How to Become a Psychologist in India? Eligibility, Skills, Salary, Scope
Locked inside your house?
Well, we all are!
COVID-19 has brought unprecedented challenges in everybody’s lives. And yes, for some of us these challenges have been far more difficult than for others.
Hence, to curb this menace, the government imposed a nationwide lockdown on March 24th, 2020. The lockdown kept on extending thereon.
Even after various restrictions were lifted after several months, many groups of people were still restricted to their homes including the students.
Now that Covid-19 cases are once again surging in India, area-wise lockdowns have again been imposed or are being imposed.
Therefore, this has affected the psychological well-being of most of us. Our routines have been completely disrupted. We can’t go out and meet our loved ones.
And, you’ll agree, we’ve all been through several breakdowns during this period. Right?
Similarly, at such a crucial time we have been able to realize the value of psychology. So, we are probably going to need psychological help once we make it out of this apocalypse.
This explains the scope and growing demand of psychology professionals worldwide.
Table of Contents-
What is Psychology?
Psychology is the study of human behavior and mental processes. It studies a person’s behavior, reactions, and emotions. Understanding if such behavior helps to treat behavioral problems associated with it.
How can I become a Psychologist in India?
You must have various questions in your mind like, what education is needed to become a psychologist?
Or how to become a Psychologist in India after the 12th?
Or, even how to become a Psychologist in India after 10th?
You’ll get accurate answers to all your questions here and as BONUS POINTS, I am also going to share a list of 10 best books on Psychology that you can’t miss! So, these books will take you into the depths of a human mind and give you all the more reasons to be a Psychologist.
Scroll along, so you don’t miss it!
First things first, you cannot become a Psychologist after passing class 10!
To be a licensed psychologist, you need to:
- Pass the 10+2 exam with Psychology as a core subject.
- Have a Bachelor in Psychology degree (BA or B.Sc).
- You can go for a Specialization in either Psychology, Social Work, or Counseling at the Masters’s level (M.A. or M.Sc.).
- Further, you can also pursue a specialization at the doctoral level (Ph.D. or M.Phil).
In this blog, I will also share information on how to become a Psychologist in India after engineering. Read along!
But first, let’s see what are the best colleges to study Psychology in India.
Top 5 Colleges to Study Psychology in India
Here’s a list of Top 5 Colleges for Psychology Courses That You Can Apply For:
To explore the list of courses offered by these colleges, the duration for each course, and the fee structure, you can use the website link given along.
1. Lady Shri Ram College for Women (LRD)
- Location- New Delhi, Delhi NCR
- Website- https://lsr.edu.in/
- Contact- 011 4549 4949
2. St. Xavier’s College
- Location- Mumbai
- Website- https://xaviers.edu/main/
- Contact- 022 2262 0661
3. Chandigarh University
- Location- Chandigarh
- Website- https://www.cuchd.in/
- Contact- 1800 121 288 800
4. Christ University
- Location- Bangalore
- Website- https://www.christuniversity.in/
- Contact- 080 4012 9600
5. Fergusson College
- Location- Pune, Mumbai
- Website- https://www.fergusson.edu/
- Contact- 020 6765 6000
What is the difference between a Psychologist and a Psychiatrist?
The main point of difference between a psychologist and a psychiatrist is the type of treatment.
The treatment offered by a psychologist focuses on the use of therapies and behavioral intervention to help people deal with the adjustments and emotional turmoils.
While, on the other hand, psychiatrists are certified, trained doctors and are allowed to prescribe medicines. Similarly, they use pills to treat patients going through mental health disorders.
What are the Different Fields of Study Under Psychology? And What Career Choices Do I Have?
A career in Psychology is not limited to becoming a counselor. You can opt for a specialization in one of the several branches of Psychology.
Following are some of the career options which you might want to consider:
How to Become a Criminal Psychologist in India?
If you decide that Criminal Psychology is the right path for you, then you must know what this profession is about.
A criminal psychologist’s job involves investigating various reasons for the increasing crimes. How can we prevent crimes? What goes into the mind of a criminal even after the crime?
Moreover, there are various institutes in India that offer both UG and PG courses in criminology.
What is a Clinical Psychologist?
Ever wonder how to become a Clinical psychologist in India?
The job of a Clinical psychologist involves assessing and treating people with psychological problems. Clinical psychologists act as therapists for people who experience normal psychological crises or chronic psychiatric disorders.
