How To Become a Psychologist In India: Career Guide, Eligibility, Courses

A Psychologist studies human behaviour, studies facets of life and human brain, reactions, adaptations among other things in the field of Psychology. The science of human behaviour began in Germany, and during World War II, it spread to the United States, eventually ending up in India around half a century. Since then, our Indian psychologists have taken the initiative to establish psychology as a distinct field. 

To be a psychologist in India, one must pass class 12 from any stream, and pursue a BA or B.Sc in Psychology degree followed by MA or M.Sc in either Psychology, Social Work, or Counseling. Further specialisation at the doctoral level can be pursued as well via Ph.D. or MPhil. Candidates can begin practising with an average psychologist salary of INR 3,10,000 PA.

Who is a Psychologist?

A psychologist is a mental health expert who is responsible for helping people with mental health conditions to navigate life in a healthy way. They assist patients with conditions like anxiety, depression, PTSD, and more. Their job includes detecting behavioural patterns, checking emotional status, diagnosis of conditions, suggesting referrals and carving a treatment method.

Psychologists may work in the industry as counsellors, psychotherapists, researchers, professors etc. If they practise they may do so as a part of a medical institute, rehab centre or privately.

How to Become a Psychologist?

Candidates who wish to become Psychologists, can check the below steps, which entail details on Psychologist qualification requirements, and more.

Step 1: Pass Higher Secondary with Psychology

Candidates must clear 10+2 from any stream from a recognised Board in India. They must secure 50% or above to pursue further education in the field. However, aspirants must note that they must complete their higher secondary level education to pursue further education.

Step 2: Get a Bachelor’s Degree

Aspirants of Psychology can pursue Bachelor of Arts or Bachelors of Sciences in Psychology. Although students from any stream can take up BA Psychology (Honors), BSc Psychology (Honors) requires students to have studied biology, chemistry or other science subjects at HS levels.

Some of the psychology courses after 12th which students can take to obtain a Bachelor’s degree are,

Top Colleges for Psychology

Some of the best colleges to pursue Psychology are mentioned in the table below with their course fee.

Step 3: Gain Experience

Candidates can gain experience as a budding Psychologist in a number of ways. This may help them in finding a job after the degree. Some common methods to acquire experience are,

• Internship: All Psychology aspirants can apply for a two-year internship.
• This will provide candidates with on-the-job training sessions. Additionally, they will learn whether the speciality is appropriate for them or not. 
• The job satisfaction of serving others will be an added benefit for the candidate during this period. 
• Internships in clinical and counselling psychology sometimes may need to be approved by some of the reputed organisations because jobs in mental health institutions sometimes require an approved internship.
• Volunteering: Candidates interested in the Developmental Psychology course, can volunteer in a mental health hospital or a clinic.
• Attending Workshops: Workshops are conducted every year on different topics ranging from Hypnosis to dream analysis. This varies from college to college.

Step 4: Specialise Through Higher Education

Candidates can choose from a multitude of streams such as Clinical Psychology, Counseling Psychology, Research Psychology, Industrial-organisational Psychology. Therefore, based on their interest, the candidates need to select a specialisation. Most of the fields in Psychology expect students to have a Doctorate.

Students may get an MA,M.Sc. or Doctorate in either Psychology, Social Work, or Counseling as their specialisation during Postgraduation. Some higher education options are,

Step 5: Get a Licence

Aspirants must further register themselves with the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI) to acquire a licence to practise as a Psychologist. Moreover, the licence can be obtained from the institute they complete their Master’s from, if the course is approved by RCI.

Step 6: Practise As a Psychologist

Once all the qualifications and criteria has been met by Psychology aspirants, they may begin practising as a Psychologist counsellor or Researcher. Details of each pathway can be found below.

Practitioner

Most of the practitioners hold a graduate degree in psychology, if not then a doctorate in psychology. Their main job is to eliminate mental and emotional problems or stress to facilitate happy and healthy lives. These people keep practising psychology to work with people experiencing various kinds of difficulties, such as depression, anger, anxiety, and addiction.

Researcher

In most cases, research psychology careers come under the category of doctorate. Research psychologists are the people who generally use scientific methods to study, gather information, examine and give the results or reports. They usually work in places like universities, schools, and many other places to interact with humans and analyse their behaviour.

What Does a Psychologist Do?

Candidates who study to become Psychologists have solutions and answers to one of the most complicated aspects – the Human Behavior. They are specialists who are equipped to study and diagnose conditions related to the human mind, backed by scientific studies and theories. 

Some of their main roles and responsibilities as a Psychologist are, 

• Psychologists conduct research and experiments to understand human behaviour, thought-process and emotional patterns.
• They identify symptoms of individuals to understand their state of mental health and provide a diagnostic solution to it.
• Since each case is different, they provide tailor-made mental health plans to achieve the desired goal for the patient.
• Psychologists conduct therapy, counselling and psychotherapy.
• They often work in teams with social workers, Physicians, and nurses to provide holistic care to the patient.

Also Read: How to Become A Psycho Oncologist in India?

How Long Does It Take to Become a Psychologist?

To become a registered psychologist, candidates require at least 8 years after clearing class 10. It requires getting a number of qualifications at graduate and postgraduate levels. Moreover, they must undertake internships as a part of their training.

Qualifications Required to Become a Psychologist

Candidates can check the qualifications required to become a psychologist below.

