PsyD Admissions
Admission to the Doctor of Psychology program is rigorous and competitive. The program is cohort-based with a fall start only. All applications are through PSYCAS. Learn more about the admissions timeline and necessary requirements below.
Application Deadline
Important Note on PSYCAS Submission & Verification
Once you submit a completed application to PSYCAS, they verify all the information and notify Touro when the verification is complete. In order for your application to be considered, Touro must receive this notification before January 15. Verification takes time, it can take 4-8 weeks or longer, especially if a foreign transcript is involved, so make sure to submit with plenty of time for this process. Remember, a completed application includes every required component of the application. Applications not verified by PSYCAS by January 15th will not be considered.
Admissions Timeline
- Interview dates will be scheduled in late January-early March.
- Application decisions: we will make every effort to make Initial application decisions by April 1, however, circumstances at times require a later notification (by April 15) and waiting list notifications are likely to occur after April 15th.
- April 15: Deadline for accepted applicants to confirm their decisions.
If you would like information about our program, upcoming open houses, and admissions cycle alerts, please email our department manager Savannah Wiza at swiza@touro.edu.
How to Apply
The PsyD Program utilizes PSYCAS for our admissions process. PSYCAS stands for “Psychology Centralized Admissions System.” PSYCAS is a centralized application service supported by APA and Liaison International. Instructions on how to use the system and how student documents will be uploaded and delivered to PSYCAS for processing can be found in the application: https://psycas.liaisoncas.com/
To apply, you can create a PSYCAS account for free and pay $50 to submit the first application. If you apply to other programs that use PSYCAS for their admissions process (i.e. most doctoral programs in psychology), each additional application is $35. Applicants who belong to specific service organizations, or meet income qualifications, are eligible for a fee waiver.
What You Will Need For Your PSYCAS Application
The following are required for your PsyD application:
- Official college transcripts for all undergraduate and graduate work (if applicable)
- Official General GRE scores (optional, see accordion below for more information)
- The Psychology GRE (required if your undergraduate major was not psychology, see accordion below for more information)
- Three (3) letters of recommendation from academic/clinical/research work sources (at least two (2) of these must come from academic faculty)
- A personal statement of career/professional interests
- A CV/Resume
You will also have the opportunity to provide a sample of scholarly work (no longer than 30 pages) if applicable. This can be easily uploaded in the "additional document" section of the PSYCAS application.
Admissions Requirements
Bachelor’s Degree
You will need a bachelor’s degree in psychology or a related field from a regionally accredited university or college.
Undergraduate GPA > 3.0
You must have a minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 to be considered. Our incoming students had an average GPA of 3.7, with a range of 3.3-4.0. Graduate coursework cannot be added to undergraduate coursework in order to change undergraduate GPA. Graduate course success will be considered as part of the totality of each application portfolio. While GREs are optional, they should be considered when the applicant has an undergraduate GPA that they do not believe reflects their academic potential.
General GRE Scores
For Fall 2025 Applications: While we strongly encourage applicants to take and report the GRE Verbal, Quantitative and Writing sections, if possible, applications without the results of the GREs will be reviewed fully and without bias. It is important for an applicant to remember that while GREs are optional, they should be considered when the applicant has an undergraduate GPA that they do not believe reflects their academic potential.
Touro ETS Code: 3232
Psychology GRE Scores
For those with an undergraduate psychology major, the Psychology GRE is not required, but strongly encouraged. For those applicants without an undergraduate psychology major, the Psychology GRE is required.
Prerequisite Coursework
You are required to have a minimum of 18 credit hours of psychology, completed with a grade of B or better. The following courses must be included in these 18 credits:
- Introduction to Psychology
- Statistics
- Research Design or Methods
- Abnormal Psychology
Physiological Psychology, Biopsychology, Cognitive Neuroscience, Sensation and Perception, and Psychopharmacology, are highly recommended but not required.
Field Work Experience
Fieldwork and/or research experience related to clinical psychology is highly recommended.
What We're Looking For in the Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program
In reviewing and evaluating applicants we consider the following in a holistic fashion:
- Academic history and proficiency
- Experiences in scientific research and clinical activities
- Potential for completing a rigorous program
- Desire to work with underserved communities and within the broad health care system.
- Career aspirations/goals and “fit” with the PsyD Program training model and mission
- Personal maturity necessary for a health care profession as evidenced in letters of reference and personal interview. Please note: Personal interview and letters of recommendation are very important in our admissions process.
Is the PsyD Program Right For You?
Before applying to our doctoral program, it’s important to consider if the program matches what you’re looking for academically and professionally. We aim to admit doctoral students who:
- Can commit to an intensive, full-time 5-year program
- Are eager to learn about how behavioral and physical health are interdependent
- Have a strong interest in both scholarly research and clinical practice
- Are driven to help address healthcare disparities and work with underserved populations
- Have strong interpersonal skills
- Meet a certain standard for academic performance
Transfer Credit Policy
Up to 18 non-clinical skills related graduate credits are eligible for transfer: Courses such as developmental psychology and social psychology would be eligible, courses such as assessment, treatment courses, and/or externship (i.e. skills courses) would not. Graduate courses with a “B-” grade or higher from an accredited college will be considered for transfer credit. All courses must be taken within the last five years to be eligible for transfer credit. It is important to note that approved course transfers will not shorten the length of the program, or 4 year on-campus requirement.
You will be required to submit syllabi of graduate courses for which you would like transfer credit. Because of specific requirements for clinical psychology, courses in social work, counseling, etc., may not be transferrable even though similar in title; content must be substantially equivalent. For transfer of credit to be granted, you must demonstrate that you have completed work which is substantially equivalent to that required by the Touro PsyD Program.
Appropriate faculty will review the submitted syllabi to ensure substantial overlap of course content, defined as a 75% content overlap between syllabi of course to be transferred and most recent syllabi of program course. These faculty will then make a transfer/no-transfer recommendation. The Executive Director will then review the faculty recommendations and make a final course transfer decision.
Admissions Decision
Personal Interview with Program Faculty
After initial file review, a number of qualified applicants will be invited for an interview with the doctoral program. This interview process will include:
- A brief program overview by the Executive Director;
- A 30-minute interview with a faculty member;
- A second 30-minute interview with a second faculty member;
- A Q & A session with current students;
- An opportunity for a follow-up Q & A session with program administration and faculty.
Final Decisions
Our admissions team will make final decisions from the pool of interviewed applicants. A waitlist will also be established, if the pool of applicants so permits. Admitted and waitlisted applicants will be invited to program events and open classes.
