How to become a Psychologist: 6 Steps to Success in India

Psychology is an exciting and rewarding career choice that has gained significant popularity in India in recent years. With the increasing demand for mental health services and the growing awareness of the importance of mental health, the scope of psychology in India is vast. Many students are curious about how to become a psychologist in India, and there are several paths to pursue this career. In this article, we will explore the career options in psychology, the scope of psychology in India, and the steps to becoming a psychologist in India. But first, let’s understand what psychology is and its various sub-fields.

What Does A Psychologist Do?

Psychologists in India specialise in areas such as clinical, forensic, counselling, educational, organizational, child, and military psychology. They diagnose and treat mental health illness like depression, anxiety, and addiction, offering therapy and behavioural interventions. Roles include social psychologists, counsellors, career advisors, and community workers. Common duties involve identifying and addressing clients’ problems, researching human behaviour, and providing support for stress management. Whether in clinical practice or research, they play a vital role in understanding and improving mental well-being. Exploring diverse career paths ensures finding the right fit for aspiring psychologists in India.

Psychologist vs. Psychiatrist: What’s the Difference?

Psychiatrists and psychologists can offer psychotherapy to treat behavioral disorders. However, psychiatrists are trained as medical doctors and hence have the authority to administer medicine to patients. In some states, psychologists can also complete training that allows them to prescribe psychiatric medications.

Psychologists, on the other hand, have extensive training in methodology and often focus on psychological assessment and effective talk therapy.

Why Should I become a Psychologist?

A psychologist’s career directly affects the mental health and well-being of those who seek their services. Various job options in psychology can provide opportunity for rewarding work, whether with children, people with developmental disabilities, older adults, or in fields such as research, evaluations, teaching, and systems design. Furthermore, work opportunities for psychologists continue to rise faster than the norm for all occupations, with some experts receiving above-average pay, according to BLS data.

How to Become a Psychologist?

Once a student has decided to study psychology, they must be wondering how to become a psychologist. What to do after studying psychology? How to get a psychology degree? What kind of experiences do we need?

To be a psychologist, you have to follow certain steps:

1. Get a bachelor’s degree
2. Gain some experience
3. Enrol in Postgraduate School
4. Complete Doctorate Degree
5. Do Internships
6. Get Licensed

Step 1: Get a bachelor’s degree

Students need a formal education to start their career in psychology. They can do a BA or BSc in psychology. Most of the students major in the subject while others opt for Psychology with additional subjects like English, Sociology, Political Science, etc. If students have decided to become a psychologist and their career path is clear, then majoring in psychology at a reputed college would be a good option.

Step 2: Gain some experience

Gain some professional experience after completing a bachelor’s degree in psychology. Getting experience in a professional setting before pursuing a master’s is always a good way to put theoretical knowledge into practice. Students can start doing internships or become research project trainees under the guidance of senior psychologists or professors. The internship will also help them to learn and understand different areas of psychology. Based on their experience, they can later decide what specialisation they need to acquire to advance their career.

Step 3: Get Into a Specialized Field

After gaining some professional experience, students can go for specialisation. Since psychology is a broad branch for which specialisation is required. They can choose their post graduate degree in fields such as clinical psychology, media, health, education, and sports psychology. Post-graduation is usually 2 years which they will learn in-depth about the selected specialisation.

Step 4: Complete Doctorate Degree

After completing a master’s degree, you have to go for higher studies and complete a doctoral program. Although completing a Ph.D. is not required, most psychologists practice with their master’s degree. But it also comes with some drawbacks. Psychologists with a master’s degree can practice in person. They have to work under a Ph.D. holder psychologist. Therefore, a doctoral degree in psychology is necessary for becoming a psychologist. The doctoral program is of five years duration and may take up to seven years to complete.

Step 5: Do Internships

After completing their doctoral degree, students must complete their internship, where they gain experience in their chosen field. This will help them understand the professional environment and hone their skills in handling patients and develop their communication skills. The length of the internship can vary. It may take a minimum of 6 months and a maximum of two years to complete.

Step 6: Get Licensed

If students are thinking about the final step of how to become a psychologist in India, it is that they should have a license. After students have completed their education and gained professional experience, a license is required to work as a psychologist. Most Indian states require a license to permit to work as a psychologist. These licensing laws vary by state. To earn a license, students must complete their doctoral degree and practice under the supervision of a licensed psychologist. After which they can sit for the exam of Professional Practice in Psychology. After passing the exam, they can become a licensed psychologist and choose to start a private practice or work for organizations.

