MA that does not prepare for licensure?

[ginanabanana]

I was looking into the MA in psychology program at Boston University and in the FAQ it says:

Q. Does this program prepare me for licensure as a psychologist? No, our program does not prepare students for licensure. For information about licensure at the MA level, contact the Board of Registration of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts or other states that have MA-level licenses.




I've come across this before, programs that mention they don't prepare students for licensure. What exactly does this mean?

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[UNMorBUST]

I believe some masters programs can lead to a student to seek LPCC licensure.

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

To be a psychologist (clinical/counseling), a doctoral degree is required. A person can be licensed at the MA/MS level as a counselor/therapist/etc, though it depends on their classes and the licensure requirements of the state. There are some MA/MS degrees in psychology that do not prepare the student for licensure, those tend to be more research/stats related degrees. There are also some MA/MS degrees in psychology that sound clinical in nature, but do not meet the requirements of the state to be licensed as a counselor/therapist/etc. It is important to check with the program AND state licensing board about licensure issues. You do not want to be in debt (often $50k+ at expensive programs) and find out that your degree won't let you do what you want to do.

 

[lookitssara]

MOST states that have licensure for masters level clinicians do so through counseling, marriage & family therapy, social work, or school psychology programs. It is uncommon for a masters in psychology (even clinical psychology) to lead to licensure. The states that allow this most often are states that have a Limited License in Psychology. Generally, masters in psychology (not school psychology) prepare students for research or doctoral programs.

 

[deenie]

and I would need a PhD to practice as a psychologist. I've enrolled in a 60 credit MS program in counseling which is CACREP-accredited and it will prepare me to sit for the NCE and eventually, after I get my internship hours, get licensed as an LPC.

I got my MA in 1987 and it was prep for contined schooling. This program is very clinically oriented and geared specificially towards counseling, not testing. I'm awaiting word on how many of my 42 grad credits will transfer over (probably only 9). Still, the state board may not accept them and I'll have to take additional classes after I'm done.

What that program is telling you is that an MA in psychology is not a terminal degree. You can't become a licensed mental health professional without a PhD. If you want to practice and not obtain a doctorate, look into MSW or LPC programs. Good luck! It's all so confusing...🙁

 

[lizzo76]

Just to add... here is what the Harvard Extension School says about their new Master of Liberal Arts (ALM) in Clinical Psychology. You could still use your MA for some practical applications.

If this degree does not make me eligible for licensure in the Commonwealth, what do I need to do to be licensed?

In Massachusetts (and in all states within the US) only a doctorate makes you eligible for licensure as a psychologist. Most states have other licenses for mental health professionals who are not psychologists. In Massachusetts for example, one can be licensed as a clinical social worker, a nurse clinical specialist, or as either a licensed mental health clinician or a marriage and family therapist through the Board of Registration of Allied Mental Health and Human Services Professionals.

If I don’t want to get a doctorate and I earn only the ALM, what can I do with this degree?

The clinical psychology concentration is new, but we have a long history of graduates in psychology going on to a broad range of positions in education, human resources, business, human services, academic research, educational administration, and so forth. If you have an idea about where you wish to go next, you may be able to focus your thesis work to increase your preparedness for a particular direction. For more detailed information about careers in psychology, including careers for people with a master’s degree, see the American Psychological Association’s Careers in Psychology website for more information.
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