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How many year do you have to attend college to be a Psychologist?

How do they deal with others feelings and emotions all at once #psychology

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Daniela’s Answer

Hi MIchaela,


In order to become a licensed clinical psychologist, you need an undergraduate degree (4 to 5 years of college) plus a doctorate in psychology (4 to 7 years of graduate school).


For this specialty area, most people will spend between 8 to 12 years in a higher education setting.


Of course, there are other career options in psychology that do not require as many years of college.


For example, you could become a licensed marriage and family therapist with master's degree, which would require 2 to 3 years of graduate study.


If you decide not to pursue a doctorate at this point, you should start looking at different master's degree programs in psychology or in related fields such as counseling or social work.


Here’s a basic breakdown of how long it might take to become a psychologist:




  • Earn Your Bachelor’s Degree (Timeline: 4 to 5 Years)
    As noted earlier, you might want to begin by earning your undergraduate degree in psychology, but some people choose to pursue a degree in a related social science field.




  • Earn Your Master’s Degree (Timeline: 2 to 3 Years)
    A master’s degree can be a great way to delve deeper into a specific field of interest. In other cases, you might use your master’s degree as a stepping stone toward a doctorate, or you might choose to forgo a master’s program and go directly into a PhD or PsyD program immediately after earning your bachelor’s degree.




  • Earn Your Doctorate Degree (Timeline: 4 to 7 Years)
    The length of your doctoral program depends on many factors including the specialty area you are pursuing as well as whether or not you already earned a master’s degree. In order to become a licensed psychologist, you will need to earn either a PhD or a PsyD in psychology.




Which degree should you earn? Again, this really depends on your career goals. If you are interested in a career in research, a PhD might be the best choice.


PhD programs place greater emphasis on research, experimental methods, and training graduates to work as scientists.


If you are more interested in professional practice, consider a PsyD. The PsyD option tends to be more centered on professional practice and clinical work, preparing graduates to enter careers in mental health.


Source:


https://www.verywell.com/how-long-does-it-take-to-become-a-psychologist-2794935

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