<p>After college with a major in psychologist what path would I have to take to be able to become a clincial psychologist?
I was thinking of getting a psy.D not a phD by the way</p>
<p>You apply to psy.D programs. So start looking at schools that have them and what the requirements are to gain entry to them. From what I understand, all hearsay, as I have not researched this first hand getting grants for these programs is not easy. It’s getting more and more difficult to get grad school covered these days but the more professional programs, in particular, are not giving out as many grants with money being reserved more for research programs. My friend’s DD who is in a PHD program pretty much had to self pay until she got her master’s. Now that she is focused entirely in research, she is pretty much covered with grants and a teaching stipend. From what I understand, had she gone the psy.D route, she would not have had access to the research grants and the teaching positions, and the field work she would be doing is unpaid as it is required for the program–unpaid internships is what that work ends up being. Too many interested in this field and not even enough spots to necessarily employ them, so why even pay them? You are going into a greatly over subscribed field, you realize.</p>
<p>The issue with PsyDs is that they are very expensive. You can still become a psychologist with a PhD (they are usually funded), but you will have to do research. If you just want to practice, you may be able to get away with an MSW and then becoming a LCSW. This would be cheaper and take less time than a psyd.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t do the PsyD, personally. As mentioned, they are typically 4-year programs (year-round) and full pay. They’re also usually at expensive private schools, many of them for-profit. You could easily go in debt over $200K for one of these programs, but psychologists don’t get paid like MDs do, so the loans are not as easy to pay off.</p>
<p>There are two paths I recommend. One is getting the PhD at a fully-funded scientist-practitioner model program. Yes, you will have to do some research - clinical psychology programs in the scientist-practitioner model are designed for you to combine the training in clinical work and research. This way, you can understand new techniques and trends in your field and keep current on the research being done, treating your clients more effectively. Don’t pay for a PhD.</p>
<p>Secondly, you can - as stated - earn an MSW and become a licensed clinical social worker. You can practice - even autonomously, in some states - and LCSWs get reimbursed by Medicare and all that jazz.</p>
<p>Getting an MSW doesn’t preclude you from later getting a PhD in clinical psychology, if you want, or getting a PhD in social work.</p>