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.
Psychologists begin by getting a good education at a four year college or university. There are a number of specializations possible. You can specialize in psychology from your freshman year on, or in related fields: sociology and anthropology can make very good foundations for later work in psychology. However many students minor in psychology while focusing on getting a good, broad humanities education. The vital issue is to do well, get good grades, and provide yourself with a solid understanding of human interactions and relations.
When you have a degree you want to then choose a grad school. There are many choices available to you. Most universities will offer psychological counseling degrees, as will specialized institutes of psychology. There are even programs online, offering a range of possible degrees and specializations. Be sure to check that any place you sign up with is credentialed, accepted throughout the U.S., and is respected in the field. There are a number of scams out there, so watch out. Look for a rigorous program with fully laid out steps and a strong testing ethic.
Do you want to be a practicing counselor, or an academic with psychological training? A manager for a human resources department, or a steady guide to addicts or trauma victims? There are many forms of psychological training, and before you start your graduate work you must take the time to learn the nature of the many programs and specializations. A poor choice now can doom your plans for decades to come. Clinical psychiatry takes many forms, but most involve actual practice. There are many degrees of a more academic nature, though. Be sure you know what you are signing up for.
Along with the academic work to get your degree, you will also be expected to serve an internship or practicum. In some instances the venue for this work will be provided by the school. However many schools will expect you to find your own opportunity to serve a practicum. Likely sources of internship are schools (as counselors), hospitals, and social services departments. Your school will have to right to approve or disapprove the internship you find, and you will have to serve the full hours required by your degree to be granted your diploma.
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. - 30224
Psychologists begin by getting a good education at a four year college or university. There are a number of specializations possible. You can specialize in psychology from your freshman year on, or in related fields: sociology and anthropology can make very good foundations for later work in psychology. However many students minor in psychology while focusing on getting a good, broad humanities education. The vital issue is to do well, get good grades, and provide yourself with a solid understanding of human interactions and relations.
When you have a degree you want to then choose a grad school. There are many choices available to you. Most universities will offer psychological counseling degrees, as will specialized institutes of psychology. There are even programs online, offering a range of possible degrees and specializations. Be sure to check that any place you sign up with is credentialed, accepted throughout the U.S., and is respected in the field. There are a number of scams out there, so watch out. Look for a rigorous program with fully laid out steps and a strong testing ethic.
Do you want to be a practicing counselor, or an academic with psychological training? A manager for a human resources department, or a steady guide to addicts or trauma victims? There are many forms of psychological training, and before you start your graduate work you must take the time to learn the nature of the many programs and specializations. A poor choice now can doom your plans for decades to come. Clinical psychiatry takes many forms, but most involve actual practice. There are many degrees of a more academic nature, though. Be sure you know what you are signing up for.
Along with the academic work to get your degree, you will also be expected to serve an internship or practicum. In some instances the venue for this work will be provided by the school. However many schools will expect you to find your own opportunity to serve a practicum. Likely sources of internship are schools (as counselors), hospitals, and social services departments. Your school will have to right to approve or disapprove the internship you find, and you will have to serve the full hours required by your degree to be granted your diploma.
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. - 30224
About the Author:
Maria Bascuas is an educator and journalist who writes about online education and online degrees.
