A clinical psychologist is a doctoral-level mental health professional who assesses, diagnoses, and treats psychological disorders. Most hold a PhD or PsyD in clinical psychology, complete a year-long supervised internship, and pass the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP) before becoming licensed by a state psychology board.
Clinical psychology is the largest specialty area within the field. It draws heavily from research, but the daily work is applied: understanding what a person is experiencing, why, and what interventions are most likely to help. That combination of science and direct client care is what distinguishes clinical psychologists from both researchers who never see patients and counselors who don’t hold a doctorate.
What Does a Clinical Psychologist Do?
Clinical psychologists assess and treat a wide range of psychological conditions, including depression, anxiety, trauma, eating disorders, substance use disorders, and neuropsychological conditions that affect behavior or cognition. Their work typically involves conducting diagnostic interviews and psychometric testing, building individualized treatment plans, and providing evidence-based therapy, most often cognitive-behavioral therapy, though many practitioners are trained in multiple modalities.
Unlike psychiatrists, clinical psychologists generally do not prescribe medication, although a small number of U.S. states allow appropriately trained licensed psychologists to prescribe under limited circumstances. Their authority rests primarily in psychological assessment and treatment. More experienced clinicians often take on additional responsibilities: writing forensic reports, providing expert testimony, supervising trainees, or running applied research programs. Many also work within multidisciplinary teams alongside physicians, social workers, and occupational therapists to coordinate care for clients with complex needs.
Where Do Clinical Psychologists Work?
Many clinical psychologists are self-employed in private practice. The rest work in settings that match the populations they’ve chosen to specialize in: inpatient psychiatric units, outpatient mental health clinics, general and rehabilitation hospitals, community mental health centers, veterans’ facilities, university counseling centers, and schools. Some work in correctional facilities or within court systems where forensic assessment is required.
Most clinical psychologists work with one primary client group, whether that’s children and adolescents, older adults, couples, or people with a specific diagnosis. Specialization usually develops during doctoral training and the internship year.
What Degree Does a Clinical Psychologist Need?
Doctoral training is required. Most clinical psychologists earn either a PhD in clinical psychology, which emphasizes research alongside clinical training, or a PsyD, which is more practice-focused. Graduates of APA- or CPA-accredited PhD and PsyD programs can meet the educational requirements for licensure in every U.S. state, provided they also satisfy each state’s additional supervised experience and examination requirements. If you’re still deciding between the two, see our comparison of PhD vs. PsyD in psychology.
After completing the doctorate, candidates must finish a supervised internship, typically one year of full-time clinical work, and then pass the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP). Each state licensing board sets its own requirements for supervised hours and board approval, so the path looks slightly different depending on where you plan to practice. A full breakdown is available in our guide to psychology licensing requirements by state.
Doctoral programs in clinical psychology are competitive, and most take 5 to 7 years to complete after a bachelor’s degree. If you’re actively researching programs, our list of clinical psychology graduate programs covers tuition, accreditation, and program focus across dozens of schools.
How Much Does a Clinical Psychologist Earn?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, clinical and counseling psychologists earned a median annual wage of $100,580 as of May 2025. The BLS projects 13.3% employment growth for clinical and counseling psychologists between 2023 and 2033, faster than the average for all occupations.
| Occupation | Median Annual Wage (May 2025) | Projected Growth (2023–2033) |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $100,580 | 13.3% |
| Psychologists, All Other | $110,840 | 5.0% |
Earnings vary by setting and region. Psychologists in private practice and those working in hospital systems or government agencies tend to earn toward the higher end of the range. The 90th percentile wage for clinical and counseling psychologists nationally was $180,960 as of May 2025.
Use the tool below to find accredited clinical psychology programs, tuition information, and application links filtered to your state.
2025 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary data and Projections Central 2023-2033 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.