New Jersey has seven APA-accredited doctoral programs in psychology, spanning PhD and PsyD degrees in clinical, counseling, and school psychology. Most take five to seven years and include a year-long internship. Many are designed to align with New Jersey’s education requirements for psychologist licensure, though applicants should confirm current standards directly with the state board.
New Jersey’s doctoral psychology programs range from research-focused PhDs to practice-oriented PsyD degrees, with several schools offering programs in more than one area. Before comparing programs, it helps to understand the core distinction between the two degree types — the choice shapes your training model, funding options, and career focus from day one.
PhD vs. PsyD in Psychology
Both degrees lead to licensure as a psychologist, and both require passing the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP). The difference is where the emphasis falls. A PhD follows the scientist-practitioner model: research is central, and programs typically include assistantship funding in exchange for teaching or research work. Expect five to seven years and a dissertation based on original empirical research. A PsyD follows the practitioner-scholar model: clinical training carries more weight than research, and programs are more likely to run on tuition than on assistantships. Most take four to six years. If you want to treat patients and build a clinical career, the PsyD gets you there with less research overhead. If you’re drawn to academia or applied research, the PhD is the clearer path. You can read a more detailed breakdown in our PsyD vs. PhD comparison.
New Jersey Programs at a Glance
All programs listed below are accredited by the APA Commission on Accreditation.
| School | Degree | Focus | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fairleigh Dickinson University | PhD, PsyD | Clinical, School Psychology | Teaneck, NJ |
| Rutgers University | PsyD | Clinical, School Psychology | Piscataway, NJ |
| Seton Hall University | PhD | Counseling Psychology | South Orange, NJ |
| Kean University | PsyD | Combined School and Clinical Psychology | Union, NJ |
| Felician University | PsyD | Counseling Psychology | Lodi, NJ |
| Saint Elizabeth University | PsyD | Counseling Psychology | Morristown, NJ |
| William Paterson University | PsyD | Clinical Psychology | Wayne, NJ |
Fairleigh Dickinson University
Fairleigh Dickinson’s School of Psychology on the Metropolitan Campus in Teaneck offers two APA-accredited doctoral programs, giving students the option to pursue either a research-grounded PhD or a school-focused PsyD within the same department.
PhD in Clinical Psychology
This program trains students in the scientist-practitioner model, with clinical research integrated throughout a full-time curriculum designed to take at least four years. Graduates leave prepared for roles in both clinical practice and psychological research. The program emphasizes the connection between research methodology and effective clinical work — the expectation is that strong clinicians understand the science behind what they do.
Accreditation: APA Commission on Accreditation (current)
Program website
PsyD in School Psychology
The school psychology PsyD prepares students for practice in educational and clinical settings with children and adolescents. Coursework covers areas including multicultural issues, psychopathology in school-aged populations, and assessment. Graduates may apply for licensure in New Jersey and pursue work in schools, mental health clinics, and hospitals.
Accreditation: APA Commission on Accreditation (current)
Program website
Rutgers University
Rutgers’ Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology (GSAPP) in Piscataway is one of the larger professional psychology programs in the state, with both clinical and school psychology PsyD tracks. The program emphasizes small cohort sizes, exposure to active practitioners on the faculty, and structured placement in real clinical environments throughout training.
PsyD in Clinical Psychology
The clinical PsyD at GSAPP is practitioner-focused, with significant emphasis on supervised field placements in schools, clinics, and other applied settings. The program’s admissions process includes a graduate entrance review, and the school keeps class sizes intentionally small to maintain close faculty-student contact.
Accreditation: APA Commission on Accreditation (current)
Program website
PsyD in School Psychology
The school psychology PsyD at GSAPP grounds its curriculum in the relationship between psychological science and educational outcomes. Students complete practicum hours in active school and clinical settings as part of the training sequence. The program bases admissions decisions on academic record, experience, and demonstrated commitment to the field.
Accreditation: APA Commission on Accreditation (current)
Program website
Seton Hall University
Seton Hall’s PhD in Counseling Psychology, housed in the College of Education and Human Services in South Orange, prepares students in the scientist-practitioner model for work across a range of applied settings. The program recognizes that counseling psychologists work in diverse environments — private practice, university counseling centers, health care, and research — and structures its curriculum to match that breadth.
PhD in Counseling Psychology
Students can focus on one of several specialization areas, including multicultural psychology and pediatric psychology, among others. Admissions place weight on candidates’ ability to communicate clearly with faculty and peers and on evidence that applicants will contribute substantively to the program’s intellectual community.
