Should I go back to school to become a psychologist?

[Anonymous]

I am 40. Thinking of changing careers. Has anyone gone back to school to become a psychologist mid-career? What is involved? Any input much appreciated.

[Anonymous]

Why do you want to be a psychologist? What do you want to do with the degree?

I'm a clinical psychologist (PhD), and IMO one should only get this degree unless you want to do clinical practice (therapy, testing) AND research/teaching. If you solely want to be a therapist, get an MSW. It's a solid credential and much less expensive than a PhD. If you solely want the research/teaching side, get a doctoral degree in something else.

Here's the deal: decent clinical psych programs are extraordinarily hard to get into. Admissions rates are fewer than 5%, more on the order of 2-3%. The people who get in have research experience, maybe some clinical experience, posters and/or publications, and a lot of luck. The APA has done the field an enormous disservice by accrediting a ton of degree factories, which offer lousy training and crank out "psychologists" by the boatload (usually PsyDs). Oh, and you also have to complete a one year clinical internship as part of your training. There are significantly fewer internship slots then there are applicants; if you don't have an internship, you don't graduate. If you don't have an APA-accredited internship, your employment opportunities are limited, e.g., you will never work for the VA or federal government as a psychologist.

So, there's a lot involved in becoming a psychologist, particularly if you're geographically limited. One other piece of advice: do NOT, under any circumstances, get your degree from one of those god-awful online programs (e.g., Capella). I'd steer clear of most PsyD programs in general, too, such as Argosy. I know someone who racked up $90K in debt to get her online PsyD, only to be told by Maryland that she would never be licensed in the state as a psychologist.

The benefits: for those who do want to do clinical work and research, it's a wonderful degree: enormously flexible, well-respected, fascinating. There are always opportunities to change specialities, even if it takes some time. It's meaningful, challenging work, and can be a wonderful fit for the right folks. But too often, people don't think it through, and end up with a lousy degree, a boatload of debt, and dismal job prospects. I'm not trying to dissuade you, but do think it's important to be honest about what obtaining the degree entails.

[Anonymous]

Not the OP, but thanks, PP, for your insight.