The APA suggests targeting at least 10 programs, including a few at the Master's level, to ensure admission to one. It is expensive, but it may save you from having to wait another year for the next round of admissions. The number will depend on your qualifications, the specific schools to which you apply, and your area of specialization. Applicants to clinical and counseling programs, because they are the most popular areas, should apply to more schools. It is not an easy task to fill out the application forms correctly and have all your material sent to the appropriate places.
Different schools have different procedures.
The graduate school usually requires the graduate school admissions form, official transcripts, official GRE reports, and an application fee. The department usually requires a departmental application form, an application for financial assistance, a personal statement, letters of recommendation, transcripts, and a GRE score report. Departments will often accept photocopies of transcripts and the GRE score report. If you can get all this stuff to the right places, you deserve to be admitted. Even if you are highly qualified for admission, you will find that the financial support from different schools will vary.