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.
To prepare for later getting a graduate degree in psychology you must first get a BA or BS from a four year college. You may want to specialize in area clearly connected with your planned profession. You can get a degree in psychology, anthropology, sociology, or social services. Any would prove good bases for a psychology career. However you may also choose to get a solid liberal arts degree with a strong psychology minor. The important thing is to do well enough to ensure the grounding and the grades to go on to do graduate work.
The next step will be to find a school and program for your graduate work in psychology. There are many possible sources for obtaining a degree. Universities will have graduate degrees in psychological counseling. There are many specialized graduate institutes also providing counseling degrees, some in real life and some online. Take the time to check credentials and evaluate programs. Don’t be fooled into signing up with any institution that tries to make it all sound too easy. Getting a psychology degree and gaining a license are not necessarily easy, nor should they be. Look for a program that is well balanced, accredited, and respected in the field.
Learn what specializations are being offered by the school, and try to determine what sort of work you would be doing, and what kind of job openings exist. Many forms of clinical psychiatry have immediate utilitarian value. Theoretical or academically oriented degrees may not provide the background you need to practice. Choose your program based on your real career goals.
As you proceed in your degree, if you intend to practice you will be required to do internships and practicums. Like doctors doing internships and residencies, no psychologist will be licensed without having first served under supervision. You will often be required to find your own internships. Be prepared to look for counseling clinics, hospitals, and other venues where you may be allowed to intern. Do not be surprised that your school won’t be setting it all up for you.
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.
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