Psychology Schools and Training Programs

Choices for psychology careers

Psychology is an occupation with many assorted specialties, which may involve both research and practice. The American Psychological Association lists nearly 20 specialties that range from cognitive and perceptual psychologists to community, educational, evolutionary and forensic psychologists. As further examples of specializations, a social psychologist could work in an advertising agency to determine how a product might sell, or an industrial psychologist would study the workplace and organizational behavior.

A stereotypical image of a psychologist depicts a patient lying on a couch, but this would be within the specialty of clinical psychology. According to the APA, the largest number of psychologists are in teaching and research positions and have limited exposure to regular patient traffic.

Where psychologists are employed

Psychologists perform their work in almost any environment, for example, where products are sold or manufactured, or where health care is dispensed. The APA reports that clinical psychologists are for the most part, self-employed, whereas most psychologists with doctoral degrees work in educational institutions -- teaching, researching and administrating behavioral studies. Another large segment of experts with psychology degrees work for government agencies and government health care providers.

The age of broadband Internet has created a new area for psychological analysis. Telehealth programs allow psychologists to reach into remote areas and perform one-on-one or group therapy from their offices. This assists those with mental health issues that may live great distances from the nearest therapy facility.

Training and certification for psychologists

Out of the many specialties in this field, a few may require only undergraduate work, such as social psychologists working in business, or organizational psychologists studying the workplace. For those entering some of the industrial and corporate sectors, certification is not always necessary.

To become a licensed psychologist, a graduate education such as a doctorate is required in most states. A doctorate degree alone does not give graduates the immediate ability to hang out a shingle as an independent clinical psychologist. Licensing boards require at least two years of supervised experience in a psychological field. In most states and Canadian provinces, clinical psychologists must be licensed. The Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards can provide specific information on licensing requirements.

Opportunities and salaries for psychologists

The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects employment opportunities for psychologists to grow by 12 percent from 2008 to 2018, which is about as fast as the average for all occupations; increased need for help with school and lifestyle issues could bring more clients to see psychologists. The BLS reports that general psychologists earned a mean annual salary of $86,510 in 2010, compared to $72,540 for clinical and school psychologists.

The majority of those holding bachelor's degrees in psychology pursue careers outside the field, the APA says. An undergraduate psychology degree can be a ticket to a number of career options, including human resources, corporate management and community development. If nothing else, psychology training could give you skills to achieve successful relationships at home and at work.

Additional resources:

American Psychological Association: A scientific and professional organization and the world's largest association of psychologists

Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards: Alliance of state, provincial and territorial agencies responsible for the licensure and certification of psychologists in the United States and Canada