Online Psych Masters - newbie question, I'm sure

Greetings all. Longtime lurker. I've searched, and haven't found quite the answers I'm looking for. My eventual goal is a PhD or PsyD, and to practice as a psychologist. It sees that, in order to get into any of the doctoral programs I'm looking at, I need a masters in the field. Most states don't seem to allow much with a MA/MS in Psych, clinical or otherwise. I hate running the risk of having an essentially useless masters. Is there utility, in terms of career, in a DL MA/MS in psychology? It seems that, for example, a masters in counseling would give me the ability to gain licensure but not lead to a doctorate that would gve me licensure as a psychologist. Any direction, and suggestion for schools, would be appreciated. I like NCU, having spoken with them at length, although the licensure needs to be looked into more. I'd be looking to work in VT/NH/NY more than likely. Anyone who has gone this route successfully and is practicing in any mental health fields, I'd love to have you chime in.

 

Welcome to Degree Info! I'm glad you have decided to sign up and post on our board. I think you will enjoy the experience.

I'm not a psyche guy, so I don't know much, but I understand that Capella University, and some others, offer a psychology doctorate that does not require a master's degree to enter the program. You would need to carefully check the licensure requirements in the state in which you wish to practice. I know that acceptability varies from state to state.

 

Agreed, I'm working on nailing down the specifics of licensure and criteria the school needs to meet. I chatted online with Capella,and was led to believe the masters was necessary first, but that remains to be seen when I talk to them on the phone. That would be ideal - I like their program, since it seems to be clinically focused. VT actually allows one to practice as an unlicensed therapist, but that's not a route I really want to go anywhere near, for a million reasons - insurance being not the least of them. On that note, does anyone who is practicing know if a DL degree affects insurance premiums once practicing?

 

I recently met someone who went through the Masters program at Walden University.

Online Degree University | Distance Education for Working Professionals - Walden University

She told me that she's going to work for a couple of years, get her practitioners license where she lives and then return to one of their doctoral programs. You absolutely want to double-check the whole licensure thing whatever school you choose.