Maybe sometimes. I was happy when I was ignorant about what it would take to become a psychologist. And now I think I was stupid!
Of course, I knew I needed a Bachelors in Psychology, and a Master's degree too.
But when I came to the United States, I realized that was NOT ENOUGH.
I earned my Master's degree in Clinical Psychology from Michigan, which is one of the few states that allows Masters-Level Psychologists. But in order to practice, I needed to work 1000 hours to get a TLLP (Temp Limited License), thereafter work 2000 hours to get an LLP (Limited License in Psychology) only to realize that this license will never allow me to practice independently, without supervision.
So I decided to pursue a doctoral degree (and you guys already know about the psy.d/ph.d distinction). In this program, I realized that after I graduate, I have to work 2000 hours (oh no..not again) before I can take a licensing exam. This exam varies from state to state. Some have a written exam, while some also add an oral component to it. I also need to take a national licensing exam. And once I pass these exams (pass rate is 70%), I can be a fully-licensed psychologist!!
That's not all! Over and above that, we have to earn 6 continuing education credits each year.
WHY OH WHY!!!!! Maybe I should have stuck to my dream of becoming a teacher.....
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23 comments:
oh oh...that is a lot of studies..u are a patient person. i don think I'll be so patient!I guess its how much one wants sumthing.
hmm.. so now after u gradate/complete ur phd u need 2000hrs before u can take a licensing exam? and wat is continuing educational credits?hard to get?How may yrs do u have to get that for?
**I was ignorant about what it would take to become a psychologist. And now I think I was stupid!
LOL!
I hv been very stupid too when I happily decided to do a Masters in Econ n Comm..and I nearlt died from the stress of it! But I managed to complete it :)
All the best hun, Im sure u'll do well!
Keshi.
seems to be a long journey's ahead of you. but if u have sticked to ur childhood dream of becoming a teacher, we would have lost a good psychologist. u've come all this way and now y do u think of the remaining jouney?
Thats some amount of studying to do.. and you are patient !!!!
u wanted to become a teacher? u would have been great u know...
the rules are not much different here...i think the housemanship is about 3 to 5 years...so it covers the 2000 hours I guess. which also means that u have to wait 5 to 8 years to become a rich shrink/doc :p
if u think its worth it, then good for you. u will achieve what you want. no second thoughts ok. :)
i just wanted to say thankyou!!
u r are great writer!
thankx again!
Tell me about it - 5 yrs bachelors, licensed in india - 2 masters here - 3000 + work hours, 9 exams cleared for the architectural license - and continuing education horrors - and immigration still not resolved -pay sucks and have to take crap from all over......and still smile huh!!!!
I really wish I was that chaiwala in some corner of some small town :)
Though it seem it’s not easy to become a psychologist in US. I wish you all the best to do your courses and do what you like to do for people independently.
sheesh... now i knw why i stopped myself from being a doc...
ohh IMO a teachers job is not half as challenging and satisfying as a psychologists...unless ofcourse ur one of the 'ram shankar nikumb' typa ones :D (then ofcourse it is all that and much more)
so just remember if u want to get the rainbow u must also take the rain...
its just a matter of time :)
Well me ,I hope I stick to becoming a lecturer...10 yrs of study to look forward too... Looks like you have quite a ride ahead
@ Pavi, patient?????? I have almost lost my mind and still not graduated!! Continuing educational credits can be obtained by attending seminars, workshops, or taking classes. And you have to have those every year until you retire.
@ Keshi, I now think Master's Degree was a cakewalk. The doctoral degree too was a cakewalk but its turning out to be a nightmare in the final stages.
@ Satish, maybe you would have lost a good psychologist but the educational system would have gained a good teacher. But the reason I chose psychology is I cannot deal with monotony. I cannot even imagine going to the same class year after year teaching the same things!
@ Deepti, very soon I might have to become the patient.
@ Ghost, rich shrink? Do these two words go together? I do not think I can become rich for another 20 years!
@ Ode, oh thank YOU!
@ Ceedy, LOL!! What about malpractice insurance? Spending any big bucks on that? Afraid of lawsuits?
@ Jeevan, thanks!! 3/4th done!
@ Sam, Oh docs are another story. I can NEVER study as much as they do. They put in a lot of hard work!!! This itself is killing me.
@ Pri, when when? I am sooooooooo tired.
@ Nishant, lecturers have to study ten year before they become lecturers? How? Why? What? When?
Mine was very tough cos I was working f/t as well as doin my Masters f/t! Wut was I thinking ha!
Keshi.
Dont have malpractice insurance - its liability insurance - office pays - so I dont shelve it out yet...
WOW that can get pretty frustrating. like a never ending process.
Keep going..I am sure one day you will say its worth it. Cheeries!
"no free meal" a chinese proverb...wish u all the best!!..:)
ahh!@!! well...
u will foeget all these pains...when u listen to people calling u -- "Dr. Sneha"
and well i m sure u will miss all this things also...
its all for good, hardwork pays off later :P il come to see the great pyschologist some day
hell thats too much... this is in the US ... any idea abt any of ur psychologist frnds in india if u have any?
no no no u wanted to be a psychologist na..u r right there! most of us dont have the courage to take up wot we really want in our career..for instance i wanted to do my BA majoring in psychology but i gave in to the peer pressure and walked on the much-treaded engineering path..had no courage and now its too late :(
I mean i dont regret being wat i am but i guess wuda been happier had i followed my heart :) and u're doin that so kudos to u!
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