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Running head: A CAREER IN PSYCHOLOGY 1

A Career in Psychology

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PSYCHOLOGY 2

A Career in Psychology

Role of Academic Work in Professional Success

Academic works play a critical role in achieving professional success. Education and

professional success are closely related, and most employers emphasize academic work as a

prerequisite for successful professional placement. Most job seekers experienced in academic

work are highly preferred in the job market because they have acquired both hard skills such as

writing, analysis, and synthesis of ideas and soft skills such as good speaking and

communication, collaboration, problem-solving and leadership skills. Psychology is no exception

in this respect: it is a discipline that equips a learner with a wide range of skills in science and

arts and that opens several career opportunities. Hence, academic work and postgraduate training

are the primary requirements to become a chartered psychologist.

Psychology studies aspects such as the human mind, behavior and mental processes. This

discipline is broad and has subfields in research areas such as development of human, health,

cognitive processes and human interactions. The study of psychology leads to a variety of career

opportunities ranging from counselors, educational psychology, organizational psychology, and

forensic psychology to health psychology (Macera & Cohen, 2006).

Requirements for Psychology Professionals

and the Process of Becoming a Psychology Professional

Becoming a fully-fledged and chartered psychologist requires many years of education

and training. One is needed to finish school, earn certification and obtain sufficient work

experience to start off a successful vocation. Pursuing a course in psychology has a variety of

options from associate degrees that cover the basic foundations of the discipline to more

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advanced doctoral degrees. Most career opportunities are open to those who possess at least a

master's degree and may require a doctorate with advanced certifications.

Individuals who would wish to work in the field of psychology are required to have a

minimum of a degree level certification while those who would want to practice as individual

practitioners are needed to pursue advanced schooling. According to the United State Bureau of

Labor Statistics, almost all psychologists have to obtain a master or doctoral degree to be

licensed or certified before practicing their vocation. Undergraduate degree in psychology

prepares a student by doing research work, supervised clinical rotations and teaching in class.

Enrolling in a bachelor program qualifies one in research methods and decision making in areas

such as social and clinical psychology (Walfish & Hess, 2001).

Upon completion of the undergraduate level, one needs to progress to the master level. A

master’s level allows one to work as an industrial-organizational psychologist. Master’s program

in psychology covers the following advanced courses: research and statistics, psychological

methods, thesis writing and completion of the exam as a primary requirement (Macera & Cohen,

2006).

The doctoral level of psychology is suitable for those who want to advance their

knowledge in the discipline after completing the Master’s degree program. It allows a student to

choose either of these programs: doctorate in philosophy or doctorate in psychology. A doctoral

program recognized by the American Psychology Association (APA) which accredits programs

and internships for both clinical and school psychology. To run or practice psychology in the

United States of America most states requires a Doctor of Philosophy or Doctor of Psychology.

Licensing is another requirement by many states from APA accredited programs (American

Psychological Association, 2018).

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The Doctor of Philosophy program is suited for those who want to work in research areas

while the Doctor of Psychology program is for those candidates who wish to practice in this

field. Ph.D. students work as researchers, practitioners, and teachers in the psychology while

Psy.D. Graduates specialize in clinical psychology. Their work involves diagnosing, treating

mental illness, and cognitive and emotional impairments. Starting a doctorate program, a student

is required to finish first the master’s degree and may use the credits he or she obtained to count

towards the completion of their doctorate. All doctorate students are required to complete a

doctoral dissertation, take comprehensive exams and gain supervised professional work

experience approved by the American Psychological Association.

In all the United States of America, psychologists are required to obtain a license to

practice their vocation which involves direct client contact. This is a legal requirement that must

be met. A license issued by the states authorizes one to practice his or her vocation. The license

is a sign of expertise and commitment in the field.

Upon completion of the necessary education and practice requirements, psychologists are

needed to make application for licensing. To be given a license by any state, one is required to

present the following documents: doctoral degree transcripts and comprehensive information

about their internships and postdoctoral fellowships bearing your supervisors’ signatures and the

total number of hours completed (American Psychological Association, 2018).

Upon the state approval for licensing by the state of psychology but before one is issued,

all candidates are required to do the EPPP examinations given by the ASSPP Board. The

examination is to assess knowledge, competency and ethical conduct of a candidate to be issued

a license. The examination in the U.S. can be taken at Pearson VUE testing centers. To complete

the EPPP examination, a candidate is also required to take and pass specific ethical exams

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and mental health laws of that specific state. Oral examination and interview may also be

required to take (American Psychological Association, 2018).

