Get Your PsyD to Become a Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Are you ready to aim for the highest level of learning and leadership in clinical psychology? The Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program is an intensive, five-year program that will provide you with extensive knowledge and real-world experience in clinical psychology. You'll work hard and gain the academic knowledge you'll need to move forward toward earning your clinical psychologist license.
No master’s degree or previous graduate work is required for you to apply.
Why Enroll in IUP’s Clinical Psychology PsyD?
With a doctorate in clinical psychology from IUP, you’ll be well equipped to step into a variety of professional roles where you can make a profound impact in others’ lives. Our program follows the local clinical scientist model of training, which serves as a bridge between the science of psychology and the realities of working in a clinical setting.
Earning a doctoral degree means you’re committed to your profession and are ready for your academic journey. But you won’t be alone. With an average of 15 students per year admitted to the Clinical Psychology PsyD program, you'll get all the support you need from faculty, staff, and your own small cohort.
No Master’s Degree Required
You don't need a master’s degree to apply for admission because you’ll earn one along the way. Our doctorate in clinical psychology is typically completed in five years:
- Four calendar years of full-time enrollment
- An additional year of a full-time internship
This is a total of at least 99 semester hours of graduate-level course credit.
What You’ll Learn
In addition to a practitioner focus, the Clinical Psychology PsyD gives you broad exposure to a range of skills that will help you to react and adapt to professional psychology’s changing roles and responsibilities.
You’ll receive a solid background in the scientific knowledge of psychology, plus extensive supervision in the development of skills essential for all clinicians, including:
- Psychotherapy
- Psychological assessment
- Interpersonal relations
- Program evaluation
- Community outreach
To add real-world meaning to what you’re learning, you’ll also participate in a range of clinical training labs. You will have supervised experiences in:
- Psychological assessment
- Psychotherapy
IUP’s clinical psychology doctoral program is designed to meet the academic requirements of licensure and is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of the American Psychological Association (APA).
The licensure exam and post-doctoral supervised experience are not part of this program. Consumer information disclosures that state the PsyD program satisfies the educational requirements for licensure.
Imagine Your Future
In the Clinical Psychology PsyD program, you'll gain skills that will prepare you to work successfully in the field. You'll get experiences in
- Assessing clients
- Treating clients
- Conducting research
Your clinical experience will typically be as part of a health care team in collaboration with other professionals.
When you graduate with a doctorate in clinical psychology from IUP, you will have completed the academic requirements toward licensure in Pennsylvania. You will not be licensed or even license-eligible when you graduate—the licensure exam and the post-doctoral supervised experience are not part of this program.
We’re proud to note that recent Student Admissions, Outcomes, and Other Data shows IUP’s Clinical Psychology PsyD program graduates perform exceptionally well on their licensure exams, indicating the excellent academic and practical background they obtained at IUP.
Licensure Rates
Students who graduated between two and 11 years ago (2013–21). 2022 and 2023 graduates are not included as new graduates are not yet eligible for licensure in most states.
Total Number of Graduates
109
Total Number of Licensed Graduates
107 (98%)
Total Number of Unlicensed Graduates
2 (2%)
Program Curriculum
IUP’s Clinical Psychology PsyD curriculum builds your knowledge class by class while emphasizing hands-on experiences. It's important to keep in mind that this intensive doctoral degree program goes year-round, for a minimum of five years.
In your first year, you’ll study general topics such as
- Assessment
- Intervention
- Psychopathology and personality theory
- Research methods
Your exposure to clients begins in the first year, too. You’ll provide psychotherapy services to undergraduate volunteers. You’ll also start a series of classes on ethics during your first summer.
Your second-year coursework includes research and diversity issues, to name a few, and your intervention training continues. You’ll begin an internal practicum in our training clinics at the Center for Applied Psychology (CAP). You’ll sit for the Comprehensive Clinical Examination at the end of your second year.
In the third year, you'll typically start an external practicum at a local agency, hospital, or clinic. Your coursework continues, including electives and nonclinical core courses. You’ll take the Clinical Proficiency Examination at the end of your third year.
Between your third and fourth years, most students focus on defending their dissertation proposals. During your fourth year—after you meet the requirements, including having defended your dissertation proposal—you will be eligible to apply for internship. And you’ll continue with coursework and your practicum, and conduct dissertation research.
Your fifth year is typically your predoctoral internship year. This is a full-time, paid clinical training experience.
Practicum Settings
"Practicum" (PSYC 993) is a graduate course in which advanced graduate students enroll in one to three credits per semester and are placed in external health service psychology sites. Students are supervised by a licensed professional psychologist at the site, and a licensed clinical psychologist from our PsyD program provides coordination and oversight.
