Psychology doctoral programs in Kentucky are offered at five universities, spanning APA-accredited PhD tracks in clinical, counseling, and school psychology plus PsyD programs in clinical and applied psychology. Most take five to seven years with a year-long internship. Many are designed to meet Kentucky’s education requirements for licensure, though applicants should confirm current standards with the state board.
Choosing between the five schools offering psychology doctoral programs in Kentucky comes down to research emphasis, funding structure, and specialization. Programs range from research-heavy PhD tracks to practice-focused PsyD training in clinical, counseling, and school psychology. The choice most applicants weigh first is whether a PhD or a PsyD degree fits their career goals.
PhD vs. PsyD in Psychology
Both degrees lead to the same outcome, licensure as a psychologist, and both require passing the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP). The difference is training emphasis. A PhD follows a scientist-practitioner or clinical-science model, weighted toward original research, and is more often funded through graduate assistantships or research fellowships.
A PsyD follows a practitioner-scholar model, weighted toward clinical training and direct-service hours, and is more often funded through tuition rather than assistantships. Kentucky offers both PhD programs at the University of Kentucky and University of Louisville, and PsyD programs at Spalding University, Eastern Kentucky University, and Western Kentucky University. For a closer look at how the two degrees compare, see our PsyD vs. PhD in Psychology guide.
Kentucky Doctoral Psychology Programs at a Glance
Every program listed below is accredited by the APA Commission on Accreditation, though one program currently holds contingency rather than full status (noted in its school section below).
| School | Degree | Focus | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Kentucky University | PsyD | Clinical Psychology | Richmond, KY |
| Spalding University | PsyD | Clinical Psychology | Louisville, KY |
| University of Kentucky | PhD | Clinical Psychology | Lexington, KY |
| University of Kentucky | PhD | Counseling Psychology | Lexington, KY |
| University of Kentucky | PhD | School Psychology | Lexington, KY |
| University of Louisville | PhD | Clinical Psychology | Louisville, KY |
| University of Louisville | PhD | Counseling Psychology | Louisville, KY |
| Western Kentucky University | PsyD | Applied Psychology (Clinical or School concentration) | Bowling Green, KY |
Eastern Kentucky University
Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) in Clinical Psychology
Eastern Kentucky University’s PsyD in Clinical Psychology trains practitioners for direct clinical service in rural and underserved communities, with coursework in statistics, research design, developmental psychology, biological bases of behavior, and rural mental health. Students complete 27 credit hours of practicum, starting at the university’s own training clinic before moving to external placements, followed by a year-long full-time internship and dissertation. The program requires a minimum of 120 credit hours to graduate.
Fully accredited by the APA Commission on Accreditation since April 5, 2020, with the program’s next accreditation site visit scheduled for 2029.
Richmond, KY. Program website
Spalding University
Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) in Clinical Psychology
Spalding University’s PsyD in Clinical Psychology follows a scholar-practitioner model and lets students choose a concentration in Adult Psychology, Child/Adolescent/Family Psychology, Forensic Psychology, or Health Psychology. The program requires a minimum of 120 credit hours, including clinical practicum, a full-time year-long internship, and dissertation research.
Continuously accredited by the APA Commission on Accreditation since 1989, with the most recent 10-year reaccreditation granted in 2017.
Louisville, KY. Program website
University of Kentucky
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Clinical Psychology
Housed in the Department of Psychology, the UK’s Clinical Psychology PhD follows a scientist-practitioner model, training clinical scientists through research clusters in health psychology, neuropsychology, and psychopathology. Students can concentrate in Health Psychology or Neuropsychology, are expected to conduct original research throughout the program, and complete a full-time internship in their final year.
Accredited by the APA Commission on Accreditation and the Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System (PCSAS). The program is also a member of the Academy of Psychological Clinical Science.
Lexington, KY. Program website
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Counseling Psychology
Housed in the Department of Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology, the UK’s Counseling Psychology PhD follows the Boulder scientist-practitioner model with an emphasis on social justice and multicultural competence. For readers weighing this specialty against clinical psychology, our guide on what counseling psychology involves breaks down the difference. The program typically takes five to seven years of full-time study, including a dissertation and a full-time internship.
