How to Become a Psychologist
Psychology is a thriving and vital professional practice. Psychologists help address many of the problems and issues we face today. They help people of all ages improve their mental health, stress management, decision-making, and behavior. As a result, people can achieve healthier relationships, greater self-confidence, and enriched well-being. Learn how to become a psychologist, and enter one of the most in-demand, lucrative, and rewarding healthcare careers.
As a psychologist, you'll play a crucial role in directly impacting society. With an increasing rate of mental health issues and elevated stress levels, the demand for psychology expertise continues to grow in the United States. If you are passionate about helping people solve their mental or emotional conditions using scientific knowledge and techniques, read on to learn more.
What Is Psychology?
Psychology is a diverse and rapidly growing field committed to the scientific study of the mind and behavior. These studies include perception, cognition, emotion, motivation, personality, behavior, and social interactions. Psychologists use various methods such as experiments, observations, surveys, and case studies to understand and explain behavior, including statistical analysis, brain imaging, and computer modeling.
What Is a Psychologist?
A psychologist is a mental health professional trained to study how people think, feel, and behave from a scientific perspective. They typically treat patients using talk therapy (also known as psychotherapy) to help them identify issues that cause mental or emotional distress.
When you study how to become a psychologist, you'll have the opportunity to focus on a specific area of expertise. Keep in mind that each specialization may require you to obtain additional certifications and licenses. Here are some psychologist roles you may consider pursuing:
- Forensic psychologists work within the legal system to help understand and interpret criminal behavior. They can help law enforcement, legal specialists, and correctional facilities assess offenders, and provide expert testimony in court.
- Clinical psychologists assess, diagnose and treat people with mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD. They may use therapy and other techniques to help people cope with their symptoms and improve their overall well-being.
- Child psychologists specialize in assessing, diagnosing, and treating mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders in children and adolescents. They teach essential coping skills for managing emotions while helping them advance through new developmental stages in life.
- Criminal psychologists focus on understanding the scientific reasoning behind criminal behavior. They typically have a professional law enforcement background and a criminal justice degree.
- Sports psychologists work with athletes and coaches to help them improve and achieve peak performance. They use visualization, goal setting, and stress management techniques to help athletes stay motivated and focused.
- School psychologists help identify and address learning and behavioral issues for children, adolescents, and young adults. They also work with teachers and parents to develop effective strategies for improving student performance.
What Does a Psychologist Do?
A psychologist observes, interprets, and records how people think, feel, behave and relate to one another and their environment. When you learn how to become a psychologist, you’ll use your resulting expertise to help treat people's cognitive and emotional disorders, social processes and behaviors.
Although your daily tasks will depend on your specific area of practice, you'll typically do the following:
- assess and diagnose mental health disorders
- provide individual and group therapy to treat mental health disorders and emotional problems
- develop and implement treatment plans for individuals and families
- research a wide range of topics related to psychology
- teach and train other professionals in the field
- consult with other healthcare professionals, schools, and organizations to improve mental health and well-being
- write articles, reports, and research papers to educate others
Read our sample psychologist job description to learn more about a psychologist's primary responsibilities and the skills needed to succeed.
How to Become a Psychologist
If you're wondering how to become a licensed psychologist, there are various psychologist education requirements to fulfill, along with years of professional work experience.
Here are the steps to becoming a psychologist:
- Earn a Bachelor's Degree
What degree do you need to be a psychologist? Your undergrad studies can be in psychology, sociology, anthropology, biology, or a related field. A bachelor's degree in psychology will provide a solid foundation, including courses in research methods, statistics, abnormal psychology, developmental psychology, and social psychology.
- Gain Work Experience
Many psychology programs require or recommend some form of work experience before applying. This could be in the form of volunteering, internships, or working as a research assistant. This experience can help you better understand the field and determine if a career in psychology is right for you.
- Earn a Graduate Degree
Knowing how to become a psychologist includes understanding the requirement for a doctorate in psychology. The most common types of doctorates are a Ph.D. in Psychology or a Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.).
Ph.D. programs typically focus on research, while Psy.D. programs focus on clinical practice. Both take four to seven years to complete and require a research thesis or dissertation.
- Complete Supervised Professional Experience
Many states require a certain number of supervised professional experience hours. Typically between 1,500 to 2,000 hours are needed before you can become licensed to practice psychology independently.
- Pass a Licensure Exam
All states and the District of Columbia require psychologists to be licensed to practice. The most common exam is the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP), which tests your knowledge of the field and ethical standards.
Some states may also have additional exams or requirements. The Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards provides information on specific psychologist requirements by state. Keep in mind that many states require continuing education to maintain licensure. This could involve taking classes, attending workshops, or engaging in other professional development activities throughout your career.
How Long Does It Take to Become a Psychologist?
The length of time it takes to become a psychologist can vary depending on your chosen path. Still, it typically takes seven to 11 years to complete the necessary education and training.
- Earning a bachelor's degree in psychology or a related field takes about four years.
- Your graduate degree in psychology typically takes four to seven years to complete.
- Satisfying the supervised professional experience can take one to two years.
It's important to note that this time frame can vary depending on your program and any additional coursework or training required by your state's licensing board.
How Much Does It Cost to Become a Psychologist?
The cost of becoming a psychologist can vary depending on several factors, including the type of degree you pursue, the school you attend, and whether you receive financial aid. A bachelor's degree in psychology typically costs between $20,000 and $40,000 per year, depending on the school and whether you attend a public or private institution. This means the total cost can range from $80,000 to $160,000.
A graduate degree in psychology (Ph.D. or Psy.D.) can cost between $20,000 and $50,000 per year, with a total cost range from $80,000 to $200,000. Supervised professional experience may also come with expenses such as transportation and supervision fees. Licensing exam fees and the cost of continuing education courses to maintain licensure can also add an additional cost.
Financial aid and scholarships may be available to help offset the cost of a graduate degree. It's worth researching whether you qualify for student loan forgiveness programs and the other support options you’re eligible for.
How Much Do Psychologists Make?
Your psychologist salary will vary depending on the type of facility you practice in and your area of expertise. The median salary for a psychologist in the U.S. is $75,127, with an earning potential of $107,395.
Your salary also depends on where you live and practice. Use Monster's Salary Tool to determine how much you can make in your location. You'll also see salaries for similar jobs, plus the skills you'll need to increase your value as an applicant.
How to Find Psychologist Jobs
Now that we've shown you how to become a psychologist, start looking for jobs. But before you apply, make sure you've updated your resume along with your psychologist cover letter explaining your passion and reasons for choosing your career.
Then start searching for psychologist jobs on Monster.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the top five states with the highest employment level of psychologists are:
The top five metro areas with high demand for psychologists are:
Start Your Rewarding Career as a Psychologist with Help from Monster
Now you know how to become a psychologist, take the next step to helping people achieve better mental health and well-being. Speed up your job search with Monster by creating your profile today and make it easy for recruiters to find you online by uploading your resume. We'll send you frequent personalized job alerts to match you with the right employer.