Students researching PsyD programs in Kansas may find limited in-state options, so it is important to compare nearby, hybrid, and online pathways that can support psychology licensure goals. A PsyD focuses on applied clinical training, assessment, therapy, ethics, and supervised practice.
Below you will find information about some of the well-known PsyD programs in Kansas. Review each program, compare their features, and decide which one best matches your future plans.
PsyD Programs in Kansas
Kansas City University
Clinical Psychology PsyD Program
Kansas City University’s APA-accredited clinical psychology program is offered at the Kansas City campus. The program provodes students broad doctoral-level training in clinical psychology and leads to the Doctor of Psychology, or PsyD, degree. The program gives strong attention to the connection between research evidence and clinical practice. It also uses competency-based coursework and many clinical training experiences.
Most students finish the program in about 5 years, which equals 10 to 11 terms or 60 to 64 months. This schedule allows time for internship requirements and rules from outside training sites. Students spend the first 4 years on campus, where they receive classroom-based learning and practical clinical training through practica. In the 5th year, students complete an off-site internship that includes 2,000 hours across 12 months.
The PsyD program at KCU has 4 main aims that support the training of skilled and well-prepared clinical psychologists.
- Broad Knowledge: Students gain a strong understanding of the theory-based and scientific bases of psychology. This knowledge helps them use psychology as health service providers in clinical settings.
- Clinical Competency: Students build a strong set of clinical skills, professional behaviors, and proper attitudes. These abilities help them do well in research-supported assessment, intervention, and outcome review while working with people from many backgrounds.
- Research Integration: Students gain strong knowledge of psychological research and scientific inquiry. They also learn how to include this knowledge in their clinical work.
- Integrated Health Care Expertise: Students are trained to work well as members of integrated health care teams. They also build skill in shared, team-based care.
The mission of the PsyD program is to give students the skills and knowledge needed for successful careers in health service psychology. Graduates are prepared to work as clinical psychologists, both independently and as important members of integrated health care teams. The program is committed to maintaining the scientific base of psychology, showing the two-way link between science and practice, and promoting strong respect for cultural and personal differences.
The PsyD program at KCU is arranged to provide a step-by-step path in clinical psychology. This structure helps students move gradually from basic knowledge to advanced clinical practice. The curriculum is designed to give you the skills, knowledge, and experience needed to become a highly capable health service psychologist.
Year 1: Psychology Foundations
In the first year, you are introduced to basic psychology principles, including the base of psychological science, history, and systems. Special attention is given to building your skills in psychological assessment, test development, and test interpretation. This base is important as you begin gaining the skills needed for clinical practice.
Year 2: Theory and Practice Connection
The second year gives attention to more advanced theory-based and practice-based coursework. A key part of this year is the start of courses on diversity, which shows the program’s support for personal and cultural diversity in clinical practice. During this year, you also begin a diagnostically focused practicum, where you use your assessment skills in real clinical settings.
Year 3: Use of Knowledge and Skills
In the third year, you bring together the knowledge and skills gained during the first 2 years. You begin courses such as psychopharmacology, consultation, and integrated health care. These courses help you connect neuropsychological science with clinical practice. You also take part in a therapy practicum, where your clinical skills are reviewed through direct observation and supervision.
Year 4: Advanced Training and Dissertation
During the fourth year, you complete advanced academic coursework and continue your practicum training. This year also begins the dissertation process, where you complete original research that adds to the field of clinical psychology.
Year 5: Internship and Dissertation Completion
The fifth year is mainly focused on a full-time clinical internship, which gives you practical experience in professional settings. Some students may also use this year to finish their dissertation work. This helps support a smooth move from academic study to clinical practice.
Practicum Training
A practicum, sometimes called an externship, includes supervised experiential work that takes place off campus in health service settings. These experiences add to classroom learning and help students connect academic study with direct practice.
At KCU, practicum training helps students build and show the needed abilities for internship readiness. Practicums are part-time, off-campus commitments that usually average 20 hours per week and last between 9 and 12 months. Practicum is handled like an academic course, so students must register for it.
Students must meet the following minimum practicum hour requirements:
- Diagnostic Practicum: 625 minimum hours.
- Therapy Practicum: 625 minimum hours.
- Advanced Therapy Practicum: 625 minimum hours.
Admission Requirements
Admission requirements for the Doctor of Psychology program are listed below:
- Completed Application: Applicants must submit a completed application.
- Bachelor’s Degree: Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university. They must also have a GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
- Psychology Coursework: Applicants must complete 18 semester credit hours, or the equivalent, of undergraduate psychology coursework with grades of B- or higher. Required coursework includes:
- Introduction to General Psychology.
- Human Growth and Development or Personality Theory.
- Statistics or Tests and Measurements.
- Additional coursework in psychology.
- Three Letters of Recommendation: Applicants must submit 3 letters of recommendation. The letters must be dated within 2 years of the matriculation year. Two letters must come from professionals in the psychology field. Additional letters may come from faculty members or colleagues who can speak about the applicant’s potential for academic success in a doctoral program.
- Optional Video Submission: Applicants may submit an optional 2-minute video. The video should give an example of a situation or experience that the applicant believes has prepared them for a career in clinical psychology.
- Optional GRE Test Score: GRE test scores are optional. Scores are accepted if they were taken within 3 years before program entry.
The Chicago School
Online PsyD in Applied Clinical Psychology
The post-master’s PsyD in Applied Clinical Psychology at The Chicago School is designed to prepare you to become a knowledgeable and careful practitioner. The program helps you join strong scientific learning and theory-based knowledge with different clinical situations.
