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Clinical Psychology PsyD Overview

A degree that advances your career and amplifies your impact.

A PsyD is your pathway to professional leadership, clinical autonomy, and a specialization that creates profound impact for your patients and your career. The California School of Professional Psychology (CSPP) at ͬ��Լ�� offers three APA-accredited doctor of psychology programs in California, designed for clinicians ready to lead.

Whether you’re deepening your expertise or stepping into advanced practice, our PsyD programs prepare you for diverse specializations across the field. At ͬ��Լ��, you’ll learn alongside experienced faculty, engage with rigorous coursework, and build real-world skills through hands-on clinical training and evidence-based practice—everything you need to succeed as a health service psychologist in California and beyond.

Our PsyD programs will help you gain the skills you need for a rewarding career in clinical psychology.

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Program Highlights

Setting the standard for professional psychology training.

APA-Accredited Excellence

ͬ��Լ��’s APA-accredited PsyD programs deliver the gold standard in psychological education, training, and clinical skill—everything you need to thrive as a health service psychologist.

Training for Multicultural Competence

Our comprehensive multicultural curriculum prepares you for the real world—equipping you to work confidently with diverse populations, age groups, and a wide range of evidence-based treatment approaches.

Hands-On, Targeted Clinical Practice

Through hundreds of top-tier practicum partnership options across diverse settings, you’ll build real-world clinical skills that align with your goals—culminating in a year-long, full-time internship in a health service setting.

Research That Moves the Field Forward

ͬ��Լ�� PsyD students go beyond the classroom to engage cutting-edge research,contribute to meaningful discoveries,and may have the opportunity to publish or present their work at national conferences.

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Admissions and Financial Aid Info

You’ll be assigned a dedicated admissions counselor to guide you at every step. They’ll keep you on track with application deadlines and requirements, and upon acceptance, work with you and ͬ��Լ��’s Student Finance Office to explore grants, scholarships, and other financial aid options. We’re your partners and your foundation of support from day one.

ͬ��Լ�� is committed to making your education accessible and affordable. Financing is available in the form of scholarships, grants, part-time employment, and loans funded through federal, state, ͬ��Լ��, and private sources. Your ͬ��Լ�� admissions counselor can provide further guidance and information of the specific costs of this program.

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Faculty

ͬ��Լ�� PsyD faculty are leading experts who are invested in your success both in the classroom and long after graduation. With an average of 11.8 years of appointed experience and over 2,290 contributions to peer-reviewed publications, our CSPP faculty bring deep expertise and mentorship to every stage of your journey—from coursework and research to practicums, dissertations, and licensure preparation.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the career options for clinical psychologists?

Clinical psychologists work with individuals, families, and groups across a wide range of settings—from hospitals and private practices to schools and beyond. Common specializations include child psychology, neuropsychology, substance abuse, health psychology, and forensic psychology.

What are the workplaces that require psychological services?

Opportunities exist across community mental health centers, hospitals, university counseling centers, schools, prisons, military bases, nonprofits, and private practices. ͬ��Լ�� graduates are equipped to specialize in therapy, assessment, and counseling across all these settings.

What is the difference between a PsyD and a PhD program?

While both PsyD and PhD programs lead to licensure as a clinical psychologist, the difference lies in their focus:

• A PsyD program emphasizes practical clinical skills and direct application of psychological principles for those interested in hands-on practice in a clinical setting.
• A PhD program often places greater emphasis on research-based practices and theoretical knowledge for individuals interested in academia, research, or a combination of both.

Check out our blog post for more details.

How long will it take to complete this program?

ͬ��Լ��’s PsyD in Clinical Psychology program is typically completed in four years of full-time study, which includes three years of residency and a one-year APA-accredited internship. Some students may take longer depending on their individual pace, dissertation progress, and clinical training choices. Students also have the option of following a modified curriculum plan that leads to completion of the program in five years.

What are the benefits of earning my degree in an APA-accredited program?

APA accreditation ensures that programs meet education and industry standards, follow best practices of licensed psychologists, and use industry experts to teach. For most psychologists, APA accreditation is also required for licensure by many states.

The CSPP clinical psychology PsyD programs offered on the Los Angeles, Sacramento, and San Diego campuses are individually accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of the American Psychological Association (APA).

Please direct program accredited status inquiries to the Commission on Accreditation:

Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation
American Psychological Association
750 1st Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002
Phone: (202) 336-5979
Email: apaaccred@apa.org
Web:

As an international student, may I apply for the graduate program?

Review the admissions requirements, housing, tuition, and other information for international applicants.

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Built Different. By Design.

“It’s time for us to really use our experiences as therapists, as psychologists, as professionals and say we have a responsibility to fix the world. We need to use our voice to be able to effect change.”

Mohamed Abdallah Elnakib | Doctor of Psychology, ͬ��Լ�� Class of 2022

Our “why” has always been about meeting the moment and transforming it into something better. CSPP has grown into the largest provider of licensed clinical psychologists in the U.S., educating just over 10% of the country’s clinical psychology practitioners annually. ͬ��Լ�� provides a strong foundation in psychology training while evolving to offer specializations that go beyond the traditional to meet today’s societal challenges. And our history of promoting multicultural practice and making quality mental health care accessible to diverse communities remains a pillar of CSPP that is needed now more than ever. Watch our documentary to learn more.