• Importantly, candidates looking to become Psychologists must complete their undergraduate level with BA or B.Sc in Psychology. 
• They must learn concepts such as neuro-psychology, psychotherapy, personality development etc. 
• Later, they can take a postgraduate specialisation in Psychotherapy, counselling, psychology or social work.
• However, to seek admission in the above mentioned degrees candidates must clear the requisite entrance exams such as CUET, DUET, BITSAT etc. 
• They must be the cutoff criteria to qualify for admission to Psychology courses.

Skills Required to Become a Psychologist

Psychologists work in a field that has no limits, no boundaries, and they learn many skills that can be implemented in their disciplines or patients. The following are the psychologist skill requirements one must possess:

• Good communication skills: Psychologists are expected to have excellent communication skills to help patients suffering from behavioural and mental issues, to communicate freely.
• Research: Candidates must be proficient in conducting thorough research to recognise the condition which the patient is suffering from, as many times different conditions have similar symptoms.
• Listening Skills: Psychologists who work as counsellors and therapists must be great listeners, as the patients are in their most vulnerable state when sharing details of their mental health, hence being an active listener will help the patient feel seen and heard.
• Analytical Approach: A systematic and calculative approach is a necessary tool for psychologists to properly diagnose their patients.
• Passion: They must dedicate themselves in helping humans suffering from behavioural and mental challenges and aid in overcoming them.
• Patience: Psychologists sometimes have to deal with particularly severe cases and hence must be patient throughout the process. They must possess strong willpower and enthusiasm every day, irrespective of their daily struggles.
• Drive: They must be highly driven to learn the ever evolving human mind, to help patients overcome their mental challenges.

Types of Psychologists

Psychology is a vast field with many categories in it. Here are a few types of Psychologists in India.

Clinical Psychologists

Clinical psychologists help in examining and treating mental illness, mental state abnormalities, and psychiatric problems. They use their knowledge on integration of the science of psychology to treat complex human behavioural problems. It is an exciting designation for people looking for a challenging and exciting field.

Industrial Psychologists

Industrial Psychologists work in organisations and multi-national companies to counsel employees, who struggle with conditions like stress, reduced productivity, and negative interpersonal relations. Their goal is to motivate the employees and support them through their tenure of work in a company.

Forensic Psychologists

Crime is one of the major problems in many parts of the world, especially in highly populated areas. Forensic psychologists usually play a vital role in crime scenes. The word forensic may be defined as one of the scientific methods for investigating the crime or the criminal. Forensic psychology may also be described as the merger of law and psychology.

Geriatric Psychologists

Geriatric Psychologists treat individuals who are affected by the process of ageing which affects one’s  mental, physical, and even social life. They treat people who are 65 years and older.Mental conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, Dementia, Glaucoma, Arthritis, and Diabetes are increasing at a higher growth rate, which requires Geriatric Psychologists in the field.

Educational Psychologists

Psychologists who cater to youth and education are known as educational psychologists. They usually hold a PhD degree and work in educational institutes and facilities. They help students struggling in reaching their maximum potential, help them overcome behavioural problems, negative emotions and counsel them to build a better future as active adults who impact the society in a positive way.

Must Read: How to Become A Counsellor in India?

Salary of a Psychologist

The average psychologist salary in India is INR 3,10,000 PA. It is mainly based on many factors such as qualification, degree certificate, area of specialisation, and experience. Professional psychologists with a master's degree like M.Phil. And a Ph.D. degree earns higher packages. The estimated take home psychologist monthly salary is INR 21,900 to INR 23,360. As one establishes themselves in the area and specialises, they can earn more.

Candidates can check the table below for the designation-wise psychologist salary in India.

Top Recruiters of Psychologists

Some of the top recruiters of Psychologists across industries in India are mentioned below.

• YourDost
• Fortis Healthcare
• Apollo Hospitals
• Max Healthcare
• Medanta Hospitals
• Accenture
• Deloitte
• EY Global
• Google
• Apple

Difference Between Psychologist and Psychiatrist

There are five main differences between a psychologist and a psychiatrist. Candidates can check them out below.

Benefits of Becoming a Psychologist

Every profession has its own benefits, some might be tangible, and others might be intangible.The following are the benefits of a Psychology Degree.

• Charitable Career: Candidates will help people with various mental conditions, disabilities and emotional illnesses by becoming a Psychologist.
• Decent Salary: Candidates are paid well for their expertise and knowledge. If they practise individually then they may earn more.
• Socially Active: Candidates get to meet individuals from different backgrounds and walks of life, which can make it an interesting profession to sign up for.

Drawbacks of Becoming a Psychologist

The disadvantages of becoming a Psychologist in India are,

• Emotional and Mental Exhaustion: Candidates are often drained emotionally and mentally as they have the load of the other people;s difficulties and conditions on them.
• Time Consuming: Psychologists may take years of study to become equipped with the right skill to help people.
• Perseverance: Candidates must keep updating themselves with studies and research on mental health to stay up-to-date on latest field knowledge.

Read More: How to Become A Doctor in India?

Career Scope as an Psychologist

As discussed earlier, a career as a Psychologist is rapidly growing in India. Once students acquire their psychology degree and have completed their internship, they must think about the scope as a Psychologist in India.

Psychologists work in many different environments, including the following places:

• Government Organisations
• Nursing Homes
• Hospitals and Clinics
• Rehabilitation Centres
• Management in Consulting Companies
• Schools, universities, and any other educational organisations
• Marketing firms and other businesses
• Social service groups

There are world-class Psychologists in India who are proving to be an inspiration to many young Indians. Through their efforts, Psychology in India is growing so rapidly among the masses, and people are taking mental health issues seriously.