Hi. I am currently a clinical social worker in a school based mental health clinic. I enjoy my job but have been considering going back and getting my PsyD. I have disucssed this with several peers but would like to get the objectvie opinion of this forum.

I am truly interested in continuing my education but am not sure if pursuing this degree (cost and time) is a good career move. I have also considered going back and getting my PhD in clinical social work. I really enjoy the testing aspect of psychology and as a social worker am not able to utlize these tools. Also, there seems to be a limit on the scope a social worker can take on in an agency setting. I waver on this decsion continously and would really appreciate any advice. Thanks for any comments.

-Jordan

Welcome to the board! Glad you made it!

I think you'd be making a great decision to pursue a doctorate. Some things to consider:

*Im not sure if you are licensed or if you have an MSW but classes from the MSW generally don't transfer into a doctoral program. So keep that in mind.

*Pursuing a doctorate opens many doors that a social worker may have closed to them right now. Still, where you have the MSW/PsyD/PHD battle....pursuing your PsyD you will come across the PsyD v PHD vs. Professional school battle.

*I don't know much about the PHD on Social Work but not sure if that allows you to go into clinical practice? Psici? Paendrag?

*Yes the decision can be quire overwhelming but a good one in the end. You will find proponents (sp?) of both the PsyD and the PHD but ultimately it is what fits your goals understanding the implications of taking on either degree.


I am sure you will garner more interest and responses with your questions as seen from our most recent posts here.

Thanks for your repsonse.

How do you think the admissions officer will look upon my clinical experince as a Social Worker. I have worked for two years in a clinical setting as a primary therapist. I have also completed one year of training at a psyhodynamic training institute.
Thanks- Gio

If you are applying to a PsyD program then it will way heavily in your application and will be looked upon favorably as I understand it. As far as the psychodynamic training, schools like GWU who are heavily psychodynamically (hope that made sense) oriented would see that as a plus.

May I ask where you completed your training?


Thanks for your repsonse.

How do you think the admissions officer will look upon my clinical experince as a Social Worker. I have worked for two years in a clinical setting as a primary therapist. I have also completed one year of training at a psyhodynamic training institute.
Thanks- Gio

If you are applying to a PsyD program then it will way heavily in your application and will be looked upon favorably as I understand it. As far as the psychodynamic training, schools like GWU who are heavily psychodynamically (hope that made sense) oriented would see that as a plus.

May I ask where you completed your training?



Still training. It's a four year program. I am training at Harlem Family Institute which is affiliated with NPAP. Thanks for all your help

Hi. I am currently a clinical social worker in a school based mental health clinic. I enjoy my job but have been considering going back and getting my PsyD. I have disucssed this with several peers but would like to get the objectvie opinion of this forum.

I am truly interested in continuing my education but am not sure if pursuing this degree (cost and time) is a good career move. I have also considered going back and getting my PhD in clinical social work. I really enjoy the testing aspect of psychology and as a social worker am not able to utlize these tools. Also, there seems to be a limit on the scope a social worker can take on in an agency setting. I waver on this decsion continously and would really appreciate any advice. Thanks for any comments.

-Jordan


If you wish to continue clinically doing what you do now (e.g., mostly therapy, maybe a little bit of assessment), the question becomes one of economics. Calculate your lost wages for the time it would take you to earn the degree, factor in the cost of tuition at the programs you are interested in, and then figure out if the average difference in salary for a therapist-clinical psychologist and a social worker will pay off for you.

If you wish to continue clinically doing what you do now (e.g., mostly therapy, maybe a little bit of assessment), the question becomes one of economics. Calculate your lost wages for the time it would take you to earn the degree, factor in the cost of tuition at the programs you are interested in, and then figure out if the average difference in salary for a therapist-clinical psychologist and a social worker will pay off for you.

This is pretty much what I did when debating whether to continue to PsyD when I finish my Masters. I really wanted to, I have great grades and I thought I had a pretty decent chance of getting into the program at my school. I want the knowledge in order to better understand my clients.

However, I'm 47 years old. The tuition alone was going to cost $66,000, I would have lost 5-6 years of full-time pay. I have the money if I were to deplete retirement savings, but otherwise I would have to borrow it. Once I looked at the salaries, the actual jobs available and weighed everything, it just wasn't going to make sense. I'm just going to do t he best I can with the Masters.

