What Does a Psychologist Do?

Doctors that specialize in helping people with mental health problems are known as Psychologists. They typically provide one-on-one consultations to their clients at hospitals or clinics. However, others collaborate with doctors and researchers from other specialties to explore the untouched areas of human psychology. While, others work in educational institutions.
A psychologist’s work is to comprehend the emotional, rational and social phenomena of human behavior and to figure out how these aspects link human behavior to the environment. In addition to diagnosing and treating patients, psychologists prescribe medicines too as and when needed.

How to Become a Psychologist in Philadelphia?

There are 3 types of requirements that must be fulfilled for you to become a Psychologist in Philadelphia, PA. It may take you almost 12 years or more to become a Psychologist and the detail of these requirements is given below.
Step-1
Education Requirements
If you want to become a Psychologist, you must begin by enrolling in a 4-year bachelor’s degree followed by a 2-year master’s degree with a psychology major. Graduates of a master’s degree need to complete a 4 to 5-year doctoral degree in Psychology. Graduating a doctoral degree is mandatory to apply for a Psychologist’s license. This entire education takes approx. 10 years to complete.
Step-2
Work Experience
After completing all educational requirements, psychologists must gain at least 2 years of supervised work experience with a licensed clinical psychologist to apply for a license.
Step-3
Application for License with the Pennsylvania State Board of Psychology
Application for a Psychologist’s license with the Pennsylvania State Board of Psychology takes 4 steps to complete. Every step of the licensure process is described in detail below.

How Can I Get a Licensure/Certification as a Psychologist in Philadelphia?

All aspiring psychologists must complete the following steps to become licensed in Philadelphia, PA.
1. Complete a doctoral degree in Psychology that is accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) or is approved by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB).
2. Apply to the Pennsylvania State Board of Psychology for permission to sit for the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP) and the Pennsylvania Psychology Law Examination (PPLE) exam after graduating from a doctoral degree.
3. After passing these exams, the next step is acquisition of 2 years of supervised work experience in the field.
4. Upon completing all requirements, you can submit your complete application to the board and get your license to practice as a Psychologist in Philadelphia, PA.

How Much Can I Make as a Licensed/Certified Psychologist in Philadelphia?

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics categorizes Psychologists into 3 types based on the industry they choose to work in. In 2018, the BLS reported that Clinical, Counseling & School Psychologists working in the state of Pennsylvania earned an annual mean salary of $83,610. Pennsylvania was also the 5th state with the highest level of employment for this occupation in 2018 with 4,440 people working.

Career Outlook of Licensed Psychologists

The BLS projected a 14% employment growth for Psychologists from 2018 to 2028. This employment growth rate is a lot faster than the average for other occupations which means that psychologists will continue to have a very rewarding career.