3 answers
Selena
Student
Nebraska City, Nebraska
1
Question
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What classes do you need to be a therapist?
What college do you need to go to for being a therapist? How long do you need to be in it? Why is it expensive? When do you expect to be a therapist?
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3 answers
Jacob Taylor
Production Manager
521
Answers
Stafford, Virginia
Updated
Jacob’s Answer
To become a therapist, you'll need to follow a specific educational and licensure path. Here are the key steps and considerations:
**1. Educational Requirements:**
- To become a therapist, you typically need at least a master's degree in a relevant field. Common degree options include:
- Master of Social Work (MSW)
- Master of Counseling (MC)
- Master of Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT)
- Master of Psychology (MA or MS)
- Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) or Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (Ph.D.) for certain specialized roles.
- Undergraduate coursework in psychology, sociology, or related fields can be beneficial.
**2. Accredited Programs:**
- Ensure that the college or university you choose offers accredited programs in your chosen field of therapy. Accredited programs meet the educational standards required for licensure.
**3. Duration of Education:**
- The duration of your education can vary based on the program and specialization you choose. Typically, master's programs take 2-3 years to complete, while doctoral programs may take 4-6 years or more.
**4. Licensing Requirements:**
- After completing your education, you'll need to meet the licensing requirements in your state, which usually include:
- Completing supervised clinical hours or internships.
- Passing a national or state-specific licensing exam.
- Submitting an application and meeting any additional state requirements.
**5. Continuing Education:**
- Many states require therapists to engage in ongoing continuing education to maintain their licenses. This involves attending workshops, courses, or seminars to stay updated on best practices and emerging therapies.
**6. Cost of Education:**
- The cost of education can vary significantly depending on the institution, location, and degree level. Graduate programs in therapy fields can be expensive due to tuition, books, and associated fees.
- To manage costs, consider financial aid options, scholarships, and part-time work opportunities.
**7. Career Expectations:**
- The timeline to become a licensed therapist can vary based on your chosen degree and state requirements. After completing your education, you may need 2-3 years or more to fulfill clinical hours and pass licensing exams.
- Becoming a therapist is a commitment, and it's important to be patient and dedicated to the process.
**8. Career Planning:**
- As you progress in your educational journey, consider your specialization within therapy. Therapists can work in various settings, such as schools, hospitals, private practice, or community organizations, and may specialize in areas like marriage and family therapy, substance abuse counseling, or clinical psychology.
**9. Supervision and Experience:**
- Building experience through internships or supervised practice is crucial. Seek opportunities to work under the guidance of experienced therapists to develop your clinical skills.
**10. Licensure and Practice:**
- Once you've met the licensure requirements in your state, you can start practicing as a licensed therapist. This is the point at which you can officially work with clients.
Becoming a therapist is a rewarding but demanding journey that requires a commitment to education, training, and ongoing professional development. The expense is often associated with the extensive education and training required. However, it's an investment in a fulfilling career dedicated to helping others. The timeline to become a therapist varies, but with dedication and persistence, you can achieve your goal and expect to practice as a therapist after completing your education and licensure requirements.
**1. Educational Requirements:**
- To become a therapist, you typically need at least a master's degree in a relevant field. Common degree options include:
- Master of Social Work (MSW)
- Master of Counseling (MC)
- Master of Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT)
- Master of Psychology (MA or MS)
- Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) or Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (Ph.D.) for certain specialized roles.
- Undergraduate coursework in psychology, sociology, or related fields can be beneficial.
**2. Accredited Programs:**
- Ensure that the college or university you choose offers accredited programs in your chosen field of therapy. Accredited programs meet the educational standards required for licensure.
**3. Duration of Education:**
- The duration of your education can vary based on the program and specialization you choose. Typically, master's programs take 2-3 years to complete, while doctoral programs may take 4-6 years or more.
**4. Licensing Requirements:**
- After completing your education, you'll need to meet the licensing requirements in your state, which usually include:
- Completing supervised clinical hours or internships.
- Passing a national or state-specific licensing exam.
- Submitting an application and meeting any additional state requirements.
**5. Continuing Education:**
- Many states require therapists to engage in ongoing continuing education to maintain their licenses. This involves attending workshops, courses, or seminars to stay updated on best practices and emerging therapies.
**6. Cost of Education:**
- The cost of education can vary significantly depending on the institution, location, and degree level. Graduate programs in therapy fields can be expensive due to tuition, books, and associated fees.
- To manage costs, consider financial aid options, scholarships, and part-time work opportunities.
**7. Career Expectations:**
- The timeline to become a licensed therapist can vary based on your chosen degree and state requirements. After completing your education, you may need 2-3 years or more to fulfill clinical hours and pass licensing exams.
- Becoming a therapist is a commitment, and it's important to be patient and dedicated to the process.
**8. Career Planning:**
- As you progress in your educational journey, consider your specialization within therapy. Therapists can work in various settings, such as schools, hospitals, private practice, or community organizations, and may specialize in areas like marriage and family therapy, substance abuse counseling, or clinical psychology.
**9. Supervision and Experience:**
- Building experience through internships or supervised practice is crucial. Seek opportunities to work under the guidance of experienced therapists to develop your clinical skills.
**10. Licensure and Practice:**
- Once you've met the licensure requirements in your state, you can start practicing as a licensed therapist. This is the point at which you can officially work with clients.
