To practice as a licensed psychologist you generally need a doctoral degree (a PhD or PsyD) in clinical, counseling or school psychology, a supervised internship, additional supervised experience and a passing score on the national licensing exam, the EPPP. Expect five or more years of graduate school after a bachelor’s degree. School psychologists usually follow a shorter specialist-level route.
What psychologists actually do
The title covers more ground than the therapy office most people picture. Day to day, the work depends heavily on the setting you choose.
- Clinical and counseling work: assessment, diagnosis and therapy with individuals, couples or families in private practice, hospitals, clinics and community agencies.
- Testing and evaluation: long, careful psychological and neuropsychological assessments, followed by detailed written reports.
- School psychology: evaluating students for learning and behavioral needs, consulting with teachers and families and helping build support plans.
- Research and teaching: designing studies, analyzing data, writing grants and teaching at the college level.
- Applied fields: industrial-organizational, health, forensic and sports psychology.
Psychologists generally do not prescribe medication; psychiatrists, who are physicians, do. A small number of states allow specially trained psychologists to prescribe after extra education.
Choosing a graduate route
- PhD: research heavy, with a dissertation built on original research. Many programs fund students through assistantships, and they are often very competitive.
- PsyD: practice focused, with more clinical training and a smaller research project. Funding is often more limited, so compare costs closely.
- Specialist degree in school psychology (such as an EdS): a shorter graduate route that leads to a state school psychology credential in most states.
- Master’s degree: useful for research jobs, psychometry or as a step toward a doctorate, but in most states it does not lead to the title psychologist. If you want to provide therapy with a master’s, look at counseling, social work or marriage and family therapy instead.
Most aspiring clinicians aim for a program accredited by the American Psychological Association, because many states and employers expect it. Our guide on whether to go to grad school and the grad school application timeline help with the bigger decision.
Licensing in general terms
After the doctorate, states typically require supervised professional experience (some count predoctoral hours, others require a postdoctoral year), passing the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology, and often a jurisprudence exam on state law and ethics. Some jurisdictions have added a second, skills-based part of the EPPP. Requirements vary by state, so check your state psychology licensing board early, especially if you may move.
A step-by-step path from high school
- Take psychology, statistics, biology and writing-heavy classes. Clear writing matters in this field more than people expect.
- Major in psychology or a related field and keep your grades strong. Our guide to what you can do with a psychology degree covers the options if you change course.
- Join a faculty research lab by sophomore or junior year. Research experience is close to essential for doctoral applications.
- Get supervised exposure to clinical settings through volunteering, crisis line work with training, or a job as a behavioral technician.
- Consider a post-college research or clinical job for a year or two. Many successful applicants do this.
- Apply to doctoral programs, complete coursework, practicum and a full-year internship, then finish supervised hours and pass your exams.
Test the fit before the long commitment
- Ask a psychologist or graduate student for an informational interview about a normal week, not the highlights.
- Work as a research assistant and see whether data, writing and slow progress suit you.
- Volunteer somewhere with real people and real stakes, then notice whether you leave energized or drained.
- Compare nearby roles in our guides on becoming a therapist and becoming a social worker; many people find a faster route to the same work.
Who thrives, and why some people change direction
People who do well are curious, patient with ambiguity, comfortable with statistics and able to hold boundaries while caring deeply. Common reasons people switch out: the length of training, the cost of some programs, competitive admissions and the emotional weight of clinical work. Psychologists talk openly about this, and a licensed mental health professional is the right step for anyone, in training or not, when the strain builds. In a crisis, call or text 988. For current pay and outlook, check the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Career changers
Plenty of people start doctoral programs in their late twenties or thirties. Expect prerequisite courses and recent research experience before applying.
Where a mentor helps
A mentor helps a student map the long road into manageable stages: choosing courses, finding a research lab, building an application timeline and staying steady through years of school. Weekly accountability helps most during application season and the dissertation years. Mentors are not credentialed career counselors, admissions counselors or licensing experts; they help you do the research and the work yourself. See our career and education mentoring and mentoring for college students.
Related
- Career paths: guides to many careers
- How to become a school counselor
- Careers for people who like helping others
- Mentoring for graduate students
- How to Become a Dietitian: The Graduate Degree Rule and Every Step
Common questions
How long does it take to become a psychologist?
Most people spend about four years in college and then five or more years in a doctoral program, including a full-year internship. Many states also require a period of supervised experience after the degree before licensure.
What is the difference between a PhD and a PsyD?
A PhD emphasizes research and usually includes a large dissertation, while a PsyD emphasizes clinical practice. Both can lead to licensure as a psychologist.
Can I become a psychologist with a master’s degree?
In most states the title psychologist requires a doctorate. A master’s can lead to related licensed roles in counseling, social work or marriage and family therapy, or to school psychology at the specialist level.
What is the EPPP?
It is the national multiple-choice exam used by most states and provinces to license psychologists. Some jurisdictions also require a skills-based second part and a state law exam.
Get started
Thinking about psychology and want a clear plan for the years ahead? Call (888) 305 5422, email contact@blackburnmentoring.com or start with a short assessment. A member of our team reviews every assessment personally and sets up a free intro call.