"Do I need a Master's before getting my Doctorate in Psychology?"

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"Do I need a Masters before getting my Doctorate in Psychology?"

This is one of the questions I get ALL THE TIME about pursuing a doctorate in clinical psychology. The short answer is: NO

But let’s talk it through...

MANY people enter doctorate psychology programs without a Masters Degree. It is a myth that you must first obtain a Masters before pursuing a doctorate degree.  While there are SOME doctorate psychology programs that may require the Masters, many don’t. Furthermore, there are some programs that have the Masters embedded into the Doctorate program without spending extra time or money in the program.

So how do you know if you should consider a Masters or not?  Here's what to consider:

You should consider SKIPPING the Masters if:

• You’re definitely certain you want to pursue the doctorate.
• You have a strong cumulative and major GPA from undergraduate.
• You have strong GRE scores.
• You have some relevant work or volunteer experiences.

In general, SKIP the Masters if your overall profile as a prospective applicant is STRONG (and if you’re not sure about whether your profile is strong or not, I recommend completing a PsyD Application Readiness Check- which assess your application readiness by determining the strength of your applicant profile). 

Consider getting the Masters if:

• Your overall profile as an applicant isn’t strong.
• If your undergraduate major was anything OTHER than Psychology.
• If you aren’t 100% certain that you want to pursue the doctorate.

​In general, a Masters before your Doctorate in Psychology can help demonstrate your readiness for graduate level work if you didn’t do well in undergraduate. It can also help you become more certain about your desire to be in this field.

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Need help navigating the PsyD application process?

The process of becoming a clinical psychologist is not a simple one.  With the right support, becoming  a clinical psychologist is very possible and will be extremely valuable for you and your community. 

​Let me support you in your process of seeking your Doctorate of Clinical Psychology (PsyD) degree. 

Learn more about Become A Psychologist services here.