PHD or PsyD, does it matter?

Hi, I'm new here, nice to meet everyone. I'd like to hear some opinions, please. I have a Master's in Educational Psychology with a school psychologist credential. However, I am seeking an online program that offers a doctorate in clinical psychology. I'm not interested in obtaining a faculty position, rather I want to go into private practice as a licensed clinical psychologist and educational psychologist. ALong with my practice, I may work a couple days a week as a school psychologist since I have the credential, not sure.

So, my question is: Does it matter if I have a PsyD or a PHD? Which is more credible? I'd rather not deal with a dissertation. I may want to write relationship oriented books in the future for publication.

Thank You.

 

Whether you take the PsyD or the PhD in Psychology, you will have to deal with the dissertation. The difference (assuming that most grad schools still follow the supposed distinction between the two) is that the dissertstion for the PhD in Psychology has a more theoretical research orientation while the PsyD dissertation is more of a practical applied project.

 

Any Doctoral degree involves a dissertation, it may vary in length although something between 40,000 to 70,000 words is the norm. The PhD is definitely more academically orientated, while the PsyD is, in my opinion, more suited for practitioners who aim to make an impact in their profession.

 

Hi sweety - You've gotten some good answers to your question so far but here's an answer to a question that you haven't asked yet. You see, the fact is that there aren't that many choices. You can argue whether a PsyD is better or worse than a PhD but where are all these online PsyD/PhD programs? There are very few choices and admissions are competitive. Are you so sure that you're going to have a choice? Where are you planning on applying? The deal is you apply everywhere and then make the best choice available, right?

 

Difficulty in getting accepted into a Clinical Psychology program for licensure as a doctoral level psychologist depends on the school. If you want to go to a well known private or state school then the competition can be fierce. If you are willing to go to a lessor known school then basically your money speaks louder. This is all assuming that you have an adequate GPA.

 

I agree with ted. Eventually, you will have to do a dissertation or a project that is as rigorous as a dissertation. Now if you are looking for a distance learning clinical psychology program that is APA accredited, fielding university may be right for you. Fielding does require residencies and face to face meetings. That degree will open a heck of a lot of doors in the US. Once you finish your doctorate at NCU, you could do a clinical re-specialization in clinical psychology from fielding for maximum career options since the post doctorate is APA accredited. However, a Detc accredited calsouthern degree will do just fine in the state of California for licensure purposes.

http://www.fielding.edu/psy/

 

It's kinda the eternal question for psychologists. Both are very credible, but the focus of the program and the perceived value for X job could change based on which you choose.

I'm going PsyD, because:

• PhD programs seem more about theory and less about hands-on outpatient counseling environments (IMO).
• PsyD is more in-depth and takes much longer, which I think could translate into better opportunities down the road.
• Whether the research/counseling difference really exists much or not, PsyD gives the impression of more patient-centered learning.

All of the DL programs I have looked into are not APA-accredited. If you are primarily interested in writing and not working as a clinical psychologist, then it really doesn't matter - but you will probably want to avoid a situation where you are not able to be licensed outside of CA. So at least regionally-accredited, if not APA. Competition also seems more fierce within CA for Dr-level positions, so may be worth it to look outside the area.

Saybrook (in CA) is bucking for APA-accreditation and I believe it will get it. Once that happens, it will get way,way,way more competitive. You could get in now with a 3.0 and "above-average" GREs. I'm applying in Jan '10 and deferring to try to get in before the rush. That doesn't mean that I will necessarily get in, or attend, but if they get APA'd then I would be so there. Keep in mind that they do have residential requirements, as do all APA-accredited PhD/PsyD programs. You have to be there something like 5-7 times per year. For their PhD program, you can transfer up to 18 credits from your MA/MS, which will shave off some time and tuition.

So if your current school is not okay with you taking occasional sabbaticals, that could present an issue. You should seriously weigh whether or not to move to an area with at least some B&M classes, as that will open up your options greatly. You also need to know whether or not your state requires you to graduate from an APA'd college to be licensed at the PhD/PsyD level.

I am also looking for APA-accredited PsyD programs other than Saybrook (1st choice). I am all ears

 

The only DL doctoral program in psychology that currently has APA accreditation is Fielding www.fielding.edu .

 

I have also researched this myself, as I had an interest in becoming licensed as a clinical psychologist. I have since changed my educational goals to obtaining a masters in counseling (going to University of West Alabama this fall...www.uwa.edu). My doctorate will most likely be for teaching only, using the masters to qualify me for counseling. Also some states allow you to piece together graduate credits that apply towards counseling reqirements. This particular degree qualifies a person to teach not only counseling but psychology courses. But as for the doctorate program you mentioned, here is what I would have done had I resolved to do so: there are states which allow you to practice psychology with a non-APA PhD or PsyD. Texas, for instance, is a great place for someone who wants to practice psychology with a DL PhD. The psychology board does have stipulations, but they are minimal. I would simply check out the various states in which you would perfer to live, then research the psych board's requirements in each of those places. If you really want to pursue this, my question would be, "where would I possibly want to live?" As a somewhat older student, those states, for me, are very few. As opposed to being able to go just anywhere once you've finished, just ask yourself where you would logically be. Then take it from there, do your homework. Again, I am not an expert here, but have researched a lot. Fielding is awesome, just very expensive. Some states allow for a DL APA PhD, but have a one-year residency requirement at the school. Hope that helps...

