How to become a psychologist without a psychology degree?
Passionate about Psychology?
But don’t have a degree…. Don’t worry, there is still a way to become a Psychologist without even a degree. We will enlighten you on “how to become a psychologist without a psychology degree” or can you become that.
Psychologists perform diagnostic assessments for mental illnesses and help patients with issues like anxiety, depression, overthinking, and substance abuse.
If you’re interested in working with human behavior and dealing with the mind, becoming a psychologist is a good first step toward a rewarding career.
To be a good psychologist or therapist, you don’t need a psychology degree, you need to have this fire in you to resolve complex behavior issues.
Rest we will highlight in the write-up below about what is needed to be done for becoming a psychologist in California or anywhere in the USA.
How To Become A Psychologist Without A Psychology Degree?
You cannot become a certified and established psychologist without a degree.
Psychologists are the people who research human behavior.
Imagine being a cook who doesn’t know the name of dishes?
Sound weird?
There are other weird jobs in the US that people are killing at.
For being a psychologist and a good one, you need to accomplish those hurdles of education.
Let’s dig into some unaltered patterns. Later I will spill some ways through which you can at least become “Somewhat a psychologist.”
There are different ways through which you can accomplish the career of turning into a Psychologist. It means that you really want to follow to turn into a therapist without even a degree in Psychology. Most of the organizations need Psychologists with Ph.D. or other doctoral programs.
What are the steps you need to follow to become a Psychologist or therapist?
1. Take admission into any study program
If you want to become a psychologist then you must have to complete any psychology study programs through which you can understand the basics of psychology.
If you study psychology on a professional level, then you get your license easily to start your psychology practice. But for basic knowledge formation, you need to have some basic formal educational program in hand.
2. Start practicing and built your portfolio
Now it’s time to practice your psychology learning in order to become an experienced psychologist. Your experience helps you to get a psychologist job easily, so always gain some experience.
For this, you can contact your study mentor or professor or any institution and start practicing psychology. After 6 months or years, you can ask for your experience certificate and apply to your dream organization as a psychologist.
3. Becoming a professional psychologist, you must succeed in the Exam
After gaining some experience, you can also apply for the main examination in order to become a professional psychologist like the EPPP exam.
Your previous practicing experience enhances your knowledge of psychology and assists you to pass all your psychology exams.
One more thing you have to keep in your mind is that to become a psychologist you don’t need a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. Your Bachelor’s in any field will work. You can opt for any psychology-related program or certification to have a basic idea of what psychology actually is.
However, this does not negate the necessity for prior psychological knowledge. That means you can start a master’s or doctoral program in psychology right now.
There are institutions in the U.S that accept students from different study backgrounds in Psychology masters or other study programs. Those institutions only need students with some basic knowledge of psychology.
Drum Rolls Please…. Secret Time
You can become a Life Coach and help people solve their mental issues. This role doesn’t involve any hard and fast long career in Psychology.
You can simply go to any Life Coach Institute for short-term or full-time education and get yourself trained.
Insecure about staying unemployed as a life coach?
To remove this insecurity I have some great facts set for you.
- 3597 are employed life coaches in the United States.
- Women Check this out→ 67.5% of Life coaches are women.
- Men don’t stand back, check this–> 32.5% of Life coaches are men.
And to conclude on Life Coach, my final stroke to you is their earning.
As a life coach, you can set up your business, which can be freelance or full-time. If you are looking for a fixed 9 to 5 Job then the pay ranges around $35456 Yearly.
What are the Qualification and skillsets required to become a Psychologist?
- You will require a college degree in psychology science from an authorized school or college.
- You will also need either licensure or certification from the American Psychological Association (APA), which is required for most professional positions in psychology.
- In addition, many psychologists require additional training and experience in specific areas of psychology.
For example, clinical psychologists typically require additional training in psychotherapy techniques and diagnostics.
What skillsets do you need for becoming a good Psychologist?
Apart from formal education, you must have some general skills that help you during your psychology practice –
- Empathy to understand your patient
- Capable to provide proper professional advice.
