How To Become Clinical Psychologist

Becoming a clinical psychologist can be a long, arduous process. After all, it requires a good deal of education and training to become an expert on how people think and behave—and that’s just the beginning!

There are several different paths to becoming a clinical psychologist, but all of them require an advanced degree in psychology. If you want to become a clinical psychologist then you will need to complete at least a master’s degree in psychology or a related field. You can also complete your undergraduate education first and then go on to get your graduate degree in psychology. This is sometimes referred to as getting an M.A./Psy.D., which stands for Master of Arts/Doctor of Psychology.

Once you have your master’s degree, you may decide that you want to pursue further education by taking additional courses in the field of psychology or by obtaining some kind of certification from one of the professional organizations like the American Psychological Association (APA). The APA offers certifications such as Registered Psychologist (RP), Diplomate in Clinical Psychology (DPsych), or Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (PsyD). If you want to work with children then there are also certifications specifically designed for this population like Board Certified Child Psychologist (BCCP) or Board

How To Become Clinical Psychologist

Clinical psychology is a vital field for assessing and diagnosing mental health problems. Learn what it takes to become a clinical psychologist with this guide.

The Chicago Schoolon January 6, 2021

Psychology involves the study of the human experience, specifically with respect to the human brain, memory, consciousness, language, personality, mental health, and more.

As a result, psychology is often segmented to focus on different areas—such as developmental psychology, educational psychology, cognitive psychology, counseling psychology, clinical psychology, and others.

What is clinical psychology?

Clinical psychology in particular deals with the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases that are concerned with the brain, emotional instability, and behavioral problems.

Clinical psychologists use various approaches in their treatment, such as the psychodynamic approachhumanistic perspectivecognitive-behavioral perspective, and more.

Learn more about what clinical psychology entails here.

How long does it take to become a clinical psychologist?

To become a clinical psychologist, it’ll take eight to thirteen years of schooling before you are certified and practicing—four to six years in college for undergraduate programs, and four to seven years of graduate school for a doctoral degree in clinical psychology.

How to become a clinical psychologist

To be a professional in the field of clinical psychology, there are some clear steps you need to follow.

Step 1: Complete a doctoral degree in clinical psychology

The first step in becoming a clinical psychologist is to complete a doctoral degree in clinical psychology. This level of education—either Ph.D. or Psy.D.—is often a necessary requirement to becoming certified.

It is vital to research which schools are offering this course of study as well as other necessary program and application information. Then you can apply for the program that is best suited to your needs and interests. This could mean choosing a program based on location, length of the program, or offered specialties.

It’s important to note that you must have completed a bachelor’s or master’s degree prior to pursuing a doctorate in clinical psychology. While these precursor degree programs do not necessarily need to be in psychology-specific fields, there should be demonstrated interest in the field before applying for a doctorate.

Some doctorate programs in clinical psychology will accept students with a bachelor’s degree; others may require a master’s degree in psychology or a related field.

Some schools offer master’s in clinical psychology programs; however, these may not necessarily qualify you to become a practicing clinical psychologist upon graduation. For licensure, a doctorate is required.

Step 2: Complete clinical fieldwork and training

Practicums, internships, and other field training is an integral part of becoming a certified clinical psychologist. State licensures are usually dependent on the number of hours of field experience you have as a clinical psychologist.

To achieve this, you’ll work closely with a clinical psychology professional, learn how they work directly with counseling patients, and create appropriate treatment plans. You’ll also collaborate with physicians and other health care professionals.

Before you graduate from your master’s program, you may have already been required to complete some hours of clinical fieldwork. But depending on your area, these hours may or may not be counted toward a person’s requirement for practicum hours in your state.

Step 3: Apply for clinical psychology licensure in your practicing state

A degree does not qualify you as an official clinical psychologist. In order to practice, you must first achieve licensure and certifications depending on the requirements of the state in which you wish to practice.

Research the requirements to become certified in the state you live in and get the necessary documents in order. The requirements for most states include:

  • Completion of a doctoral program (Ph.D. or Psy.D.)
  • Complete a state-approved field internship and given number of fieldwork experience hours
  • Pass a licensure exam

A state certification acts as proof that you have gone through the training and fieldwork required to practice counseling in your state. Be sure to check any local requirements, as they may vary.

Step 4: Pursue continuing education and maintain licensure

After obtaining licensure, it is a necessary requirement for psychologists in most states to complete Continuing Education (CE) courses to maintain their license.

Apart from maintaining certification, continuing education courses also expand clinical psychologists’ knowledge base and offers increased awareness of current trends in the field.

Continuing education can also help advance a clinical psychologist’s career or lead them to pursue a different concentration.

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