How to Become a Clinical Psychologist

A clinical psychologist is a health care professional who is responsible for diagnosing, treating, and counseling people with mental disturbances. These medical professionals are counted as one of the highest paid. For those interested in this career, you need to do a lot of study right from high school. It might take as long as 10 years to become a licensed clinical psychologist.

Job Description

The main job of these professionals is to address the mental issues of patients and treat them as per certain specified procedures. This expert in the field of psychology meets with patients, conducts particular tests and examinations, and documents all aspects of the case. He devises treatment plans and therapies, and consults with other health care professionals. He diagnoses and treats issues such as anxiety, interpersonal complications, depression, addiction, and many other behavioral problems.

Salary Range

Classification by Years of Experience
1 - 4 years: $45,000 to $70,000
5 - 9 years: $51,500 to $79,000
10 - 19 years: $63,000 to $98,000
20 or more years: $67,000 to $100,000

Classification by State
Georgia: $54,500 to $91,500
Illinois: $46,000 to $74,500
New York: $55,500 to $80,500
California: $52,000 to $95,500

Classification by City
San Diego: $50,000 to $94,000
Atlanta: $54,500 to $90,000
Philadelphia: $54,000 to $83,000
Los Angeles: $49,000 to $82,000

The above mentioned salaries are annual figures and approximate.

Becoming a Clinical Psychologist

The most essential prerequisite for becoming a psychologist is the ability to talk to people and guide them to the right path. When it comes to educational qualifications, you basically are required to possess a bachelor's degree with a license for public service. You will first need to enroll in a Bachelor of Science in Psychology course which is generally of four years duration. During this period; you will be taught much about subjects like cognitive psychology, abnormal psychology, social psychology, personality development, etc.

With a bachelor's degree, you can be employed as an assistant to licensed psychologists in mental health settings. You can further move on to a master's in the same field, which usually is of two years. After completing the master's degree, you will be allowed to provide services as a psychological assistant in industrial-organizational psychology. Those thinking of becoming a full-fledged psychologist will need to possess a Ph.D. or Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) degree for which four to seven years of postgraduate work is required along with a year's internship.

If you want to move further in your psychology career, you have the option of being certified by the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP) which offers around 13 certifications. The next step is to obtain a license for independent practice; which demands a doctorate, a full internship period, two years of work experience, and a relevant exam. You might even be asked to sit for an oral exam for licensing. Licensing laws may differ from state to state, so it is suggested to get in touch with your respective state authorities for specific details.

This was some information on becoming a clinical psychologist. After completing the doctoral degree and receiving the license, you can work either in academic settings or in medical facilities as professional psychologist. In order to excel in the field of professional psychology, with educational degrees you also need to have hands-on experience in the field.