Best Clinical Psychology Doctoral Programs in Washington, Ranked (2026)
Top APA-accredited clinical psychology doctoral programs (PhD and PsyD) in Washington for 2026, with cohort sizes, the 3,300 supervised hours (no post-doctoral year required), EPPP plus the Washington Jurisprudence Examination, and Washington's PSYPACT membership since June 2022.
Key Takeaways
- Washington has 6 active APA-accredited doctoral psychology programs. R1 anchors include University of Washington Clinical Psychology PhD (APA-accredited through 2027 plus PCSAS-accredited through 2028; consistently top-ranked nationally) and Washington State University Pullman Clinical Psychology PhD (continuously APA-accredited since 1956 with full tuition waiver + $21,933 stipend for funded students). Private programs include Seattle Pacific University Clinical PhD (APA-accredited since 2006), Antioch University Seattle Clinical PsyD, Northwest University Counseling Psychology PsyD (APA-accredited 10/28/18, the only APA-accredited Counseling Psychology doctorate in WA), and Gonzaga School Psychology PsyD (full APA accreditation expected 2026).
- Washington licenses psychologists through the WA Department of Health Examining Board of Psychology under RCW 18.83 and WAC 246-924. Required supervised experience is 3,300 hours total with at least 60% direct client contact and at least 75% supervised by a licensed psychologist.
- Washington does NOT require a post-doctoral year for licensure. If candidates accumulate 3,300 supervised hours by the end of the doctoral program (typically through extended practicum and a 1,500 to 1,800 hour internship), they can apply for licensure immediately after the internship. Up to 1,500 hours of post-doctoral experience may be used as a "top-up" if hours are insufficient at graduation. This eliminates a full year compared to most states.
- Exam sequence is the EPPP (minimum passing scaled score 500) plus the Washington Jurisprudence Examination: 25 questions, open-book, administered online with a 90% passing score. Initial license fee is $206; annual renewal is $226 (Washington renews yearly rather than biennially).
- Continuing education is unusually structured: 60 hours every 3 years including at least 4 hours of ethics and 2 hours of health equity, plus 6 hours of suicide prevention every 6 years.
- Washington is a PSYPACT state since June 9, 2022 via WA H 1286 (signed March 4, 2022). WA LPs holding the E.Passport plus APIT can practice telepsychology across all 40+ PSYPACT member states; the IPC permits up to 30 days per calendar year of temporary in-person practice.
- Washington has no state income tax, meaningfully increasing take-home pay compared to equivalent gross wages in California, Oregon, or Massachusetts. The Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue metro pays among the highest psychologist wages in the country. Washington School Psychologists are also reportedly the top-paid in the country at the state level.
- The Washington Health Corps (administered by WSAC) explicitly includes Licensed Clinical Psychologists as eligible for the Behavioral Health Program (BHP) award of up to $75,000 for a 3-year service commitment at approved behavioral health sites. NHSC LRP layers on up to $55,000 for 2 years.
Washington runs one of the strongest psychology training markets on the West Coast despite a relatively small program count. The University of Washington Clinical Psychology PhD holds both APA accreditation (through 2027) and PCSAS accreditation (through 2028), making it one of the most rigorous clinical science training programs in the country. UW Clinical is consistently top-ranked nationally and has been a PCSAS member since the accreditation system was created. Washington State University Pullman has been continuously APA-accredited since 1956 and provides full tuition waivers + ~$21,933 stipend for funded clinical students. Seattle Pacific University (Clinical PhD since 2006), Antioch University Seattle (PsyD Clinical), Northwest University (the only APA-accredited Counseling Psychology PsyD in WA, accredited 10/28/18), and Gonzaga (PsyD School Psychology, full APA expected 2026) round out the doctoral landscape. Note: Washington State University's Counseling Psychology PhD closed in August 2022, leaving Northwest as the sole APA-accredited Counseling Psychology doctorate in the state.
Washington licensure through the WA DOH Examining Board of Psychology is distinctive for one big reason: no post-doctoral year is required. Per RCW 18.83 and WAC 246-924, candidates need 3,300 hours of supervised experience with at least 60% direct client contact and 75% supervised by a licensed psychologist. If those hours are accumulated by graduation (through extended practicum plus the 1,500 to 1,800 hour APA-accredited internship), licensure can begin immediately after the internship year. Up to 1,500 hours of post-doctoral practice may be applied as a "top-up" if hours are insufficient. This eliminates a full year compared to most states (only Washington, Utah, Arizona, Oregon, and a handful of others have eliminated the mandatory postdoc).
