Ability to Practice with a non clinical doctoral program?

[undecidedman]

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Hello,

I might be interested in a non clinical program that focuses on policy and is a multidisciplinary Ph.D program that has professors from many different traditional Academic disciplines teaching.

I was wondering if anyone has gone through a program that allows you to focus on issues relating to Psychology and than had later went on to also practice.

What is that process like? Is it possible? If one has a Ph.D in another field, is it realistic to be able to go back for a Clinical Psychology Ph.D if you wanted to practice?

Thanks.

 

[AcronymAllergy]

There are respecification programs available for individuals with a non-clinical psych-related degree (e.g., I/O, cognitive) who wish to be able to practice, although I honestly have no idea how long these typically take and what the licensure hurdles might look like afterward.

If ALL you wanted to practice was psychotherapy, you might consider a terminal master's program that would allow you to become licensed. Although I'd say if you think there's a good chance you'll want to practice in the future, a clinical/counseling/school psych PhD would probably be your best bet, as that'll save you the headaches on the tail end.

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

There are respecification programs available for individuals with a non-clinical psych-related degree (e.g., I/O, cognitive) who wish to be able to practice, although I honestly have no idea how long these typically take and what the licensure hurdles might look like afterward.

The re-specialization programs are definitely a longer road because on top of their original Ph.D., they will most likely need to take: additional classes, get practica experience, complete an internship, complete a post-doc, take the EPPP, etc. Anyone remotely interested in doing clinical work should strongly consider a licensable degree because re-specialization can often take 3-4 years when all is said and done.

 

[wigflip]

The re-specialization programs are definitely a longer road because on top of their original Ph.D., they will most likely need to take: additional classes, get practica experience, complete an internship, complete a post-doc, take the EPPP, etc. Anyone remotely interested in doing clinical work should strongly consider a licensable degree because re-specialization can often take 3-4 years when all is said and done.

My impression from reading about respecialization programs at sdn is that they are designed for folks with doctorates in other areas of psychology, but not necessarily other social scientists (anth, comm, econ, poly sci, soc,) or interdisciplinary fields. Did I get that wrong? Could say, an anthropologist go back and do a respecialization and be licensed as a psychologist?

 

[Neuropsych2be]

My impression from reading about respecialization programs at sdn is that they are designed for folks with doctorates in other areas of psychology, but not necessarily other social scientists (anth, comm, econ, poly sci, soc,) or interdisciplinary fields. Did I get that wrong? Could say, an anthropologist go back and do a respecialization and be licensed as a psychologist?

Nope. The Ph.D. has to be in one of the traditional subfields of psychology.

 

[wigflip]

Nope. The Ph.D. has to be in one of the traditional subfields of psychology.

Thanks for the clarification. That's what I originally thought. I guess I was confused by the OP's "multidisciplinary" program.

 

[PsyDLICSW]

Hello,

I might be interested in a non clinical program that focuses on policy and is a multidisciplinary Ph.D program that has professors from many different traditional Academic disciplines teaching.

I was wondering if anyone has gone through a program that allows you to focus on issues relating to Psychology and than had later went on to also practice.

What is that process like? Is it possible? If one has a Ph.D in another field, is it realistic to be able to go back for a Clinical Psychology Ph.D if you wanted to practice?

Thanks.

If all you want to do is therapy (not testing) then you may want to consider a PhD in social work based on your desire for multidisciplinary training and the option to practice.

 

[FadedC]

For the record in most states you can also get licensed to practice with any doctoral psychology degree as long as you meet state license requirements. For example one of my old professors has a degree in developmental psychology and didn't recieve much practical training. However he did an internship and postdoc with a liscensed psychologist, so now he is elligable to take the EPP (although he has absolutely no desire to). If you look at EPP pass rate break downs you will often see a handfull of people from developmental, experimental, organizaitonal programs.

 

[undecidedman]

If all you want to do is therapy (not testing) then you may want to consider a PhD in social work based on your desire for multidisciplinary training and the option to practice.

I've thought about Social Work, but I am a bit interested in testing. Likewise, I think it is also pretty difficult to attain social work careers in the suburbs...at least based on my limited research. It's not as if they don't exist, just more limited, albeit, Psychologist positions aren't exactly falling out the sky either.

