What You Can Do with a PsyD (Doctor of Psychology

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHistory of PsyDSchoolCareerAlternatives to PsyD

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Table of Contents

History of PsyD

School

Career

Alternatives to PsyD

A PsyD, or Doctor of Psychology, is one of the highest degrees you can earn in psychology. It’s also one of the highest-paying psychology jobs. Another advanced psychology degree is a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), which is different from a PsyD.Let’s go over what a PsyD can do for a job, what they’ll study, and an example “day in the life” of someone who has a PsyD degree.At a GlanceIf you want to get an advanced degree in psychology and be able to do clinical work in your career, you may want to consider pursuing a Doctor of Psychology or PsyD. This degree can prepare you for some of the highest-paying jobs in psychology, including clinical psychology and psychotherapy.What It’s Like to Be a PsychologistWhy Was the PsyD Developed?Until the late 1960s, aPhD in psychologywas the only degree that professional psychologists could get. However, there was concern that a PhD degree wasn’t preparing people to do clinical work in psychology. In the 1970s, the PsyD was developed as an applied clinical doctoral degree to help train psychologists as practitioners.There are a few ways that a PsyD is different from a PhD:PsyDFocused on clinical workOften work with patients in clinical settingsCan take four to seven years to complete (shorter times are more typical)Evaluation usually consists of exams and practical workPhDFocused on researchMay teach at the university level or do researchCan take four to seven years to complete (longer times are more typical)Evaluation usually involves writing a dissertationPsychology Specialties You Can StudyHow You Earn a PsyDA PsyD program trains psychologists to use their understanding of the science of the mind and behavior to treat and diagnose mental illnesses.A PsyD degree program usually takes four to seven years to finish, depending on the specialty and your previous education. You’ll learn about and get practice in a wide variety of topics, like psychological assessment, diagnosis, and clinical interventions.Here are some examples of courses you may take in a PsyD program:Adult, adolescent, and child developmentPsychopathologyEthics and legal issuesClinical assessmentsTheories of counseling and therapyCognitive assessmentPsychotherapy practices, models, and theoriesResearch design and methodsCognition and emotionEvidence-based psychologyHealth psychologyHealth care systemConsultationPersonality assessmentHistory and philosophy of psychologyPsychobiologyProfessional developmentPsychometrics and statisticsPsychopharmacologyDepending on whether you want to focus on a specific concentration, you could also take courses in:Forensic psychologyNeuropsychologyTraumaAgingCross-cultural psychologyGender and sexualityGroup psychologyFamily psychologyMilitary psychologyCouples therapyAs a PsyD student, you’ll also do a supervised practicum and a supervised internship in a clinical setting. You’ll usually work part-time under the supervision of a licensed psychologist in different clinical settings. Your internship is a full-time position and usually lasts at least one year. After completing an internship, you’ll be able to take state and national exams to become alicensed psychologist.TheAmerican Psychological Associationaccredits both PsyD and PhD programs.No matter what type of program you are thinking about doing, check to see if the program is APA-accredited. Most state licensing boards require applicants to have finished their degree and a supervised internship at an APA-accredited institution.11 Jobs You Can Do With a Bachelor’s Degree in PsychologyJobs You Could Get with a PsyDAfter earning a PsyD inclinicalorcounseling psychologyand passing the required licensing exams, you will be able to diagnose and treat mental disorders. Other job duties include administering evaluations, conducting psychological tests, andproviding psychotherapyservices.People with a PsyD work in a wide variety of settings, including hospitals, mental health clinics, government offices, and schools. Some professionals choose to open psychotherapy practices or work as consultants for private corporations.Some of the highest-paying psychology jobs are those you can get with a PsyD. Here are just some examples of the kinds of careers you could pursue with a PsyD:Clinical psychologistForensic psychologistCase managerCorrectional facility psychologistSchool psychologistNeuropsychologistBiopsychologistSports psychologistRehabilitation psychologistEvolutionary psychologistIndustrial organization psychologistEnvironmental psychologistPublic health psychologistMilitary psychologistConsumer psychologistCrisis negotiatorArt therapistHuman Resources directorExecutive coachHuman factors engineerBehavioral analystPsychometristSocial services directorHow Much Can You Make With a PsyD?Since it’s an advanced degree, having a PsyD can open your career up to some of the highest-paying jobs in psychology.According to PayScale, the average base salary in the United States for a PsyD is $92,000 a year.ZipRecruitersays that pay rates for PsyD jobs can go up to $125 per hour.Salary.comsays the medium annual income for a PsyD is $113,000.Can You Switch Fields to Psychology for Graduate School?Alternatives to the PsyD DegreeGetting a PsyD can be a great choice if you want to focus on being a practitioner of psychology and doing clinical work. However, if you are more interested in research or teaching, a PhD in psychology might be a better option.It’s also important to know that in most states, having a PsyD alone is not enough to be able to prescribe clients medicationThere are just five states—Louisiana, New Mexico, Iowa, Idaho, and Illinois—where PsyD’s can prescribe mediation as long as they meet strict criteria. If being able to help clients with medication is something you want to be able to do, you’ll need to pursue a medical degree like an MD or DO to become a psychiatrist.If you know that you want to work in the field of mental health but aren’t sure if you want to invest the time and money in getting a doctorate, you may want to considersocial work, counseling,school psychology, education, and health science degrees.80+ Psychology-Related Careers to Consider

