Admissions Information
From the PsyD Department Leadership
The Official PsyD Admissions Page
If you have not yet applied to the program, make sure you go to the official PsyD Program Admissions Page to learn about the program and apply.
Important Dates
Early Application with Priority: November 15, 2024
Regular Deadline; January 2, 2025
Interview Dates: February 21 OR February 22, 2025
Notification of Acceptance Deadline: April 15, 2025
The Regent PsyD Program
Our Program is APA-Accredited which means that we are responsible to the high standards that the APA requires of Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology. This also opens all potential career doors for you in the field of psychology. Attending an APA-Accreditated Program is the pathway if you want to become a licensed clinical psychologist.
Admissions Selection
The admissions process is competitive for any APA-Accredited doctoral program in Clinical Psychology. Applicants can expect a full review and evaluation of their previous degrees and experiences.
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2
Individual Interview
A faculty and current student will interview each individual student. This is generally done online in January or early February. Potential students should demonstrate motivation, interpersonal skills, knowledge and a willingness to learn. Not all applicants will be interviewed, but only those who have the highest application credentials.
3
Group Interview &
Campus Day
A group interview will take place in February, as well as panel presentations of students and faculty, a campus tour, informal discussion times with faculty, an academic evaluation, and optional attendance at the research symposium presented by advanced PsyD students.
Students will be informed shortly after this day whether they are accepted, on the wait-list or not.
Training Progression
Pre-Practica Year
First Practica Year: Internal Practica Training
Second Practica Year: External Practica Training
Doctoral Candidacy &
Advanced Practica
Internship
Coursework in the pre-practica training is specifically organized to prepare students to begin clinical training. This includes professional competency evaluations within coursework for Assessment in Psychological Testing, Diagnostic Assessment, Interpersonal Skills, as well as courses in Individual and Cultural Diversity, Ethics, Assessment, Psychopathology, Statistics, and Professional Issues.
Students usually join a research team of their choice in their first year to engage in clinical training and research.
Completion of all competency evaluations and related coursework is required before beginning practica.
PsyD students are supervised by the doctoral faculty within the Psychological Services Center on campus as their first practica placement from late August to early July with a minimum of 600 hours.
Coursework in this year focuses on building clinical and science skills. There are additional professional competency evaluations in assessments and case presentation which covers the breadth of clinical competencies.
Students generally continue on a research team which usually helps them craft a dissertation project.
Students select their dissertation chair and topic by winter. By the end of Spring semester students write a first draft of their dissertation proposal.
Students apply for their an intensive external practica training in the previous Spring and begin external practica in late summer for 11 months with a minimum of 600 hours. Practica supervisors are psychologists working in the community. Sites vary from hospitals, inpatient or outpatient facilities, University counseling centers or prisons.
Coursework continues with clinical training, science coursework and Christian integrative coursework.
Students generally continue on a research team and some take on roles of teaching or research assistants.
Students propose their dissertation by the end of Spring Semester and begin to prepare for internship applications in the next Fall.
Students take their comprehensive exam in the summer after second practica, which is an exam patterned after the EPPP licensing exam.
After passing comprehensive exams and proposing their dissertation, students enter doctoral candidacy status.
Students apply for their advanced practica training in the previous Spring and begin at a second external practica site in late summer for 9 months. Practica supervisors are psychologists working in the community.
Coursework continues with a focus on advanced skills such as supervision, consultation, advanced assessment and electives.
Students conduct their dissertation this year, with an ideal goal of defending prior to the end of the year. Students present at a research symposium in Spring and are encouraged to present at a professional conference.
Students complete an internship readiness portfolio clinical competency test at the beginning of the year, after which they are cleared to apply for internship training in the following year.
Internship applications are due in mid-fall each year with interviews in the winter and the national match-day in February. Our program has had 100% match almost every year (see outcomes for each year here). The program provides extensive coaching with the Director of Clinical Training and faculty advisors, and mock interviews to prepare students for a successful internship match.
Student work full time for an internship site, among the hundreds of options available around the country. Most of our students match to APA-Accredited internships, and students can expect to be paid for their work as an intern. Most students relocate for internship with only a few options in the Hampton Roads area.
There are no courses or other program requirements this year if students have finished their dissertation. If students have not yet defended their dissertation, they defend by mid-February in order to walk in May Graduation Ceremonies. Internships finish in Summer of this year with the doctoral degree conferring up on the completion of all requirements.
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