Their degree does make a psychologist. It just doesn't make you a licensed health service provider/ clinical psychologist. My friends with experimental PhDs are still psychologists. Fine print.
This can vary based on where you are located. In my state (MA), the term "psychologist" is legally protected and refers specifically to those who are licensed as psychologists by the state. If you are not licensed as a psychologist, you can not present yourself to the public using the term "psychologist," even if you have a Ph.D. in a non-clinical/counseling area of psychology. There are a few exceptions (or at least used to be
ETA: is just checked the regs, and there are no exceptions, including state employees or those working in academic settings), but those were mainly for clinicians working in state organizations (e.g., Developmental Services) in positions that have historically been titled "psychologist" but don't require licensure. If you are, say, someone with a Ph.D. in cognitive or social psych, and you present yourself to the public in any manor using the term "psychologist," you are considered to be practicing psychology without a license, and thus subject to sanctions.
There is still licensure designation of Health Services Provider (e.g., degree in clinical/counseling with appropriate clinical training experience and able to provide therapy/diagnosis). Technically you could be licensed as psychologist without an HSP designation and call yourself a psychologist, but I don't know if that's still a option for new licensees, and don't really see any advantage of such a license. There is no license designation of "clinical," "counseling," etc. My own legal designation is "Licensed Psychologist- Health Services Provider." I can ethically/legally refer myself as a "clinical psychologist" because (a) my doctorate is clinical psychology (the ethical part); and (b) I am licensed by the state as a psychologist (the legal part).
In the case of Grand Canyon, the degree DOES NOT make you a "psychologist" in my jurisdiction. If you don't have psychology licensure, you are legally not a psychologist and can't call yourself one. It certainly wouldn't qualify you for the HSP designation (which you need to do therapy, testing, etc.).
TLDR- Don't call yourself a psychologist if you are not licensed as a psychologist in the state in which you are located, even if you have a doctoral degree in an area of psychology. Doing so may be a violation of state law. Also- don't get a grad degree in psychology from Grand Canyon U.
www.gcu.edu