Where do Psychologists work?

Psychologists work in a wide range of contexts, including:

• Universities or four-year colleges
• Other schools (e.g. high schools, elementary schools)
• Medical schools
• Independent practices
• Hospitals or other health services
• Government or veterans’ association medical centers
• Businesses or nonprofits

Psychologist Career Path

In the field of psychology, there are several career paths that students can pursue. Here are some of the career options available for individuals who want to pursue a career in psychology:

1. Counselling Psychologist:

As a counsellor, one can provide therapeutic services to individuals and groups, depending on their expertise. Counsellors can work in schools, government organisations, and industries.

2. Professor:

After completing a master’s or doctoral degree, students can teach psychology in colleges and universities. Professors can conduct research, write books, and mentor students.

3. Researcher:

After completing the doctoral degree, individuals can become researchers in their chosen specialisation. They conduct experiments, collect data, analyse it, and interpret the results.

4. Biopsychologist:

Biopsychologists are interested in the relationship between biology and psychology. They study behavioral research as well as neuropsychiatric and developmental psychology.

5. Family Psychologist:

Family psychologists focus on issues related to mind and behaviour within families. They help families understand and resolve conflicts, develop better communication skills, and improve their relationships.

6. School Psychologist:

School psychologists focus on the emotional problems, learning disabilities, mood, and behaviour of children in school. They help students with academic, social, and emotional problems.

7. Rehabilitation Psychologist:

Rehabilitation psychologists work with people who have disabilities, addiction problems, or people who have suffered a major physical and emotional injury. They work in hospitals or rehabilitation centres and help individuals overcome their challenges and improve their quality of life.

Popular Psychology Courses

The vast field of Psychology opens a wide range of specialisations. Students can choose either Arts or Science stream and can further pursue an undergraduate degree, preferably a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology or Bachelor of Science in Psychology. If you want to know how to become a psychologist, let us help you understand what courses to take to become one.

Some of the psychology branches in which students can do their specialisations are:

• Clinical Psychology
• Educational Psychology
• Industrial Psychology
• Community Psychology
• Counseling Psychology
• Criminal Psychology
• Media Psychology
• Cognitive Psychology
• Organisational Behaviour
• Developmental Psychology
• Social Psychology
• Sports Psychology
• Engineering Psychology
• Military Psychology

1. Psychology Course After 12th

Students can opt for a graduate degree after the 12th. To be eligible for a bachelor’s degree, students need to have passed 12th with a minimum of 55%. Some of the bachelor’s degrees in psychology are:

• BA Psychology
• BSc Psychology
• BSc Cognitive Science
• BSc Sports Psychology
• BSc Business Psychology
• BSc Forensic Psychology
• BSc Criminology
• BSc Social Psychology
• BA Media Studies

2. Psychology Course After Graduation

Students who have completed their graduation can opt for post-graduation in psychology. To be eligible for this, students must have graduated with a minimum of 55%. If students want to learn how to become a psychologist after graduation here are some of the master’s degrees in psychology that they can pursue.

• MA Psychology
• MSc Psychology
• MSc Cognitive Science
• MA Behavioural Science
• MSc Sports Psychology
• MSc Business Psychology
• MSc Forensic Psychology
• MSc Criminology
• MSc Social Psychology

3. Diploma and Certificate in Psychology

If students are wondering how to become a psychologist with a diploma in psychology and whether they can practice it in India, then here is a quick guide.

Students who wish to study psychology but are unwilling to practice can also take certificate and diploma courses in psychology. Diploma and Certificate courses are short-term with a maximum duration of 1 year.

Unlike graduation and post-graduation, there are no strict eligibility criteria for diploma and certificate courses. You can do diploma and certificate psychology courses after 12th, graduation or post-graduation.

Skills Required to Become a Psychologist

Candidates who want to be psychologists and work in this industry must have a variety of talents. Some of the most important talents are listed below for your reference.

• Communication Skills
• Critical thinking
• Qualitative & Quantitative research
• Patience
• Ethical Understanding
• Open-minded approach
• Problem-solving skills
• Empathy
• Emotional intelligence

Pros and Cons of Becoming a Psychologist

Every career has advantages and disadvantages. Some of the primary advantages and disadvantages of becoming a Psychologist are listed below for your consideration.

