Differences Between Certifications & Licenses in Psychology

From:  http://education.seattlepi.com/differences-between-certifications-licenses-psychology-3635.html

Students of psychology have many career options that they can pursue after graduation. Positions like therapist, counselor and psychologist, however, often require a license or certification to practice. Navigating the numerous options can be tricky. The litany of certifications is made even more complicated by the fact that standards sometimes vary by state. Fortunately, though, the many types of licenses and certifications can be sorted into easy-to-understand categories.

Psychologist Licensure

The highest license a student of psychology can receive also requires the most education. To even apply to take the exam in psychology, almost all states require a student to hold a Doctor of Psychology. In addition, a student must also complete at least one year of internship or other field experience. Once these requirements are met, students can complete an exam. Passing the exam thereby licenses the student to practice under the title "psychologist" in the jurisdiction where the test was administered; New York state, for example. A psychologist can provide psychological clinical therapy, but unlike a psychiatrist, cannot presribe medications. For students hoping to work as a school psychologist, different standards for licensure may apply.

Counselor Licenses

While there is sometimes significant overlap between the title of "psychologist" and "counselor," differences remain in the form of licensure and certification. A counselor is distinguished from a psychologist more by the severity of his or her patients' problems than by the nature of his day-to-day work. While a psychologist generally works with the severely mentally ill, a counselor works with people with mild illnesses and helps them adjust to normal life. Licensure requirements vary by the type of counselor a student wants to be. A mental health counselor, for example, faces very similar education and experience requirements to a psychologist. Credentials vary by state, but often other types of counseling positions, such as school counselor, addiction counselor of marriage counselor, only require a master's degree.

Therapist Certifications

The title of therapist is distinguished from other roles in psychology by the fact that therapists tend to work with groups of people. While the terms "therapist," "counselor" and "psychologist" are often used interchangeably, each is different: "Therapist" refers to someone who assesses the interaction between people and their impact on each individual. In general, licensure in therapy requires only a master's degree, though a Ph.D. will not disqualify anyone. To qualify to take the licensure exam to be a family, marriage or child therapist, a student must generally have worked in the field for two years. This varies slightly by state.

Social Worker Licenses

Social workers are distinguished from other psychology careers in that they work less directly with issues of psychological health. A social worker, for example, typically helps a patient adjust to work, budgeting, unemployment, substance abuse or other daily struggle. While a psychological illness may be present, other trauma like domestic abuse or neglect are more relevant to a social worker's career. To qualify for licensure as a social worker, students must generally hold a master of social work or its equivalent. Because field experience is generally integrated into M.S.W. programs, there is no additional work experience required to qualify for the exam.

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