2 answers
Payleigh
Student
Payne, OH
2
Questions
Asked
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How many years of Education are required, and what degrees are needed to be a clinical psychologist?
I'm a high school student who needs to find information on clinical psychology for my career research project.
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2 answers
Chinyere Okafor
Educationist and Counseling Psychologist
962
Answers
Port Harcourt, Rivers, Nigeria
Updated
Chinyere’s Answer
Hello Payleigh,
Great question! That's fantastic that you're already considering your professional route.
To become a clinical psychologist, you must complete years of coursework and training. The first step is to complete a bachelor's degree, which normally takes four years. The majority of students major in psychology, although some also pick human development, sociology, or even biology.
Getting a doctorate in psychology is the next stage after earning a bachelor's. A Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy) or a Psy.D. (Doctor of Psychology) are your two primary choices. A Psy.D. is more inclined toward therapeutic practice, whereas a Ph.D. is more focused on research. It typically takes five to seven years to finish either path.
You will also work directly with clients during supervised clinical internships and practicums during your PhD program. To formally practice clinical psychology after graduation, you may need to pass a licensing exam and finish a postdoctoral residency in some states.
Overall, it takes roughly ten to twelve years from the time you start college until you receive your license to work as a clinical psychologist. It's a long road, but it may be very fulfilling if you have a strong desire to help others and are curious about how the mind functions. Just by asking intelligent questions like this, you're headed in the right direction!
Best wishes!
Great question! That's fantastic that you're already considering your professional route.
To become a clinical psychologist, you must complete years of coursework and training. The first step is to complete a bachelor's degree, which normally takes four years. The majority of students major in psychology, although some also pick human development, sociology, or even biology.
Getting a doctorate in psychology is the next stage after earning a bachelor's. A Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy) or a Psy.D. (Doctor of Psychology) are your two primary choices. A Psy.D. is more inclined toward therapeutic practice, whereas a Ph.D. is more focused on research. It typically takes five to seven years to finish either path.
You will also work directly with clients during supervised clinical internships and practicums during your PhD program. To formally practice clinical psychology after graduation, you may need to pass a licensing exam and finish a postdoctoral residency in some states.
Overall, it takes roughly ten to twelve years from the time you start college until you receive your license to work as a clinical psychologist. It's a long road, but it may be very fulfilling if you have a strong desire to help others and are curious about how the mind functions. Just by asking intelligent questions like this, you're headed in the right direction!
Best wishes!
Annah Edmonds
Licensed Clinical Counselor and Art Therapist
161
Answers
Seattle, Washington
Updated
Annah’s Answer
Payleigh, just to add on to Chinyere's response- who did a great job explaining the time commitment. I have heard a PsyD might take slightly less than a PhD. Not sure if this is accurate; it may have to do with the final dissertation but again don't take my word for it. Usually, you find you are drawn strongly to one or the other; for example, I would likely choose the PsyD as I am not interested in developing new research and the work that requires. With a PsyD you are looking at and evaluating existing research. In your master's program you will get a taste for this; mine required students to complete a research paper or (human subjects) project that was either qualitative or quantitative in design. There are different types of doctorate degrees within the field, FYI- forensic psychology, child psychology, school psychology, education psychology, IO, etc. A good place to explore online is the American Psychological Association (APA). Another thing to remember, you only need to obtain one degree at a time. You can always take time off from pursuing your education to gain real life experience which is invaluable. There are benefits to either route- going straight through or spending time in the field working directly with patients. You may even decide to forego the doctorate entirely. It can be an asset for sure, but many a clinical therapist with a masters finds they can do what they want with the degree that they have. It all depends upon your greater career goals; entering academia will likely eventually expect you to have the doctorate. Working abroad will also be more seamless. And of course, your salary will reflect the additional credentials. Good luck to you!