Psychology Programs in Oregon

Psychology is a lucrative, growing field with many potential pathways and opportunities to follow. With a graduate psychology degree, you can pursue various career paths, and Oregon is one of many states with an increasing demand for psychologists. This guide will help you learn more about obtaining a license for psychology in Oregon, including the educational requirements, potential job opportunities and salary expectations that come with it.

Oregon is known mostly for its various outdoor wonders and its strong college football program, but it has always been known as a friend to the psychologist. Whether you are looking for a psychology career, training in the field or a quality classroom education, this state has it all.

There are several benefits to studying psychology in Oregon, especially with the growing demand for psychologists in the state. For clinical, counseling and school psychologists alone, there is a projected 21.9% job growth rate between 2018 and 2028 according to Projections Central. With the growing job rate, there is no shortage of opportunities for psychologists in Oregon.

Oregon also provides many educational opportunities for those seeking to practice in psychology. The state features several schools that rank amongst the top psychology schools in the United States. There are many options, from community colleges to esteemed universities, for those seeking a bachelor’s degree all the way to a doctorate.

Oregon features an abundance of options for the study of psychology, including schools that rank amongst the best in the country. According to US News & World Report, the University of Oregon, Oregon State University, Oregon Health and Science University and Portland State University all rank in the top 250 best psychology programs in the country. However, dozens of other schools in the state offer graduate and undergraduate psychology programs, providing plenty of choices for location, school size and tuition.

There are also several online or hybrid options for those interested. Several universities, including Oregon State University, the University of Phoenix-Oregon and Portland State University, offer online baccalaureate and master’s degree programs. It is typically more difficult to find online programs at the doctorate level, which usually requires more internships and clinical experience.

In Oregon, there is a growing need for psychologists in several fields, including mental health counselors, psychiatrists and social workers, as well as clinical, counseling and school psychologists. According to the State of Oregon Employment Department, all these fields are projected to expand between 2019 and 2029. With the variety of opportunities, the need for qualified psychologists in the state is growing consistently.

Many psychologists in Oregon earn a considerable amount above the national annual mean wage. The average annual wage for clinical, counseling and school psychologists in Oregon was about $108,000 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics in May 2020, placing the state in the top five highest paying states.

Psychologists were paid well in the Portland Metropolitan Area specifically, as it ranked in the top 10 top-paying metropolitan areas with an annual mean wage of $120,660. This compares to a national mean annual wage of $89,290 for clinical, counseling and school psychologists, meaning Oregon provides many lucrative opportunities for psychologists.

According to the May 2020 Bureau of Labor Statistics numbers, the mean annual wage for psychologists in all other fields was $100,130 nationally. In Oregon, psychologists in all other fields earned just under the national average at a still very respectable $97,840 mean annual wage.

Pursuing a career in psychology in Oregon begins with a bachelor’s degree in the field or a related social science and then a subsequent graduate degree in psychology. Most psychology fields in Oregon also require a doctorate, so you should consider options for a doctor of psychology (Psy.D.), doctor of education in psychology (Ed.D.) or doctor of philosophy in psychology (Ph.D.). A doctorate may be completed in as soon as five years or in up to seven years, depending on your program.

Mental health professionals in Oregon are required to have a license to practice. You can obtain a license through the Oregon Board of Psychology (OBOP). To apply for a license, candidates must have an American Psychology Association-approved doctorate degree. They must also have completed both an internship and at least a year of postdoctoral supervised work experience. This work experience should include at least 1,500 hours of postdoctoral psychological services supervised by a psychologist who has been licensed for at least two years.

After you meet all the requirements and submit all necessary materials to the board, you can request to take the National Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP) and the Oregon Jurisprudence Exam (OJE). The EPPP is developed by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB), includes 225 multiple-choice questions and covers eight content areas, including biological bases of behavior, cognitive-affective bases of behavior and social and cultural bases of behavior. The OJE is an open book, multiple-choice exam that focuses on ethical principles, code of conduct and state statutes, all regarding the practice of psychology in Oregon.

Between education, clinical experience and licensing, the entire path is expected to take about 10 to 12 years. Once obtaining licensure in Oregon, psychologists must renew their license every two years and obtain at least 40 continuing education credits prior to renewal.

Altogether, there are extensive programs, resources and lucrative opportunities available in Oregon, making the state a promising place to pursue psychology.