Accredited by the APA Commission on Accreditation.
Lexington, KY. Program website
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in School Psychology
Also housed in the Department of Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology, the UK’s School Psychology PhD uses a scientist-practitioner and “whole child” ecological-systems approach, preparing graduates for licensure and certification as school psychologists. Applicants exploring this path at the master’s or specialist level can first review the education requirements for school psychologists. The program is designed for completion in five years with a year-long internship in an approved school setting, though students entering directly from a bachelor’s degree often need six to seven years.
Fully accredited by the APA Commission on Accreditation, with the current decision effective April 27, 2020, and the next review in 2029, and fully approved by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP).
Lexington, KY. Program website
University of Louisville
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Clinical Psychology
Offered through the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, U of L’s Clinical Psychology PhD builds research and clinical competencies through practicum placements at the on-campus Noble H. Kelly Psychological Services Center, followed by a full-time year-long internship at an approved off-campus site. Students complete a dissertation and an oral defense to graduate.
Accredited by the APA Commission on Accreditation.
Louisville, KY. Program website
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Counseling Psychology
Offered as a concentration within the Counseling and Personnel Services PhD in the College of Education and Human Development, U of L’s Counseling Psychology track accepts students at both the post-bachelor’s and post-master’s level, with training in research, teaching, clinical practice, and supervision across metropolitan Louisville clinical settings.
Accredited by the APA Commission on Accreditation.
Louisville, KY. Program website
Western Kentucky University
Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) in Applied Psychology
WKU’s PsyD in Applied Psychology offers concentrations in Clinical Psychology or School Psychology and uses a cognitive-behavioral, practitioner-scholar training model focused on addressing practitioner shortages in western Kentucky. The program accommodates students entering with either a bachelor’s or master’s degree through differentiated coursework pathways and requires a dissertation plus a full-time predoctoral internship.
Accredited by the APA Commission on Accreditation on contingency status, effective November 8, 2024, through November 8, 2029. Contingency is the designation given to newly accredited programs. Students entering, currently enrolled, or graduating after the effective date are considered graduates of an APA-accredited program.
Bowling Green, KY. Program website
Admission requirements, funding structures, and specialization tracks vary across these five programs, so it’s worth contacting each department directly before applying. The questions below cover the basics that most applicants ask first.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to earn a psychology doctorate in Kentucky?
Most Kentucky doctoral psychology programs take five to seven years of full-time study, including coursework, a dissertation, and a full-time internship in the final year. The PsyD programs at Spalding, Eastern Kentucky University, and Western Kentucky University tend to run on the shorter end of that range, while PhD programs at the University of Kentucky and the University of Louisville can take longer depending on research progress.
Do I need a master’s degree before applying to a PhD program in Kentucky?
Not always. Several Kentucky doctoral programs, including the counseling psychology tracks at the University of Kentucky and University of Louisville, admit students directly from a bachelor’s degree through an extended course of study. Applicants entering with a completed master’s degree from an accredited program can sometimes transfer non-clinical coursework and finish sooner. For a closer look at admission requirements, see our breakdown of clinical psychology PhD admission requirements.
What’s the difference between a PhD and a PsyD in Kentucky?
Both lead to psychologist licensure and require passing the EPPP. A PhD emphasizes original research alongside clinical training and is more likely to include funded assistantships, while a PsyD emphasizes direct clinical practice and is more often funded through tuition. See our full PsyD vs. PhD breakdown for more detail.
What exams do I need to pass to become a licensed psychologist in Kentucky?
Kentucky requires three exams: the National Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP), a state jurisprudence exam on Kentucky mental health law, and a separate oral examination on ethics and professional practice. Full licensure also requires 3,600 hours of supervised experience, split between a predoctoral internship and additional supervised practice. Requirements can change, so applicants should confirm current standards directly with the Kentucky Board of Examiners of Psychology.
Are any of Kentucky’s psychology doctoral programs available online?
No. All five APA-accredited doctoral programs in Kentucky are campus-based. The APA does not currently accredit fully online PsyD or PhD programs, so any doctoral-level clinical training in Kentucky requires in-person coursework, practicum, and internship hours.
Browse more accredited psychology programs, application links, and licensing requirements across Kentucky and other states.