How To Become A Clinical Psychologist: The Best PsyD Program For You
Whether you are nearing the end of your bachelor's degree program or you finished it some time ago, you may be wondering what's next. You may have heard of other graduates pursuing options such as a Psy.D. or Ph.D., and you might be wondering what’s right for you. Below, we’ll discuss Psy.D. programs and how to choose the program that’s right for you.
How to become a clinical psychologist: Choosing between PsyD programs
A Psy.D., sometimes also written as PsyD, is a Doctor of Psychology degree, as opposed to a Ph.D. in psychology, which is a Doctor of Philosophy degree. Psy.D. programs prepare students for clinical practice, while Ph.D. programs generally prepare them for a career in research or academia. Clinical psychologists generally focus on evaluating and treating different types of mental illness.
PsyD programs’ education and training requirements
A Psy.D. program can provide aspiring psychologists with the skills and knowledge necessary to have a successful career in a broad range of fields, training students to do clinical work in areas as varied as health psychology, sports psychology, or forensic psychology. Through academic coursework, fellowships, and internships, Psy.D. programs comprehensively prepare students for a career in mental health care.
There are many Psy.D. programs to choose from, but how do you choose the right one? One way to start is by researching the best Psy.D. programs for the specialty you’re considering, taking into account factors like quality, location, requirements, goals, affordability, and internships.
Quality of clinical psychology programs and training procedures
One of the most important things to consider when trying to identify top Psy.D. programs is their level of quality. Accreditation status is one measure of the quality of a program's curriculum, student evaluation process, faculty qualifications, and general training procedures. According to the American Psychological Association (APA), “accreditation assures the public, licensing boards and potential employers that you have a sound educational and scientific foundation on which to build a successful career in psychology”.
The best clinical psychology programs, according to the American Psychological Association
The Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation of the American Psychological Association is a trusted resource for checking a Psy.D. program's current accreditation status and viewing a list of other accredited programs. Choosing a Psy.D. program with APA accreditation may help ensure you receive the best possible preparation that will be recognized by employers.
Consider whether you want to go in-person or online
Some people feel like they need the structure that in-person Psy.D. programs provide, while others might prefer to complete a Psy.D. program online. This decision may depend on a variety of factors, such as whether you have or plan to have a family or job while pursuing your degree. If so, online Psy.D. programs might be a good fit for you as you will not be required to attend classes on campus. Although there are currently no exclusively online Psy.D. programs accredited by the APA, you may find some programs that allow some courses to be completed online.
Another location factor to consider might be the availability of internship and training sites available near your schools of choice. Sometimes these training opportunities also lead to jobs after graduation. Also, it may be wise to choose a region where Psy.D. jobs are expected to rise. To assess the need for clinical psychologists in a specific area, you might look at information from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Requirements vary by program
Requirements for a doctoral degree in psychology
St. John's University in New York lists the following among its requirements for prospective Psy.D. candidates:
- A bachelor's degree
- Transcripts of undergraduate studies and any graduate work
- At least 24 undergraduate credits in psychology, including a statistics and laboratory course
- Three to five letters of recommendation, one of which must come from someone who can attest to the applicant's research potential
- Two papers written for psychology courses
- Graduate Record Examinations scores
- An interview with the departmental admissions committee
Requirements may vary from program to program, and it may be to your advantage to choose the programs for which you most exceed the requirements so that you will stand out from any competition.
Affordability
Affordability may also be a factor in your decision-making process. If so, it may help to consider what sort of financial assistance may be offered to help you pay for your degree program. For example, some schools offer scholarships, loans, and work-study programs, which may help cover the cost of your education. The more financial assistance you can get from scholarships or assistantships, the less stress you may have from loan repayments, which may allow you to focus more on your career as a psychologist.
What students should focus on when looking at PsyD programs
It can also help to know how much money psychologists in your field typically make upon graduation. The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ site provides information on average and median salaries for different types of psychologists.
