To become a psychologist, you can take a variety of routes. In the United States, at least, all of them necessitate the completion of both an undergraduate and graduate degree in psychology. In addition to these minimum requirements, most people must pass board examinations and have thousands of hours of supervised training in their field to obtain licensure. Because these requirements are subject to change, it’s important to check state requirements as well as those recommended the American Psychological Association (APA) or the association in the country where a person plans to study. Most degrees will require you to participate in some form of therapy, as it is often a requirement of study or practice.
In the United States, there are three degrees that allow people to pursue a career as a psychologist. The Ph. D., or Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology, and the Psy.D., or Doctorate of Psychology, are the two most common. The Ed. D, or Doctor of Education in Psychology, is the third degree. Each of these degrees may have a slightly different focus, but if a person meets all licensing requirements, they can become a psychologist with any of them.
The Ed. D. program may be more focused on education and developmental psychology. The Psy. D is more focused on clinical work, whereas the Ph. D may be more focused on research. Any of these degrees can help you prepare to become a psychologist, and any of them will allow you to practice therapy if you have the proper license. If a person wants to teach psychology, there appears to be some prejudice in certain academic fields. The Ph. D. may be preferred people in teaching and research fields, though this is not always the case.
As previously stated, most people will require an undergraduate degree to begin, and it is generally agreed that psychology is the best major to pursue. Most graduate programs require this, and it’s a good place to start to ensure that people are truly interested in this field. Most people in the United States will need to take the Graduate Records Examination (GRE) before applying to graduate school.
It is recommended that students look for schools that specialize in the fields in which they intend to work. For example, if a person wants to practice therapy as a psychologist, he should look for graduate schools that focus on clinical work and consider pursuing a Psy.D degree. If the goal is to become a therapist, it makes no sense to attend a graduate school that focuses solely on research.
To get into doctorate programs, most people will need good grades, excellent letters of recommendation, and high GRE scores. These programs take an average of five years to complete, though some students can finish in four years and others take seven to eight years. Some schools provide an optional master’s degree along the way, which, when combined with supervised training and examinations, can lead to licensure as a therapist.
School can take anywhere from 9 to 14 years to complete, and supervised training can add to that time. A person has successfully become a psychologist after earning a degree, completing training, and passing board examinations. If a person wants to be a therapist but does not believe a psychology doctorate is required, there are options.
A master’s degree in counseling or social work is required to become a licensed counselor. These individuals are not psychologists, but they can practice therapy after completing required training hours and passing board exams. They may have fewer job opportunities in academic fields than licensed psychologists, but they usually pay less and spend less time in graduate school.