Are you interested in pursuing an exciting career as a psychologist in Pakistan? Are you searching for the steps to take on how to become a psychologist in Pakistan? This article is a step-by-step guide on ensuring that you become a psychologist.
Psychology is a very interesting field of study. Hundreds of students all across Pakistan enroll in different psychology courses. The goal of all these students is to become a psychologist.
Step-by-Step Guide on how to become a psychologist in Pakistan
Below are the main steps to take on how to become a certified psychologist after 12th in Pakistan.
Step 1 – Take admission in a 4-year psychology degree program
The first step is taking admission in a 4-year program majoring in psychology. Typically, you can take another major as well. However, one of the core programs has to be psychology.
Different colleges and universities offer different programs. The scope of forensic science in Pakistan is expanding. In addition to the clinical psychology courses, universities are also now offering admission in forensic science.
Different colleges and universities are offering the 4-year degree program. Students can enroll. You learn the basics of psychology and the different disciplines associated with the field of study.
Step 2- Apply for a Master’s degree in Clinical or Applied Psychology
After successfully passing a four-year degree in psychology, you will be applying for a master’s degree in clinical psychology or applied psychology. You cannot become a psychologist with a bachelor level alone.
In fact, you need to ensure you complete a 2-year degree program in clinical psychology. Students pursuing an applied psychology degree tend to go into teaching.
Not all colleges and universities will offer your required field of study. Hence, you need to research and take admission in places that offer your specialized field of study.
Step 3- Choosing your field of specialization as a Psychologist
A psychologist is a person that works with individuals and companies. For that, it is recommended to pursue a degree in clinical psychology.
Also, you need to understand that becoming a psychologist means you need to specialize in a particular field of study. There are different types of psychologists. You can become a career counselor. They are also psychologists, but focus on development of students.
Clinical psychologist focuses on improving mental capacity of individuals. Each individual comes with a different set of issues. In the masters level degree, you work as an intern and start practicing skills with patients. You can have people coming in with different forms of depression. Individuals can also have anxiety issues. A clinical psychologist will be able to understand their issues and provide the best treatment available.
Forensic Psychology is a field that students are choosing as well. There are benefits of forensic psychology degree or a short course. You work with law enforcement agencies. Police and intelligence agencies also hire forensic psychologists. They play a very important role in fighting crime.
Another very exciting type of psychologist is a forensic psychologist. Forensic psychologists work with the criminology department to better understand crimes and how to mitigate the crimes. For example, you work with police to better understand why particular crimes are being reported in an area. Forensic psychologists understand the why and how people do crimes.
Another type of psychologist is an organizational or industrial psychologist. These psychologists focus on corporate level psychology. There could be many issues facing companies. Lack of team building or that companies do not work effectively. Organizational psychologists go in and understand the gaps. Then they prepare training to mitigate the gaps.
Step 4- Internship with a leading hospital or clinical setting
This is the most important part of the step to step guide. You need to get an internship and work as a psychologist in the setting that you want to pursue. Are you wanting to be a career psychologist? Then work with leading colleges and universities and join the career department. If you want to become a clinical psychologist, then join a clinic.
In fact, now there is extensive online career and clinical applications online. You can now talk to a leading psychologist through an application. For that, you need to enroll in a call center agent training course. This will help you understand how to connect and provide quality service as an online psychologist. You will be talking to potential clients as well. The online consulting is really a customer service job role in addition to the counselling.
Step 5- Take your license exam as a psychologist
It is imperative that you certify yourself and become a licensed psychologist in Pakistan. However, you do not need a license if you are participating in the educational field. However, if you are trying to become a counselor at a local university or college, then it is highly recommended that you do a certification in counseling. Students that are pursuing a career as a psychologist need to ensure that they pass their license in psychology.
Informative Article.
1: Which certifications are required for license?
2: Which sectors are offering license?
Pakistan does not have a license board yet. You need to get international certifications.
What kind of international certification? I have vompletrd my Bachelor’s, can you please guide?
You need a clinical psychology degree
I have done m.phil psychology and done my internship in govt hospital.which international test is for certification
This depends upon your level of expertise
I have done my Ms in clinical psychology and 2 years experience as a ABA therapy how can I apply for lisenced
License is mandatory for different countries. Please state what particular license are you looking for? From there we can guide.
What is the procedure to get certificate of Clinical Psychologist in Pakistan
The article clearly states the procedure
Is it compulsory to do PH.D to become a psychologist in Pakistan?
I had been searching and few resourcing were telling me that pH.D has to be done in order to become a psychologist.
No, this is not correct. You need to have a Masters in Clinical Psychology. However, there is no official board and hence many people declare themselves psychologists, but they are not.
I´ve done M.Sc in Applied psychology, do i still need masters in clinical psychology to get certified and licensed?
Applied is not clinical, as the name implies. Recommend that you go for your clinical degree immediately to become a clinical psychologist.
I also want to become a psychologist but I heard that less seats are provided by the government for a psychologist for jobs…..and which field in psychology is best to study in Pakistan.. please guide me
This is not correct many seats available even in private universities
Are you a psychologist..mean l wanna to discuss my some problem for this subject…and you can understand easily if you are a psychologist
Please call us for a consultation
I also want to discuss about phycology.. bcz i want to be a phycologist kindly give me favour
What is the favor that you require?
I passed my intermediate in Arts (Humanities). Can i choose psychology as a major? If yes, then can you guide me which institute should i go for? (I live in karachi). And what problems or difficulties would i face?
I done my masters in Applied psychology with one year of area of specialisation in clinical psychology .Then I did Advance diploma in clinical psychology ( ADCP ) with 2 years hospital practice . Kindly tell how can I get licence ?
You can apply to APA and get your license
I am in second year sindh board karachi i want to be a psychologist from my pre medical do i have to give mdcat test in order to enroll in a university or i have to give the test prepared by the university itself for example dow university or karachi university do these universities require mdcat test for addmision or they prepare their own test for psychology student let me know please i am very confused
No you do not need to do this
I have done msc and m.phil in applied psychology then i hot 1 year diploma (ADCP) in clinical psychology . How i can got license from pakistan? Because it is necessary for. Uae to got license from home country.
I clear my Bacholar in Applied psychology .i want to become a psychologist kindly guide me what’s next procedure what I do ?
This article is a great read to find out all requirements