| A license is a "quality control" credential awarded by
the state--not an
educational institution. A license gives you legal authority to work
independently--i.e., you don't need to be supervised by someone else. This
means that you can have a private practice--see clients on your own,
receive insurance payments, and so forth. Recall that physicians,
dentists, and veterinarians are licensed. The use of the title
"psychologist" is regulated by state licensing boards. That is, only
individuals who have met the requirements for a psychology license may put
themselves forward to the public as "psychologists." Similarly, licensed
"psychologists" are prohibited by law from putting themselves forth to the
public as a licensed social worker and vice versa. A major reason for
these regulations about the practice of psychology, social work, etc. is
to protect the public from those who are not competent to treat those in
need of assistance.
Although the requirements for a psychology license vary from state to state, they typically involve the following: (1) a doctoral degree in a field of study that is "primarily psychological in nature," (2) one year of supervised clinical work during graduate school, (3) one year of post-doctoral supervised clinical work, and (4) a passing score on a standardized examination. Some states also require an oral examination once the written exam is passed. For many people, the fact that clinical social workers with only a master's degree can be licensed in all 50 states is a major advantage of the MSW degree. You should note, however, that managed health care is driving many licensed mental health workers out of private practice because they cannot compete with the health maintenance organizations (HMOs). To learn more about this, talk with a clinical psychologist in your department. In many states, individuals with master's degrees in clinical psychology (MA/MS) and agency counseling (MEd) cannot be licensed. And even in those states where they are licensable, they are never licensed as a "psychologist" because they don't meet the minimum requirement of a doctoral degree. When individuals with master's degrees in psychology are licensed, they usually carry a title like "psychological associate" or "psychological assistant" to distinguish them from licensed "psychologists." Moreover, their work is limited to certain activities--psychological testing, for example. In Georgia, those with a master's degree in psychology (and agency counseling) are eligible for two licenses: a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). Of course, individuals with master's degrees who aren't licensed are still able to work in a variety of mental health settings (community mental health centers, etc.) where supervision from licensed individuals is available. In some states, those with master's degrees in clinical psychology (and agency counseling) may be eligible for certificates. Certificates are quality-control credentials awarded by professional organizations--not a state or an educational institution. They certify that a person has had courses and supervised practical experience in particular areas such as drug addiction or family therapy. Although they do not grant an individual the authority to work on one's own (private practice), certificates are often necessary to get jobs where specialized skills are needed. For example, in Georgia, one has a much better chance at getting a job in the addictions area if one is a Certified Addiction Counselor (CAC). |
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