A clinical psychologist is a highly trained mental health professional who assesses, diagnoses, and treats a wide range of mental, emotional, and behavioral issues. Although state licensing requirements vary, most clinical psychologists need a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology to operate unsupervised.
Clinical psychologists typically specialize in areas such as addiction, crisis counseling, learning difficulties, or behavior disorders. They may work one-on-one with children or adults, as well as with families or groups. Clinical psychologists have the most options for both clientele and work situations because of their vast training.
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How to become a clinical psychologist?
Clinical psychologists are at the top of the psychology field, hence becoming one is difficult. For a total of eight to twelve years of school, count on spending four to five years acquiring your undergraduate degree and another four to seven years earning your doctorate.
Although the criteria for clinical psychology vary by state, you will need the experience to meet the requirements. Here are the stages you should take on your way to becoming a clinical psychologist.
Get a bachelor’s degree
Check the admission requirements for your graduate school before starting your Bachelor’s degree program. This will verify that your four-year degree meets the requirements for admission to a psychology doctoral program.
Maintaining your grade point average (GPA) throughout your undergraduate career is also critical, as many schools require a minimum GPA for admission.
Get a master’s degree
As a clinical psychologist, your master’s program will allow you to focus on the field in which you choose to concentrate. You’ll take a lot of classes in the field, like rehabilitation, psychoanalysis, and clinical health.
During your master’s program, you may also get significant experience in the field of research. You may be eligible to practice psychology after earning your Master’s degree, depending on your state’s criteria.
Complete your doctorate
Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) or Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (Ph.D.) is the two doctoral degrees acceptable for clinical psychologist licensure (Ph.D. in Psychology). The main distinction is that a PsyD is largely concerned with the plain practice of psychology.
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Whereas a PhD in Psychology is for those interested in academics, research, and clinical practice. Both programs are demanding, but the Ph.D. in Psychology has a higher acceptance rate and a more tough curriculum. During your Ph.D. degree, you will most likely concentrate on one or more of the American Psychological Association’s specialty areas (APA).
Finish your required field experience
You will be expected to complete one to three years of internship or residency, depending on your degree choice and state regulations. Many schools provide this as part of their degree program or as part of a post-doctoral supervised work program. So you should research the requirements in your state and the experience your graduate school provides as part of the curriculum.
Become licensed and certified
Most jurisdictions need you to sit for and pass a test in addition to supervised experience before granting you licensing. This is why it’s critical to be aware of your state’s criteria while arranging your studies.
It’s also a good idea to get certified by the American Board of Professional Psychology in one or more of the 13 specialist areas to demonstrate your expertise and skills in the field you want to work in.
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Maintain your continuing education requirements
To be eligible for license renewal, most states require licensed clinical psychologists to complete certain continuing education requirements each year. These can be done in a variety of ways.
Depending on your state, including classes, conferences, and seminars, as well as online courses, webinars, and other educational pursuits. As your career progresses, you can use these qualifications to achieve certification in one or more specialty areas.
By: Sananda Kumari
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