PhD/PsyD Working as an unlicensed psychologist with private practitioners

[PsyD2017Utah]

I recently graduated with my PsyD in Clinical Psychology. I have taken the long route to this degree and did not get any supervised hours during my program. I am also an I/O psychologist and have been working the past 18 years in that field (thus not getting clinical hours during my program). My school was not APA accredited but it was WASC accredited. I would like to work with private practitioners in hopes of getting some supervised hours to get my license but I am having a hard time seeing a pathway to this.

Did I miss the boat on getting supervised hours?

Will private practitioners be open to this type of relationship?

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[psych.meout]

Wait, are you saying did not get any supervision or clinical training during grad school? Did you attend an online program or something?

Did you complete an internship?

Also, depending on the state, you might not be able to get licensed at all if you went to an unaccredited program.

 

[PsyD2017Utah]

Wait, are you saying did not get any supervision or clinical training during grad school? Did you attend an online program or something?

Did you complete an internship?

Also, depending on the state, you might not be able to get licensed at all if you went to an unaccredited program.

My state is Utah (now). And yes, I did do an internship, so I guess that is good. I didn't even think to double-check about the APA accreditation prior to enrolling, but I also read a lot about other accreditations and so it didn't seem like a big deal. Uhh, I think I was wrong.

 

[affectiveH3art]

My state is Utah (now). And yes, I did do an internship, so I guess that is good. I didn't even think to double-check about the APA accreditation prior to enrolling, but I also read a lot about other accreditations and so it didn't seem like a big deal. Uhh, I think I was wrong.

Like an APPIC internship? Did you participate in the match? I don't see how that's possible with 0 supervised hours...


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[PsyD2017Utah]

Like an APPIC internship? Did you participate in the match? I don't see how that's possible with 0 supervised hours...


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Well I got 1000 supervised hours, but no I did not participate in the APPIC match.
It feels like I missed the boat and there really isn't a pathway at this point.

 

[smalltownpsych]

You need to check the board of psychology for your state to determine eligibility for post doc hours and subsequent licensure. Each state has their own requirements and not being APA accredited for either the school or the internship will mean extra hurdles which could be insurmountable.

 

[WisNeuro]

As others have said, you need to check with the board. Chances are, in many states, you are not eligible for licensure even with x amount of supervised hours now. May have to do a re-specialization program and then get supervised hours at this point. And, honestly, as a licensed individual, I wouldn't touch this situation with a 10 foot pole unless I had something in writing and verified from the state board that the person would be license eligible and we had some side plan for how you were going to get didactic experiences.

 

[erg923]

You don't actually have a doctorate in clinical psychology, let's be clear about that. OK? You took topical classes in clinical psychology, did a "internship" that doesn't count for anything and was handed a piece of paper that is essentially worthless.

 

[str63]

I'm really confused. How were you able to get a degree without supervised hours?

 

[WisNeuro]

I'm really confused. How were you able to get a degree without supervised hours?

Diploma mills will gladly take your bills.

 

[temppsych123]

FYI state of Utah website for registration: https://dopl.utah.gov/licensing/psychology.html
And actual application itself: https://dopl.utah.gov/apps/Psychologist_App_2014-2-10.pdf
Legislation governing licensure of psychologists in Utah: Utah State Legislature

 

[PsyDr]

I’m sorry, but you’ve been had.

If you had a position to design a dam, you wouldn’t hire an engineer with an online degree and no internship. Even if you somehow really believed in such an applicant, your attorneys would tell you that the liabilities would be insane. Even if the dam doesn’t fail, the oddities of your training would be used to discredit you.

Aside from that, in malpractice, the second prong is basically “did the practcioner do everything like everyone else in the profession?”.

If you think it’s unlikely, I literally have interrogatories and stock paragraphs on my computer designed to discredit such people. There’s a few in California who are not hired anymore because of that.

 

[deleted343839]

I recently graduated with my PsyD in Clinical Psychology. I have taken the long route to this degree and did not get any supervised hours during my program. I am also an I/O psychologist and have been working the past 18 years in that field (thus not getting clinical hours during my program). My school was not APA accredited but it was WASC accredited. I would like to work with private practitioners in hopes of getting some supervised hours to get my license but I am having a hard time seeing a pathway to this.

Did I miss the boat on getting supervised hours?

Will private practitioners be open to this type of relationship?

I agree with PSYDR, you've been had. A lot of these online PsyD programs attract people with master's level licensure who never actually go on to be licensed psychologists, but instead continue to practice as "Dr. So-and-so" with their master's level license.

