Washington, DC has five institutions with APA-accredited doctoral programs in psychology, spanning clinical PhDs and PsyDs, plus counseling and school psychology PhDs. Most take five to six years and include a year-long internship. Many are designed to meet DC’s education requirements for psychologist licensure, though applicants should confirm current standards with the DC Board of Psychology.
Washington, DC, is home to the American Psychological Association, and the programs here reflect that geography — a mix of research-focused PhDs and practice-focused PsyDs at institutions that draw on federal agencies, major hospital systems, and training sites that don’t exist anywhere else. All five schools listed below have at least one APA-accredited doctoral program in psychology. If you’re still deciding between a PhD and a PsyD, the explainer below covers the key differences before you get into the individual programs.
PhD vs. PsyD in Psychology
Both degrees lead to doctoral-level licensure eligibility, and both require passing the EPPP, the national exam administered by the ASPPB and recognized by state psychology boards, including DC’s. The difference is where the training emphasis falls. PhD programs follow the scientist-practitioner or clinical science model — students produce original research alongside clinical training, and many programs offer graduate assistantships that offset tuition. PsyD programs follow the practitioner-scholar model, weighted toward clinical hours and applied work, and are more often tuition-funded. Neither degree is a lesser credential. For a detailed side-by-side, see our PsyD vs. PhD comparison.
In DC, both types are represented. George Washington University and Gallaudet University offer both a PhD and a PsyD. American University, Catholic University of America, and Howard University offer PhD programs exclusively.
DC Doctoral Programs at a Glance
The clinical and counseling doctoral programs listed below are accredited by the APA Commission on Accreditation. School psychology programs at Howard hold NASP approval; Gallaudet’s school psychology PsyD is CAEP-accredited and pursuing NASP accreditation. School names link to their sections below.
| School | Degree | Focus | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| American University | PhD | Clinical | Washington, DC |
| Catholic University of America | PhD | Clinical | Washington, DC |
| George Washington University | PhD, PsyD | Clinical | Washington, DC |
| Howard University | PhD | Clinical; Counseling & School Psychology | Washington, DC |
| Gallaudet University | PhD, PsyD | Clinical; School Psychology (Deaf/HH) | Washington, DC |
American University
Clinical Psychology PhD
American University’s clinical PhD follows the scientist-practitioner model, pairing research lab work with applied clinical training. Students work closely with faculty mentors whose specializations include cognitive behavioral theory and therapy processes, borderline personality disorder, eating disorders, sports psychology, trichotillomania, drug expectancies, and issues specific to African-American communities. The program requires at least 72 graduate-level credits and a dissertation. Clinical training includes a one-year externship followed by a one-year internship.
Accreditation: APA Commission on Accreditation
Washington, DC | Program website
Catholic University of America
Clinical Psychology PhD
The Catholic University of America’s doctoral program in clinical psychology balances research training with applied clinical practice. Students begin with a two-year research apprenticeship under direct faculty supervision before moving to dissertation work. The fifth year combines oral examinations, dissertation completion, and a one-year internship. Throughout the program, students choose from a broad range of practica, externships, and internship placements.
Accreditation: APA Commission on Accreditation
Washington, DC | Program website
George Washington University
Clinical Psychology PhD
GWU’s clinical PhD takes an applied-science approach to training, drawing on faculty with backgrounds in community frameworks, family systems, social ecology, and cognitive-behavioral theory. Students complete 72 semester credits — including up to 15 for the dissertation and approximately 33 credits of clinical coursework. Clinical requirements include at least two assessment practica, one therapy practicum, and two externships at sites in the wider DC community.
Professional Psychology PsyD
GWU’s APA-accredited PsyD is built around a psychoanalytic and psychodynamic framework, with students choosing one of three tracks — adult, adolescent, or assessment. Training centers on the program’s on-campus Center Clinic, a community mental health center, before moving to external externship sites in years three and four. In place of a dissertation, students complete a Major Area Paper: a research-informed theoretical paper grounded in clinical case experience. The program is 83 credits and takes three to four years of coursework plus a one-year full-time internship. In 2025, the program received the maximum 10-year APA accreditation term, with the next review scheduled for 2034.
Accreditation: APA Commission on Accreditation (both programs)
Washington, DC | Clinical PhD website | PsyD website
Howard University
Clinical Psychology PhD — College of Arts and Sciences
Howard’s clinical PhD trains scientist-practitioners with a consistent emphasis on cultural competence and relevance — it’s the first and longest-standing APA-accredited clinical PhD at a historically Black university. The program received the maximum 10-year APA accreditation term in 2025. Students choose either an adult track or a child-adolescent track and complete 72 credit hours, with clinical training at DC-area community sites before their internship year. Recent local placements have included the Howard University Counseling Center, Saint Elizabeths Hospital, and the DC Superior Court.
