Psychology is among the most respected, rewarding professions in the world. A helping profession, it offers a good salary, social prestige, and the emotional reward of providing aid to those in need and pain. How do you become a psychologist? It's not a hat trick: you can't just pull the career out of your hat like a rabbit.
There are two possible approaches, both begun while getting a BA or BS from a four year college. You can take courses that focus tightly on subjects clearly connected to your intended profession: psychology, sociology, or anthropology, or social services are all good choices. You can also choose at this point to work to develop a strong, well rounded humanities background, with a strong enough psychology t, like some professions. So where to start?
After you've gotten an degree from a four year college you are ready to move on. At this point you must enter a psychology program. There are many possible ways to do so: there are online programs, universities will offer psychology degrees, and there are many, many schools dedicated specifically to psychology and psychiatry. Be sure before proceeding any further that you check to be sure that the institution you plan to apply to is accredited. Try to determine if it is respected in the field. Call the local college or university counseling office and ask if you can come in and talk to a counselor about the quality of various schools. For your own sake and the sake of your patients choose a rigorous program from a respected source.
You will also have to choose an area of specialization at this time. Clinical psychology is among the more common, with specialties in family counseling, marriage counseling, and similar sub categories. Before choosing any particular specialization take the time to learn about the prospective job openings for that degree, and the kind of work you would be doing. Some degrees are aimed at actual practice, some at various theoretical uses. Knowing which you are committing to can make a difference between success in your education and ultimate disappointment.
Along with the academic work to get your degree, you will also be expected to serve an internship or practicum. In some instances the venue for this work will be provided by the school. However many schools will expect you to find your own opportunity to serve a practicum. Likely sources of internship are schools (as counselors), hospitals, and social services departments. Your school will have to right to approve or disapprove the internship you find, and you will have to serve the full hours required by your degree to be granted your diploma.
When you have completed grad school you will still have to go through the formal licensing process for your region. To determine if your degrees and practicum are sufficient, or if your district will require further testing and internship you should contact your local Psychological Licensing Board, most often through your State Licensing Department. If you have completed the coursework at a good graduate school and have also completed your practicum hours there will seldom be a major remaining component: there may be a standardized test, or a minor additional internship, and there will certainly be some red tape. But your degree and internship should have fulfilled the major required details.
There are two possible approaches, both begun while getting a BA or BS from a four year college. You can take courses that focus tightly on subjects clearly connected to your intended profession: psychology, sociology, or anthropology, or social services are all good choices. You can also choose at this point to work to develop a strong, well rounded humanities background, with a strong enough psychology t, like some professions. So where to start?
After you've gotten an degree from a four year college you are ready to move on. At this point you must enter a psychology program. There are many possible ways to do so: there are online programs, universities will offer psychology degrees, and there are many, many schools dedicated specifically to psychology and psychiatry. Be sure before proceeding any further that you check to be sure that the institution you plan to apply to is accredited. Try to determine if it is respected in the field. Call the local college or university counseling office and ask if you can come in and talk to a counselor about the quality of various schools. For your own sake and the sake of your patients choose a rigorous program from a respected source.
You will also have to choose an area of specialization at this time. Clinical psychology is among the more common, with specialties in family counseling, marriage counseling, and similar sub categories. Before choosing any particular specialization take the time to learn about the prospective job openings for that degree, and the kind of work you would be doing. Some degrees are aimed at actual practice, some at various theoretical uses. Knowing which you are committing to can make a difference between success in your education and ultimate disappointment.
Along with the academic work to get your degree, you will also be expected to serve an internship or practicum. In some instances the venue for this work will be provided by the school. However many schools will expect you to find your own opportunity to serve a practicum. Likely sources of internship are schools (as counselors), hospitals, and social services departments. Your school will have to right to approve or disapprove the internship you find, and you will have to serve the full hours required by your degree to be granted your diploma.
When you have completed grad school you will still have to go through the formal licensing process for your region. To determine if your degrees and practicum are sufficient, or if your district will require further testing and internship you should contact your local Psychological Licensing Board, most often through your State Licensing Department. If you have completed the coursework at a good graduate school and have also completed your practicum hours there will seldom be a major remaining component: there may be a standardized test, or a minor additional internship, and there will certainly be some red tape. But your degree and internship should have fulfilled the major required details.
About the Author:
Maria Bascuas is an educator and journalist who writes about online education and online degrees.
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