As mental health continues to become less of a taboo, its practitioners continue to be in high demand. As a result, many young individuals aspire to become psychologists and psychiatrists.
If you are one of them and finding yourself clueless as to where to begin your Psychology schooling, or wondering how long will it take to become a psychologist, and similar other questions, then you’ve come to the right place.
Continue reading to find this comprehensive blog that answers all your questions on how long does it take to become a psychologist.
Things to Know Before Pursuing a Psychology Degree
First things first; there is no shortcut to becoming a licensed psychologist. If you want to become a practicing psychologist, then that’s likely to take you at least 8 years of study. The typical route is to complete a 4-year degree in Psychology, then a 2-year Master’s degree, and then a Doctorate.
Some people choose to pursue a 5-year long undergraduate and then go straight to acquiring a Doctorate degree. This is acceptable for most areas of specialization in Psychology.
If you want to be a private, independent clinical psychologist, then the process is lengthier. You will need to complete your Doctorate and then pursue a year-long training, after which you will be allowed to establish a private practice in your state.
Let’s discuss the educational requirements in detail.
Educational Requirements to Become a Psychologist
1. Bachelor’s Degree to Pursue a Career in Psychology
The traditional route is to get a 4-year long undergraduate degree in Psychology. You can also choose to get a degree in one of the social sciences and still get into your desired graduate school. You can choose to major in sociology, anthropology, or social work and then pursue Psychology at the graduate level.
Some schools allow graduate studies in Psychology even if you have a degree completely unrelated to Psychology. Nonetheless, to be on the safe side, you must check out the requirements of your desired school. The schools that allow this usually ask students to complete the prerequisites, and then enroll in the masters level Psychology program.
To become a professional clinical psychologist, you will need:
- An undergraduate degree (4-5 years of college)
- Doctorate degree (4-7 years of graduate school).
For this area of specialty, most people spend between 8 to 12 years in higher education.
Of course, there are other psychology careers that can be pursued with less formal education. For example, you could become a licensed family and marriage therapist with a Master’s degree, which generally requires 2-3 years of graduate study.
3. Master’s Degree to Progress Your Career in Psychology
You should start researching different Master’s degree programs in psychology or related fields like counseling or social work if you decide not to pursue a Doctorate at this time.
If you decide to pursue Psychology and get a Doctorate-level degree then you can continue your journey of Psychology schooling by earning a Master’s degree.
This could be your stepping stone to your Doctorate or you could choose to get a terminal Master’s degree which allows you to enter the workforce. Such a degree is offered in fields such as counseling, social work, and related branches. You cannot practice as a clinical psychologist with just a Master’s degree.
4. Doctorate Degree to Become an Independent Psychologist
For starting counseling privately, and for other such specialized fields, you will have to get a Doctorate in philosophy (Ph.D.) or a Doctorate in Psychology.
If you are interested in practicing private therapy, it is recommended that you pursue a Doctorate in Psychology as it focuses more on preparing students for on-ground professional practice and clinical work.
A Doctorate in philosophy is better for those who wish to conduct research as it trains more on aspects like research, analysis, experimental methods, and others.
A Doctorate degree usually takes 5-8 years to complete. The duration is longer if the chosen field requires great specialization and if the individual got straight into a Master’s from the undergraduate level.
The APA (American Psychological Association) guidelines state that one should enroll in an accredited program as it provides a guarantee that the specific institute meets the criteria and quality standards. Even after completing your Doctorate from such an institute, you will be required to devote a year of training which will lead you to become a fully licensed practitioner. You can now start practicing in your state.
If you have read up to this point, we are sure you must be overwhelmed. It is alright if you can’t make up your mind as quickly as you had imagined. If you have an undergrad level ahead, you just have to think if you want to pursue Psychology or not. The rest, you will figure out as you go.
What are the Licensing Degree Requirements for Psychologists?
Generally, it can take between 8-12 years of schooling for a psychologist to become licensed by the state. How many years to be a psychologist also depends on whether you choose to pursue a Master’s degree or jump from an Undergraduate to a Doctorate degree, and how specialized your area of interest is.
Check out the following list of the minimum education requirements in some of the fields so you can get a fair idea.
| Social Worker | 4-5 years long Bachelor’s degree |
| Licensed Counselor | 2-3 years long Master’s degree |
| Sports Psychologist | 2-3 years long Master’s degree |
| Industrial Organizational Psychologist | Psychologist: 2-3 years long Master’s degree |
| Forensic lab psychologist | 2-3 years long Master’s degree |
| Criminal psychologist | 2-3 years long Master’s degree |
| Health psychologist | 4-7 years long Doctorate degree |
| Social psychologist | 5-7 years long Doctoral degree |
| Child psychologist | 5-7 years long Doctoral degree |
Where do Psychologists Work?
What comes to your mind when you think about the places where psychologists work as counselors and lecturers? While these are the two most commonly known professions that psychologists can choose, they are only two out of several subfields and professions they can choose from.
If you wish to pursue Psychology, you can either choose to go into practice or research and theory. Often, the research and theory are overlooked. Psychologists continue to research human minds and behavior and add to the knowledge. The information they gather from experiments and research help in understanding how humans learn and how parents and teachers can enhance learning, how children learn behaviors, and how attitudes affect behavior and vice versa.
Psychologists can work in rehabilitation centers and help drug addicts and alcoholics to put an end to their addiction and come back to living a healthy, satisfying life.
