How To Become A Clinical Psychologist

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How Long Does It Take, What Degree Do You Need, and More

Clinical Psychologists

Clinical Psychologists diagnose or evaluate mental and emotional disorders of individuals through observation, interview, and psychological tests, and formulate and administer programs of treatment.

Salary
$89290
Becoming One
Very Hard
Education
Doctoral degree
Job Satisfaction
Job Growth

Personality
Interest Match



Table of contents
  1. Summary
  2. Steps to become one
  3. Popular degree levels
  4. How long does it take

Summary

Degree Doctoral degree
License or certification Required
Duration to become one 12 years
Difficulty to become one Very Hard

A Clinical Psychologist assesses, diagnoses, and treats mental disorders. Sometimes they work with a particular disorder or condition, and other times they treat a wide range of patients. It is the largest subfield of Psychology.

Psychologists need a Master’s Degree to become a Clinical Psychologist, but many earn a Doctorate. They can choose a specialty within this field for their focus during education. They often complete an internship or practicum while they are in school.


Clinical Psychologists Requirements

Step 1: Take Science and Psychology Courses in High School

During high school, you should take science classes, such as chemistry, biology, anatomy, and others. You should also take psychology. If your school offers it, you can take AP Psychology and other medical and healthcare preparation courses. The key is to build a foundation in math and science so that you are ready for higher education. In addition, classes in English, writing, and speech are useful because you will be expected to write and communicate effectively.

If you focus on your academics while you are in high school, you will be better prepared. Your high school may not offer Psychology or AP Psychology, but you can take sciences, including chemistry and biology. You will want to take math seriously, and take a statistics class. In addition, you should work on your writing skills, economics, and other social sciences. This will prepare you to study Psychology in college.

Step 2: Earn a Bachelor’s Degree

Most people who want to become a Clinical Psychologist start off by earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology. However, some earn a degree in Sociology, Anthropology, or Premed. You will also take the general education requirements. The last two years in your undergraduate program, you will focus on classes in your major.

It is important to choose the right courses in your undergraduate program because Clinical Psychology is a competitive field. You need to maintain a high GPA, and make sure that you have teachers who will write recommendations for you. You want to prepare to apply to graduate programs while you are in your undergraduate program.

Step 3: Complete Your Master’s Degree

After you earn your Bachelor’s Degree, you will earn your Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology. This takes between two and three years. Although some people go to work once they earn this degree, it is not enough for you to become licensed as a Clinical Psychologist. However, it will allow you to work under supervision. If you are going to continue on and earn your PhD or your Psy.D, there are programs that allow you to earn a combined degree that includes your Master’s. However, these programs are usually limited to applicants who earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology.

Step 4: Earn Your Doctorate Degree

If you pursue your Doctorate Degree in Clinical Psychology, you can choose between a PhD and a PsyD. The PhD is a Doctor of Philosophy, and it takes between four and five years to complete. The final year is usually spent in an internship, and you will need to complete a dissertation and defend it.

The PsyD is a Doctor of Psychology, and it takes the same amount of time. It also requires you to complete a dissertation, and you will also take exams once you finish. Both degrees expect you to work as an intern for close to two years. During this time, a licensed Clinical Psychologist will supervise you as you develop your clinical skills. You need to make sure that your program is accredited with the APA (American Psychological Association).

Step 5: Complete Your Clinical Training

You have to complete clinical training to become a licensed Clinical Psychologist. The requirements will depend on the state where you want to be licensed, but all states require that you complete clinical training. If you plan to specialize in child or another specialty in Clinical Psychology, you will want to do your training in this field.

Step 6: Get Your License

Although your state will have its own licensing requirements, you will have to have graduated from an APA accredited PsyD or PhD program, you must have had clinical training, and you must have passed the appropriate exams. Most states require 2,000 to 3,000 hours of supervised clinical training, but certain states do not have this requirement. However, everyone is required to pass the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Board’s Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology.

Step 7: Maintain Your License

As soon as you receive your license, you can begin your career and start seeing patients as a Clinical Psychologist. However, you need to maintain this license according to the requirements of your state. You will need to take continuing education credits, and you can find out how to do this through the APA. These continuing education courses are critical to maintaining your license, and you will be required to have a certain number of hours. Make sure that you keep track of your hours and do enough to maintain your license.

What degree do most Clinical Psychologists have

Doctoral degree

We did a survey to ask other Clinical Psychologists what degree they had when they first became one. Here are the results.

Doctoral degree
61.6%

Post-Doctoral Training
22.15%

Master’s degree
16.25%

How long does it take

12 years

It will take about 12 years for you to become a licensed Clinical Psychologist. You will spend around four years in college, followed by two to three years for your Master’s Degree. Then, it will take around four additional years to earn your Doctorate. Once you complete your education, you will have to spend around two years in your clinical training. Although it takes time for you to earn the required degrees and do your clinical training, it is a rewarding career, and Clinical Psychologists are in high demand.

Once you are licensed and practicing, it is critical that you spend the time required to maintain your license. You need to keep very accurate records and follow the requirements of your state. It is against the law to practice Clinical Psychology if you let your license lapse. Keep track of your continuing education requirements, which will allow you to stay current in your field as well.


Learn more about Clinical Psychologists

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