Virginia has 11 doctoral psychology programs across nine universities, with ten currently holding APA accreditation and one additional program at Old Dominion University pursuing independent accreditation. Programs span research-focused PhD and practice-focused PsyD tracks in clinical, counseling, and combined clinical-school psychology, most designed to take four to seven years including a year-long internship. Applicants should confirm current licensure standards with the Virginia Board of Psychology.
Choosing a doctoral program in Virginia starts with a decision most applicants underestimate: PhD or PsyD. Both lead to licensure, and both require passing the EPPP, but the training model, funding structure, and day-to-day workload differ enough that they shape the next five to seven years of your life.
PhD vs. PsyD: Which Doctorate Fits Your Goals
A PhD in clinical or counseling psychology follows the scientist-practitioner model. Coursework leans research-heavy, a dissertation is required, and most programs fund students through assistantships that waive tuition and pay a stipend. Graduates are prepared for research, academic, and clinical roles alike.
A PsyD follows the practitioner-scholar model instead. Training weights clinical work over original research, though most programs still require a dissertation or doctoral project. PsyD programs are more often tuition-funded rather than assistantship-funded. Both can satisfy Virginia’s doctoral education requirement for licensure when completed through an appropriately accredited program and combined with the state’s additional supervised experience and examination requirements. See our PsyD vs. PhD comparison for a full breakdown of the differences.
Virginia Psychology Doctoral Programs at a Glance
Every program below is accredited by the APA Commission on Accreditation, with one program’s status noted as pending independent review. Select a school name to jump to its full profile.
| School | Degree | Focus | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| George Mason University | PhD | Clinical Psychology | Fairfax, VA |
| James Madison University | PsyD | Combined Clinical & School Psychology | Harrisonburg, VA |
| Regent University | PsyD | Clinical Psychology | Virginia Beach, VA |
| University of Virginia | PhD | Clinical Psychology | Charlottesville, VA |
| University of Virginia | PhD | Combined Clinical & School Psychology | Charlottesville, VA |
| Virginia Commonwealth University | PhD | Clinical Psychology | Richmond, VA |
| Virginia Commonwealth University | PhD | Counseling Psychology | Richmond, VA |
| Old Dominion University | PhD | Clinical Psychology | Norfolk, VA |
| Virginia Tech | PhD | Clinical Psychology | Blacksburg, VA |
| Virginia State University | PhD | Clinical Health Psychology | Petersburg, VA |
| Divine Mercy University | PsyD | Clinical Psychology | Sterling, VA |
George Mason University
PhD in Psychology, Clinical Concentration
George Mason’s clinical concentration trains students under the clinical science model, drawing on contextual and social-psychological perspectives alongside cognitive-behavioral, humanistic, and psychodynamic approaches. Research begins in year one and continues throughout the program. The concentration requires 79 graduate credits of doctoral coursework plus at least 12 dissertation research credits, and students complete a full-time, 12-month internship at an APA-accredited site.
Accreditation: Continuously accredited by the American Psychological Association Commission on Accreditation since 1987, most recently renewed in 2023 for the maximum 10-year term.
Location: Fairfax, VA — Program website
James Madison University
Combined-Integrated Doctoral Program in Clinical and School Psychology (C-I PsyD)
JMU’s C-I PsyD prepares students to provide psychological care across age groups using a generalist model that draws on clinical, school, and counseling psychology. Applicants need a master’s degree in clinical, school, or counseling psychology to be considered for admission. The program runs for four years, including a one-year internship, and graduates are eligible for licensure as both clinical and school psychologists.
Accreditation: APA-accredited since October 1996, most recently reaccredited in 2017 for a 10-year term. Also approved by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP).
Location: Harrisonburg, VA — Program website
Regent University
Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology (PsyD)
Regent’s PsyD combines master’s and doctoral coursework in a single sequence, integrating scientific and professional training with a Christian-values framework. Students complete four years of coursework at the Virginia Beach campus, followed by a one-year internship.
Accreditation: Accredited by the American Psychological Association Commission on Accreditation.
Location: Virginia Beach, VA — Program website
University of Virginia
PhD in Clinical Psychology
UVA’s clinical PhD trains students as clinical scientists through full-time, on-campus study over four years plus a one-year internship. Coursework spans research, assessment, and treatment across individual, couple, and family therapy, preparing graduates for careers as clinicians, administrators, or researchers.
PhD in Combined Clinical and School Psychology
This program integrates clinical and school psychology training under the scientist-practitioner model, one of only 14 APA-accredited combined programs in the country. Coursework is split between UVA’s School of Education and Human Development and its psychology department, and graduates are eligible for licensure or certification in clinical psychology, school psychology, or both.