- Perfect communication skills so that you can speak well with your patients and understand their psychology.
- Critical thinking skills
The skillset mentioned is generic and not that complex. People are easily grabbing jobs in the US through very generic skills. You can be the one today.
How To Become A Psychologist In California?
So you want to become a psychologist in California? This guide will take you through the process of becoming a psychologist in California, from application to licensure.
Turning into a therapist in California is easy, yet it accomplishes requires some work.
Follow these means and you will be coming!
1. Study Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Psychology
Now the first step to becoming a psychologist in California, you need to achieve a bachelor’s or master’s degree in psychology. For this, you can enroll yourself in a 4-year full-time Bachelor of Science (BS) or Bachelor of Arts degree program.
There are so many institutions or universities in California which provide various bachelor’s degree programs in psychology. Some of the best California Universities for bachelor’s program is:
- The University of California, Los Angeles
- California Baptist University
- University of California, San Diego
If you are already a graduate from a different background then you can still become a psychologist by completing a master’s or doctorate in the Psychology stream.
2. Doctorate in Psychology
California government rules or eligibility criteria that every psychologist must have any degree i.e. Ph.D. or PsyD in order to get a professional license or certificate to get started as a psychologist.
3. Get licensed and started
Apart from Ph.D. or PsyD degree programs, you must have some experience or previous internship certificates to get licensed to become a psychologist.
The entry-level position should be from famous institutions or foundations such as Stanford University. The institution should be supported by American Psychological Association.
Apart from all these, you also have to clear some prestigious level exams like EPPP (Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology) which is organized by an authoritative body like ASPPB (Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards).
Conclusion
A career in psychology is a great choice for those who want to help people. There are many different paths that one can take to become a psychologist.
Psychology is a great field with many opportunities. If you are interested in becoming a psychologist, make sure you do your research and prepare for the exam.
There are many people who are into solving mental issues of people through their own experience, observation power, and high listening skills. They can complete some certification or life-coach courses and start their own business of being a therapist.
Do you still have any doubts regarding “How to become a psychologist without a psychology degree?”
No worries, we have some answers for you, check below.
Common FAQs
1. Can I be a therapist with a bachelor’s degree in psychology?
With a bachelor’s degree in psychology, you can only become a behavioral counselor but not a professional psychologist or therapist. To become a therapist in the U.S., you must have higher qualifications like a Master’s degree.
Some therapist roles like Clinical therapist will involve a Ph.D. degree in psychology with some prior practice experience in the same domain. Therapists are just like doctors and just like we don’t expect doctors without sound knowledge, a therapist goes in the same way.
2. Do you need a psychology degree to be a therapist and psychologist?
Yes. For becoming a therapist you need to have a Ph.D. A therapist has the power to mold the life of the patients through their skills and without proper guidance it will get risky.
For becoming a psychologist you can go to a higher level, which means if you completed your bachelor’s degree in other subjects. If you want to be both, then you complete it by enrolling in a Master’s degree program or Ph.D.
3. How to become a spiritual counselor without a degree?
A spiritual counselor clarifies the doubts of the people from a spiritual point. They help them understand whether they are spiritual or religious.
A spiritual counselor is very important to post. For this, you must have Bachelor’s degree, a Master’s degree as well a Ph.D. in Psychology. Apart from this, you also have some counseling practice experience.
A rigorous amount of schooling is needed in this type of counseling. If you are looking to start your spiritual counseling career then the education requirement is not strict. You can have any background.
For becoming a good spiritual psychologist you need to be aware of your own spiritual beliefs also.
4. Are therapists and Psychologists the same?
A psychologist is a narrow term whereas a therapist is broad. A psychologist is an individual who is trained well to study human behavior and mental processes.
They conduct research on behaviors and clinical settings. A psychologist can be a therapist. They need to complete several years of practice for becoming licensed therapists.
As a therapist, your role will involve solving decision-making issues and clarifying the feeling.
The role includes providing support and guidance. You cannot apply “how to become a psychologist without a psychology degree” because some roles need learning and training.