2022–23 Practicum Sites
- Allegheny General Hospital/Allegheny Health Network
- Altoona VA
- Associates in Behavioral Diagnostics and Treatment
- Bliss Psychological Services
- Carnegie Mellon Counseling and Psychological Services
- Chatham University Counseling Services
- Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh
- Cognitive Behavioral Institute
- Community Guidance Center
- Conemaugh Medical Center - Family Medical Center
- Coufal & Associates
- Duquesne University Counseling Services
- Edwards & Associates
- Family Counseling Center of Armstrong County
- IUP Counseling Center
- Lake Psychological Services
- Mary Berge and Associates
- Menta Psychological
- Neuropsychiatric Associates (IRMC)
- Pediatric Care Specialists - Behavioral Health Services
- Pennsylvania State University Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)
- Pittsburgh VA Medical Center
- Torrance State Hospital
- University of Pittsburgh Counseling Center
- Western Psychiatric Institute & Clinics (WPIC)/University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC)
Full Academic Catalog Listing
The course catalog is the official reference for all our degree and course offerings. Check it out for a full listing of the classes available and requirements for this degree.
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Admission Procedures
The Clinical Psychology PsyD is a highly selective program that seeks students with great promise to become excellent clinicians and leaders who will advance the field of clinical psychology.
That means that, while there are minimum requirements to apply, our doctoral psychology students typically have grades and scores well above those minimums.
You must also have demonstrated prior research experience, such as an honor’s project, research practicum, or serving as a research assistant.
In addition, we require that applicants have some clinical exposure to the field through an internship, volunteer work, or, in some cases, a paid position.
The following criteria will be considered in evaluating your application:
- Overall minimum 3.0 GPA and strong grades in psychology courses.
- Training in research methodology.
- Prior clinical experience in practicum, employment, or volunteer work.
- A personal statement of goals.
- Three letters of recommendation.
- Interviews with faculty (in-person or remote) for applicants invited to interview.
You’ll also need a minimum of 18 credits in psychology if you have an undergraduate degree in something other than psychology. Those courses must include abnormal psychology, personality, and research/statistics.
IUP admissions, outcomes, and other data as reported between 2010–11 and 2019–20 academic years are fully disclosed here.
Predoctoral Internship Helps Shape Your Professional Identity
Your predoctoral clinical psychology internship is an important training experience for developing your professional identity, as well as for refining your clinical skills. The internship provides a methodical, supervised, professional training program in an applied setting.
This required internship is a paid, full-time, 12-month clinical experience. After you receive approval from the training director, you can apply for an internship to APA-accredited sites through the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC).
Internships for Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology
I. Purpose and Goals
The purpose of the internship is to provide a systematic program of supervised, professional training in an applied setting. The internship training program is designed to integrate scientific, professional, and ethical knowledge in a way that will permit the student to demonstrate autonomous and responsible functioning as a practicing psychologist. Consistent with the individual's previous graduate education and skill development, the internship experience provides an atmosphere of professional socialization that is necessary for the development of a firm professional identity as well as the enhancement of professional clinical proficiency.
The goals of the internship experience are to increase the student's proficiency in intervention/treatment, assessment/diagnosis, and consultation up to professional practice standards. The internship, therefore, should provide for core experiences in the following areas:
- Experience with a variety of methods of assessment/ diagnosis across a variety of problems and clinical populations.
- Experience with a variety of methods of intervention/ treatment across a variety of problems and clinical populations.
- Experience with culturally/ethnically diverse populations.
- Application of critical thinking to professional practice.
- Understanding of professional, legal, and ethical issues relevant to the practice of psychology.
- Introduction to supervision and management of psychological services.
II. General Policy
The internship occurs following the completion of all didactic and supervised practica in the academic setting. This includes satisfactory performance on the preliminary exams and the research and clinical proficiency evaluations. Ideally, the student should have completed the doctoral project prior to beginning the internship. The National Conference of Internship Training in Psychology (1987) recommends that the predoctoral internship be a full-time, twelve-month experience or the equivalent time spread over two years. Of that time, a minimum of 500 hours of time should be spent in direct patient/client contact. Additionally, a minimum of four hours per week in regularly scheduled, formal, face-to-face supervision is recommended.
Prior to internship, IUP students must have completed a minimum of 1,000 hours of supervised practicum with a variety of client populations.
At the time of application for internship, the director of Doctoral Studies must certify that the prospective intern has demonstrated:
- Interests and goals appropriate to the internship program.
- The ability to apply assessment/diagnosis and intervention/treatment knowledge under supervision.
- Ethical and professional conduct.
- Interpersonal skills appropriate to the practice of psychology.
- A general knowledge base resulting in completion of the doctoral preliminary exam and the research methods proficiency exam.