For the record in most states you can also get licensed to practice with any doctoral psychology degree as long as you meet state license requirements. For example one of my old professors has a degree in developmental psychology and didn't recieve much practical training. However he did an internship and postdoc with a liscensed psychologist, so now he is elligable to take the EPP (although he has absolutely no desire to). If you look at EPP pass rate break downs you will often see a handfull of people from developmental, experimental, organizaitonal programs.

It's a Human Development program that allows you to specialize into some aspects of Psychology, so I'm not sure if that will work.

But thank you, that is good information to know.

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

For the record in most states you can also get licensed to practice with any doctoral psychology degree as long as you meet state license requirements. For example one of my old professors has a degree in developmental psychology and didn't recieve much practical training. However he did an internship and postdoc with a liscensed psychologist, so now he is elligable to take the EPP (although he has absolutely no desire to). If you look at EPP pass rate break downs you will often see a handfull of people from developmental, experimental, organizaitonal programs.

It should be noted that this sounds much more positive than it is in actual practice. To meet most state licensing requires you need to have completed a rather narrow set of classes, practica, and related supervised experiences. Most "psychology" degrees will leave you years away from actually being able to be licensed. For example, here are the requirements for Massachusetts. There are classes, pre-masters experience, post-masters experience, additional supervision, etc. It is frustrating for people to imply that anyone with a loosely related degree can take a few classes and somehow be adequately trained to provide clinical services.

 

[FadedC]

Well I never said that I thought they were adequetly trained to practice, just that many people with non practicing degrees do manage to become licensed. I'm pretty sure that my old professor would tell you that despite having the ability to get licensed, he is not at all adequetly trained in most apsects of it, which is part of why he had no desire to.

It should be noted that this sounds much more positive than it is in actual practice. To meet most state licensing requires you need to have completed a rather narrow set of classes, practica, and related supervised experiences. Most "psychology" degrees will leave you years away from actually being able to be licensed. For example, here are the requirements for Massachusetts. There are classes, pre-masters experience, post-masters experience, additional supervision, etc. It is frustrating for people to imply that anyone with a loosely related degree can take a few classes and somehow be adequately trained to provide clinical services.

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

Well I never said that I thought they were adequetly trained to practice, just that many people with non practicing degrees do manage to become licensed. I'm pretty sure that my old professor would tell you that despite having the ability to get licensed, he is not at all adequetly trained in most apsects of it, which is part of why he had no desire to.

If he doesn't think he is adequately trained to practice, why would you want someone else to take a similar path? 😱

 

[erg923]

If he doesn't think he is adequately trained to practice, why would you want someone else to take a similar path? 😱

I think what not be communicated clearly here is that nowadays, if you have a "non-practice degree", you have to go back complete a formal clinical respecialization program in order practice at the psychology at the doctoral level. 40-50 years ago, its seems there were all kinds of ways to sneak in. But that time has long since ended.

 

[FadedC]

I never said that I wanted someone to take that path. I merely pointed out that the path existed. It seems more productive to address and be aware of the options rather then to simply pretend that they do not exist.

If he doesn't think he is adequately trained to practice, why would you want someone else to take a similar path? 😱

 

[WhoMe82]

Ask yourself is it worth it? I left a program that offered a clinical (somewhat) option but wasn't APA because the more research I did, the more I realized that I didn't want the hassle of not being able to practice everywhere. I couldn't afford the limitations it placed on internships, licensure, and career options. With internships being as scarce as they are, I didn't want to give sites a reason to not accept me. States are beefing up their requirements, and the future is unknown. Sure a state may allow you to become licensed now, but who is to say that in 5yrs, or the time it takes for you to finish the program, that the requirements will remain the same? I know of post-docs/hospitals/ employers that would only accept persons who completed an APA internship and went to an APA program. Even some practicums wouldn't take people from a non-APA program.

I did consider doing the respecialization, but that is an extra 3-4 years. I rather get more clinical, research, life experiences, pay down debt, prepare for doctoral school, maybe even have a child, than to do a PhD for 3-4 years, then go back for another 3-4 years. Knowing that I wanted to practice in the first place.

A lot has changed in the past ten years, so I would look for persons who have gone through the process in the past two years. What were the obstacles, if any? Another factor is the relationship of the program to practicum/internship sites. That may offer some protection. So yes, it can be accomplished, but really look at your career goals. Ask yourself do you want that uncertainty? To take that gamble? 😳