Faculty members use a practitioner-scholar model and are closely involved in teaching. They include many clinical examples in class activities and use core abilities from the National Council of Schools and Programs of Professional Psychology (NCSPP). You will prepare for your career through demanding coursework, practicum training, a complete internship experience, and a dissertation project that brings your academic learning together.
After finishing this 3-year PsyD program, you should be able to:
- Deliver useful and ethical psychotherapy services.
- Carry out culturally aware interviews, treatment plans, goal setting, and care for clients from many backgrounds.
- Follow ethical, legal, and professional standards in psychotherapy work.
- Examine clinical psychology research carefully and use it in practice and professional communication.
The online PsyD in Applied Clinical Psychology offers students a flexible study format. Students must attend 4 required in-person residencies. These residencies help students form a learning community and build professional connections in the field.
Students may request face-to-face help, or they may be asked to attend added faculty meetings while completing dissertation work and preparing for licensure. The online PsyD program follows the same coursework standards, work quality rules, and academic expectations as the in-person Applied Clinical Psychology program.
Practicum Experience
The Applied Clinical Psychology practicum is an important part of clinical training. It gives students closely supervised clinical practice. During practicum work, students apply classroom learning to understand clients and develop skills in assessment, psychotherapy, and other related professional areas.
The practicum connects theory with direct practice in the training of professional psychologists. It also helps students learn how professional teamwork and consultation are used in clinical settings.
All students in the program, including online PsyD students, must complete an 800-hour practicum.
Internship
Students in both the in-person and online PsyD programs must complete a 1,500-hour internship after finishing all coursework, practicum, and dissertation requirements.
During the internship, Applied Clinical Psychology students bring together academic knowledge and clinical skills. They also show that they can use these skills effectively and ethically in clinical practice. Through close supervised training, students gain direct experience using their knowledge with a clinical population.
Major Program Examination
The Applied Clinical Psychology major program examination centers on the 8 areas of professional psychology practice listed by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards, (ASPPB):
- Biological Bases of Behavior
- Cognitive-Affective Bases of Behavior
- Social and Cultural Bases of Behavior
- Growth and Lifespan Development
- Assessment and Diagnosis
- Treatment, Intervention, Prevention, and Supervision
- Research Methods and Statistics
- Ethical, Legal, and Professional Issues
This examination checks each student’s knowledge in these areas. It also reviews whether the student is ready to practice at the internship level in an ethical and culturally aware way. In the final review, the examination helps the department judge the student’s readiness to become a clinical psychologist.
Dissertation
The Applied Clinical Psychology dissertation is a major part of the student’s academic training. The dissertation reviews the student’s ability to add to the field by using theory and research in clinical psychology. It also measures the student’s ability to think carefully and creatively about professional psychology, work with self-direction, and show strong professional and scholarly writing.
Admissions Requirements
Applications for The Chicago School’s online PsyD in Applied Clinical Psychology are open to applicants who have earned a master’s degree in a mental health field from an accredited school and who meet the other entry rules. Applicants must show an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher to be reviewed.
Students applying to the PsyD in Applied Clinical Psychology program must submit these materials:
- Completed application.
- Resume or curriculum vitae.
- 2 essays.
- Letters of recommendation.
- Official college or university transcripts.
What is the Difference Between a PsyD and a PhD?
When choosing between a Doctor of Psychology, or PsyD, and a Doctor of Philosophy, or PhD, in psychology, you should think about the type of career you want to build. A PsyD gives more attention to direct clinical training while still including research. A PhD gives more attention to the research side of psychology.
Both degrees can prepare you for strong career options in psychology. However, a PsyD is often a good fit if you want practice-based work, such as becoming a clinical psychologist. A PhD is usually more connected to teaching, research, and academic work.
Do I Meed to Major in Psychology During My Undergrad to Qualify For a PsyD Program?
No, you do not need to major in psychology to qualify for a PsyD program, but you generally need a bachelor’s degree in a related field or to have completed specific prerequisite psychology coursework. Admissions committees often accept applicants with diverse backgrounds, provided they have demonstrated competence in foundational psychology subjects.
Is a Master’s Necessary For a PsyD?
While many PsyD programs require a master in psychology or a related field, others offer direct-entry options for applicants with a strong bachelor’s-level background and the right combination of coursework, experience, and academic readiness.
How Long Does It Take to Complete a PsyD in Kansas?
Completing a PsyD in Kansas generally takes 4-6 years for full-time students. This timeline typically includes four years of academic coursework and practicum training, followed by a required fifth-year internship.
What are the Steps to Become a Licensed Psychologist in Kansas?
- Earn a Doctoral Degree: You must complete a doctoral program in psychology, such as a PhD or PsyD. The program must be accredited by the APA.
- Complete Supervised Training: You must finish 2 years of work experience under supervision. This requirement must include supervised field experience with a supervisor approved by the board.
- Pass Required Exams: You must pass the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology, also known as the EPPP. A score of 500 or higher is required.
- Submit the Licensure Application: You must apply for licensure through the Kansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board (BSRB). Your application must include proof of education, references, and supervised experience.
- Complete the Background Review: You must meet the standards for good moral character and pass a background check.
Master’s Level Option
Kansas also offers a license for Master’s Level Psychologists, which requires a master’s degree in psychology, a board-approved practicum (including 100+ hours of group and 50+ hours of one-on-one supervision), and passing the EPPP.
What is the Average Salary of a Psychologist in Kansas?
As of May 2026, the average annual pay for a psychologist in Kansas is $156,393 a year. Top earning psychologists in Kansas earn well over $250,000 per year.
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