Selecting a graduate program in psychology that is best for you requires thoughtful consideration. Overall, your answer should reflect consideration of your: a) academic history, b) learning style, c) career interests, d) work experiences, and e) financial resources. In addition, for each department or program you are considering, ask the following questions:

1. What is the profile of students recently admitted to the program, in terms of academic background, standardized test scores, and demographic characteristics?

2. What is the program's "track record" in terms of students admitted who graduate, and the average number of years required to achieve a degree?

3. What are the goals and objectives of the program and do they match my interests and capabilities as a graduate student?

4. For programs with an emphasis on academic and research careers, what is the record of graduates' success (during their first five years) in obtaining postdoctoral research fellowships, academic appointments, or applied research positions outside the academy?

5. For programs with an emphasis on professional practice, what is the program's accreditation status (if applicable), the record of its graduates' success in obtaining licensure, and its graduates' selection for advanced practice residencies and professional development in their first five years?

6. For programs that require a internship or practicum, what is the success rate of placement for students attending the program?

7. What financial resources are available to students, and what is the average level of indebtedness among recent graduates of the program?

The answer to this question depends on many factors. Some students pursue a master's degree because they are not certain they want to spend the time and resources for a doctoral degree. Others consider a master's program as an intermediate step in their education towards eventually obtaining a doctoral degree in psychology or another field.

About one fourth of those awarded a bachelor's degree continue in graduate or professional education in psychology or other fields. Some students earn a master's degree, work for a few years, then return to study for a doctorate in psychology or another field. Other students earn a master's degree as part of their doctoral program preparation. Still others bypass the master's degree and work directly on the doctorate. Doctoral programs vary in their practices and admission preferences in this regard. The accompanying graph below provides information on recent doctorates awarded in psychology.

For specific information on master's and doctoral programs offered in psychology, obtain a copy of the APA publication "Graduate Study in Psychology." You can do so by phone at 1-800-374-2721 or online at APA GradStudy webpage. The publication, coupled with follow-up contact made directly with graduate programs of interest to you, should help you determine the type of program and degree you wish to seek.

Figure 3. Primary Employment Settings of 2003 PhD and PsyD Recipients in Psychology

* Disproportionately high percentages are represented in these categories, as many recent graduates are still gaining experience in these organized settings prior to licensure.
Source: 2003 Doctorate Employment Survey, APA Center for Workforce Studies (CWS).

The two most common doctoral degrees are the PhD degree and the PsyD degree. A few programs in Colleges of Education may offer the EdD. The PhD degree is the oldest doctorate and is generally regarded as the research degree. Although many independent schools of professional psychology award the PhD degree, especially those in university academic departments, they typically have an emphasis on research training and the integration of that with applied or practice training.

The PsyD, first awarded in the late 1960s but increasing in popularity among professional independent programs, is a professional degree in psychology (similar to the MD in medicine). Programs awarding the PsyD place major emphasis on preparing their graduates for professional practice as practitioner-scholars but typically with less extensive research training. Presently about 75% of all doctoral degrees in psychology are PhD degrees. The graph below gives a profile of initial employment outcomes for PhD and PsyD program graduates.

Figure 1. New Doctorates in Psychology by Subfield: 2003-2004

Clinical 48%  Clinical Neuropsychology 3% Counseling 7% Health 1% School/Educational 7% Other Applied Subfields 6% Cognitive 4% Developmental 5% Experimental 2% Industrial-Organizational 4% Neuroscience/Physiological/Psychobiology 3% Social & Personality 4% Other Research Subfields 7%

Source: 2005 Graduate Study in Psychology. Compiled by APA Center Workforce Studies (CWS).

Gaining entry into graduate school in psychology can be difficult. The number of applicants typically exceeds the number of openings. Inquire from the department or program about the number of applications received by the department or school and the number of students accepted. These numbers should provide a sense of the competition you can expect when applying to a particular department, program, or school.

Requirements for admission vary from program to program. Many psychology programs prefer or require significant undergraduate coursework in psychology, often the equivalent of a major or minor, whereas others do not. Evaluate your educational background and be realistic about your abilities and academic potential. To assist in their evaluation of academic potential, many graduate departments require the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), and some require the Miller Analogies Test (MAT). If the programs in which you are interested require these standardized tests, you should take the GRE, GRE-Subject (Psychology), and the MAT in time for the scores to be included with your application materials. Other criteria considered as admission factors may include previous research activity, work experience, clinically related public service, extracurricular activity, letters of recommendation, statement of goals and objectives, and an interview.