The exam sequence is the EPPP (minimum scaled score 500) plus the Washington Jurisprudence Examination, a 25-question open-book online exam with a 90% passing score. Initial license fee is $206; annual renewal is $226. Continuing education runs 60 hours every 3 years including at least 4 hours of ethics and 2 hours of health equity, plus 6 hours of suicide prevention every 6 years.
Washington has been a PSYPACT state since June 9, 2022 (WA H 1286, signed March 4, 2022). Combined with no state income tax, high Seattle metro wages (some estimates around $108,000 median for Clinical/Counseling Psychologists), and the elimination of the post-doctoral year, Washington offers one of the most favorable licensure economics in the country for newly minted psychologists. The trade-off is program scarcity: with only 6 active APA-accredited doctoral programs and UW Clinical PhD admitting a small cohort, application competition is intense.
APA-Accredited Clinical Psychology Doctoral Programs in Washington
All 6 programs ranked in this guide, with tuition, format, and accreditation at a glance.
| # | School | In-State Tuition | Format | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Washington | ~$18,633 per year (resident); tuition waived for students on research or teaching assistantships | On-campus | |
| 2 | Washington State University Pullman | ~$5,892 per term (resident); all admitted students receive tuition waiver + 20-hour graduate assistantship | On-campus | |
| 3 | Seattle Pacific University | Private; paid-tuition model (verify current rate) | On-campus | |
| 4 | Antioch University Seattle | Full-time tuition varies $4,326 to $8,701 per semester (private; verify current program-specific rate) | On-campus | |
| 5 | Northwest University | ~$20,639 per year graduate (plus ~$320 fees) | On-campus | |
| 6 | Gonzaga University | ~$1,130 per credit (private) | On-campus |
University of Washington
In-State
~$18,633 per year (resident); tuition waived for students on research or teaching assistantships
Out-of-State
~$32,511 per year (nonresident)
Length
6 to 7 years typical (minimum 3 full-time academic years in-residence; 5 to 6 years before 1-year internship)
Field Hours
1,500 to 1,800 on the APA-accredited internship plus practicum
Concentrations
- APA-accredited through 2027 AND PCSAS-accredited through 2028
- Consistently top-ranked Clinical Psychology PhD nationally
- GRE NOT required: "The University of Washington does not require GRE scores for admissions"
- Two tracks: General Clinical and Child Clinical (highly overlapping curriculum)
- Embedded in UW Medicine (Harborview, UW Medical Center, Northwest Hospital) and the broader Seattle academic medical center network
Washington State University Pullman
In-State
~$5,892 per term (resident); all admitted students receive tuition waiver + 20-hour graduate assistantship
Out-of-State
~$12,608 per term (non-resident)
Length
Approximately 4 to 5 years of academic requirements + 1-year APA-accredited internship
Field Hours
1,500 to 1,800 on the APA-accredited internship plus practicum
Concentrations
- Continuously APA-accredited since 1956, one of the longest-running APA-accredited Clinical PhDs in the country
- All admitted students receive tuition waiver + 20-hour graduate assistantship
- 2025-26 stipend: $2,437 per month, $21,933 for 9 months
- GRE optional (including the Psychology Subject Test)
- Four concentrations: Adult Psychopathology, Clinical Child and Family Psychology, Behavioral Medicine, Neuropsychology
Seattle Pacific University
In-State
Private; paid-tuition model (verify current rate)
Out-of-State
Same private rate
Length
5 to 6 years
Field Hours
1,500 to 1,800 on the APA-accredited internship plus practicum
Concentrations
- APA-accredited Clinical PhD since 2006
- Scientist-practitioner training with biopsychosocial model in a Christian-context framework
- GRE not required (scores will be considered if submitted)
- Small cohort with strong faculty mentorship
- Queen Anne Seattle location with placements across the Seattle academic medical center network
Antioch University Seattle
In-State
Full-time tuition varies $4,326 to $8,701 per semester (private; verify current program-specific rate)
Out-of-State
Same private rate
Length
5 years (4 years coursework + dissertation + 1-year internship); 140 credits total
Field Hours
1,500 to 1,800 on the APA-accredited internship plus practicum
Concentrations
- APA-accredited PsyD with explicit social justice and multicultural competency emphasis
- 140-credit structure with Thursday/Friday/Saturday class schedule designed for working professionals
- 11-week quarter system, distinctive among PsyD programs
- Small cohorts with progressive practitioner-scholar training