Professional psychologists who have been licensed may want to be certified by the board

to specialize in certain areas. Certification in a specialized area of psychology confirms the

specialty of a psychologist. Specialty certification in many areas, some of which are counseling

psychology, forensic psychology, clinical health psychology, and behavioral and cognitive

psychology among others, is awarded by the mandated body responsible for the certification.

One is required to have the APA or CPA accredited doctoral degree and state licensure to be

certified by the board. During their application process, they have to attach and submit a sample

paper that details their work and competency and finally sit for an oral examination (American

Psychological Association, 2018).

A doctoral psychologist is expected to have the following core competencies: excellent

communication and interpersonal skills, ethics and professionalism, consultation, a record of

practice in the field, intervention, and supervision. Multiple experiences allow one to gain the

above competencies. Knowledge can be acquired through guidance and mentoring, participation

in seminars, completion of a research project and placement in one’s area of specialization. The

progress of psychology fellow in developing the above competencies is assessed by a supervisor

who advises and records them through written assessments.

Psychologist’s Professional Expectations Psychologist

The above mentioned requirements for one to practice vocation of a psychologist prepare

one in many several ways to become successful in their profession. The attainment of the above

credentials to become a fully-fledged practitioner in psychology allows one to do a self-

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assessment by identifying one's career goals, values, and abilities. The education programs of

psychologists provide a framework for developing a career that leads someone to desired results.

Some of the goals outlined by the APA and expected of psychology students include profound

knowledge, critical thinking, excellent communication skills and ethical conduct (Landrum &

Davis, 2010).

Attainment of these goals allows a practitioner-scholar to understand concepts and

theories in psychology and use them in analyzing human behavior. Critical thinking will enable

one to view things through the lenses of science to solve the problem through experiments.

Excellent communication skills enable one to present scientific results and articulate them in a

clear and concise manner. Since all psychologists deal with clients with diverse needs, they need

to be sensitive to their client information and problems.

Laws and Policies That Guide the Practice of Psychology

The practice of psychology is guided by some specific laws and policies as narrated

below. Psychologists such as counselors, clinical and school psychologists, who provide direct

patient care, are required by the state and federal law to obtain licensure. Licensing requirement

varies from state to state, and it is essential for one to know which one is needed before pursuing

a degree program in preparation for a career in psychology. The educational requirement to

practicing psychology is the first obtaining a doctoral degree, then passing of an examination and

two years experience gained during the internship period.

Under the law of misrepresentation one is required to be authorized first to practice

psychology: he or she needs to be permitted by licensure. Psychologists are liable for penalty if

they violate the rules and statutes of Board of Psychologists in their respective states.A

professional psychologist licensed by the board of their state is allowed to use the word

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psychological or psychologist to describe the services that they provide for the purpose of

payments only (American Psychological Association, 2015).

In regard to professional interaction with the legal system, psychologists are required to

respond to requests from lawyers and judges seeking information in the form of records or by

testimony. One guideline in regard to professional interaction with the legal system is the

Guidelines for Child Custody Evaluations in Family Law Proceedings (American Psychological

Association, 2015).

The policy on changes in professional practice especially in regard to court decisions and

case law may prompt psychologists in their jurisdiction to prepare and deliver expert opinions in

court. The policy educates psychologist about evidentiary needs and how to respond to them

appropriately (American Psychological Association, 2015).

Ethical Conduct Expected of Psychologists

Psychologists are expected to uphold ethical standards in their execution of duties. They

must protect the individuals and groups with whom they work by aspiring to the highest ethical

standards. Psychologists are expected to become competent by maintaining the highest standards

of work. They should be aware of the boundaries of their competencies and the limitations of

their expertise. They should only provide those services that they have been qualified (Warren,

2002).

Integrity is vital to the practice of psychology. Psychologists should be honest and

respectful to others. They should not disclose deceptive, misleading or false statements in

describing or reporting their qualifications. The psychologist should also uphold professional

standards of conduct by clarifying their professional roles and obligations. They should always

take responsibility for their actions (Warren, 2002).