This is pretty much what I did when debating whether to continue to PsyD when I finish my Masters. I really wanted to, I have great grades and I thought I had a pretty decent chance of getting into the program at my school. I want the knowledge in order to better understand my clients.

However, I'm 47 years old. The tuition alone was going to cost $66,000, I would have lost 5-6 years of full-time pay. I have the money if I were to deplete retirement savings, but otherwise I would have to borrow it. Once I looked at the salaries, the actual jobs available and weighed everything, it just wasn't going to make sense. I'm just going to do t he best I can with the Masters.


Smart decision. Even a fully funded program would be a bad idea at this point because of the lost wages.

Smart decision. Even a fully funded program would be a bad idea at this point because of the lost wages.



I could see why thats a smart decsion in your situation. I am 26 though so do you think that if you were younger you would have gone a different way.

I could see why thats a smart decsion in your situation. I am 26 though so do you think that if you were younger you would have gone a different way.


If I were 26 I'd do it. If it were fully-funded I'd do it. If I won the lottery I'd do it.

Check with your local psychology board - in some states, a Master's in Psychology allows you to administer psychological tests as a psychometrist. This would take less time to complete (approx 2 yrs, some programs are less time). However, this typically requires ongoing supervision from a doctoral-level psychologist for the duration of your practice. Also consider the EdD degree, usually through the college of education at most universities. Still a doctorate, allowing work a wide range of populations (school, general community settings, etc.). I have never encountered a DSW or PhD in Social Work in a clinical work setting -- I was under the assumption that many at that level choose to pursue reserach or academic careers, though that may be a misconception. I have a PhD in clinical psych and have found (at least in my experience) that a LCSW or LPC in a commmunity mental health setting is often sought-after in supervisory roles given the ability to practice independently and supervise others. I'm sure it depends on the setting. PsyD (and sometimes PhD) programs can become quite expensive - not sure that any difference in salary later would be worth the lost wages now. Might want to consider just continuing to gain valuable experience and explore new options -- sometimes this (and networking with other professionals) is what really helps you secure a better position in the future. Good luck!

What good does being able to give assessments as a psychometrist do for them? Psychometrists can't interpret tests. They can't even decide which tests to give.

What good does being able to give assessments as a psychometrist do for them? Psychometrists can't interpret tests. They can't even decide which tests to give.
Just a shorter training route to be able to conduct assessments, if that's what someone wants to do. In NC, master's level psychologists have almost identical privileges with respect to most psych assessment instruments (just need to have a doctoral-level or an approved master's-level psychologist supervise). This is good for the master's level person, but problematic in some respects for doctoral-level psychologists competing for jobs. However, in SC, I think it's more along the lines of what you describe. I guess it depends on the state.

You may have no interest in this at all, but combining your MSW with an ARNP could be interesting. You could continue to do intakes, therapy, triage, etc. and prescribe medication. In my area, at the local CMHC, ARNP’s make $70,000!

You may have no interest in this at all, but combining your MSW with an ARNP could be interesting. You could continue to do intakes, therapy, triage, etc. and prescribe medication. In my area, at the local CMHC, ARNP’s make $70,000!


Thanks. Sorry for my ignorance but what is a CMHC or a ARNP. I assume it is some kind of nurse practicioner possibly.

Sorry, ARNP – Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner, CMHC – Community Mental Health Center.

Another thought… I do not think there is a separate license for a Ph.D. in Clinical Social Work. People who have a Ph.D. in social work oftentimes hold the LCSW level license. Therefore, they may be subject to masters level reimbursement from managed care, even though they have obtained a doctorate.

Another thought… I do not think there is a separate license for a Ph.D. in Clinical Social Work. People who have a Ph.D. in social work oftentimes hold the LCSW level license. Therefore, they may be subject to masters level reimbursement from managed care, even though they have obtained a doctorate.


I think you are probably right on that. The thing is the Ph.D. in social work is Part time so financially speaking it would be easier on the pocket. However, there is a Clinical/School PsyD proragm at PACE that offers a part time track. Any info on this program. Thanks again.