- Downtown Seattle location with placements across the broader Puget Sound behavioral health network
Northwest University
In-State
~$20,639 per year graduate (plus ~$320 fees)
Out-of-State
Same private rate
Length
5 years post-bachelor's
Field Hours
1,500 to 1,800 on the APA-accredited internship plus practicum
Concentrations
- APA-accredited Counseling Psychology PsyD effective October 28, 2018
- The ONLY APA-accredited Counseling Psychology doctorate in Washington (after WSU Counseling PhD closed August 2022)
- GRE recommended but not required
- Cohort model with evening classes for working professionals
- International cultural immersion experiences in the curriculum
Gonzaga University
In-State
~$1,130 per credit (private)
Out-of-State
~$1,130 per credit
Length
3 academic years, 68 credits across 6 semesters (post-certification track); full-time
Field Hours
1,500 to 1,800 on the APA-accredited internship plus practicum
Concentrations
- Full APA accreditation expected 2026; program adheres to APA Standards of Accreditation for Health Service Psychology
- The only School Psychology doctorate in Washington
- Two tracks: post-baccalaureate (longer) and post-certification (3 years, 68 credits)
- Cohort of 10 students in post-bachelor's + 10 in post-certification
- Spokane location with placements across Eastern WA K-12 school districts and Mann-Grandstaff VA
How to Become a Licensed Clinical Psychologist in Washington
The licensing board, exam pathway, and supervised hours you'll need to practice independently.
Licensing Board
Washington Department of Health Examining Board of Psychology
(360) 236-4700
Washington regulates psychologists through the Washington Department of Health Examining Board of Psychology under RCW 18.83 (Psychologists) and WAC 246-924.
Education requirement is a doctoral degree in psychology from an APA-accredited program (or equivalent). Required supervised experience totals 3,300 hours with at least 60% direct client contact and at least 75% supervised by a licensed psychologist meeting state experience requirements. Practicum is 300 hour minimum (up to 1,800 hours); internship is at least 1,500 hours, completed within 12 to 24 months.
Washington does NOT require a post-doctoral year for licensure. If candidates accumulate 3,300 supervised hours by the end of the doctoral program (typically through extended practicum and a 1,500 to 1,800 hour internship), licensure applications can be filed immediately after the internship year. Up to 1,500 hours of post-doctoral practice may be applied as a "top-up" if hours are insufficient at graduation. Washington pioneered this approach (initially under a 2004 statute) and remains one of only a handful of states without a mandatory postdoc.
Exam sequence is the EPPP (minimum passing scaled score 500; approximately $700 total including ASPPB exam fee and Pearson VUE administration) plus the Washington Jurisprudence Examination: 25 questions, open-book, administered online with a 90% passing score.
Initial license fee is $206. Renewal is annual (Washington is unusual in renewing yearly rather than biennially) at $226 per year. Continuing education runs 60 hours every 3 years including at least 4 hours of ethics and 2 hours of health equity, plus 6 hours of suicide prevention every 6 years.
Supervised pre-doctoral practicum and internship
Supervised practice during the doctoral program under faculty and site supervision; not a separate DOH credential
Hours
N/A
Duration
Associate
Exam: Not applicable
Licensed Psychologist
Independent practice, mental health diagnosis and treatment, psychological testing and assessment, supervision of trainees, expert testimony, telepsychology under PSYPACT for WA LPs holding APIT
Hours
3,300
Duration
3,300 hours total (60%+ direct client contact, 75%+ supervised by licensed psychologist); post-doctoral year NOT required if hours accumulated by graduation
Exam: EPPP (passing scaled score 500) + Washington Jurisprudence Examination (25 questions, open-book online, 90% passing)
Washington does not offer automatic reciprocity but allows licensure by endorsement for out-of-state psychologists who hold a current valid license earned through requirements substantially equivalent to WA. Out-of-state applicants must still complete the Washington Jurisprudence Examination.
Washington is a PSYPACT member state. WA enacted PSYPACT through WA H 1286 (signed March 4, 2022), effective June 9, 2022. WA LPs holding the E.Passport and APIT (Authority to Practice Interjurisdictional Telepsychology) through the PSYPACT Commission can practice telepsychology with clients in any of the 40+ PSYPACT member states. Temporary in-person practice via the Interjurisdictional Practice Certificate (IPC) is permitted up to 30 days per calendar year in other PSYPACT states.