So, in a nutshell, psychologists can work:
- In hospitals as counselors
- Independently by establishing their own practice
- In schools to help students and teachers
- In rehabilitation centers
- In offices, they can help employees avoid burnout and remain motivated
What is the Average Salary of a Psychologist?
Psychologists typically have a bachelor’s degree in psychology, although some may hold a master’s degree or doctorate. This can affect their salary, as those with higher levels of education may earn more than those with only a bachelor’s degree.
The average salary for a psychologist is anywhere between $75,000 to $90,000 per year. However, salaries can vary depending on factors such as experience, education, and location. For example, psychologists who work in private practice may earn more than those who work in hospitals or clinics. Psychologists who work in cities may also earn more than those who work in rural areas.
1. Industrial-Organizational Psychologist
An Industrial-Organizational Psychologist is someone who uses their expertise to navigate through workplace issues. They guide employees in increasing motivation and productivity and help them avoid and overcome burnout. They can also help in recruitment, assessing which candidate might be the most suitable and for what department and job type. They also conduct market research surveys that can help employers make better decisions.
A Master’s degree holder can enter the workforce as an Industrial-Organizational Psychologist. It’s important to note though that the packages offered to Doctorate holders are usually more lucrative.
They are also hired at schools and universities where they help students manage their emotions and tackle anxiety and uncertainty regarding their careers and the future ahead.
Average Salary of Industrial-Organizational Psychologist:
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, those hired at schools and universities earned an average of $110,070 a year. Those Industrial-organizational psychologists hired in industries and conducted scientific research earn $122,660 per annum.
2. Clinical Psychologist
A Doctorate in Psychology and at least 1 year of training is required to start working as a licensed clinical psychologist.
Average Salary of Clinical Psychologists:
Clinical psychologists assess, diagnose, and treat mental health disorders and issues. Their average salary is around $80,000 a year.
3. Neuropsychologist
A Neuropsychologist has a specialized degree. They require a degree in neuroPsychology or clinical neuroPsychology as they work closely with the brain. They run brain scans, deal with brain injuries, and see how drugs and alcohol impact the nervous system.
Universities, hospitals and clinics, rehabilitation centers, labs, and research centers require neuropsychologists on board.
Average Salary of Clinical Neuropsychologist:
On average, neuropsychologists earn $90,000 a year.
4. Forensic Psychologist
Forensic Psychology requires a Doctorate degree just like clinical counseling.
The job description of a forensic psychologist entails dealing with issues related to the law. So they may create psychological profiles of criminals, investigate if a child is subjected to abuse, provide testimony, prepare witnesses to deliver testimony in the courts, and train law enforcement personnel.
Average Salary of Forensic Psychologist:
They earn, on average, around $60,000 a year as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
5. Sports Psychologist
Sports psychologists specialize in the psychological components of sports. A Master’s or Doctorate degree holder in clinical Psychology can work as a sports psychologist.
They work closely with athletes and focus on how they can motivate them to give their best performance, and jump back from injuries or poor performance.
Average Salary of Forensic Sports Psychologists
Sports psychologists earn between $60,000-80,000, but those who get the opportunity to work with professional athletes can easily earn six digits a year.
How Much Does it Cost to Become a Psychologist?
If you study at a college and a university in your state that has an average fee, then the tuition fee for 8 years of studying would cost around $70,000.
If you opt for an out-of-state institute, the cost can rise to $180,000.
To get an idea of how much it would cost, you can calculate an estimated range of tuition fees.
Here’s how you can do so:
- Choose three to five accredited Psychology programs in universities you wish to go to in your state.
- Choose your dream school, two to three in the mid-tier, and one that’s lower on the list of Psychology schools.
- Look up their annual tuition fee for an undergraduate program.
- Multiply the annual tuition fee by 4 as an undergraduate program usually takes 4 years to complete. Do this for all five of the colleges on your list so you can get a lower and upper range of an estimated fee.
- Then, look up the annual tuition fee for the Doctorate degree.
- Multiply the annual tuition fee by 5, assuming that you will be able to finish your Doctorate degree in 5 years. This will give you an idea of how much 9 years of studying Psychology would cost.
FAQs
Psychology is one of the more difficult majors and degrees. It requires a lot of reading, assignments, and paperwork.
If you want to become a mental health practitioner like a clinical psychologist, then you will need to study and train for at least 5 more years after your Bachelor’s. That requires motivation, a lot of learning, and training in order to assess, diagnose and treat mental health issues.
As difficult and emotionally draining as it could get, becoming a psychologist is also extremely rewarding. Imagine, you can help someone overcome their fear and live freely. You can help individuals overcome anxiety and depression and live fulfilling lives. You can help people in dealing with their trauma, and much more.
Psychologists, or clinical psychologists, have completed their Doctorates and earned the title of a doctor. They, however, are still not medical doctors and cannot prescribe medicine. They assess, diagnose and treat mental health disorders through therapy.
It’s important to note that unless a person goes to medical school after their undergrad degree in Psychology and becomes a psychiatrist, they are not a doctor.
Conclusion
Most psychologists complete an undergraduate degree and a doctorate, which takes about 8 to 12 years. Many states also require licensure, which often involves completing 1 to 2 years of clinical experience. Some psychologists pursue postdoctoral training as well, which can take an additional 2 to 4 years. Although the path to becoming a psychologist is long, it can be very rewarding both personally and professionally.
To recap, in this detailed blog, we talked about how long it takes to become a psychologist, how you can calculate an estimate of the tuition fee for your psychology schooling, and how much psychologists in different areas and expertise earn per year.
If you want more information, you can search our site, and reach out to us with any questions.
