I appreciate your advice, jym.
Thanks!
Oh, terminal masters - does that mean I wouldn’t be able to use the coursework toward a Psy.D?
This is certainly diverging from financial aid and scholarships!
To practice as a counselor of any kind , you will need licensure from the state in which you plan to practice. As @jym626 suggested…work backwards. See what YOUR state requirements are for licensure. You won’t be getting ANY counseling job, regardless of your degree, without meeting the licensure requirements in your state.
Re: coursework towards a PsyD…the ONLy courses that will count toward that degree are courses you take on a matriculated PdyD program…not courses you have previously taken.
I am not sure I agree with that (#22 - about coursework), @thumper1. Programs that accept a student who already has a masters in psych will look at their coursework and at the program from which they got their degree to see which course credits will be accepted in the doctoral program. In many cases a student will not need to start from scratch. If they have taken a graduate course in, say, physiological psych or social psych or what have you, that is required in both programs, they probably would not be required to repeat it if the program from which they graduated with their Masters is acceptable to the doctoral program. That said, if a terminal masters program did dot require a masters thesis and the doctoral level requires it (eg my program required a research based masters thesis, quals/comps and then the doctoral research/thesis) , its unlikely that student would be accepted for the advanced program.
Yes, I’ve already looked into state reqs etc. - and I’m still gathering info. I made a couple of calls today, I’m waiting to hear back.
I’m also undecided on which state I’d like to practice in, and I know some won’t allow PhDs to counsel.
Thanks again, gentlemen.
What?? That is incorrect. Every state offers licensure for PhD psychologists and they are fully free to practice independently within the scope of their license. There is no state that I am aware of that restricts any licensed psychologist (Ph.D) form providing therapy (if that is what you mean by "counseling, as there are differences between counseling and therapy, but that’s another story).
As for your original question, Community Service and leadership are issues that may have importance at the undergrad level, and for scholarships ate the undergrad level, but not at the graduate level.
I may have used the wrong term. My therapist, who is a Psy.D, warned me that in some states I would be limited. I’ll ask more about this soon, I’m planning to talk to (multiple) potential employers to find out what they’re looking for, what would make me a good candidate etc. I can ask them.
Thanks.
The terminology between counseling and therapy is not the issue. If you are independently licensed you can practice independently. Again it must be within the scope of your skills training and licensure