How many years does it take to receive a Doctorate?
You can go straight from your bachelor’s program into a PhD (you can get your master’s first, but it will add years). Both PhDs and PsyDs are doctor degrees. They are very similiar, but they have some VERY important differences. A PhD emphasizes more research and empirically supported treatments (therapies that have been tested through research to actually work). A PsyD is more clinically focused and doesn’t have the same level of research background. A PhD is generally more respected than a PsyD because a PhD is harder to get. With both, the average time AFTER undergraduate school is 6-8 years until you are a licensed psychologist. As far as the best schools- it depends on what you mean by “best”. There are a number of excellent schools (too many to name). You could always ask during the interview how many students typically get “matched” on internship (a sign that their students are good) and what jobs students typically find afterwards (more academic positions or positions in major
