Discover Psychology Careers
Psychology is a cognitive science with multiple applications – both medical and non-medical. From treating patient trauma to developing marketing materials, psychology is about influencing and understanding the human mind. With so many pathways available, it’s a career with a wealth of opportunities. The first step is to discover the career options within psychology, including what roles are open to you with entry-level qualifications and what you might do with an advanced degree.
Entry-Level Psychology Careers
Entry-level psychology careers are broad. Regardless of whether you want to work in the private or the public sector, in healthcare or the corporate world, entry-level psychology work requires at least a two-year associate's degree or a full four-year bachelor’s degree in psychology. With the associate degree, you will need more on-the-job experience, depending on the requirements of that particular job. Keep in mind that fewer opportunities will be available with an associate’s degree, and most psychology careers require a bachelor’s or master’s degree. An associate’s degree in psychology is more of a jumping-off point if you plan to continue your education in the future.
Clinical entry-level can include psychiatric technician and aide roles in areas such as behavioral health and school counseling. Non-clinical roles include market researcher, mediator, and career advisor.
Entry-Level Psychology Requirements
The general eligibility requirements for a typical entry-level career requiring a psychology qualification include:
- An associate's degree (two-year) or bachelor's degree (four-year)
- Some jobs may specify a minimum GPA of between 2.5 and 3.0. However, many won’t so long as you have completed your degree
- Clinical roles may require evening and weekend work to fit around clients
- Clinical psychology openings may also require security and safety checks before being able to practice
- You may also be expected to pass health screening tests for clinical settings
- Current license to practice as a clinical psychologist
- For home visits, a valid driver’s license is nearly always essential
- For non-clinical psychology (such as marketing or teaching), professional licensing and further vocational qualifications may apply
Advanced Psychology Careers
With a higher degree comes improved career opportunities and pathways to academic routes such as research and treatment development. Most professional therapists have a master's degree in psychology, while consultants and other higher-level professionals may have doctorates. For most non-clinicians, an MA/MS, PsyD, or Ph.D. in Psychology is preferred for work as a researcher.
Clinical roles will still require a psychology license to practice, while for management roles (non-patient facing), a license is preferred. Non-clinical roles include organizational psychology, market research, and public health awareness.
Advanced Psychology Career Requirements
- A master's degree (MA/MS) or doctorate qualification (Ph.D./PsyD)
- License for clinical practice as a psychologist or therapist
- Liability insurance for professional malpractice
- Membership of a regulatory body (both clinical and non-clinical areas sometimes require this)
- Weekend and evening availability for clinicians handling therapy patients
- Safety screenings through the DOJ or FBI for clinical and teaching roles
- Health screenings for clinical workers, especially those working with the medically vulnerable
- A current driver’s license
- Vocational training may be required for private sector careers such as sports psychology practice or occupational psychology