Internships and research with practicing clinical psychologists
Another possible factor to consider is the availability of internships and whether they are paid or unpaid. Internships often provide academic credit and valuable professional experience that may help you find your first job once you complete your Psy.D. program. Internships may also offer you opportunities to network with psychologists with different specializations in various work settings.
Internship requirements
As with the other programs above, internship requirements will vary from program to program, so it may help to research each program’s requirements a semester or two in advance to make sure you’ve completed the necessary coursework to apply. In addition to internship hours, Psy.D. programs usually require students to complete multiple comprehensive exams to graduate. For example, aspiring school psychologists at St. John’s University must complete a clinical competencies comprehensive exam and PRAXIS II exam.
Getting support in choosing a PsyD program
Takeaway
Choosing the best Psy.D. program for you can be a challenging process, but if you consider all the relevant factors, such as course delivery methods, fellowships, and cost, you can find a program that provides the training you need to practice clinical psychology. If you find the stress of working toward your Psy.D. feels overwhelming, you may benefit from speaking with a licensed online therapist.
With BetterHelp, you can be matched with a therapist who has experience helping people navigate the challenges of graduate school or whatever other specific concerns you may be facing. Take the first step toward getting help with choosing a Psy.D. program and reach out to BetterHelp today.
Read more below for answers to questions commonly asked about doctoral psychology.
What happens in a PsyD program?
A Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) program is designed to help clinical psychology students train to enter careers that involve applied scientific knowledge and empirically based services. Students are trained to provide these services to individuals, groups, and organizations, with the program typically ending with a written dissertation. After a PsyD program is completed (and an individual has acquired clinical experience and completed an internship), licensed psychologists may enter a variety of professional settings, such as hospitals, universities, in-person practices, and correctional facilities. Professional psychologists may also further their education or get specific certifications like APA accreditation.
What is the education process for a doctoral degree like?
Is a PsyD program worth it?
For those who want to be a clinical psychologist and diagnose and treat groups or individuals, a PsyD may be a worthwhile degree to pursue. On the other hand, if a person wants to conduct research in order to contribute new findings to the field of psychology, a Ph.D. program may be a better fit. Other occupations, such as a job in the field of school psychology, may ask for either a PsyD, Ph.D., or other specialized training, depending on their specific requirements. Whether or not you choose a PsyD or Ph.D. will depend on your personal goals, as well as your availability to each kind of program.
How many pages is a PsyD dissertation?
Can I become a doctor of psychology through the American Psychological Association?
While a Ph.D. is traditionally the program that would allow someone to publish research, someone with a PsyD can still conduct and publish research. This research could be done in any number of psychological fields depending on your area of interest and study. For example, if you are intending to be a forensic psychologist, your research will likely focus on the expansion of forensic psychology.
Clinical practice vs focusing on research
However, if someone doesn't want to diagnose patients in a clinical setting and instead wants to focus on research, working with a scientific foundation, or making new contributions to the field of professional psychology, it may be more beneficial to pursue a Ph.D. program. You will likely also be required to pursue licensure to work in a clinical setting, while research may not have the same requirements.
Is 3 months enough time for doctorate students to write a dissertation?
Not Giving Yourself Enough Time: Dissertations can take a significant amount of time and effort to complete correctly, and starting too late may result in stress or a subpar final product. In most cases, it is beneficial to start your dissertation months ahead of the deadline.
Choosing Too Niche Of A Subject: While there may be a very specific or narrow area of your field you wish to focus on, choosing a niche subject may lead to difficulties during research. If there isn't sufficient literature about your topic, you may find the lit review process and subsequent writing more challenging.
Not Using Available Support: Writing a dissertation can be a challenging time in a student's life, and it's important to use your support system to ensure you aren’t overwhelmed. This can mean using the resources provided by your university, getting a program consultation, talking to friends about any struggles you are experiencing, or even seeking the help of a therapist or counselor.
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