How To Become A Psychologist

A psychology degree strengthens analytical and research skills while students learn about human behavior, abnormal psychology, and counseling psychology. The degree prepares graduates for a variety of careers.

Psychology majors work as behavior analysts, psychiatric technicians, social services case managers, human resources specialists, and marriage and family therapists. In these roles, they apply their training in psychological science to help clients resolve problems in their lives, assess and treat behavioral disorders, and improve employee morale in business settings.

Graduate-level training in psychology leads to opportunities as a school psychologist, clinical psychologist, psychology professor, or counseling psychologist. In these fields, professionals conduct research into human behavior, provide therapeutic counseling to clients, and teach psychology majors.

As a versatile field with many career paths, psychology builds the necessary skills and knowledge for a variety of roles in business, education, public service, and the mental health field. This article introduces how to become a psychologist, the most popular psychology specializations, and the earning potential with a psychology degree.

Licensed psychologists typically hold a Ph.D. in psychology or a doctor of psychology degree. During a doctoral program, degree-seekers complete coursework in their specialty area, conduct research, and complete a supervised internship. Once doctoral candidates earn their degree, they apply for a psychologist license through their state.

The licensure process generally requires a doctorate, an internship, and postdoctoral supervised experience. Psychologists also pass a national exam.

However, a psychology degree prepares students for many career paths that do not require a doctorate. Psychology majors also work as industrial-organizational psychologists, school counselors, behavior analysts, marriage and family therapists, and human resources specialists.

Psychologists work in many different subdivisions––in fact, the American Psychological Association recognizes 54 divisions that focus on different psychological approaches or areas.

During a psychology degree, learners often focus their studies by choosing a specialization. The best-known specializations include clinical psychology, child psychology, and counseling psychology. Other specializations, like behavioral psychology, cognitive psychology, school psychology, and forensic psychology, offer focused training in a psychology subfield.

In every specialization, psychology degree-seekers build research, critical thinking, and analytical skills. As psychology majors move to the graduate level, they often seek out programs that offer particular concentrations. This section introduces some of the many available psychology specializations.

Psychology career paths require educational training in the field. At the undergraduate and graduate level, students prepare for psychology degree jobs by studying organizational psychology, social behavior, and human development. A psychology degree also strengthens analytical and research skills. This section introduces the career opportunities with different psychology degrees.

Licensed psychologists typically spend a decade in school earning undergraduate and graduate degrees. However, with a four-year bachelor’s degree, psychology majors pursue careers in the psychological sciences and related fields.

The cost of a psychology degree depends on the program and degree level. Generally, in-state public tuition offers the most affordable route to a bachelor’s degree. In 2018-2019, in-state tuition rates averaged around $9,200 per year. Out-of-state students spent around $26,400 each year in tuition and fees, while private school students paid nearly $32,000 per year.

Graduate tuition often costs more than undergraduate tuition. On average, graduate students paid $19,300 in tuition during the 2018-2019 school year. Public in-state students spent around $12,200 per year, while private schools charged around $27,800.

Psychology students often save money by choosing an online learning format. Many online colleges offer tuition discounts and flat tuition rates for out-of-state students. The flexible schedule also helps students balance school with work to continue earning a paycheck while advancing their education.

Psychology majors pursue a variety of career paths, including as psychologists. The career typically requires a doctorate and a license, and psychologists earn a median salary of $82,000 per year. With a doctorate, graduates also work as psychology professors, where they earn a median wage over $80,000 annually.

At the master’s level, psychology graduates work as marriage and family therapists, school counselors, and industrial-organizational psychologists. Counseling and therapy career paths report much faster than average job growth with median earnings between $51,000-$58,000 per year.

A bachelor’s in psychology degree prepares graduates for roles in human resources, laboratory science, counseling, and social work. Many of these fields offer above-average salaries and strong growth rates. For example, training and development specialists earn around $62,700 per year with much faster than average projected job growth. With experience, they move into management roles as training and development managers, a field with median annual salaries of over $115,000.

Professional psychologists often need a license from their state board of psychology. Other psychology careers also require licensure or certification. For example, school psychologists often need a license from the board of education. In addition to required licenses, psychologists pursue optional credentials like board certification in their field.

Psychology majors planning out their next career move or considering their graduate school options benefit from the following resources. These organizations provide professional development, licensing, and career information for psychology careers.