology, sexual health psychology, family psychology, learning disability psychology, child psychology, and many more.

Clinical Psychology Fields of Study

Social and Consumer Psychology
A concentration in social and consumer psychology centers around various aspects of consumer behavior including social influence, purchase behavior, decision making, marketing effectiveness, brand management, and more.
Black Psychology
Black psychology has been growing in need and popularity over the past few decades. It entails the study of historical experiences, cultural expressions, values and traditions, African principles, social movements, and much more.
Geriatric Psychology
With a rapidly aging population, geriatric psychology is becoming more important than ever. Geriatric psychology addresses the issues and challenges often associated with later stages in life such as body deterioration, mental health issues, emotional problems, physical limitations, loss of friends and family, personal mortality, financial stresses, and more.
Long-term Mental Illness
The psychology of long-term mental illness is a relatively new subsector of clinical psychology. This area focuses on the evaluation and treatment of persistently and severely mentally ill children and adults, as well as their families. Treatments may include assessments, interventions, psychopharmacology, and/or psychosocial rehabilitation. These specialized psychologists may also develop programs and public policy.
Child Psychology
Child psychology has always been one of the most popular concentrations. Within this specialization, professionals work with children who are in need of psychological help for any number of reasons such as developmental issues, abuse, trauma, mental disorders, disease or illness, and many others.
Forensic Psychology
Another growing field of psychology is forensic psychology. These individuals work within the criminal justice system to help solve crimes, determine criminal competency, perform psychological autopsies, criminal profiling, parental fitness, child custody, and conduct research and studies.
Clinical Health Psychology
Clinical Health Psychology is an area that specializes in the interaction and correlation of one’s physical health and the emotional, cognitive, social, and behavioral functions. Essentially, this type of psychology encourages a healthy lifestyle as a way to eliminate controllable life issues associated with a variety of ailments such as chronic pain, obesity, diseases, anxiety, and many others.
Neuropsychology
Clinical neuropsychology is directly related to brain function and its association to behavior in all regards. Individuals who pursue this psychology disciple will focus on perspective, approach, and practice settings.
Psychodynamic Psychology
Psychodynamic psychology provides work on the theory of personality, psychotherapy, and pathology. This includes various personality disorders such as narcissism, borderline, character disorders, and more.

Search Colleges Offering Online Psychology Majors

Clinical Psychology Careers and Salary

Careers in clinical psychology have varying levels of responsibility and pay based on degree completion, work experience, location of the position, employer, roles and responsibilities, and additional variables. Entry-level positions will generally have little responsibility and more administrative and support tasks. An associate degree or a bachelor’s degree in clinical psychology will be necessary for these positions with a general salary range between $35,000 and $50,000.

With a master’s degree and a doctorate degree, clinical psychology professionals will earn more money, have more career options and be able to practice therapy and psychology, become a professor, or perform studies and research with the right degrees, licensures and, certifications. Individuals with these degrees can expect to make between $60,000 and over $100,000.

Clinical Psychology Career Options

Substance Abuse Counselor
A substance abuse counselor is one of the most rapidly growing careers in the United States. These counselors work with individuals who are addicted to various illicit and prescription drugs, as well as alcohol. In some states, it’s possible to become a substance abuse counselor with as little as an associate degree.
Human Resources
Human resource positions are increasingly using graduates with psychology degrees to fill their openings. These psychology professionals excel in workplace conflict resolution, character and personality assessment, mental health program development, and much more.
Family / Marriage Counselors
Family and marriage counselors have always been in demand. Again, these individuals can work in this field at varying levels depending upon their degree, from social work to psychiatry. The type of work setting will also vary such as a hospital, private practice, school, and others.
Forensic Psychologist
A forensic psychologist works directly with local, state, or federal law enforcement. They might be an expert witness, determine competency, evaluate witness credibility, recommend treatments, and more.
Learning Disability Specialist
A learning disability specialist often works within an elementary, middle school, or high school environment. These mental health professionals diagnose and treat students with learning disabilities, including ADD, ADHD, autism, and others.

Important Questions to Ask (FAQ)

How long does It take to earn a clinical psychology degree online?

An online clinical psychology degree at the doctoral level can take between four years and eight years, though most take between four and six years. These often include a one-year internship. However, this does not include the time it takes to complete the separate and required bachelor’s degree or master’s degree.

Keep in mind that it’s possible to take either a bachelor’s and a master’s degree together or a master’s and a doctoral degree together to eliminate years off of the total amount of time. These numbers also don’t include the mandatory 3,000 licensure hours or supervised work, and some states require up to 6,000 supervised hours.

How much does an online clinical psychology bachelor’s degree cost?

A bachelor’s degree in psychology will cost in a range between $8,000 to $60,000 annually. However, it’s possible to save money by completing basic course requirements at a community college before transferring to a four-year college or university. Another way to save money is to select public schools over private schools and to pursue degrees in-state over out-of-state programs.

Does the school have the major[s] you’re considering?

Before selecting a college or university, it’s essential to consider the majors offered that will allow for a successful career in clinical psychology. Your major of choice will determine the likelihood of entrance into master’s degree programs, and it will influence the type of jobs for which a graduate will qualify.

Generally speaking, any psychology bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university will lead to positive career prospects. An accredited psychology program and the option of selecting from a variety of specializations or concentrations will also be beneficial. And be sure to seek out schools that offer assistance to help you find internships.

How many students graduate “on time”, in four years?

Nationwide, it’s taking longer and longer to complete bachelor’s degrees. Currently, public colleges and universities have an average four-year graduation rate of 33.3% and a six-year graduation rate of 57.6%. Private colleges and universities improve their rates at 52.8% and 65.4%, respectively. The six-year graduation rate for schools with dedicated psychology colleges or departments increases to 88.86%.