Clinical Psychologist Salary in Washington
BLS state median wages by counseling specialty, with national comparison and top-paying metros.
Washington pays among the highest psychologist wages in the country, with the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue metro pushing well above national medians. Combined with no state income tax, Washington offers one of the most favorable take-home wage profiles in the country. The BLS Washington OEWS places Clinical and Counseling Psychologists (SOC 19-3033) in the Seattle metro at roughly $108,660 median (verify with current BLS tables), well above the national median of $96,100. Washington is also reportedly the top-paying state for School Psychologists nationally.
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists (SOC 19-3033)
National median: $96,100
Top metro: ~$108,660 (Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue)
School Psychologists (SOC 19-3034)
National median: $84,940
Top metro: ~$105,000+ (district schedules vary) (Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue)
Psychologists, All Other (SOC 19-3039)
National median: National mean ~$120,000
Top metro: Top consulting and I-O roles top $150,000+ (Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue)
Washington Clinical Psychology Job Market and Top Employers
Major employers, mental health shortage context, and loan repayment programs that erase debt for service.
Washington has one of the deepest psychology employment markets on the West Coast, concentrated heavily in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue metro with secondary hubs in Spokane (Eastern WA) and Tacoma/Olympia. Major employers fall into five buckets.
Health systems: UW Medicine (Harborview Medical Center, UW Medical Center Montlake and Northwest, plus Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center), Providence Swedish (post-merger, the largest health system in WA after PSJH-Swedish-Providence integration), Virginia Mason Franciscan Health, MultiCare Health System (Tacoma-based), Kaiser Permanente Washington (the former Group Health Cooperative, with embedded behavioral health across all facilities), Seattle Children's Hospital (a major training site for UW Department of Psychiatry, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, offering child/adolescent clinical psychology postdoctoral fellowships), and Confluence Health (Wenatchee region).
VA system: VA Puget Sound Health Care System (Seattle Division at 1660 S Columbian Way + American Lake Division at 9600 Veterans Drive in Tacoma), with APA-accredited doctoral internship since April 1977 (reaccredited 2025) plus psychology post-doc fellowships. Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center in Spokane and Jonathan M. Wainwright Memorial VA Medical Center in Walla Walla complete the WA VA network.
WA DSHS state psychiatric system: Western State Hospital (9601 Steilacoom Boulevard SW, Lakewood, ~806 beds with a psychology department of roughly 65 licensed psychologists plus master's-level associates, serving both forensic and civil units), Eastern State Hospital (PO Box 800 Maple Street, Medical Lake, 375 beds 15 miles west of Spokane), and the Child Study and Treatment Center in Lakewood (DSHS children's psychiatric facility).
State government: WA Department of Corrections (staff psychologists in state prisons), WA Department of Children Youth and Families (DCYF), and county behavioral health agencies.
K-12 school districts: Seattle Public Schools, Tacoma Public Schools, Spokane Public Schools, Bellevue School District, Lake Washington School District, Kent School District, and Highline Public Schools employ the largest concentrations of school psychologists.
Loan Repayment & Scholarship Programs
Washington Health Corps (administered by WSAC): Three programs covering Licensed Clinical Psychologists. Behavioral Health Program (BHP): up to $75,000 for a 3-year service commitment at an approved behavioral health site (minimum 24-hour work week, prorated). State Health Program (SHP): up to $75,000 for 3-year service. Federal Health Program (FHP) also available. 2026 cycle: provider applications open January 2026, close March 2026; notifications June 2026; contracts begin July 2026.
WSAC Behavioral Health Conditional Scholarship (BHCS): Up to $51,000 for graduate mental health degrees. Currently lists MSW and MFT/counseling as explicitly eligible. Doctorate-in-psychology eligibility is not confirmed in current materials; verify with WSAC directly before applying.
NHSC Loan Repayment Program: Federal program. Licensed psychologists eligible for NHSC awards at approved sites in HPSAs. Up to $55,000 for 2-year initial commitment full-time ($30,000 half-time). Many WA rural counties are designated HPSAs.
VA Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP): VA-employed psychologists at VA Puget Sound (Seattle and American Lake), Mann-Grandstaff Spokane, and Walla Walla VAs can qualify for EDRP awards up to $200,000 over 5 years for direct educational debt reduction.
Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF): WA LPs at qualifying nonprofit/government employers (UW Medicine, WA DSHS state psychiatric hospitals, WA DOC, VA medical centers, public school districts, 501(c)(3) hospitals) qualify for PSLF after 120 qualifying payments under an income-driven repayment plan.
