Arizona has seven APA-accredited doctoral psychology programs across four universities, covering clinical, counseling, and school psychology in both PhD and PsyD formats. Most take four to six years and include a full-time predoctoral internship. Many are designed to meet Arizona’s education requirements for psychologist licensure, though applicants should confirm current standards with the state board.
Four Arizona universities currently hold APA accreditation for doctoral psychology training: Arizona State University, the University of Arizona, Midwestern University, and Northern Arizona University. Between them, they offer seven accredited programs in clinical, counseling, and school psychology, based in Tempe, Tucson, Glendale, Flagstaff, and Phoenix. Before comparing individual programs, it helps to understand the practical difference between a PhD and a PsyD.
PhD vs. PsyD: Which Doctoral Track Fits Your Goals?
Both tracks lead to licensure as a psychologist and require passing the EPPP, the national exam recognized by state psychology boards. The difference is in training emphasis, not in career ceiling.
PhD programs generally follow a scientist-practitioner or clinical-science model, weighted toward research, and are more often funded through assistantships or fellowships. PsyD programs follow a practitioner-scholar model, weighted toward clinical training, and are more often tuition-funded. For a closer look at how a PsyD differs from a PhD in psychology, including admissions and career paths, see our comparison guide.
Arizona Psychology Doctoral Programs at a Glance
All seven programs listed below are accredited by the APA Commission on Accreditation. Click a school name to jump to its full listing.
| School | Degree | Focus | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona State University | PhD | Clinical Psychology | Tempe, AZ |
| Arizona State University | PhD | Counseling Psychology | Tempe, AZ |
| University of Arizona | PhD | Clinical Psychology | Tucson, AZ |
| University of Arizona | PhD | School Psychology | Tucson, AZ |
| Midwestern University | PsyD | Clinical Psychology | Glendale, AZ |
| Northern Arizona University | PhD | Combined Counseling/School Psychology | Flagstaff, AZ |
| Northern Arizona University | PsyD | Clinical Psychology | Phoenix, AZ |
Arizona State University
PhD in Clinical Psychology
ASU’s Clinical Psychology PhD is accredited by both the APA and the Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System (PCSAS), and the program is a member of the Academy of Psychological Clinical Science. It follows the clinical science training model, weighting coursework and research toward evidence-based practice. Students entering with a bachelor’s degree can complete the program in six years, including a one-year, full-time internship. Optional elective emphasis areas include health psychology, child clinical psychology, and community and prevention.
Tempe, AZ. Program website.
PhD in Counseling Psychology
This APA-accredited program follows a scientist-practitioner training model and prepares graduates for both academic and clinical service careers. It requires a minimum of three full-time academic years of coursework, followed by a 12-month internship. Clinical training focuses on counseling clients through concerns such as depression, anxiety, divorce, and career transitions.
Tempe, AZ. Program website.
University of Arizona
PhD in Clinical Psychology
The University of Arizona’s Clinical Psychology PhD is accredited by both the APA and the Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System (PCSAS), and the program is a charter member of the Academy of Psychological Clinical Science. It follows a clinical science training model with optional concentrations in health psychology and neuropsychology, plus a generalist pathway. Requirements include a master’s project, a written and oral qualifying examination, a dissertation, and a 12-month full-time doctoral internship.
Tucson, AZ. Program website.
PhD in School Psychology
Housed in the College of Education, this program is accredited by the APA and approved by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP). It follows a scholar-practitioner training model aimed at leadership roles in school psychology, including academic school psychologist, licensed psychologist working in schools, and educational consultant. Graduates are eligible to pursue Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP) credentialing alongside Arizona psychologist licensure.
Tucson, AZ. Program website. See the full University of Arizona profile for admissions and campus details.
Midwestern University
PsyD in Clinical Psychology
Midwestern University’s APA-accredited Clinical Psychology PsyD is based on its Glendale campus within the College of Health Sciences, giving students exposure to a broader healthcare training environment. The program follows a practitioner-scholar model and runs a minimum of four years full-time, with an optional fifth year that adds a neuropsychology-focused practicum track. Training includes a year-long predoctoral internship, a dissertation, and supervised practicum placements across more than 100 sites in the greater Phoenix area.
Glendale, AZ. Program website.
Northern Arizona University
PhD in Combined Counseling and School Psychology
Offered only at NAU’s Flagstaff campus through the Department of Educational Psychology, this program is accredited by the APA and approved by NASP without provisions through 2028. It follows a scientist-practitioner training model and prepares generalists with a foundation in both counseling and school psychology. Requirements include at least three years of full-time coursework beyond the master’s degree, written and oral qualifying exams, and a dissertation.
Flagstaff, AZ. Program website.
PsyD in Clinical Psychology
Based at NAU’s North Valley Campus in Phoenix, this program holds “accredited, on contingency” status from the APA Commission on Accreditation. Programs at this stage are still recognized as APA-accredited while they complete the outcome-data review required for full accreditation. The curriculum requires 101 units of graduate coursework and 2,000 hours of supervised clinical practice, and the program is positioned as one of the few public-university PsyD options in the country.
Phoenix, AZ. Program website.
Admission requirements, funding structures, and specialization tracks vary by program and can change from year to year, so confirm current details directly with the school before applying. Each program above also publishes its own outcome data, including internship placement and licensure rates, which are worth reviewing alongside program fit. If you’re earlier in your education, Arizona’s master’s-level psychology programs are a good place to start.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many APA-accredited psychology doctoral programs are in Arizona?
Seven, spread across four universities: Arizona State University, the University of Arizona, Midwestern University, and Northern Arizona University. They cover clinical, counseling, and school psychology in both PhD and PsyD formats.
What’s the difference between a PhD and a PsyD in Arizona?
Both lead to licensure and require passing the EPPP. PhD programs weigh training toward research alongside clinical practice, while PsyD programs weigh training toward clinical practice itself. Arizona offers both: PhDs at ASU, the University of Arizona, and NAU, and PsyDs at Midwestern University and NAU’s Phoenix campus.
Does APA accreditation guarantee psychologist licensure in Arizona?
No. The Arizona Board of Psychologist Examiners requires a doctoral degree in clinical, counseling, school, or another approved applied psychology field, 3,000 hours of supervised professional experience (at least 1,500 of them in a pre-doctoral internship), and a passing EPPP score. Graduating from an APA- or PCSAS-accredited program streamlines part of that review, but it doesn’t replace the supervised experience and exam requirements, so applicants should confirm current licensing requirements with the state board directly.
Can I complete a psychology doctorate in Arizona fully online?
Not among the programs listed here. All seven require substantial in-person coursework and supervised clinical training, which APA accreditation standards do not currently permit to be delivered as a fully online doctoral program.
Is Northern Arizona University’s Phoenix PsyD program fully accredited?
It holds “accredited, on contingency” status rather than full accreditation. That designation means the APA Commission on Accreditation has found initial evidence that the program meets training standards, with full accreditation decided after outcome data from enrolled cohorts is reviewed. Graduates of a program in this status are still considered to have completed an APA-accredited program.
Select your state below to find accredited psychology programs, application links, and licensing requirements for your jurisdiction.