The job options for an individual with a bachelors degree in clinical psychology are very limited and generally are limited to working as assistants in a rehabilitation facility or in areas where they are entrusted with data collection and analysis. The job prospects surely increase as the educational qualifications start to add on. A masters in clinical psychology can land you with a job as a psychological counselor working directly under the supervision of a specialist. But if it is the best of the jobs that you aspire for in the field of clinical psychology then you should aim for a PhD in clinical psychology. A clinical psychology PhD degree will open for you the best that this filed has to offer.
You could start practicing as a counselor in hospitals, clinics; you could join a reputed research institute and involve yourself in research work; you could even start teaching and take classes on psychology. Most clinical psychology PhD students start private practice too. In order to have a clinical psychology PhD degree, an individual needs to put in around 5 to 7 years of graduate study which then goes on to include a dissertation based on original research. This dissertation forms as integral part of the process of getting a PhD in clinical psychology.
Also worth mentioning here is the fact that in clinical psychology, the requirements for the PhD degree also includes at least a 1-year internship. It is after this that the individual can apply for a license and then get to practice clinical psychology. While you study for a clinical psychology PhD degree you spend most of your time doing practicals and research work. This is an integral part of the entire process as it allows you to connect with the subject at the deepest level and provides you the chance to understand the concepts better by allowing you to interact with live cases.
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