Pros of Becoming a Psychologist:

• A rewarding career: Psychologists assist people in learning to cope with disorders and disabilities, as well as to overcome mental and emotional illnesses.
• Earn a potentially high salary: Psychologists can expect to be paid well for their time and efforts, which increases with qualification and experience.
• Meet new types of people: As a psychologist, you will have the opportunity to meet people from various backgrounds.

Cons of Becoming a Psychologist:

• Emotionally demanding: A psychologist’s job can be emotionally tiring because the individual attending a counselor must open up and discuss his or her experiences, challenges, and sorrow while confronting those feelings, which can be emotionally hard for the psychologist. A psychologist must be emotionally available to his or her patient, even if they are angry or disrespectful.
• Takes time and hard work: Becoming a psychologist is a difficult and time-consuming endeavor. It takes a lot of effort and research to become one. Even after 3 years as a bachelor, 2 years as a major, and 3-4 as a doctorate, it takes time to establish oneself as a recognized psychologist.

Psychologist Scope and Salary in India 2024

Now that students know how to become a psychologist, they must be wondering what the scope of psychology is and how much can a psychologist earn in India.

There is a growing demand for psychologists and psychiatrists in India which makes it a good career option. As more and more people are becoming aware of mental health issues, their surroundings, and their development, people are turning to clinical, child and counseling psychologists to understand themselves and others better.

In 2017, Mental Healthcare Act was passed which promoted the importance and need for psychology. And now there is a need for psychologists in every field whether it is education or sports. The need for psychologists in every field opens up a wide range. And today they are not limited to just counseling or clinical.

After graduating with a psychology degree, there is a lot of scope in India that opens up to students. They can work in hospitals, NGOs, organisations, schools and universities, or even set up their own clinic.

One can start their career as a psychologist after their master’s degree in their field of specialisation. If one wants to practice as a clinical psychologist, then he/she must have MPhil. Otherwise, a diploma degree is required to start a career as a counselling psychologist.

Now you learned about how to become a psychologist and its scope, let us know more about its salary.

Psychologists earn decent salaries. Their salary varies based on their experience, nature of work, the organisation in which they work, and their specialisation.

Starting Salary of Psychologist

The starting salary can be anywhere between ₹ 12,000 to ₹ 20,000.

Salary of Experienced Psychologist

The salary of experienced psychologists can be anywhere between ₹ 30,000 to ₹ 70,000.

Salary of Psychologist based on Specialisation:

1. Clinical Psychologists: 

Clinical psychologists can earn up to ₹ 9.0 Lakhs annually. The average salary of clinical psychologists is ₹ 4.5 Lakhs.

2. Forensic Psychologists: 

Forensic psychologists can earn up to ₹ 5.65 Lakhs annually. The average salary of forensic psychologists is ₹ 5.3 Lakhs.

3. Child Psychologists: 

Child psychologists can earn up to ₹ 5.0 Lakhs annually. The average salary of child psychologists is ₹ 3.0 Lakhs.

4. Sports Psychologists: 

Sports psychologists can earn up to ₹ 10.0 Lakhs annually. The average salary of sports psychologists is ₹ 14.6 Lakhs.

5. Educational Psychologists: 

Educational psychologists can earn up to ₹ 7.44 Lakhs annually. The average salary of educational psychologists is ₹ 5.0 Lakhs.

6. Media Psychologists: 

Media psychologists can earn up to ₹ 7.8 Lakhs annually. The average salary of media psychologists is  ₹ 5.5 Lakhs.

7. Industrial Psychologists: 

Industrial psychologists can earn up to ₹ 17.0 Lakhs annually. The average salary of industrial psychologists is ₹20.7 Lakhs.

Become a Subject Matter Expert in Psychology

Chegg India is hiring Subject Matter Experts for Psychology (clinical and social) to answer Psychology-related questions for students around the world.

You can also join Chegg as an expert in several subjects like Economics, Accounting, Finance, Engineering, Computer Science, Science, Physics, Advanced Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics, Statistics and Probability, Health Care Nursing and Earth Science. All you need to become a Subject Matter Expert is a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree, or a diploma in relevant subjects.

Also read – Psychology Facts in Hindi

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