Many students ask about a program's accreditation. The American Psychological Association (APA) accredits doctoral programs in clinical, counseling, school, or a combination of these areas. The APA does not accredit programs in other areas of professional practice (e.g. industrial/organizational psychology). It does not accredit master's degree programs.

As an additional note, accreditation applies to educational programs (i.e., doctoral programs in professional psychology) and institutions (i.e., colleges, universities, and independent schools of professional psychology), not to individuals. Accreditation is a system for recognizing educational quality as defined by the profession or other accrediting bodies. Graduation from an accredited institution or program does not guarantee employment or licensure for individuals, although being a graduate of an accredited program may facilitate such achievement. For more information on programs accredited by the APA, go to the APA Accreditation webpage.

If you are interested in eventually practicing psychology in the U.S., it is important to know that the doctoral degree, is generally considered the entry-level degree in psychology for the independent, licensed practice of psychology as a profession. To practice psychology in a state, province or territory of the U.S. an individual must be licensed as a psychologist according to the laws and regulations outlined by that particular governmental entity. Requirements for license to practice in psychology are not standardized across states. The Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB) has a website that provides links to state psychology boards, in addition to general information about the requirements in education (which may include graduation from an APA accredited program), examinations, and supervised experience.

In addition, to the doctoral degree, licensure for the professional practice of psychology may require additional years of supervised training experiences, such as an internship or post-doctoral residency. You will need to research and contact the Board of Psychology in the state you are interested in practicing for information in the area of education and supervised experience required. Once again, for information related to qualifications and exams required for licensure and practice in the U.S., go to the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards.

Actual time to earn a degree varies due to program requirements and differences among students (e.g., the extent to which they are financially supported, time to complete dissertation, etc.). The average time to earn a doctoral degree is approximately 5-6 years, after achieving the bachelor's degree, some requiring less time and others more. Programs in certain areas of professional psychology require a 1-year internship as part of the doctoral program. Master's degree programs generally require 1-2 years to complete, with the exception of the Education Specialist degree (in school psychology) which is usually a 3-year program.

The cost of graduate education can be expensive. Tuition for out-of-state students in public institutions and for all students in private institutions will be higher. Many students require loans, even when working part time to pay for their graduate education. Indeed, the amount of debt incurred by graduate students can be significant, as illustrated in the following graph.

Figure 4. Level of Cumulative Debt Related to Graduate Education: 2003 Doctorate Recipients

Reported No Debt 31.9%  Reported Debt 68.1% $10,000 or less 13.6% $11-$20,000 12.2% $21-$30,000 69.8% $31-$40,000 8.6% $41-$50,000 7.2% $51-$75,000 13.3% $75,001 or more 35.3%

Financial assistance in various forms is available to many students. Thus, you may wish to apply for a fellowship, scholarship, assistantship, or another type of financial assistance. Many fellowships and scholarships are grants or subsidies and require no service to the department or university. Assistantships in teaching and research are also available in many programs. These are forms of employment for services in a department. Teaching assistantships may require teaching a class or assisting a professor by grading papers, acting as a laboratory assistant, and performing other such supporting work. Research assistants ordinarily work on research projects being conducted by program faculty.

The amount of work required for fellowships, assistantships, and traineeships is expressed by departments and programs in hours per week. Stipends offered by departments and programs may be for an academic year or nine (9) months. Students should inquire, when receiving an offer of financial assistance, as to the amount to be given in terms of tuition remission (not requiring the student to pay tuition) versus a stipend (actual cash in hand).

You may want to review the APA Education Website for information about scholarships, fellowships, grants, and other funding opportunities.

The APA publishes Graduate Study in Psychology which provides information related to graduate programs in psychology in the U.S. and Canada. 'The 2012 Edition of the publication can be purchased from the APA for $28.95, plus shipping. In addition, most university libraries and university psychology offices have the publication on-hand for check-out. The publication contains information about departments and programs, including the number of applications for programs, number of individuals accepted in each program, dates for applications and admission, in-state and out-state costs, availability of internships and scholarships, orientation and emphasis of departments and programs, plus other relevant information. To order a copy by phone with your credit card, please call the Order Department at 1-800-374-2721 or you may order online at APA Books. Access to the listings from the Graduate Study in Psychology are also available through Graduate Study Online.