Getting your doctorate in psychology: A guide.

The ultimate step to the careers in teaching, research, or practice is getting a psychology doctorate. This the highest level of degree to have and it will only open up doors that wouldn’t otherwise be opened. This step though is not a fast one, but a long commitment to years of study.

Essentially, you must learn and obtain an advanced understanding of how people act. This can be obtained through many years of coursework, practice, and research that span the entire span of your learning. You should eventually move past mere concepts and be taught to question everything and find your own contribution to psychology.

There are two distinct doctoral paths: PhD in Psychology or PsyD (Doctor of Psychology). A PhD in psychology would be for those pursuing research and the teaching profession; in contrast a PsyD in psychology would be designed to prepare individuals for careers as licensed psychologists and direct practice. Choose your path according to your future career plans.

To be accepted into any psychology doctorate program, there are a series of key requirements. You should have a comprehensive understanding of psychology as a field and be proficient in many areas such as statistics and research methods. All programs would require the admission of a GRE, recommendation letters, and a letter of intent. Some programs require the master’s to be obtained prior to applying to the doctorate but other programs require only a bachelor’s with a number of other requirements to show a broad understanding of psychology in and out of the classroom.

Experience with research is perhaps the most important aspect in obtaining a psychology doctorate. This includes experience such as research assistant positions, internships or even class research projects that clearly showcase you commitment to the profession and ability to perform a professional doctorate. Some programs will require an English test, such as IELTS or TOEFL for non-native speakers.

The application for psychology doctoral programs is both detail and driven. Typically all program require your university transcripts, a current CV, recommendation letters from previous professors, and at times a research proposal or paper that you have been a part of. Make sure you research programs and choose one with faculty whose research relates directly to your own interests.

The programs themselves are competitive and you must apply to programs where you have a realistic chance of being accepted into. Pay attention to accreditations, department funding, and the quality of the department's professors and facilities. Often the top-funded psychology doctorates are programs that you will need a completed master’s to apply into but if you plan on working with people clinically and not research, those are typically PsyDs.

Once accepted, a student will have a number of courses they must attend in core psychology fields such as psychology of development and statistics and research methods in the first one to three years. This can change depending on what area a student is working on, though clinical students will need much more practical experience then a researcher or a professor. Some students may focus on particular psychology professions such as clinical psychology, counseling psychology, neuropsychology, or forensic psychology.

The most difficult part of earning your psychology doctorate will most likely be completing the dissertation. This is a massive research project where you must contribute new knowledge to psychology, and then defend your research. This may take two years alone and requires a great deal of discipline and consistency on your part to complete successfully.

Upon completing a psychology doctorate that is clinical in nature, the professional must have a certain number of hours of supervised experience as well as pass an exam for licensure in most states. You will then become a psychologist.

 The psychology doctorate is not a short term journey. Overall, it can take 6-10 years to complete, with graduate assistant and research assistantship positions allowing students to support themselves through the degree program with paid positions in universities. For students pursuing the degree to become an organizational consultant, teacher, and so forth there can be significantly higher starting salary potential as well as the knowledge of being an expert in your field. In India, the entry level psychology doctorates can range from 6 to 12 lakhs per year, with more experienced psychologists commanding salaries in the lakhs. The international field is still growing for professionals with doctoral degrees as there is an increasing awareness of and need for mental health services, and therefore a widening field for psychology professionals with doctoral degrees.

Remember to avoid mistakes such as applying without a complete understanding of the programs, lack of research experience, failing to check accreditations, or submitting cookie cutter applications. With careful planning and hard work it is possible to achieve a psychology doctorate and with the increasing demand for such professionals the journey, as well as a career that is developed from it, will be well worth it.

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