- Research skills resulting in the approval of a doctoral project proposal.
By the time the internship begins, the director of Doctoral Studies must certify that the student has completed all formal graduate coursework, has passed the clinical proficiency evaluation, and has completed the supervised practice (practicum) requirements.
III. Criteria for Internship Settings
All internship plans must be reviewed and approved by the Clinical Training Committee. The student generally applies for an internship at sites approved by the APA, or sites listed by APPIC. If students wish to apply at a site not on these approved lists, the site must meet the criteria adopted by the National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology.
Internship Placements in Past Years
2023–24
- Applewood Centers, Inc.
- Aspire Health Alliance (South Shore Mental Health)
- Carnegie Mellon University
- Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial VA Medical Center
- Illinois State University
- John D. Dingell VA Medical Center
- National Psych Training Consortium
- Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
- South Texas Veterans Health Care System
- Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center
- WellSpan Philhaven CBT
2022–23
- Allina Health-Mental Health & Addiction Services
- Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health
- Fulton State Hospital
- Iowa City VA Health Care System
- Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center
- Wasatch Behavioral Health
- Womack Army Medical Center
2021–22
- Arkansas Division Behavioral Health Service
- Buffalo Psychiatric Center
- Child & Adolescent Behavioral Health
- Cincinnati VA Medical Center
- University of Pittsburgh
- University of Rochester-Psychiatry
- Utah State Hospital
- VA Western New York Healthcare System
- Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surg Ctr/Lackland AFB
- University Michigan-Counseling & Psych Service
2020–21
- Federal Correctional Complex-Petersburg
- John D. Dingell VA Medical Center
- Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center
- Michigan State University - CAPS
- Mid-Ohio Psychological Services, Inc.
- Milton Hershey School
- National Psych Training Consortium - Central Springfield, MO
- University of California - Irvine
- University of Connecticut Counseling & Mental Health
- University of Maine
- University of Rochester - Psychiatry
- WVU Medicine - University Healthcare
2019–20
- Applewood Centers
- Columbus VA, Chalmers P. Wylie Health Care Center
- Geisinger Medical Center
- Ohio Psychology Internship Consortium
- Ohio State University Counseling Center
- Orlando VA Medical Center
- Texas A&M University
- Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center
2018–19
- Mid-Ohio Psychological Services
- Four County Counseling Center, IHC
- Staten Island University Hospital
- VA Greenville Health Care Center
- Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital
- Ohio State University Counseling Center
- Missouri Health Sciences Consortium
- Pittsburgh Psych Int Consortium
- University of South Florida Counseling Ctr
- Univ of Tennessee Knoxville Counseling Ctr
- Naval Medical Center, Portsmouth Psychology Internship
- Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services, Grand Rapids, MI
2017–18
- Columbus VA/C.P. Wylie Ambulatory Care Center, Columbus, OH
- Torrance State Hospital, Torrance, PA
- Veterans Affairs Medical Center of Miami, FL
- Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
- Wichita Collaborative Psychology, South Central Mental Health Center, Wichita, KS
- Philhaven Hospital, Mt. Gretna, PA
- Towson University, Towson, MD
- Mid-Ohio Psychological Services, Inc., Columbus, OH
- Henry Ford Health Science Center, Detroit, MI
- Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA
- Lebanon VA Medical Center, Lebanon, PA
- Iowa State University, Ames, IA
- University of Wisconsin - Madison Counseling, Madison, WI
2016–17
- Appalachian State University Counseling and Psychological Services
- Children's Hospital of Michigan
- Healtheast Care System
- Miami VA Medical Center
- Miami University Student Counseling Service (Counseling Center)
- Mount Washington Pediatric Hospital
- The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center
- Pathways Community Health/Compass Health; Heart of America Internship Consortium, Rolla, MO
- Penn State Counseling Center
- Talbert House, Cincinnati, OH
- West Virginia Counseling Center
2015–16
- University of Pittsburgh Counseling Center, Pittsburgh, PA
- Primary Children's Hospital, Salt Lake City, UT
- University of Connecticut Counseling Center, Mansfield, CT
- Southern Arizona Internship, Tucson, AZ
- Penn State University Counseling Center, State College, PA
- West Virginia University, Carruth Center, Morgantown, WV (2 interns)
- Miami University, Oxford, OH
- SUNY Buffalo Counseling Services, Buffalo, NY
- Mid-Ohio Psychological Services, Columbus, OH
- Southeast Human Service Center, Fargo, ND
- Ohio State University, Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH
- Wright Patterson Medical Center, Wright Patterson AFB, OH
- Community Healthlink, Worcester, MA
- Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital, Hoffman Estates, IL
2014–15
- Temple University, Tuttleman Counseling Services, Philadelphia, PA
- Penn State University Counseling Center, State College, PA