I don't know if there is a realistic path to licensure. That would be something to take up with your state board. I can tell you that as a practicing psychologist I would not take on a supervisee with the limited training experiences you've had, when I could just as easily supervise a well trained graduate student, intern, or postdoc.

I'm sorry. This sucks. At least with your I/O background you have a fall-back option, unlike some.

 

[Lurking Oracle]

You don't actually have a doctorate in clinical psychology, let's be clear about that.

You took topical classes in clinical psychology, did a "internship" that doesn't count for anything and was then handed a Piece of paper that is essentially worthless at the end of it.

And, I would guess, at the "mere" price of $100-150K. Not including the interest on any possible loans, of course.

 

[ClinicalABA]

It bears pointing out that (in my state at least) there is no such thing as an “unlicensed psychologist.” “Psychologist”is a legally protected term, reserved for licensed practitioners. Use of the term is regulated, and referring to yourself using the term, even with qualifiers such as “unlicensed” is violation, so be careful!

 

[smalltownpsych]

It bears pointing out that (in my state at least) there is no such thing as an “unlicensed psychologist.” “Psychologist”is a legally protected term, reserved for licensed practitioners. Use of the term is regulated, and referring to yourself using the term, even with qualifiers such as “unlicensed” is violation, so be careful!

It is the same in both states that I have held licenses.

 

[PsyD2017Utah]

You need to check the board of psychology for your state to determine eligibility for post doc hours and subsequent licensure. Each state has their own requirements and not being APA accredited for either the school or the internship will mean extra hurdles which could be insurmountable.

Thank you for taking the time to respond.

 

[PsyD2017Utah]

As others have said, you need to check with the board. Chances are, in many states, you are not eligible for licensure even with x amount of supervised hours now. May have to do a re-specialization program and then get supervised hours at this point. And, honestly, as a licensed individual, I wouldn't touch this situation with a 10 foot pole unless I had something in writing and verified from the state board that the person would be license eligible and we had some side plan for how you were going to get didactic experiences.

Thank you for your insight. As far as a re-specialization program goes...any insights there? Top ones?

 

[PsyD2017Utah]

I’m sorry, but you’ve been had.

If you had a position to design a dam, you wouldn’t hire an engineer with an online degree and no internship. Even if you somehow really believed in such an applicant, your attorneys would tell you that the liabilities would be insane. Even if the dam doesn’t fail, the oddities of your training would be used to discredit you.

Aside from that, in malpractice, the second prong is basically “did the practcioner do everything like everyone else in the profession?”.

If you think it’s unlikely, I literally have interrogatories and stock paragraphs on my computer designed to discredit such people. There’s a few in California who are not hired anymore because of that.

Thank you for taking the time to respond.

 

[PsyD2017Utah]

I agree with PSYDR, you've been had. A lot of these online PsyD programs attract people with master's level licensure who never actually go on to be licensed psychologists, but instead continue to practice as "Dr. So-and-so" with their master's level license.

I don't know if there is a realistic path to licensure. That would be something to take up with your state board. I can tell you that as a practicing psychologist I would not take on a supervisee with the limited training experiences you've had, when I could just as easily supervise a well trained graduate student, intern, or postdoc.

I'm sorry. This sucks. At least with your I/O background you have a fall-back option, unlike some.

Thank you. I appreciate your insight. Yes, my I/O background is still a prominent option for me.

 

[WisNeuro]

Thank you for your insight. As far as a re-specialization program goes...any insights there? Top ones?

Unfortunately, the diploma mills like Alliant and Fielding have taken over some of this work. I'd look to APA to see what's been accredited and do some research on the quality of such programs and their internship match and licensure rates before making a decision.

 

[PsyD2017Utah]

It bears pointing out that (in my state at least) there is no such thing as an “unlicensed psychologist.” “Psychologist”is a legally protected term, reserved for licensed practitioners. Use of the term is regulated, and referring to yourself using the term, even with qualifiers such as “unlicensed” is violation, so be careful!

Thank you. You are correct and at this point I am not practicing with or without that title and I would be quite leery to do so for just the reasons you stated.

 

[PsyD2017Utah]

Unfortunately, the diploma mills like Alliant and Fielding have taken over some of this work. I'd look to APA to see what's been accredited and do some research on the quality of such programs and their internship match and licensure rates before making a decision.

Yes, much research to do. Thank you. The insights of so many who have been through this pathway are very helpful and I appreciate it.