 

Ted Heiks is correct. The only game in town in terms of APA online schools is Fielding.

I would be careful to get your hopes high with Saybrook. It is a great school but APA accreditation may still be YEARS away, maybe too long for you to wait for. My understanding is that Once APA accredits a program those who have ALREADY graduated DO NOT get that accreditation. You have to graduate while accreditation is in full force. That is my understanding. I know that besides Saybrook, there is Union Inst. and Capella U. that have been trying. Union more recently and way behind compared to Capella. I know that I became a doctoral student at Capella around 2003 and they were already dealing with the APA and had hired a guy who had taken another school into accreditation. They have had their ups and downs but have been steadily working on the process. It is 2009 and they are still not yet accredited by the APA. This goes to show that it can be many years before a school gets there. I would not put my eggs in a risky basket if it is APA accreditation that you need. Go to Fielding, pay the price, or go to an in-between school such as Argosy who does partial online or just go traditional... but go with APA accreditation already in place.

About differences between the Ph.D. versus the Psy.D. here is my take.
The Ph.D. will always be the grand-daddy of all degrees no matter what anyone says. In academia, Psy.D.'s don't get the respect they deserve. Psy.D's end up teaching or supervising applied clinical courses with no shot at teaching regular courses. The Ph.D.'s get any courses they want. I've met Psy.D.'s that wished they got a Ph.D. and tend to be a little ashamed by only identifying themselves as "doctors." I think it takes enlightened folks to understand the real value of Psy.D. people. My advice... if you can get a Ph.D. then get it. John Lennon said he wanted to be at the "poppermost of the toppermost." In the idiotic world of credentials, degrees, egos, politics, assuming that you are a good person, bright, and capable, go for the highest and most powerful degree to be listened to and accepted with minimal rejection.

If you are like a lot of people who don't give a damn about the kind of degree and all you want to do is just psychotherapy (Psy.D. or Ph.D.) then forget and ignore all I've said.

Just my two cents.

 

I agree

What will wind up happening with me is that I'll get my MA, then begin working to partially pay for my doctorate. I'm not married to the idea of DL for my PsyD as much as I am to the APA accreditation aspect.

 

I know Argosy has a few APA programs but I think they have a resident requirement...right?

 

I had to dig for it, but: "The Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology Program at the Argosy University Atlanta, Chicago, Schaumburg, Hawai’i, Orange County, Phoenix, San Francisco, Tampa, Twin Cities, and Washington DC are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of the American Psychological Association (APA) (750 First Street N.E., Washington D.C. 20002-4242, 1.202.336.5979, www.apa.org/ed/accreditation)"

They also have EdD's in Counseling Psychology, which don't appear to be APA (I could be wrong though).

 

You can find endlessly debated (oftentimes visiously so) discussion threads on many of the questions raised here.

You'll need to set at least a few days aside to sort through it all -- seriously.

I recall that a Saybrook student weighed in on one occasion, so definitely do a search for that. And also do a search for user member PsychWhy for the raging discussions on the legitimacy on DL psych programs.

 

I will, thanks

Also: "Grad school survival guide (a.k.a. How to not live in a box)" Haha, love it.

 

After slogging through all the posts you might reasonably decide to pursue an entirely different career direction. I was in a APA-accredited B&M counseling psychology program and my lingering doubts about psychology as a career choice (the immense time and cost investment weighed against the professional and personal returns) were fueled by the personalities on that discussion board. It can get really ugly -- at least that was the case a few years back when I was eavesdropping.

 

My G.P.A is 3.7. The most important criteria in selected a school-aside that I can be licensed at least in CA- is that it not be expensive. I graduated from Azusa Pacific, which was very, very expensive and I have 80k in outstanding student loans.

 

Sorry for the spelling mistakes in my last entry. The other important factor in my choosing a program is the length of time to complete it. I don't want to spend 4 or 5 years back in school.

I'll bet that Fielding has a great program, but the expense and length of their program would rule them out for me.

 

Hi, raristud. If I'm understanding you correctly regarding the above, I will need a "regionally" accredited doctorate if I want to practice outside of the state of CA. I have no plans to move, but you never know what will happen in life.

So, would most of you agree that Northcentral's regionally accredited doctorate would be the safest choice versus Cal Southern's DETC accredited one (assuming they gain accreditation)? It would be a 10k difference, but I guess I'll just have to suck it up...I'll probably be happier in the long run anyway since I'll have regional accreditation plus a PH.D.


Also, thanks for the info on the clinical re-specialization. That would probably be something I'd be interested in doing.

 

Here is the FAQ page for the respecialization: http://www.fielding.edu/rcp/qa.htm It's very important to read, because it mentions that the respecialization isn't valid for most positions in CA. This probably doesn't matter much anyway, but thought I was worth throwing out there in case you decide to go for an EdD in School Psychology (for example).

Well, at this point if I haven't given up on my dream then I don't think I ever will.