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Benefits of Enrolling for a Masters Degree in Psychology

Obtaining a master degree in psychology gives a student a wide range of areas of

specialization to choose. Students who prefer research work can work in laboratories while those

who would like to work directly with clients can select counseling or clinical psychology.

Enrolling for a master degree in psychology also prepares students for doctoral studies upon

graduation. Master’s degree in psychology equips one with the necessary skills and knowledge

that help one to treat others and provide useful counseling to clients (Sternberg, 1997).

A master’s degree in psychology allows one to work in the social setting by interacting

with different people. Skills acquired in psychology education program enhance one's personal

and professional life. Some of these skills include interpersonal evaluation, communication and

problem-solving. These skills are important for social interaction in everyday life. Acquisition of

these skills enables one to market himself more efficiently and makes communication with

others easy. Besides, excellent interpersonal skills help solve conflicts in interpersonal

relationships.

Role of Research in a Psychology Related Career

Research is a tool for successfully navigating and understanding the sophisticated world.

Research studies provide evidence for theories and concepts and prevent us from solely relying

on intuition and blind luck. It is through research that we rid ourselves of the baseless notion and

get to understand our world objectively. Research allows psychologists to understand mental

processes and physiological processes that influence our behavior. Scientific research is

grounded on objective and tangible evidence observed over time, unlike personal experience and

intuition that people might use to comprehend the behavior of others.

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Psychology is fraught with many contentious debates that only through research that

utilizes theories and hypotheses can be concluded. Empirical evidence for research work can

vouch for or against an idea and give us a sense of direction in a new area of study. I would like

to invest the entire time doing descriptive research in the area of cognitive psychology, which

entails the study of our memory and thinking, and the conscious processes and problem-solving.

The research work in this area is experimental and incorporates neurophysiologic findings with

their behavior and introspective techniques.

My Skill Gaps

Currently, in my pursuit of a career in psychology under the master program, I feel that

the skills I possess are not sufficient for to become a fully-fledged psychologist. I still need to

keep learning by continuous professional development which involves staying informed on

emerging research and treatment methodologies in this field and being involved in consultancy

work through an internship program (Landrum and Davis, 2010). I believe the supervisory

feedbacks from training and seminars can help me to improve my knowledge and performance.

My Action Plan for a Career in Psychology

I need to achieve my professional goals in the field of psychology by developing an

action plan that can be used as a tool for self-assessment. Identifying one's career goals, values

and skills is a significant step. Once this is done, it will set me on a path to the desired outcome. I

need to start developing competencies and skills required of a professional psychologist during

my graduate school program. Obtaining an internship program probably for two years can come

in hand to allow me to gain firsthand experience and direct contact with clients. I believe under

supervisor I will be able to improve my performance. Doing research work for my thesis, I will

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also broaden my knowledge as a postgraduate student who desires to be analytical and critical in

thinking.

After obtaining a master’s degree, I intend to volunteer in an organization that will utilize

my skills and knowledge. I will seek to create opportunities that may add to the bank of my

experience through research and experiment in the organization I will join. Upon completion of

my doctoral degree, I would like to join the American Psychological Association where I will be

able to advance my knowledge through the application of research-based knowledge thereby

continuing education and professional development. Through seminars and networking with

other professional psychologists, I will be updated on the current research and literature in this

field. Some of the resources at my disposal that I can leverage on to develop the competencies in

my professional and academic career include consultation, internships and placement-based

seminars.

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References

American Psychological Association. (2018). Retrieved from http://www.apa.org/careers/early-

career/career-development/.

Landrum, R. E., & Davis, S. F. (2010). The psychology major: Career options and strategies for

success. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.

Macera, M. H., & Cohen, S. H. (2006). Psychology as a profession: An effective career

exploration and orientation course for undergraduate psychology majors. The Career

Development Quarterly, 54(4), 367-371.

Sternberg, R. J. (1997). Career paths in psychology: Where your degree can take you.

Washington, DC :American Psychological Association.

Walfish, S., & Hess, A. K. (2001). Succeeding in graduate school: The career guide for

psychology students. Psychology Press.

Warren, R. C. (2002). Ethics for psychologists: A handbook / the ethical practice of psychology

in organizations. Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, 75, 127-128.

American Psychological Association. (2015). Professional practice guidelines: Guidance for

developers and users. The American psychologist, 70(9), 823.

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