Becoming a forensic psychologist requires earning a doctoral degree, either a PhD or PsyD, completing supervised practice hours, and passing the EPPP, the national licensing exam. Most people spend seven to ten years in school and postdoctoral training before practicing independently. Doctoral training is the standard path, though a few states allow some forensic roles at the master’s level.
You’ve probably got an idea of what forensic psychologists do: criminal profiling, expert testimony, and evaluating suspects. That’s part of the work. The rest is clinical evaluations, research, victim services, and consulting inside the legal system. Independent practice as a licensed forensic psychologist requires a doctorate, though some related forensic roles are available with bachelor’s or master’s degrees.
What Does It Take to Become a Forensic Psychologist?
The path runs through a doctoral degree. Here are the steps:
- Earn a bachelor’s degree in psychology, criminal justice, or forensic psychology. Plan on four years.
- Get field experience through internships at prisons, hospitals, or courts. The American Psychology-Law Society (AP-LS) is worth joining at this stage.
- Complete a master’s degree, or enter a doctoral program directly from your bachelor’s degree. Many PhD and PsyD programs admit applicants without a prior master’s. If you do complete a master’s first, plan on two years with supervised practicum hours.
- Enroll in a doctoral program (PhD or PsyD) with a forensic or clinical focus. Plan on at least four additional years.
- Complete your dissertation. A forensic-focused research project builds early credibility in the specialty.
- Log your postdoctoral supervised hours. The required number is set by your state psychology board.
- Pass the EPPP. The Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology is the national licensing exam required in every state.
- Apply for your license through your state psychology board once your hours are complete and your EPPP score meets the cutoff.
- Apply for ABPP board certification in forensic psychology (optional). It’s not required for practice, but it signals specialized expertise to employers, courts, and legal teams.
What Degree Do You Need to Become a Forensic Psychologist?
Practicing as a forensic psychologist requires a doctoral degree, either a PhD or a PsyD, in clinical psychology, forensic psychology, or a related specialty. Programs designed specifically for forensic psychologists are rare. Most practitioners complete a standard clinical doctoral program and build forensic expertise through their dissertations, internships, and postdoctoral training. Browse forensic psychology degree programs to see current offerings by format and degree level.
A master’s in forensic psychology opens roles in research, victim advocacy, and counseling. It doesn’t qualify you to practice as a licensed psychologist. Expert witness qualification is determined by the court based on expertise and applicable evidentiary standards, not degree level alone, but doctoral-level credentials are the common expectation in forensic testimony.
What Can You Do with a Forensic Psychology Degree?
Your options depend on how far you take the education.
With a bachelor’s degree, entry-level roles include court liaison, victim advocate, probation officer, and law enforcement positions.
With a master’s degree, you can work as a licensed professional counselor (with state licensure), jury consultant, research assistant, or juvenile offender counselor.
With a doctoral degree, the full range of forensic practice opens up: licensed forensic psychologist, expert witness, academic researcher, and psychology professor.
What Do Forensic Psychologists Earn?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics doesn’t track forensic psychologists as their own category. They fall under Psychologists, All Other. BLS data from May 2025 puts the median annual wage for that group at $110,840. Projections Central estimates 5% employment growth between 2022 and 2032, with an average of 3,900 job openings per year.
| Occupation | Median Annual Wage | Avg Annual Openings | Growth (2022–2032) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Psychologists, All Other | $110,840 | 3,900 | 5% |
Is Forensic Psychology the Same as Criminal Psychology?
No. Criminal psychology focuses on the psychology of criminal behavior broadly: the mental states and motivations behind offending, patterns across populations, and research-based strategies for prevention and rehabilitation. It’s largely an academic discipline.
Forensic psychology is case-focused. It applies clinical methods to specific legal questions: is this defendant competent to stand trial? What was their mental state at the time of the offense? Forensic psychologists also work with victims, consult on jury selection, counsel at-risk youth, and conduct research inside courts and corrections systems.
The two fields overlap, and forensic practitioners draw on criminal psychology research regularly. But if you’re drawn to direct client work inside the legal system, forensic psychology is the more direct path. If you’re more interested in research and policy, criminal psychology may be the better fit.
Use the program finder to explore accredited forensic and clinical psychology programs by state, including doctoral programs that emphasize legal settings and forensic training.
2025 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary data and Projections Central 2022-2032 job growth forecasts for Psychologists (including Clinical & Counseling, Industrial-Organizational, and School Psychologists) and Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors, reflect state and national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed June 2026.