Becoming a therapist is a rewarding but demanding journey that requires a commitment to education, training, and ongoing professional development. The expense is often associated with the extensive education and training required. However, it's an investment in a fulfilling career dedicated to helping others. The timeline to become a therapist varies, but with dedication and persistence, you can achieve your goal and expect to practice as a therapist after completing your education and licensure requirements.
Tess Carly Goldman
Purchasing
3
Answers
Hamilton Township, New Jersey
Updated
Tess Carly’s Answer
Hi Selena,
Graduated college student here with a bachelors in psychology, on the path to becoming a counselor.
Please note that there are some requirements that differ by state when becoming a therapist, and what type of therapy you are planning on going for. You can always check with local colleges (or colleges in the state where you’re looking to practice) who have a psychology program who will be able to provide you more state-specific information!
1. “What college.” Many colleges offer psychology programs without having to go somewhere far. You can start by checking local universities and community colleges to see which ones offer psychology programs. You can always start at a 2 year community college and then transfer into a bigger 4-year university to finish your bachelors, or you can start out at a 4 year university right after high school. Some colleges will require you to take special licensing exams in your masters program.
2. “ How long.” You will need a Bachelors degree in psychology and a masters in psychology/counseling. In your bachelors program, if possible, try to take a counseling specialization (which means you will take classes relevant to being q counselor). Your bachelors will be a 4 year degree. You will need to go back to school to obtain your masters degree. This can take from 2-3 years. While you’re studying you will also be doing real life practice under the supervision of a school/private practice/hospital (depending on which area of therapy you’re looking into). So, schooling can take anywhere from 6 to 9 years, depending on how many classes you take.
3. “Why is it expensive.” Unfortunately, most schooling is expensive if you do more than just an associate’s degree at a community college. This is because bachelor-level and master’s level psychology degrees are at larger universities where tuition is costly. You’re paying not only for your education, but your time spent working/practicing in clinical programs in your masters program. And if you live on campus, you’re paying for room, food, board, etc. to live there.
4. “When do you expect to be a therapist” this ties in to point 2 - it depends on how long you take to get your degree. Some people get a psychology bachelors degree and don’t go into their masters program right away. So there could be years of a gap in between. If you’re certain you want to be a therapist and have the money/time/circumstances to continue into a masters program after you get your bachelors, I would suggest doing so. It’s more complicated (but not impossible) to go back for your masters while working a full time job.
Hope this helps!
Graduated college student here with a bachelors in psychology, on the path to becoming a counselor.
Please note that there are some requirements that differ by state when becoming a therapist, and what type of therapy you are planning on going for. You can always check with local colleges (or colleges in the state where you’re looking to practice) who have a psychology program who will be able to provide you more state-specific information!
1. “What college.” Many colleges offer psychology programs without having to go somewhere far. You can start by checking local universities and community colleges to see which ones offer psychology programs. You can always start at a 2 year community college and then transfer into a bigger 4-year university to finish your bachelors, or you can start out at a 4 year university right after high school. Some colleges will require you to take special licensing exams in your masters program.
2. “ How long.” You will need a Bachelors degree in psychology and a masters in psychology/counseling. In your bachelors program, if possible, try to take a counseling specialization (which means you will take classes relevant to being q counselor). Your bachelors will be a 4 year degree. You will need to go back to school to obtain your masters degree. This can take from 2-3 years. While you’re studying you will also be doing real life practice under the supervision of a school/private practice/hospital (depending on which area of therapy you’re looking into). So, schooling can take anywhere from 6 to 9 years, depending on how many classes you take.
3. “Why is it expensive.” Unfortunately, most schooling is expensive if you do more than just an associate’s degree at a community college. This is because bachelor-level and master’s level psychology degrees are at larger universities where tuition is costly. You’re paying not only for your education, but your time spent working/practicing in clinical programs in your masters program. And if you live on campus, you’re paying for room, food, board, etc. to live there.
4. “When do you expect to be a therapist” this ties in to point 2 - it depends on how long you take to get your degree. Some people get a psychology bachelors degree and don’t go into their masters program right away. So there could be years of a gap in between. If you’re certain you want to be a therapist and have the money/time/circumstances to continue into a masters program after you get your bachelors, I would suggest doing so. It’s more complicated (but not impossible) to go back for your masters while working a full time job.
Hope this helps!
Mandi Conger
Title Clerk
46
Answers
Nashville, Georgia
Updated
Mandi’s Answer
Hey Selena! I would like to ask what type of therapist you want to be? This will help you research the right programs that are geared towards the kind of license you wish to hold. Like a family, children, or marriage therapist. You can also hold multiple licenses if you wish.
Most therapist have a bachelors degree as well as a masters degree, some even go on to get their doctorate. Their degrees are generally in psychology or a related field like counseling. You can earn your bachelors degree in 4yrs, your masters in one to three years, so you're looking about 4-7 years before you are a therapist. Should you choose to get your doctorate it takes about four to six years, this isn't required it is just an option.
College is expensive, however I would research any and all financial aid in your state, you will want to be able to get all the grants and scholarships you can to help reduce your out of pocket costs.
I hope this helps!
Most therapist have a bachelors degree as well as a masters degree, some even go on to get their doctorate. Their degrees are generally in psychology or a related field like counseling. You can earn your bachelors degree in 4yrs, your masters in one to three years, so you're looking about 4-7 years before you are a therapist. Should you choose to get your doctorate it takes about four to six years, this isn't required it is just an option.
College is expensive, however I would research any and all financial aid in your state, you will want to be able to get all the grants and scholarships you can to help reduce your out of pocket costs.
I hope this helps!