What kind of accreditation does the online program hold? How is it regarded in the field?

To begin, it’s important to choose a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university. Another accreditation that will prove you’ve had a high quality education and give you a better chance for employment and better pay is the APA Commission on Accreditation, which is recognized by the Council for Higher Education and the US Department of Education. The Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System is another reputable program accreditation. These are most often available at the master’s degree and doctorate degree levels.

Software, Technology & Skills Needed

Software and technology skills have become an integral part of clinical psychology degrees. Various software programs are necessary to submit information to state and federal databases, as well as for managing practices and financials. They can also be used for transcribing, record-keeping, note-taking, sharing medical records, and much more.

Clinical psychologists will require know-how of a number of technologies. Computers, tablets, and smartphones are basic tools used by most psychologists today. Additional technologies can be used to help with client management, such as wearable technologies. Each year, the software and technology skills necessary grow even further.

Scholarships

Clarkston Scholars Program
Amount: $10,000
Deadline: January 15

The Clarkston Scholars Program seeks out students with exceptional drive in academics and a passion and interest in life sciences. This scholarship will be awarded to one sophomore at a four-year, Pennsylvania-based college or university.
Gladys Carol Scholarship
Amount: $5,000
Deadline: March 31

The Gladys Carol Scholarship Program is dedicated to high-performing high school seniors and graduates, as well as undergraduate students who are United States citizens and permanent residents. These students must be in pursuit of STEM programs.
Out To Innovate Scholarships for LGBTQ+STEM Students
Amount: $5,000
Deadline: June 6

The Out To Innovate Scholarships for LGBTQ+STEM Students offers two awards each year for STEM students who are a part of the LGBTQ+ community. One award is designated to an undergraduate student and the other is reserved for a graduate or professional student.
National Space Club Keynote Scholarships
Amount: $10,000
Deadline: June 30

The National Space Club Keynote Scholarships are for students with exceptional academic records and public speaking abilities who are in pursuit of STEM careers, from high school students to graduate students.

Professional Clinical Psychology Organizations

AACP
SCP
APA
ABP

AACP

American Academy of Clinical Psychology

The American Academy of Clinical Psychology unites professional psychologists to advance both standards of practice and quality of service.

SCP

Society of Clinical Psychology

The Society of Clinical Psychology features APA members in research, active practice, teaching, administration, and students. Approved students receive membership discounts.

APA

American Psychological Association

The American Psychological Association has over 120,000 members in a variety of psychology fields including education, consultancy, clinicians, and researchers. Students can also become members.

ABP

Association of Black Psychologists

The Association of Black Psychologists is a rapidly growing professional psychology organization featuring over 1,400 members. These professionals focus on social change and psychological assistance in black communities.

Choosing an Accredited College

Proper accreditation is essential to long-term success in any clinical psychology field. To begin, if you don’t complete a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university, it will be very difficult to move into a master’s degree. Next, it’s also important to select an online program that has additional accreditation from a reputable governing or professional body. These factors will influence the likelihood as to whether or not one will be accepted into graduate programs and eventually be able to earn a license to be a practicing clinical psychologist, researcher, or professor. These accreditations will also influence the lifetime earning potential of a clinical psychology professional.

Online vs. On-Campus vs. Hybrid

Today, you can select from a variety of clinical psychology degree formats. Some people still prefer traditional classroom settings, though many schools are in transition to becoming fully online colleges and universities offering the same quality education with greater flexibility and, many times, more affordable degree programs.

You could also choose to select a hybrid program. This combines both in-person and online courses, and some online degrees require hybrid format, particularly those that require lab work and experiential learning. And keep in mind that online degrees may offer synchronous learning, which is courses that are only available in real-time online. or asynchronous learning, which is often pre-recorded and more flexible.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between clinical and counseling psychology?

The main difference is the severity of the issues dealt with. This is not to say that counselors don’t see severity in those dealing with particularly traumatic deaths or other experiences. However, this is different than those who are dealing with a loss of connection with the world as a whole, an inability to believe that those around them are real, or who are experiencing auditory or visual hallucinations. Counselors help their patients deal with emotional and physical stressors, among other things. Clinical psychologists help their patients overcome mental disorders which may require behavioral therapy paired with medication or even electroshock therapy.

Can you earn a clinical psychology degree online?

There are certainly online programs available for those who wish to earn degrees in clinical psychology, even master’s degrees, which are required to hold a license in clinical psychology. However, every state has other requirements outside of education for those who wish to hold psychology licensures. These requirements include a number of hours spent working in the field under an already licensed practitioner. This you will not be able to complete online.

How much does a clinical psychologist make in a year?

On average, a clinical psychologist earns around $84,000/year. However, those with increased education and more experience can earn more. You could also earn more if you choose to open your own practice or specialize within the field. Those in their late career can earn over $100,000/year and those with skills in eating disorders earn around 13% more than the average at any level.

Does the college have post-graduate job placement help & assistance?

One of the greatest advantages of reputable colleges and universities is the offering of graduate school placement and job placement services and assistance. These services are often seen as a highly influential decision-making factor by many potential students. Be sure to look at the job and graduate school placement rates and career services at colleges and universities before making a final decision.

Why do you need to consider how rating/accreditation can affect your salary?

The accreditation and rating of a higher learning institution is the way potential employers are able to quickly assess the quality and value of an applicant’s education. Colleges and universities with in-demand and reputable accreditations and rankings will influence hiring decisions, as well as salary potential.

Best Online Clinical Psychology Degrees for 2024