Psychology doctoral programs in West Virginia are limited to three APA-accredited options: a PsyD in clinical psychology at Marshall University and PhD programs in clinical and counseling psychology at West Virginia University. Programs typically run four to six years, including a full year of internship. Applicants should confirm current licensure requirements with the West Virginia Board of Examiners of Psychologists.
Psychology doctoral programs in West Virginia are limited to three options, all within a few hours of each other, which matters if you’re planning practicum placements close to home. Marshall’s PsyD leans toward direct clinical practice with a rural-health focus, while WVU’s two PhD tracks split between clinical and counseling specialties with a heavier research load. Before you apply anywhere, it helps to understand how the PsyD and PhD paths actually differ.
PhD or PsyD: Which Fits Your Career Plans?
Both degrees lead to psychologist licensure and require passing the EPPP, so the choice comes down to the training model. A PhD follows the scientist-practitioner or clinical-science model, weighs research more heavily, and typically culminates in a dissertation. Programs are often funded through graduate assistantships, which is why WVU’s PhD tracks include tuition waivers and stipends.
A PsyD follows the practitioner-scholar model and puts most of its hours into clinical training rather than original research. Marshall’s PsyD substitutes a doctoral project for a traditional dissertation and is typically funded out of pocket rather than through assistantships. For a closer look at how the PsyD and PhD paths differ, including admissions and funding differences, see our full breakdown.
West Virginia Psychology Doctoral Programs at a Glance
All three programs listed below are accredited by the APA Commission on Accreditation.
| School | Degree | Focus | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marshall University | PsyD | Clinical Psychology (rural & underserved populations) | Huntington, WV |
| West Virginia University | PhD | Clinical Psychology | Morgantown, WV |
| West Virginia University | PhD | Counseling Psychology | Morgantown, WV |
Marshall University
Marshall’s Psychology Department runs West Virginia’s only APA-accredited PsyD, built specifically to train psychologists for rural and underserved communities across Appalachia. Half of each incoming class is reserved for residents of West Virginia and the surrounding region.
PsyD in Clinical Psychology
The program follows a practitioner-scholar model, training students in psychodynamic, integrative-behavioral, and cognitive-behavioral approaches to therapy. Full-time students typically complete the degree in five to six years, including a year-long clinical internship. The program also offers part-time and advanced-standing tracks for applicants who already hold a related master’s degree.
Accreditation: Accredited by the APA Commission on Accreditation, with the program’s next scheduled review in 2028.
Location: Huntington, WV. Program website.
West Virginia University
WVU offers two APA-accredited doctoral tracks in health service psychology, housed in separate departments: a clinical psychology PhD in the Department of Psychology, and a counseling psychology PhD in the Department of Counseling and Learning Sciences.
PhD in Clinical Psychology
This program follows the scientist-practitioner, or Boulder, model, training students as both researchers and clinicians across child, adult, and geropsychology specialties. Students entering with a bachelor’s degree typically finish in five to six years, including a one-year, full-time APA-accredited internship completed in year five or six.
Accreditation: Continuously accredited by the APA since 1966, most recently reaccredited in 2020, with the next site visit scheduled for 2030.
Location: Morgantown, WV. Program website.
PhD in Counseling Psychology
This program focuses on personal and interpersonal functioning across the lifespan, covering vocational, developmental, and health-related concerns alongside core clinical training. If you’re not sure how this specialty differs from clinical psychology, it helps to review what counseling psychology covers before you apply. Most students complete the three-year coursework sequence, practicum, and a year-long predoctoral internship in four to five years total, with the dissertation typically finished during or just after the internship year.
Accreditation: Accredited by the APA Commission on Accreditation.
Location: Morgantown, WV. Program website.
Between Marshall’s rural-practice PsyD and WVU’s two research-weighted PhD tracks, West Virginia’s doctoral options cover both ends of the clinical-to-research spectrum. Whichever program you choose, budget time for the required internship year and confirm your specific licensure path with the state board before you apply.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many psychology doctoral programs are there in West Virginia?
West Virginia has three APA-accredited doctoral psychology programs: Marshall University’s PsyD in clinical psychology and West Virginia University’s PhD programs in clinical psychology and counseling psychology. All three carry accreditation from the APA Commission on Accreditation.
What’s the difference between Marshall’s PsyD and WVU’s PhD programs?
Marshall’s PsyD uses a practitioner-scholar model built around direct clinical practice, with a doctoral project standing in for a traditional dissertation and reserved seats for West Virginia residents. WVU’s clinical and counseling psychology PhD programs follow the scientist-practitioner model, weight research more heavily, and require a dissertation. All three lead to licensure eligibility and require passing the EPPP.
Do I have to earn my degree in West Virginia to get licensed there?
No. The West Virginia Board of Examiners of Psychologists requires your doctoral degree to come from a regionally accredited institution, completed in a psychology (or closely related) department, regardless of where you trained. Your program doesn’t have to carry APA accreditation specifically to qualify, though completing an APA-accredited internship shortens your required post-degree supervision from two years to one. See West Virginia’s psychologist licensure requirements for current standards.
What’s the job outlook for psychologists in West Virginia?
West Virginia’s clinical and counseling psychologists earned a median annual salary of $77,040 as of May 2025, according to BLS state data. Projections Central estimates 12.1% employment growth for the occupation in West Virginia between 2022 and 2032, with an average of 40 job openings per year, slightly ahead of the 11.4% national growth rate for the same period. For psychologist salary data by state, see how West Virginia compares nationally.
Select your state below to find accredited psychology programs, application links, and licensing requirements for your jurisdiction.
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.