Let’s go over what a PsyD can do for a job, what they’ll study, and an example “day in the life” of someone who has a PsyD degree.

At a GlanceIf you want to get an advanced degree in psychology and be able to do clinical work in your career, you may want to consider pursuing a Doctor of Psychology or PsyD. This degree can prepare you for some of the highest-paying jobs in psychology, including clinical psychology and psychotherapy.

At a Glance

If you want to get an advanced degree in psychology and be able to do clinical work in your career, you may want to consider pursuing a Doctor of Psychology or PsyD. This degree can prepare you for some of the highest-paying jobs in psychology, including clinical psychology and psychotherapy.

What It’s Like to Be a Psychologist

Why Was the PsyD Developed?

Until the late 1960s, aPhD in psychologywas the only degree that professional psychologists could get. However, there was concern that a PhD degree wasn’t preparing people to do clinical work in psychology. In the 1970s, the PsyD was developed as an applied clinical doctoral degree to help train psychologists as practitioners.

There are a few ways that a PsyD is different from a PhD:

PsyDFocused on clinical workOften work with patients in clinical settingsCan take four to seven years to complete (shorter times are more typical)Evaluation usually consists of exams and practical workPhDFocused on researchMay teach at the university level or do researchCan take four to seven years to complete (longer times are more typical)Evaluation usually involves writing a dissertation

Focused on clinical work

Often work with patients in clinical settings

Can take four to seven years to complete (shorter times are more typical)

Evaluation usually consists of exams and practical work

PhDFocused on researchMay teach at the university level or do researchCan take four to seven years to complete (longer times are more typical)Evaluation usually involves writing a dissertation

Focused on research

May teach at the university level or do research

Can take four to seven years to complete (longer times are more typical)

Evaluation usually involves writing a dissertation

Psychology Specialties You Can Study

How You Earn a PsyD

A PsyD program trains psychologists to use their understanding of the science of the mind and behavior to treat and diagnose mental illnesses.

A PsyD degree program usually takes four to seven years to finish, depending on the specialty and your previous education. You’ll learn about and get practice in a wide variety of topics, like psychological assessment, diagnosis, and clinical interventions.

Here are some examples of courses you may take in a PsyD program:

Depending on whether you want to focus on a specific concentration, you could also take courses in:

As a PsyD student, you’ll also do a supervised practicum and a supervised internship in a clinical setting. You’ll usually work part-time under the supervision of a licensed psychologist in different clinical settings. Your internship is a full-time position and usually lasts at least one year. After completing an internship, you’ll be able to take state and national exams to become alicensed psychologist.

TheAmerican Psychological Associationaccredits both PsyD and PhD programs.No matter what type of program you are thinking about doing, check to see if the program is APA-accredited. Most state licensing boards require applicants to have finished their degree and a supervised internship at an APA-accredited institution.

11 Jobs You Can Do With a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology

Jobs You Could Get with a PsyD

After earning a PsyD inclinicalorcounseling psychologyand passing the required licensing exams, you will be able to diagnose and treat mental disorders. Other job duties include administering evaluations, conducting psychological tests, andproviding psychotherapyservices.