Counseling Psychology PhD — School of Education
Offered through Howard’s Department of Human Development and Psychoeducational Studies (HDPES), this APA-accredited PhD prepares psychologists to design and deliver culturally relevant counseling and intervention. The program follows a scientist-practitioner model with a strong emphasis on multicultural competence and social justice and prepares graduates for careers in counseling centers, schools, hospitals, state agencies, and universities. Training includes required coursework, a dissertation, a practicum, an internship, and supervised professional experience.
School Psychology PhD — School of Education
Also housed in HDPES, Howard’s school psychology PhD is NASP-approved and designed to prepare psychologists for certification as school psychologists as well as licensure as independent psychologists. The program is structured around a scientist-practitioner model and emphasizes culturally responsive practice. Students complete 118 credit hours, including field-based internship experiences in DC-area school districts, charter schools, and hospital-based clinics.
Accreditation: APA Commission on Accreditation (clinical PhD; counseling PhD); NASP (school psychology PhD)
Washington, DC | Clinical PhD website | Counseling PhD website | School Psychology PhD website
Gallaudet University
Clinical Psychology PhD
Gallaudet is the only university in the world whose programs are specifically designed for students who are deaf or hard of hearing, and its doctoral programs reflect that focus throughout. The clinical PhD, APA-accredited by the Commission on Accreditation, trains psychologists to work with deaf and hard-of-hearing clients, covering both early and late onset hearing loss within a scholar-practitioner model. Students train in a bilingual environment and complete a dissertation, comprehensive examinations, a clinical externship, and a one-year internship. The program is five years.
School Psychology PsyD
Gallaudet’s school psychology PsyD is a newer program that opened in Fall 2021, built around a sub-specialization in deafness alongside broader school psychology competencies. The 97-credit curriculum integrates practitioner skills, data-based problem solving, educational planning, and respect for diversity, with required practicum, externship, and internship components. The program is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and is currently in the process of seeking NASP accreditation. Completion of the program meets DC Public Schools certification requirements for school psychologists.
Accreditation: APA Commission on Accreditation (clinical PhD); CAEP, pursuing NASP accreditation (school psychology PsyD)
Washington, DC | Clinical PhD website | School Psychology PsyD website
Washington, DC’s doctoral landscape is small by state standards — five institutions — but each program has a distinct training emphasis. The range covers cognitive-behavioral and community-oriented PhDs, psychoanalytic PsyDs, culturally grounded programs at a historically Black university, and the world’s only doctoral training designed specifically for deaf and hard-of-hearing students. If you want to check DC’s specific education requirements for psychologist licensure before applying, the DC psychologist licensing requirements page has the details.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many APA-accredited doctoral programs in psychology does Washington, DC have?
Washington, DC has five institutions with APA-accredited doctoral programs in psychology: American University, Catholic University of America, George Washington University, Howard University, and Gallaudet University. Together, they offer clinical PhDs, a clinical PsyD, a counseling psychology PhD, and a school psychology PhD. The APA Commission on Accreditation maintains a searchable directory of all currently accredited programs.
Do DC doctoral programs qualify for psychologist licensure in the District?
Most doctoral programs at DC institutions are designed to meet the education requirements for psychologist licensure in the District of Columbia, but degree completion is only one part of licensure. You’ll also need to accumulate supervised postdoctoral hours and pass the EPPP. Confirm the current requirements directly with the DC Board of Psychology before you enroll — requirements can change.
What’s the difference between the PhD and PsyD programs listed here?
The PhD programs at American University, Catholic University of America, Howard University, and GWU follow a scientist-practitioner or clinical science model with a substantial research component, including an original dissertation. The PsyD programs at GWU and Gallaudet are more practice-oriented, with greater emphasis on clinical hours and less on independent research. Both degree types lead to licensure eligibility and require passing the EPPP.
Is Gallaudet’s psychology program open to hearing students?
Gallaudet’s programs are designed primarily for students who are deaf or hard of hearing, in keeping with the university’s mission. Hearing applicants should review Gallaudet’s admissions policies and language requirements carefully before applying, as the curriculum and learning environment are built around a bilingual, Deaf-centered community.
Find accredited doctoral psychology programs, application links, and licensing requirements for DC and nearby states.