How to Choose a Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program in Washington
Decision factors that actually matter, not generic checklist filler.
Choosing a Washington doctoral psychology program comes down to four levers: funding, training model (clinical-science PhD vs scientist-practitioner PhD vs practitioner-scholar PsyD), geography (Seattle vs Spokane vs Eastern WA Pullman), and accreditation maturity (UW APA + PCSAS through 2027/2028 vs Gonzaga full APA expected 2026). Washington's tight program ecosystem means competition is intense; here is how to actually narrow it down.
If you want a fully funded research PhD: UW Clinical PhD (tuition waived for students on research or teaching assistantships) and WSU Pullman Clinical PhD (all admitted students receive tuition waiver + 20-hour assistantship + $21,933 stipend) are the only two fully funded paths. Both are APA + PCSAS for UW; both are deeply selective.
If you want PCSAS accreditation: UW Clinical Psychology PhD is Washington's only PCSAS-accredited program (through 2028). PCSAS signals clinical-science training and is accepted by most state licensure boards alongside APA.
If you want a PsyD: Antioch University Seattle (Clinical PsyD with social justice and multicultural competency emphasis, 11-week quarter system, Thursday/Friday/Saturday classes for working professionals), Northwest University (Counseling Psychology PsyD, the only APA-accredited Counseling Psych doctorate in WA, with evening classes), and Gonzaga (School Psychology PsyD, full APA expected 2026, post-baccalaureate or post-certification tracks). All three are paid-tuition models.
If you want Counseling Psychology: Northwest University PsyD is the ONLY APA-accredited Counseling Psychology doctorate in Washington (WSU's Counseling Psychology PhD closed in August 2022). If you want a Counseling Psychology PhD specifically, you must look out of state.
If you want School Psychology at the doctoral level: Gonzaga PsyD (full APA expected 2026) is the only School Psychology doctorate in Washington. The post-certification track is 3 years and 68 credits, designed for already-credentialed school psychologists pursuing the doctorate.
If you want to skip the post-doctoral year: Washington is one of only a handful of states (alongside Utah, Arizona, Oregon) where the post-doctoral year is NOT required for licensure. If your supervised hours can reach 3,300 by graduation (extended practicum plus 1,500 to 1,800 internship hours), you can apply for licensure immediately after the internship. This saves roughly 1 year of your career timeline compared to most states.
If you want maximum take-home pay: Washington has no state income tax. Seattle metro median wages for Clinical and Counseling Psychologists run around $108,660 (Seattle Tacoma Bellevue MSA), among the highest in the country. Combined with no state income tax, the take-home math is exceptional compared to California, Oregon, or Massachusetts.
If you want maximum PSYPACT leverage: Washington has been a PSYPACT state since June 9, 2022. WA LPs with APIT can practice telepsychology across all 40+ PSYPACT member states. Combined with no postdoc requirement and no income tax, Washington offers among the strongest base-license economics in the country.
Caveats worth knowing before applying: WSU Counseling Psychology PhD closed in August 2022; do not apply assuming it is available. Pacific Lutheran, Eastern Washington, Western Washington, Seattle University, and Central Washington do NOT offer APA-accredited doctoral psychology programs. The "Washington School of Professional Psychology" (Argosy lineage) is defunct. Verify Gonzaga's full APA accreditation status directly with APA before relying on full-credential status (currently on contingency through 2026).
Related Pages
Counseling Programs in Washington
CACREP-accredited counseling programs and the Washington LMHC license, a master's alternative to the 7-year psychology doctorate
MSW Programs in Washington
CSWE-accredited social work programs and Washington LICSW licensure
ABA Programs in Washington
BACB-verified course sequences and Washington BCBA practice for students considering applied behavior analysis
Clinical Psychology Doctoral Programs by State
Browse APA-accredited clinical psychology doctoral programs (PhD and PsyD) in every state
Sources
- APA Commission on Accreditation, Accredited Programs Directory
- Washington Department of Health, Psychologist Licensing
- WA DOH, Psychologist Licensing Requirements
- RCW 18.83 Psychologists Statute
- WAC Chapter 246-924 Psychologist Rules
- PSYPACT, Compact Map
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS Washington Estimates
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, Psychologists
- Washington Health Corps (WSAC)
- NHSC Loan Repayment Program
- VA Puget Sound Psychology Training