Accreditation: Both programs are accredited by the APA Commission on Accreditation; the combined program is also fully approved by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP).
Location: Charlottesville, VA — Program website
Virginia Commonwealth University
PhD in Clinical Psychology
VCU’s clinical PhD uses a scientist-practitioner model within a biopsychosocial framework, with specialty tracks in behavioral medicine and child and adolescent psychology. Students complete an empirical master’s thesis and dissertation, at least three years of clinical practicum, and an APA-approved internship, typically finishing coursework by year five before completing the internship in year six.
PhD in Counseling Psychology
VCU also offers an APA-accredited counseling psychology PhD, distinctive for its emphasis on counseling, health psychology, and interdisciplinary practice.
Accreditation: Both programs are accredited by the APA Commission on Accreditation.
Location: Richmond, VA — Program website
Old Dominion University
PhD in Psychology, Clinical Concentration
ODU has trained clinical psychology doctoral students for more than 40 years through the Virginia Consortium Program in Clinical Psychology, a joint effort with Eastern Virginia Medical School and Norfolk State University. The consortium remains the accredited program for students already enrolled through it, but it is being discontinued and is no longer accepting new applications. In its place, ODU has launched a standalone clinical PhD and applied for independent APA accreditation, with a site visit expected in fall 2026 and Accreditation on Contingency anticipated in spring 2027. Students who complete the new standalone program during that contingency status would still be recognized as graduating from an APA-accredited program, but the standalone program itself does not yet hold accreditation.
Accreditation: The Virginia Consortium Program remains APA-accredited for its current students. ODU’s new standalone PhD is pending independent APA accreditation as of this update. Applicants should confirm their current status directly with ODU before applying.
Location: Norfolk, VA — Program website
Virginia Tech
PhD in Clinical Psychology
Virginia Tech’s clinical PhD, housed in the College of Science, trains both clinical practitioners and research professionals through a five-year, full-time program. Students progress through annual Student Activities Reports that track milestones toward the program’s assessment, intervention, and prevention competencies.
Accreditation: Accredited by the American Psychological Association Commission on Accreditation.
Location: Blacksburg, VA — Program website
Virginia State University
PhD in Clinical Health Psychology
VSU’s clinical health psychology PhD focuses on health disparities in minority communities, positioning the university among a limited number of HBCUs nationwide with an APA-accredited doctoral psychology program.
Accreditation: Earned a 10-year APA Commission on Accreditation term, retroactively effective November 11, 2025 — the Commission’s highest level of recognition.
Location: Petersburg, VA — Program website
Divine Mercy University
PsyD in Clinical Psychology
Divine Mercy University’s PsyD integrates clinical psychology training with a Catholic-Christian framework, preparing graduates to sit for licensure as psychologists. The 122-semester-credit program is designed to meet doctoral licensure education requirements in most states and territories.
Accreditation: Accredited by the American Psychological Association Commission on Accreditation.
Location: Sterling, VA — Program website
APA accreditation alone doesn’t determine your eligibility for licensure. Virginia’s Board of Psychology sets its own education, supervised-experience, and examination requirements, so confirm current standards before you commit to a program. See our state licensing requirements guide for the full breakdown.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many APA-accredited psychology doctoral programs does Virginia have?
Virginia has 11 doctoral psychology programs across nine universities. Ten currently hold APA accreditation; the eleventh, a standalone PhD at Old Dominion University, is pursuing independent accreditation after the consortium program it grew out of was discontinued.
Should I choose a PhD or a PsyD in Virginia?
Choose a PhD if you want strong research training and are open to funded assistantship positions that offset tuition. Choose a PsyD if you want a practice-focused curriculum with a strong emphasis on clinical training. Both satisfy Virginia’s doctoral education requirement for licensure.
Does APA accreditation guarantee I can get licensed in Virginia?
No. APA accreditation confirms your program meets national training standards, but the Virginia Board of Psychology separately requires supervised post-degree experience and a passing score on the EPPP before granting a license.
Are there online psychology doctoral programs in Virginia?
Full online doctoral programs are rare because of the required in-person clinical training, but several Virginia programs, including Divine Mercy University, offer hybrid formats that blend online coursework with on-campus or practicum components.
How long does it take to finish a psychology doctorate in Virginia?
Most programs are designed to take approximately four to seven years, including a required internship at an APA-accredited site, though actual timing varies with dissertation progress and internship placement.
Select your state below to find accredited psychology programs, application links, and licensing requirements for your jurisdiction.