- College of William & Mary Counseling Center, Williamsburg, VA (2 interns)
- Chicago School Community Leadership Internship Consortium, Chicago, IL
University of Texas, Houston Health Science Center, Houston, TX - Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital, Baltimore, MD
- VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT
- Henry Ford Health Science Center, Detroit, MI
- Saint Elizabeth's Hospital, Washington, DC
2013–14
- Miami VA Medical Center, Miami, FL
- University of Rochester School of Medicine, Rochester, NY
- College of William & Mary Counseling Center, Williamsburg, VA
- Conemaugh Medical Center, Johnstown, PA
- Torrance State Hospital, Torrance, PA
- Dayton VA Medical Center, Dayton, OH
- Nebraska Internship Consortium in Professional Psychology, NE
- Towson University Counseling Center, Baltimore, MD
2012–13
- VA Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System, Biloxi, MS
- West Virginia University, Carruth Center for Psychological and Psychiatric Services, Morgantown, WV
- University of Minnesota, University Counseling and Consulting Services, Minneapolis, MN
- University of Michigan, Counseling and Psychological Services, Ann Arbor, MI
- Kentucky River Community Care, Inc., Jackson, KY
- VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, PA
- University of Iowa, University Counseling Service, Iowa City, IA
- University of New Hampshire, Counseling Center, Durham, NH
- Central Regional Hospital, Butner, NC
- Wasatch Mental Health, Provo UT
- WJB Dorn VA Medical Center, Columbia, SC
- Canvas Health, Oakdale, MN
- Valley Mental Health, Salt Lake City, UH
- Ohio Psychology Internship, Akron OH
2011–12
- Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA
- Behavioral Resources and Institute for Neurological Services, Grand Rapids, MI
- The Watson Institute, Sewickley, PA
- University of MichiganCounseling and Psychology Center, Ann Arbor, MI
- University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN
2010–11
- Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA (2 interns)
- American University, Washington, D.C.
- Broughton Hospital, Morganton, NC
- Harvard, Beth Israel Massachusetts Mental Health Center, Jamaica Plain, MA
- Heffner Veteran's Affairs Medical Center, Salisbury, NC (2 interns)
- Park Place Behavioral Healthcare, Kissimmee, FL
- Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
- Salesmanship Club Youth & Family, Dallas, TX
- Veteran's Affairs Eastern Kansas Healthcare System, Topeka, KS
- Valley Mental Health, Salt Lake City, UT
- University of Delaware, Newark, DE
- University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
2009–10
- Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA
- Behavioral Resources and Institute for Neurological Services, Grand Rapids, MI
- The Watson Institute, Sewickley, PA
- University of MichiganCounseling and Psychology Center, Ann Arbor, MI
- University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN
2008–09
- Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA
- American University, Washington, D.C.
- Ancora Psychiatric Hospital, Hammonton, NJ
- College of William and Mary Counseling Center, Williamsburg, VA
- Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA
- Emory University Counseling Center, Atlanta, GA
- Green Chimneys Children's Services, Brewster, NY
- New Lifestyles, Winchester, VA
- University of the Pacific Counseling Center, Stockton, CA
- University of Southern California School of Medicine Children's Hospital, Los Angeles, CA
About the Center for Applied Psychology (CAP)
The Center for Applied Psychology provides psychological services to residents of Indiana County and neighboring communities. These services include:
- Psychological interventions for various difficulties.
- Psychological assessments of both adults and children.
As a clinical psychology doctoral student, you will participate in an internal practicum at CAP, providing psychotherapy and psychological assessment under the supervision of licensed psychologists.
Accreditation
The program is accredited as a Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology by the Commission on Accreditation of the American Psychological Association. Questions regarding accreditation status should be directed to:
Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation
American Psychological Association
750 1st Street, NE, Washington, D.C. 20002
Phone: 202-336-5979
Email: apaaccred@apa.org
The program is designed to meet the academic requirements of licensure and to provide the student with the background to immediately assume responsibilities in appropriate professional settings. Graduates of the program have performed well on licensure exams as evidenced by current licensure data.
The PsyD program follows a practitioner or applied model of training of clinical psychologists. Emphasis is placed on professional applications of psychology to a wide variety of human problems. Students receive extensive supervision in the development of skills in interpersonal relations, psychological assessment, psychotherapy, community outreach, and program evaluation and a solid grounding in the scientific knowledge base of psychology.
To ask specific questions, call 724-357-4519 or email Professor Laura Knight, program director, at laknight@iup.edu.
For more information of a general nature about the program and graduate study at IUP, see the IUP Graduate Catalog.