Ways to Advance a Career in Psychology

It comes as no surprise to learn that psychology professionals play an essential role in society today. Suppose someone has a skill in analyzing how someone processes cognitively and emotionally in their environments or with those around them. In that case, they will most likely pursue a career in psychology.

Many will look into good counseling schools, earn their Bachelor’s degree in psychology, and be content working as a social worker, human resources specialist, survey or market researcher, or psychiatric technician. But for those who want to go further, there are ways to advance their career.

Earn a Master’s Degree

Those who are pursuing to further their education in psychology will need to pursue a master’s degree.

One study showed that only fourteen percent of those who earned their Bachelor’s in psychology pursued their master’s degree. Many then went on to pursue becoming teachers at the university level, psychotherapists, or research-based careers.

Earn a Doctorate

After earning their master’s degree, some may pursue their doctorate next. In psychology, they have two options earning a Ph.D. or a PsyD.

People who want to pursue a Ph.D. or a Doctor of Philosophy focus on psychological research. It can be earned between five to seven years. Whereas a PsyD, or a Doctor of Psychology, emphasizes clinical work and only takes four to six years to complete.

Earning a doctorate in psychology will open many doors to different specialized fields, such as education, health, and social psychology. They also have the option to work in the business sectors, including becoming a human resources manager, marketing director, and a high-level administrator.

Become a Licensed Psychologist

Another significant benefit to earning a doctorate in psychology is becoming a licensed psychologist.

Although, there are specific requirements before earning this license. They must first complete their doctorate. Then there is an Examination for Professional Practice of Psychology or EPPP. This exam consists of a two hundred twenty-five multiple choice test from the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards.

After that, they must put in a certain about of clinical hours. For example, a graduate student will most likely have to do two thousand hours of supervised clinical hours and an additional two thousand hours once they have earned their doctorate. However, these hours may vary by state.

Complete a Psychology Internship

To get some hands-on experience, completing a psychology internship as part of their education would also be a good idea.

The benefits of this are that a person will then be able to determine what they want to specialize in, and it also helps them accrue the supervised hours required to get licensed. There is also the advantage of applying the knowledge and skills learned throughout their education to real-life situations.

Become a Certified Specialist

It may not be necessary for a person to gain a specialized certificate to practice as a licensed psychologist, but it can be of great value to do so anyway. There are fifteen specialty areas that include careers in areas such as school psychology, clinical child and adolescent psychology, and clinical neuropsychology.

There may be some who are content with their Bachelor’s in Psychology. Still, the benefits of pursuing further education in their field can prove to be beneficial for their career in psychology.