Why Choose to Study Psychology in Connecticut?
Connecticut is home to some of the best colleges and universities in the US, including Yale University and the University of Connecticut, and ranks #10 when it comes to the percentage of students that graduate from a four-year college.
While Connecticut is highly rated for its bachelor’s programs, you’ll also find excellent schools offering master’s and doctoral degrees. In addition, one of the many highlights of choosing a program in Connecticut is the ability for you to work in the field while studying for your degree.
Job Prospects in Connecticut for Psychology Professionals
Many students who choose Connecticut for their psychology degree end up staying after they have graduated. Not only is Connecticut a great place to study, but also a wonderful place to live, with a low crime rate and a strong focus on healthcare.
The Bureau of Labor (BLS) shows the average annual salary for a psychologist in Connecticut in 2020 was $100,470, with an expected job growth rate of around three percent over the next eight years.
If you’re leaning towards social work, BLS shows that Connecticut is still the place to earn a higher salary. The average mean salary in 2020 for healthcare social workers in Connecticut was $71,850, well above the national average of $51,760.
In addition, when looking at neighboring states, Connecticut still provides higher salary options. For example, a healthcare social worker in New York can expect to earn $61,510 annually, whil in Pennsylvania they earn $57,400.
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Connecticut Psychology Licensing and Certification Requirements
Each state requires specific licensing to practice in the state. For example, Connecticut has its own criteria as it wants to ensure that anyone working as a psychologist has a full grasp of disorders and how to diagnose and treat them.
To work with and assess patients as a psychologist in Connecticut, you must have a license. Before you can apply for a license, you must first obtain a doctoral degree and complete a minimum amount of hours in the field. The hours in the field must be face-to-face and require supervision from a licensed psychologist.
You have two years to complete your 1,800 hours of required fieldwork. However, it is possible to finish these hours in less than a year by working 35 hours a week. The hours can be completed before or after earning the doctoral degree, but not while you’re in school.
Connecticut does not require different licenses for each specialization, but your fieldwork hours must be reflective of your career goals. In Connecticut, the Board of Examiners of Psychologists oversees psychology licensing. The cost of the license is $565.
After you complete your field hours, you must also take an exam to receive your license. The Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP) is given by the Association of State and Provincial Boards (ASPPB). You must score at least a 500 on the exam. This exam has 225 questions covering the areas of assessment, development, and behavior. The cost of the exam is $600.
You can take the exam as many as four times in one year if you do not pass it the first time. Once you pass that exam, you have to take one more. This one is called the Connecticut jurisprudence exam. It is a 25 question exam, and you must answer 18 correctly to pass. It is offered six times during the year.
Once you are granted your license, you need to renew it every year. This includes 10 hours of continuing education. These hours can include training or other coursework. A minimum of two hours of your continuing education must be on coursework or training related to veterans and their families. These topics must include screening for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and suicide prevention. Any continuing education credits you take must be from accredited organizations or institutions.
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Connecticut Psychology Resources
Connecticut Psychological Association (CPA) – An advocate for professional psychology in Connecticut. Their mission is to advance psychology as a science and promote human welfare. CPA allows Psychologists in Connecticut to network with each other and give them a space to share their voice while influencing the direction of their field.
Connecticut State Department of Public Health Psychologist Licensure – Provides psychologist’s licensing requirements for the state of Connecticut.
Connecticut Department of Public Health (CDPH) – The department that governs all practice licenses, including psychologists, in Connecticut. The CDPH provides valuable information on the license application process to CPE regulations, license renewals, and disciplinary action.
Connecticut Psychiatric Society (CPS) – Fosters the progress and science of psychiatry in cooperation with the American Psychiatric Association (APA). Their goal is to influence high administrative and professional standards. CPS also assists the APA to promote its objectives and mission.