People with a PsyD work in a wide variety of settings, including hospitals, mental health clinics, government offices, and schools. Some professionals choose to open psychotherapy practices or work as consultants for private corporations.

Some of the highest-paying psychology jobs are those you can get with a PsyD. Here are just some examples of the kinds of careers you could pursue with a PsyD:

How Much Can You Make With a PsyD?Since it’s an advanced degree, having a PsyD can open your career up to some of the highest-paying jobs in psychology.According to PayScale, the average base salary in the United States for a PsyD is $92,000 a year.ZipRecruitersays that pay rates for PsyD jobs can go up to $125 per hour.Salary.comsays the medium annual income for a PsyD is $113,000.

How Much Can You Make With a PsyD?

Since it’s an advanced degree, having a PsyD can open your career up to some of the highest-paying jobs in psychology.According to PayScale, the average base salary in the United States for a PsyD is $92,000 a year.ZipRecruitersays that pay rates for PsyD jobs can go up to $125 per hour.Salary.comsays the medium annual income for a PsyD is $113,000.

Can You Switch Fields to Psychology for Graduate School?

Alternatives to the PsyD Degree

Getting a PsyD can be a great choice if you want to focus on being a practitioner of psychology and doing clinical work. However, if you are more interested in research or teaching, a PhD in psychology might be a better option.

It’s also important to know that in most states, having a PsyD alone is not enough to be able to prescribe clients medicationThere are just five states—Louisiana, New Mexico, Iowa, Idaho, and Illinois—where PsyD’s can prescribe mediation as long as they meet strict criteria. If being able to help clients with medication is something you want to be able to do, you’ll need to pursue a medical degree like an MD or DO to become a psychiatrist.

If you know that you want to work in the field of mental health but aren’t sure if you want to invest the time and money in getting a doctorate, you may want to considersocial work, counseling,school psychology, education, and health science degrees.

80+ Psychology-Related Careers to Consider

6 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.Doctoral degrees in psychology: How are they different, or not so different?.U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.Psychologists.Occupational Outlook Handbook.American Psychological Association.APA accreditation.Grand Canyon University.How to become a psychiatrist.UCLA.Difference between a psychologist and a psychiatrist.APA.About prescribing psychologists.Additional ReadingAmerican Psychological Association.How long does it take to earn a research doctorate in psychology?Monitor on Psychology.2017;48(2):15.Loyala University of Maryland.Can I get my Psy.D. without a master’s in psychology?

6 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.Doctoral degrees in psychology: How are they different, or not so different?.U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.Psychologists.Occupational Outlook Handbook.American Psychological Association.APA accreditation.Grand Canyon University.How to become a psychiatrist.UCLA.Difference between a psychologist and a psychiatrist.APA.About prescribing psychologists.Additional ReadingAmerican Psychological Association.How long does it take to earn a research doctorate in psychology?Monitor on Psychology.2017;48(2):15.Loyala University of Maryland.Can I get my Psy.D. without a master’s in psychology?

American Psychological Association.Doctoral degrees in psychology: How are they different, or not so different?.U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.Psychologists.Occupational Outlook Handbook.American Psychological Association.APA accreditation.Grand Canyon University.How to become a psychiatrist.UCLA.Difference between a psychologist and a psychiatrist.APA.About prescribing psychologists.

American Psychological Association.Doctoral degrees in psychology: How are they different, or not so different?.

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

American Psychological Association.APA accreditation.

Grand Canyon University.How to become a psychiatrist.

UCLA.Difference between a psychologist and a psychiatrist.

APA.About prescribing psychologists.

American Psychological Association.How long does it take to earn a research doctorate in psychology?Monitor on Psychology.2017;48(2):15.Loyala University of Maryland.Can I get my Psy.D. without a master’s in psychology?

American Psychological Association.How long does it take to earn a research doctorate in psychology?Monitor on Psychology.2017;48(2):15.

Loyala University of Maryland.Can I get my Psy.D. without a master’s in psychology?

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At a Glance#

Why Was the PsyD Developed?#

How You Earn a PsyD#

Jobs You Could Get with a PsyD#

How Much Can You Make With a PsyD?#

Alternatives to the PsyD Degree#