{"id":5388,"date":"2017-09-28T20:33:13","date_gmt":"2017-09-28T20:33:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wayup.com\/guide\/?p=5388"},"modified":"2018-06-29T14:15:29","modified_gmt":"2018-06-29T14:15:29","slug":"how-to-become-a-psychologist","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wayupstudent.wpengine.com\/how-to-become-a-psychologist\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Become a Psychologist"},"content":{"rendered":"

Becoming a psychologist is a wonderful opportunity to help patients work through mental health issues and address challenges in their personal lives. If you\u2019re a psychology major<\/a>, or just considering a career in the mental health field, then you might be wondering what you need to do to become a psychologist. Do you have to pick a specialty before you go to grad school? Do you need to get both a master\u2019s and a Ph.D.?<\/p>\n

Here are the steps you need to follow when getting started on a psychology career.<\/p>\n

1. Earn a bachelor\u2019s degree in psychology or a related subject<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Since being a psychologist requires a graduate-level degree (such as a Ph.D. or Psy.D.), you\u2019ll need to earn a bachelor\u2019s degree before you can focus on more advanced training. Although a psychology degree is recommended since it will give you great insights into the subject and prepare you for advanced study in the field, it\u2019s not necessary to have one. In fact, any major that helps you build critical thinking and research skills will give you the tools you need to succeed in graduate school.<\/p>\n

Pro Tip:<\/strong> While you don\u2019t need to major in psychology in order to become a psychologist, most Ph.D and Psy.D. programs do require certain prerequisites so be sure to check in with your advisor and find out which ones you need to take. Once you have this information, a minor<\/a> or double major<\/a> can be a great way to fulfill your grad school requirements while also studying another subject you\u2019re passionate about.<\/p>\n

2. Select a specialty and complete a doctoral program<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Once you\u2019ve completed your bachelor\u2019s degree, it\u2019s time to decide on a specialty and to pick a graduate program that matches your interests. This can be anything from clinical psychology to developmental psychology and often includes both a research and a clinical component. Although some universities combine a master\u2019s and a doctoral program into a single degree program, most schools offer individual master\u2019s and Ph.D.\/Psy.D programs.<\/p>\n

Pro Tip:<\/strong> Since most master\u2019s programs last between two to three years and most Ph.D and Psy.D. programs take anywhere from five to seven years, you should be prepared for a long course of study on your way to a doctorate. The key to making the most of these years is to take a broad range of classes while also continuously refining your research interests.<\/p>\n

3. Do a psychology internship<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Before you can become licensed to practice in your state, you\u2019ll need to complete a two-year post-doctoral internship. Focused on expanding your clinical experience and ensuring that you\u2019re qualified to treat patients in a clinical setting, this type of internship will give you the hands-on experience you need to be effective in a patient-focused role. And because these internships are almost always approved by the American Psychological Association (APA) they are geared toward helping you develop the exact skills you\u2019ll need to be a successful psychologist.<\/p>\n

4. Get licensed to practice<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Once you\u2019ve completed your doctorate and your post-doctoral internship, you\u2019ll be eligible to become licensed as a psychologist. In order to do so, you\u2019ll need to pass a national licensure exam called the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology<\/a> (EPPP) as well as meeting any additional requirements specific to your state.<\/p>\n

Psychology is an intriguing field with plenty of career opportunities for anyone interested in mental health. By following these steps and knowing how to set yourself up for success, you\u2019ll be able to establish a career that will have a lasting impact in your life and the lives of your patients.<\/p>\n

Next, learn more about this college major such as What Types of Skills Are Best for a Psychology Major?<\/a>\u00a0and get more career tips for internships and entry-level jobs such as 5 Tips for Getting an Entry-Level Job Unrelated to Your Major<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Becoming a psychologist is a wonderful opportunity to help patients work through mental health issues and address challenges in their personal lives. If you\u2019re a psychology major, or just considering a career in the mental health field, then you might be wondering what you need to do to become a psychologist. Do you have to … Continue reading “How to Become a Psychologist”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":749,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[32,108,179],"tags":[44,70,180,197,198,199,228],"class_list":["post-5388","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-industry-major","category-health-and-medicine-major-101","category-psychology","tag-entry-level-job","tag-full-time-job","tag-psychology-major","tag-underclassman","tag-postgrad","tag-senior","tag-social-sciences"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nHow to Become a Psychologist | Career Advice & Interview Tips | WayUp Guide<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"If you\u2019re passionate about psychology, then you might be interested in becoming a psychologist. 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