Oklahoma has four APA-accredited doctoral psychology programs, including PhD tracks in clinical, counseling, and school psychology plus a PsyD in clinical psychology at Oklahoma City University. Most take five to seven years and require a full-time internship. Many meet the state’s education requirements for psychologist licensure, though applicants should confirm current standards with the state board.
Four universities in Oklahoma offer six APA-CoA accredited doctoral psychology programs, spanning clinical, counseling, and school psychology. Three universities award the PhD across five programs, and one, Oklahoma City University, awards the PsyD. Before comparing programs, it helps to understand what separates the two degree tracks.
PhD vs. PsyD: Which Doctoral Track Fits You?
Every APA-accredited doctoral program in Oklahoma leads to the same finish line: eligibility to sit for the EPPP and apply for psychologist licensure. The choice between degree types comes down to the training model. A PhD follows a scientist-practitioner or clinical-science approach, weighted toward research, and is more often funded through teaching or research assistantships.
A PsyD, offered in Oklahoma only at Oklahoma City University, follows a practitioner-scholar model weighted toward clinical training rather than original research, and is typically funded through tuition rather than assistantships. For a closer look at how a PhD differs from a PsyD in psychology, see our full breakdown.
Oklahoma Psychology Doctoral Programs at a Glance
Every program listed below is accredited by the APA Commission on Accreditation. Select a school name to jump to details on its degree track, training model, and internship requirements.
| School | Degree | Focus | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma City University | PsyD | Clinical Psychology | Oklahoma City, OK |
| Oklahoma State University | PhD | Clinical Psychology | Stillwater, OK |
| Oklahoma State University | PhD | Counseling Psychology | Stillwater, OK |
| Oklahoma State University | PhD | School Psychology | Stillwater, OK |
| University of Oklahoma | PhD | Counseling Psychology | Norman, OK |
| University of Tulsa | PhD | Clinical Psychology | Tulsa, OK |
Oklahoma City University
Oklahoma City University offers the state’s only APA-accredited PsyD, built around a practitioner-scholar training model.
PsyD in Clinical Psychology
The PsyD in Clinical Psychology holds APA accreditation on a contingency basis, pending submission of additional student outcome data. The 120-hour, five-year program covers a clinical core, a general psychology core, and a research core, and confers a Master of Science after the first two years (51 hours) as a progress marker toward the doctorate. Students complete coursework, practicum hours, and research projects in Oklahoma City for four years, then a full-time doctoral internship in the fifth year.
Accreditation: APA Commission on Accreditation (CoA), on contingency
Location: Oklahoma City, OK. Program website
Oklahoma State University
Oklahoma State University’s Department of Psychology in Stillwater offers three APA-accredited doctoral programs, more than any other university in the state.
Clinical Psychology PhD
The Clinical Psychology PhD trains students as scientist-practitioners through core research and writing courses, weekly seminars on topics like substance use and aging, and a required full-time, one-year internship supervised by a licensed psychologist. The program holds accreditation from both the APA Commission on Accreditation and the Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System (PCSAS). Applicants should review the clinical psychology PhD admission prerequisites before applying.
Counseling Psychology PhD
The Counseling Psychology PhD requires a full-time, APA-approved internship of at least 40 hours a week for 50 weeks, often completed in a hospital or mental health clinic. After completing coursework, students sit for written and oral comprehensive exams and complete a three-credit-hour practicum, with the option to teach undergraduate courses to gain additional research and teaching experience.
School Psychology PhD
The School Psychology PhD centers on assessment, consultation, and intervention, preparing graduates to work as psychologists in elementary, middle, and high schools or as college counselors. Students complete an approved internship, often in a local school district, under close faculty supervision.
Accreditation: APA Commission on Accreditation (CoA)
Location: Stillwater, OK. Program website
University of Oklahoma
The Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education at the University of Oklahoma in Norman houses the university’s APA-accredited doctoral program in counseling psychology.
Counseling Psychology PhD
The Counseling Psychology PhD centers on the program’s own Counseling Psychology Clinic, where students handle case notes and administrative work alongside individual and group therapy sessions with clients. Students can also gain experience in community-based clinical settings and complete original research, preparing them for academic careers as well as licensure as psychologists or counselors. See what counseling psychologists do day to day for more on the career path.
Accreditation: APA Commission on Accreditation (CoA)
Location: Norman, OK. Program website
University of Tulsa
The University of Tulsa’s Department of Psychology offers a Clinical Psychology PhD program designed for students pursuing academic, research, private practice, or health care careers.
Clinical Psychology PhD
Students complete 90 credit hours beyond the undergraduate level, including at least 15 hours in general psychology, 24 hours in clinical psychology, and nine hours in statistics and research, plus 12 credit hours of practicum work. A dissertation and both written and oral examinations round out the requirements. A master’s thesis is not required.
Accreditation: APA Commission on Accreditation (CoA)
Location: Tulsa, OK. Program website
Earning a doctorate is only one part of becoming a licensed psychologist in Oklahoma. Graduates from any of these four programs must complete two years of supervised experience and pass both the EPPP and the Oklahoma Jurisprudence Examination before they can practice independently in the state.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many psychology doctoral programs are in Oklahoma?
Oklahoma has four universities with APA-accredited doctoral programs in psychology. Oklahoma State University offers three PhD tracks (clinical, counseling, and school psychology), the University of Oklahoma and the University of Tulsa each offer one PhD program, and Oklahoma City University offers a PsyD in clinical psychology.
Should I choose a PhD or a PsyD program in Oklahoma?
It depends on whether you want a research or clinical practice focus. Oklahoma’s three PhD programs, at OSU, OU, and Tulsa, emphasize the scientist-practitioner model and often include research funding through assistantships. Oklahoma City University’s PsyD follows a practitioner-scholar model weighted toward clinical training. Both paths lead to eligibility for psychologist licensure.
Are there online doctoral psychology programs in Oklahoma?
No. All four APA-accredited doctoral psychology programs in Oklahoma require full-time, in-person attendance for coursework, practicum, and internship hours. Current APA accreditation standards for clinical training require substantial in-person supervised experience, which rules out fully online doctoral tracks.
Does APA accreditation guarantee psychologist licensure in Oklahoma?
No. Graduating from an APA-accredited program supports licensure eligibility, but the Oklahoma State Board of Examiners of Psychologists still requires two years of supervised experience, with at least one year completed postdoctorally, along with passing scores on the EPPP and the Oklahoma Jurisprudence Examination. Confirm current licensure requirements in your state before applying to a program.
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