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How many years of education and training did it take to become a psychologist?

I would like to earn a PhD when I go to college in 2024, so what would I have to do, specifically, to reach that level?

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Dina’s Answer

Great question! Thinking about your career options can be exciting and also takes planning ahead. There are a couple of different routes that you can take to become a psychologist. Expect to spend about 5-7 years of training after earning your bachelors. After graduating with a bachelors degree, clinical psychologists complete either a PhD or PsyD (a professional doctorate). A PhD in the United States takes a minimum of five years and some programs may be six or more years. Students can enter a PhD program with a Bachelors degree, but many programs will require research experience (often full-time) before applying. Some students choose to complete a Masters in psychology or a related field before applying for a PhD. Non-clinical PhD programs (e.g. social psychology, experimental psychology) will have a strong research focus and may have specific requirements to apply.

Dina recommends the following next steps:

If you are interested in learning more, the American Psychological Association has a listing of all of the accredited clinical psychology PhD and PsyD programs. You can find requirements for specific schools. https://accreditation.apa.org/accredited-programs
Thank you comment icon Thank you so much, Dina! Nishka
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