Is becoming a psychologist an easy task? What makes it hard?

Getting admitted into a doctoral program is the hardest task to becoming a psychologist. However, it is achievable! In undergrad when I applied to get into a psychology Ph.D program, I was waitlisted. Huge bummer. The school admitted someone else instead. I’ve heard in some places, it’s harder to get into a psychology Ph.D than medical school. So keep pushing and trying!

Later in life I did get into a doctoral program but in a different field of study.

It is not an easy task. To become a psychologist in the USA, you need to have a doctorate (either a PhD or a PsyD) and you need to pass a national licensing examination and receive continuing education each year. The state(s) in which you wish to be licensed will have different requirements for licensing, e.g., the number of continuing education credits and how long you need to be supervised by a licensed psychologist before you actually take the licensing examination.

So, you will be in school for about 9 years before you can "do therapy." Four years for your undergraduate degree plus five years for your doctorate.

Additionally, getting into a graduate program is very competitive. The acceptance rate of course varying from one institution to another but it's generally about 10 percent or fewer people who are admitted into such programs.

I wish you the best.