What Is a Psychologist?

Psychologists study the mind and behavior, but there are actually many different types of psychologists. Learn about what they do and where they work.

January 17, 2025 · 7 min · 1378 words · Tina Robinson

Table of Contents

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is a Psychologist?TypesEducationLicensing RequirementsWork SettingsDifference From PsychiatristsJob OutlookSalaryBecoming a PsychologistWhen to See a PsychologistFinding a Psychologist

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

What Is a Psychologist?

Types

Education

Licensing Requirements

Work Settings

Difference From Psychiatrists

Job Outlook

Salary

Becoming a Psychologist

When to See a Psychologist

Finding a Psychologist

Close

What Is a Psychologist and What Do They Do?

A psychologist is someone who studies the mind and behavior. While people often think oftalk therapywhen they hear the word psychologist, this profession actually encompasses a wide range of specialty areas, including such things as animal research and organizational behavior.

The term psychologist can apply to people who:

TheAmerican Psychological Association(APA) recognizes 54 distinct divisions, each representing a specialized interest or area within psychology.

Types of Psychologists

While there are many differenttypes of psychologists, they typically fall into one of three different areas:

Psychologists vs. TherapistsA psychologist has to have a master’s and/or a doctoral degree in psychology, whereas a therapist can refer to a number of different types of healthcare professionals (such as a licensed clinical social worker or a mental health counselor).

Psychologists vs. Therapists

A psychologist has to have a master’s and/or a doctoral degree in psychology, whereas a therapist can refer to a number of different types of healthcare professionals (such as a licensed clinical social worker or a mental health counselor).

Education and Training for a Psychologist

Training and educational requirements vary considerably depending upon the specialty area.Industrial-organizational psychologistsneed at least a master’s degree in experimental orindustrial-organizational psychology.Clinical psychologists need a doctorate degree in clinical psychology along with an internship and one to two years of supervised clinical experience.

Licensing Requirements for a Psychologist

Psychologist RequirementsClinical or counseling psychologists generally need to complete a doctorate degree, internship, and one to two years of professional experience in order to become licensed.

Psychologist Requirements

Clinical or counseling psychologists generally need to complete a doctorate degree, internship, and one to two years of professional experience in order to become licensed.

Learn more about the requirements for different professional paths in this article on theaccreditation and licensing requirements for psychologists.

Work Settings for a Psychologist

Because psychologists perform such a wide variety of tasks, work settings can vary dramatically. Some psychologists work in medical settings, such as hospitals, health clinics, mental health facilities, or psychiatric institutions. Other psychologists work in academic or research settings, often teaching students and conducting psychological research. Learn more about thework settings for psychologists.

Psychologist vs. Psychiatrist

Many people are not quite sure of the distinction between these two professions, but if you are planning a career in mental health or seeking a mental health provider, it is important to understand exactly how a psychologist differs from apsychiatrist.

PsychologistHas a master’s or doctoral-level degree in psychologyStudies human behavior with an emphasis on scientific and research methodsCannot legally prescribe medication in most statesPsychiatristHas a degree in medicineStudies mental illness with an emphasis on their biological aspectsCan prescribe clients medication; often provide talk therapy as well

PsychologistHas a master’s or doctoral-level degree in psychologyStudies human behavior with an emphasis on scientific and research methodsCannot legally prescribe medication in most states

Has a master’s or doctoral-level degree in psychology

Studies human behavior with an emphasis on scientific and research methods

Cannot legally prescribe medication in most states

PsychiatristHas a degree in medicineStudies mental illness with an emphasis on their biological aspectsCan prescribe clients medication; often provide talk therapy as well

Has a degree in medicine

Studies mental illness with an emphasis on their biological aspects

Can prescribe clients medication; often provide talk therapy as well

Differences Between Psychologists and Psychiatrists

Job Outlook for a Psychologist

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, employment for psychologists is expected to grow faster than average between 2018 and 2028, with an estimated 14% growth and approximately 26,000 new jobs during that period.

Certainspecialty areaswithin psychology are rapidly expanding as the demand for trained professionals increases. School psychologists and clinicians, in particular, may find ample job opportunities over the next several years.Learn more about thejob outlook for psychologistsand discover whichfields of psychologyoffer the greatest potential for growth.

Psychologist Salary

Because there is so much diversity in psychology professions,earnings and salariesvary greatly depending upon factors such as specialty area, the degree held, and the sector of employment.

What Is a Psychologist’s Salary?According to the U.S. Department of Labor’sOccupational Outlook Handbook, median earnings for psychologists in 2018 were $79,010 per year. The lowest 10% of psychologists earned less than $43,800, while the highest 10% earned over $129,250.

What Is a Psychologist’s Salary?

According to the U.S. Department of Labor’sOccupational Outlook Handbook, median earnings for psychologists in 2018 were $79,010 per year. The lowest 10% of psychologists earned less than $43,800, while the highest 10% earned over $129,250.

Is Becoming a Psychologist Right for You?

Is becoming a psychologist the best choice for you? Before you decide, spend some time seriously considering your goals and interests. Of course, looking at statistics can never offer a full view of the many aspects of a job. If you are considering psychology as a career, spend some time carefully researching your options in order to determine if this field is a good fit for your personality, needs, and long-term goals.

Don’t let a single factor, such as projected salary, guide your decision-making process. Instead, look at each career as a whole, including the educational and licensing requirements, job outlook, work settings, and typical job duties.

If you feel it’s time to see a psychologist, trust yourself. Some people think their problems aren’t “bad enough” to seek help, but this is a misconception.

Though you can consult with a psychologist for any number of reasons, the following are common mental health concerns for which you may seek the expertise of a psychologist:

Where to Find a Psychologist

If you are looking for a trained and experienced psychologist, there are a few different ways to accomplish this. First, you can contact your family physician or local hospital and ask for a referral. This method can be a highly effective way of finding good psychologists in your community. A second approach is to ask trusted friends for family members who they would recommend.

The Best Online Therapy ProgramsWe’ve tried, tested and written unbiased reviews of the best online therapy programs including Talkspace, Betterhelp, and Regain.

5 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Psychological Association.Divisions of the APA.American Psychological Association.Pursuing a Career in I/O Psychology.American Psychological Association.Pursuing a Career in Clinical or Counseling Psychology.U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics.Psychologists.Occupational Outlook Handbook.American Psychological Association.How to choose a psychologist.Additional ReadingAmerican Psychological Association.What is the difference between psychologists, psychiatrists and social workers?

5 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Psychological Association.Divisions of the APA.American Psychological Association.Pursuing a Career in I/O Psychology.American Psychological Association.Pursuing a Career in Clinical or Counseling Psychology.U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics.Psychologists.Occupational Outlook Handbook.American Psychological Association.How to choose a psychologist.Additional ReadingAmerican Psychological Association.What is the difference between psychologists, psychiatrists and social workers?

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

American Psychological Association.Divisions of the APA.American Psychological Association.Pursuing a Career in I/O Psychology.American Psychological Association.Pursuing a Career in Clinical or Counseling Psychology.U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics.Psychologists.Occupational Outlook Handbook.American Psychological Association.How to choose a psychologist.

American Psychological Association.Divisions of the APA.

American Psychological Association.Pursuing a Career in I/O Psychology.

American Psychological Association.Pursuing a Career in Clinical or Counseling Psychology.

U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics.Psychologists.Occupational Outlook Handbook.

American Psychological Association.How to choose a psychologist.

American Psychological Association.What is the difference between psychologists, psychiatrists and social workers?

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