How can I go about a Teaching career after Psychology?
If you are interested in pursuing teaching as a profession. Then, also you can pursue Psychology. Psychology teachers work to educate students in the basic concepts of why people act the way they do.
So, if you’re interested in teaching in college or universities, then you must clear UGC-NET.
How to become a forensic psychologist in India?
Forensic psychology involves polygraph detection tests, insanity plea, narco-analysis, etc. In India, forensic psychology is not very well established. Thus, finding a job in India as a forensic psychologist is very hard.
Further, you need to have an educational background in Psychology to become a forensic psychologist. Colleges/Universities offer both UG (B.A./B.Sc.) as well as PG (M.A./M.Sc.) courses in criminology.
Can I opt for Research in Psychology?
If you want to pursue research in Psychology in India, you have the scope of working for governmental or private organizations for research purposes.
You need to have a doctorate in Psychology to pursue research.
How to become a counseling psychologist in India?
Counseling psychologists for many parts work as clinical psychologists. Although, a counseling psychologist is usually concerned with people who deal with adjustment problems.
While clinical psychologists deal with people with severe psychological disorders.
Counseling psychologists are employed in academic settings like community mental health centers, college counseling centers, etc.
How can I become a child psychologist in India?
Child psychologists study behavioral developments, learning patterns, and environmental factors that affect a child, from infancy through adolescence.
Hence, if you want to pursue a career in child psychology then you must have a master’s degree, with a major in child development or clinical psychology studies.
Moreover, to get to higher positions in the field, professionals need a Phd., a Psy.D.
Who is a military psychologist?
How can I become a military psychologist in India?
Ever wonder?
Well, the job of a Military psychologist involves offering support service to members and veterans.
Military veterans face tremendous stress and frequently deal with mental health and adjustment issues e.g. after deployment.
Some areas of focus under military psychology include Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, substance abuse, suicide prevention, etc.
How do I pursue a career in sports psychology?
Sports psychology deals with the psychological aspects of an athlete’s performance. They also study the effects of physical activity and exercise on psychological well-being and health.
As a sports psychologist, you would usually work in academic settings or as consultants for sports teams.
How to Become a Psychologist After Engineering?
Yes, you read it right!
Psychology after engineering!
Even if you have not studied it in graduation, you can still pursue psychology for your master’s, and make a career out of it.
After all, it’s never too late to follow your heart. Right?
You can pursue psychology after engineering if the college/university that you are applying to does not require any background in Psychology. Not every college/university offers this facility, so you’ll have to check this with the college that you are applying to.
Similarly, most colleges will ask you to take an entrance test and undergo interviews for admission. And for this, I will suggest you read some books on psychology to brush up your knowledge a little bit. This will help you get in easily.
Further, some colleges even grant admission based on the merit list as per your graduation scores.
What is the Salary of a Psychologist in India?
Psychology is a fairly lucrative field of study in terms of salary offered to a professional. Although the salary package varies from person to person depending on several factors like their qualification, specialization, experience, etc.
The average salary of a Psychologist in India is Rs. 4,12,145. Just to be clear, this is the average salary. So not every single Psychologist earns this much.
Some earn more than the average and some earn less. And usually, professionals with a doctorate (Ph.D. or M.Phil) get quite handsome packages.
Hence, depending on the field of specialization, and experience of practice some professionals earn way more than others.
CLICK HERE TO KNOW ABOUT THE HIGHEST PAYING JOBS FOR FRESHERS
10 Books That You Need to Read for the Love of Psychology!
I assure you, that these books will take you into a different dimension. They’ll present the unknown facts about the human brain, and break myths about the human brain.
Therefore, I recommend these books for the real-life experience of professional Psychologists, showcasing Psychology at its best!
- The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat and Other Clinical Tales – Oliver Sacks
- Predictably Irrational – Dan Ariely
- Elephants on Acid: And Other Bizarre Experiments – Alex Boese
- Phantoms in the Brain: Probing the Mysteries of the Human Mind – V.S. Ramachandran and Sandra Blakeslee
- Mistakes Were Made (But Not by Me) by Carol Tavris and Elliot Aronson
- The Language Instinct: How the Mind Creates Language – Steven Pinker
- Thinking, Fast and Slow – Daniel Kahneman
- Bad Science – Ben Goldacre
- 50 Great Myths of Popular Psychology: Shattering Widespread Misconceptions About Human Behavior – Scott O. Lilienfeld, Steven Jay Lynn, John Ruscio & Barry Beyerstein
- The Happiness Hypothesis – Jonathan Haidt
Top 3 Successful Psychologists in India
1. Dr. Subin Vazhayil
Dr. Subin is well known for his trademark confidentiality.
