A Change of Career

What do psychologists do?

To find out more about each area of psychology and related areas, go to Areas of Psychology. Each section will give you help and guidance to answer your questions.

What qualifications and training do I need to become a psychologist?

The underlying requirement for any career in psychology is to have completed a Society accredited psychology degree that confers the Graduate Basis for Registration (GBR). For information on applying for undergraduate courses you can contact UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admisssions Service).

If you are a graduate of another subject you have the option of completing a Society accredited conversion course instead of studying for a full degree in psychology. The Society accredits conversion courses for the purpose of graduates of other subjects wishing to transfer to a psychology career. Some of the universities offering an accredited conversion course will require a minimum of 60 credits of psychology study at degree level for you to be eligible for entry onto the course. Further enquiries must be made with the courses directly as regards entry requirements, fees, time scales, funding and duration. The universities are charged with the role of assessing the psychology content of your degree for eligibility to their course, so please get in touch with the course leaders.

On completion of one of the above options you would then be eligible to apply for the accredited postgraduate pathway depending on the area of psychology you want to practice in. For further information on the postgraduate training please see the section Areas of Psychology.

The list of accredited conversion courses and undergraduate degree courses in psychology.

What is the quickest route into psychology?

There is no "quick" route into psychology. To become a professional psychologist you must obtain:

• GBR
• Professional training in an area of applied Psychology

Gaining a place on an accredited course is competitive; therefore, you will find that most courses require applicants to have relevant work experience. To find out more about each area of psychology and related areas, go to Areas of Psychology.

Is there an age limit to train as a psychologist?

The Society does not have any age limits for acceptance to membership. Many employers of psychologists abide by well-established equal opportunities policies, which should prevent them from discriminating on the grounds of age. However, it is worth pointing out that competition to get into the post-graduate training courses is very tough and lengthy (approximately 3 years in addition to the undergraduate degree). You will need to have substantial relevant experience and a lot of determination to succeed (as well as a very good degree). But this is true for any applicant regardless of their age. It might be worth contacting post-graduate courses to try and get an idea on the profile of successful applicants.

What are the differences between a psychologist, a counsellor, a psychiatrist and a psychotherapist?

Psychiatrists are medical doctors (unlike a psychologist), and can prescribe drug treatment for serious mental illness. Contact the Royal College of Psychiatrists for further information.

Psychotherapists or Counsellors may or may not have training in medicine or psychology, and may use a variety of non-medical based treatments to overcome difficulties and facilitate change in a variety of situations, including severe psychological disorders and everyday problems.

For further information you may wish to contact:

• United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy
• British Psychoanalytical Council
• British Association for Counseling and Psychotherapy