Best Clinical Psychology Doctoral Programs in Louisiana, Ranked (2026)

Louisiana runs a small but distinctive APA-accredited doctoral psychology training landscape with 4 confirmed programs and one nationally unique credential pathway. Louisiana State University (LSU, Baton Rouge) Clinical Psychology PhD has been continuously APA-accredited since 1956, one of the longest-accredited Clinical PhDs in the South. Clinical scientist model with concentrations and labs in anxiety and addictive behaviors, child psychopathology (Paul Frick lab), and serious mental illness/psychosis (Alex Cohen lab). Re-accredited 2018; next site visit 2028. Tuition is $5,712.25 per semester in-state at 15 hours; non-resident $10,043.25. Funded students receive tuition waiver plus non-resident surcharge waiver via graduate assistantships. LSU Graduate School does not require GRE (individual specializations may). On-campus Psychological Services Center provides outpatient training for the Baton Rouge area.

LSU School Psychology PhD (APA-accredited, NASP-approved) uses a mentor model with small cohorts and a 4:1 student-faculty ratio. ABAI Verified Course Sequence fulfills BCBA coursework requirements. All coursework is in-person in Baton Rouge with no online option. Tulane University School Psychology PhD (Department of Psychology, School of Science and Engineering) has been APA-accredited since 1995 with the most recent reaccreditation vote in 2017 reaffirming accreditation through 2027. GRE not required. Full teaching assistantship with tuition waiver and 2025-26 stipend of $27,100 for 9 months for first 5 years. Important: Tulane does NOT offer a Clinical Psychology PhD or Counseling PhD; doctoral training is in School Psychology and Psychological Science (research track, which is NOT APA-accredited because APA only accredits clinical, counseling, school, and combined programs).

Louisiana Tech University Counseling Psychology PhD (Ruston) is the state's only Counseling Psychology PhD, APA-accredited since 2002. Scientist-practitioner model that trains Health Service Psychologists. New PhD cohort every other year with 3 to 4 students per cohort (highly selective). Emphases include rural mental health, integrated behavioral health, wellness, vocational development, and multicultural counseling. Training sites include the Psychological Services Clinic, AROS (I-O consulting group), VA, community health centers, and university counseling centers.

The most distinctive feature of Louisiana's psychology landscape is the Louisiana Medical Psychologist (MP) credential. Louisiana became the 2nd state in the US to enact prescription privileges for psychologists in 2004 (after New Mexico 2002). As of 2010, prescriptive authority for psychologists transferred from LSBEP to the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners (LSBME). The MP credential requires a post-doctoral master's degree in clinical psychopharmacology from a regionally accredited institution (covering anatomy and physiology, biochemistry, neurosciences, pharmacology, psychopharmacology, clinical medicine and pathophysiology, and health assessment) plus successful completion of the APA Psychopharmacology Examination for Psychologists (PEP). Scope is limited to medications for nervous and mental health disorders only, with required collaboration with the patient's physician when prescribing.

Standard LSBEP licensure as a Licensed Psychologist (LP) requires a doctoral degree (PhD, PsyD, or EdD) from an APA-accredited program, 4,000 supervised hours (2,000 pre-doctoral internship + 2,000 post-doctoral), the EPPP, and the Louisiana jurisprudence component. Post-doctoral practice cannot begin until the degree is granted; must complete within 5 years (extensions possible). Application fee is $200 + $50 background check. 40 CE hours every 2 years including 3 hours in ethics/professional conduct. Senior psychologists 65+ with 20+ years of LA licensure get half-rate renewal; emeritus rate is $100. Total timeline from start of bachelor's through full licensure typically runs 6 to 8 years.

Louisiana is NOT a PSYPACT state. HB486 in the 2026 Regular Session is currently pending. LA-licensed psychologists cannot use PSYPACT credentials for cross-state telepsychology until the bill is enacted. Hurricane Katrina (August 2005) reshaped New Orleans psychology: Charity Hospital permanently closed and was replaced by University Medical Center (LCMC), massive expansion of trauma psychology focus across LA programs occurred, the VA Southeast Louisiana facility was rebuilt, and significant Tulane and LSU psychology faculty turnover occurred in the mid-2000s.