Accreditation: APA Commission on Accreditation (current)
Program website
Kean University
Kean’s PsyD in Combined School and Clinical Psychology in Union is one of a relatively small number of programs nationally that deliberately integrates training across both practice areas. The combination prepares graduates to work in clinical and educational settings, with more flexibility than a program focused on just one specialty.
PsyD in Combined School and Clinical Psychology
The five-year program is full-time and includes a doctoral assistantship component for a portion of students, covering tuition and a stipend for four years. Cohort sizes are intentionally limited — approximately twelve students per year — which makes for close faculty mentorship and individualized training. The program holds APA accreditation and prepares graduates for licensure as psychologists.
Accreditation: APA Commission on Accreditation (current)
Program website
Felician University
Felician University in Lodi offers a PsyD in Counseling Psychology that received APA accreditation in 2021. The program follows the practitioner-scholar model and trains students to provide psychological services to diverse communities, with a curriculum designed to meet New Jersey’s education requirements for psychologist licensure.
PsyD in Counseling Psychology
Students with a master’s degree can complete the program in four years; those entering from a bachelor’s take five. The program integrates coursework, supervised clinical practica, and a doctoral internship. It emphasizes multicultural competency and the ethical delivery of services across diverse clinical populations.
Accreditation: APA Commission on Accreditation (current, effective April 2021)
Program website
Saint Elizabeth University
Saint Elizabeth University in Morristown offers an APA-accredited PsyD in Counseling Psychology. The program is designed to meet New Jersey’s licensure education requirements and trains students in evidence-based clinical practice with diverse populations. New Jersey requires passing both the EPPP and a state jurisprudence exam for psychologist licensure, and the program’s curriculum is structured with those requirements in mind.
PsyD in Counseling Psychology
The program requires a full-time one-year internship as part of the doctoral degree, in addition to supervised clinical hours through practica. Students entering with a master’s degree can transfer up to 15 credits, which can accelerate completion. The APA accreditation received a ten-year renewal effective May 2024, with the next site visit scheduled for 2033.
Accreditation: APA Commission on Accreditation (current)
Program website
William Paterson University
William Paterson University in Wayne offers a PsyD in Clinical Psychology that received full APA accreditation in December 2021. It’s a public university option in a state where most doctoral psychology programs are at private institutions, which affects cost and funding considerations for prospective students.
PsyD in Clinical Psychology
The five-year, full-time practitioner-scholar program integrates coursework, supervised clinical training, and a research component. Students with a master’s in psychology from WPUNJ may be eligible to complete in three years; those with graduate degrees from other institutions are evaluated individually. The program’s faculty includes active researchers and practitioners, and training takes place in the university’s psychology clinical training suite.
Accreditation: APA Commission on Accreditation (current, effective December 2021)
Program website
New Jersey’s mix of PhD and PsyD programs covers clinical, counseling, and school psychology — enough range that most applicants can find a program whose training model, location, and degree type fit their goals. For information on what New Jersey requires for psychologist licensure after graduation, see our guide to state licensing requirements for psychologists.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many APA-accredited psychology doctoral programs are in New Jersey?
New Jersey has seven institutions offering APA-accredited doctoral programs in psychology, covering PhD and PsyD degrees across clinical, counseling, and school psychology. Some schools offer more than one accredited program. The APA Commission on Accreditation maintains the authoritative list at accreditation.apa.org.
Does New Jersey require an APA-accredited degree for psychologist licensure?
New Jersey does not strictly mandate APA accreditation for licensure eligibility, but it requires a doctorate in psychology or a closely allied field from a regionally accredited institution, along with specific credit-hour distribution requirements. Many applicants meet those requirements through APA-accredited programs by design. Confirm current requirements with the New Jersey State Board of Psychological Examiners before enrolling.
What exams are required to become a licensed psychologist in New Jersey?
New Jersey requires passing the EPPP (Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology) and a state jurisprudence exam. Most applicants also need to complete two years of supervised professional experience totaling a minimum number of hours, with at least one year typically completed during the doctoral internship. The state board sets the specific hour requirements.
What is the difference between a PhD and a PsyD in psychology?
A PhD follows the scientist-practitioner model, with heavy research training, and often includes assistantship funding. A PsyD is practitioner-focused, designed for students whose primary goal is clinical work rather than research. Both require the EPPP for licensure. See our full PsyD vs. PhD breakdown for a more detailed comparison.
How long does a doctoral program in psychology take in New Jersey?
PhD programs typically take five to seven years, including a one-year predoctoral internship and a research dissertation. PsyD programs generally run four to six years, with the internship included. Some PsyD programs offer accelerated completion for applicants who enter with a master’s degree in psychology.
Use the tool below to find accredited psychology programs, application links, and more information about doctoral training in New Jersey and other states.