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

Montana runs an extraordinarily limited APA-accredited doctoral psychology training landscape: only 2 programs statewide, both at the University of Montana in Missoula. UM Clinical Psychology PhD (Department of Psychology, Skaggs Building Room 143, 32 Campus Drive, Missoula, MT 59812) has been continuously APA-accredited since 1970 (one of the longest-running Clinical PhDs in the Mountain West). Scientist-practitioner model. UM graduate tuition 2025-26: $310/credit Montana resident and $1,435/credit non-resident; annual graduate baseline $10,039 in-state / $37,595 out-of-state. TA-funded students receive tuition waiver covering both in-state and out-of-state tuition; program has provided TA positions for 75 to 100% of incoming students. 5 to 7 years to completion (coursework, comprehensive exams, dissertation research, and clinical training). Typically admits 5 to 7 new students per year. GRE NOT required (UM verbatim: "GRE scores are not required as part of your application materials, and any GRE scores submitted will not be considered in fairness to all applicants"). Application deadline December 1. Emphasis area in Child/Family and exposure in Neuropsychology. Faculty specialty areas: adult and child psychopathology, trauma, LGBTQ+, health psychology, eating disorders, intimate partner violence, addictions, neuropsychology, and Indigenous issues.

UM's Indians Into Psychology (InPsych) Program is a central component of the APA-accredited Clinical Psychology training program. Designed to recruit Native American/Alaska Native undergraduate students into psychology and recruit, fund, and train Native American doctoral students in Clinical Psychology. Initially funded by Indian Health Service. A unique national asset for training Native American clinical psychologists serving Montana's 7 federally recognized tribes (Blackfeet, Crow, Northern Cheyenne, Confederated Salish and Kootenai, Fort Belknap [Gros Ventre + Assiniboine], Fort Peck [Assiniboine + Sioux], Chippewa Cree of Rocky Boy's) plus the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians (federally recognized 2019).

UM School Psychology PhD (same Department of Psychology address) has been APA-accredited since 2015 (also NASP-approved). The only school psychology doctoral program in Montana and the surrounding region. 5-year degree at doctorate level: 4 years intensive coursework, practicum, and clinical experience + full year of supervised internship. 116 credits coursework + 3 internship credits. Practicum sites in schools, research hospitals, and inpatient/outpatient clinics. Dual APA + NASP approval.

What is NOT APA-accredited in Montana: Montana State University (MSU) Bozeman PhD in Psychological Science is NOT APA-accredited (research-oriented program in cognitive, developmental, health, learning, physiological, and social psychology). Verbatim: "This PhD does not lead to licensure as a clinical psychologist; MSU's psychology department does not have graduate faculty who specialize in clinical, counseling, community, or school psychology." MSU's only APA-accredited offering is its Doctoral Internship in Health Service Psychology through Counseling and Psychological Services (internship, not a degree program).

The Montana Board of Psychologists licensure path under Title 37 Chapter 17 MCA and ARM 24.189 requires a doctoral degree from an APA-accredited program, 2 years / minimum 3,200 total hours (at least 1,500 hours pre-doctoral typically the doctoral internship + minimum 1,600 hours post-doctoral; may not include more than 6 months of supervised research/teaching combined; during post-doc at least 1 hour weekly supervision from a licensed psychologist with 3 years licensure + supervision training; 25% of supervised experience must involve direct patient/client interactions), the EPPP, and the Montana Board's jurisdictional course (state-specific laws, rules, and ethical standards). Initial application $175; postdoc supervision plan approval $25; biennial renewal $600 (active); late renewal penalty additional $600. Total timeline from start of bachelor's through full licensure typically runs 11 to 13 years (or 7 to 9 years from start of doctoral program).

Montana is a PSYPACT operational state since October 1, 2025 (HB 241, 69th Legislative Session, 2025, signed April 16, 2025). Montana became the 41st PSYPACT jurisdiction. MT psychologists can now practice telepsychology across all PSYPACT jurisdictions, a major change for rural MT given low population density. Montana State Hospital at Warm Springs has operated continuously since 1877 (148+ years), among the oldest state psychiatric hospitals in the Mountain West. Montana is among 5 Western mountain states with the most severe per-capita behavioral health shortages (with Idaho, Nevada, Wyoming, Utah).