His secret to success is his insatiable hunger for learning. He aims to keep himself up to date and even takes real-time lessons from gurus, yogis, and even overseas to improve his mind power techniques.
Qualification- Ph.D. Psychology; Diploma in Hypnotherapy and Psychotherapy
College/University- Bharathiar University; University of Calicut
Specialization- Psychotherapy, stress management, lifestyle coaching, NLP, Psychoanalysis, Individual counseling, crisis counseling, premarital counseling, personality testing, etc.
2. Dr. Kamna Chhibber
Dr. Kamna is a clinical psychologist. She is the HOD of the mental health and behavioral sciences department at Fortis Hospital.
Her incredible popularity and success accredit to her passion for helping people who are in need. Moreover, she regularly engages in designing and creating training programs for NGOs, offices, schools, Ph.D.playssuggestions, etc. To help people in their mental wellbeing.
Qualification- M.Phil. in Clinical Psychology; M.A. in Clinical Psychology; B.A. in Applied Psychology
College/University- Amity University, Uttar Pradesh; Delhi University, North Campus; Gargi College
Specialization- Psychotherapy, stress management, clinical psychology, psychological testing, psychometrics, health psychology, counseling psychology, performance management, employee engagement, etc.
3. Dr. Vipul Rastogi
Dr. Rastogi is a neuropsychiatrist and one of the best neurologists that we have in India. He aims to improve medical practices in India.
Dr. Vipul has a passion for writing and social aspects of life that interest him the most. He writes blogs through which he intends to spread awareness on common things that he notices in day-to-day life which affect us all.
Qualification– MSc Neurology (Merit); PG Diploma Neuropsychiatry (Merit); MRCPsych. Diploma in Clinical Psychiatry; MBBS.
College/University– Queen’s Square London, UCL, UK; University of Birmingham, UK; Royal College of Psychiatrist, UK; LLRM Medical College, Meerut.
Specialization– Neuropsychiatry, Dementia, Parkinson’s Disorder, Multiple Sclerosis, Tic Disorders, and Brain injuries, etc.
Conclusion
To sum up, the scope of psychology is expected to rise in the coming years. And studying psychology would be a great career choice for you.
Also with the 7th Pay Commission, the salary for fresh psychologists in schools is Rs. 35-40,000. This could be a great opportunity for you to learn.
Lastly, with such experience and pay, you can also go on and start your private venture to grow your prospects.
Common FAQs On Psychology
<strong>How much does a Psychologist earn in India?</strong>
As per Indeed.com, the average salary of a Psychologist in India is Rs. 21,200 per month. Although it varies with your branch of psychology.
<strong>Is Psychology a good career in India?</strong>
Yes, Psychology is a great career choice in India. With the increasing demand for psychologists, it has seen a greater scope lately. Clinical Psychology is the most widely established and highest-paid branch of Psychology in India.
<strong>What qualifications do I need to be a Psychologist?</strong>
The minimum educational requirement to be a psychologist is 10+2 and a bachelor in Psychology degree. You can also go for a Masters in Psychology (M.A. or M.Sc.). Further, you can go for specialization at the doctorate level.
<strong>Is NEET required for a Psychologist?</strong>
No. Neither you need to clear NEET nor you need to even appear in NEET to study psychology.
<strong>Is Psychology hard to study?</strong>
Yes, Psychology is a reasonably hard subject to study as the syllabus is intense from the beginning only. But if you have a passion for Psychology then you will feel interested and engrossed.
<strong>Does a Psychologist need math?</strong>
Yes, a Psychology degree needs basic knowledge of maths. It involves descriptive and inferential statistics. Although you do not need maths if you are going for an online degree.
<strong>Can I be a Psychologist if I'm bad at math?</strong>
No, maths can not be a hurdle for you if you want to study Psychology. You just need a basic knowledge of statistics.
<strong>Does Psychology pay well?</strong>
Yes, Psychology pays fairly well in India. A Psychologist earns an average salary of 3-4 lac per year.
If you have any suggestions for us, do let us know in the comment section below.
