Clinical psychology/ OU

[Roobear23]

Hi posting here for traffic on behalf of my sister.

She is considering starting a psychology degree with the Open university in order to pursue a career as a clinical psychologist and just wondered if anyone has experience of working in this field and the process of qualifying.

Any experience you would be willing to share would be appreciated.

Thanks.

She will need a PhD to do clinical psychology, not just an undergraduate degree, does she realise this?

Hiya Clinical Psychologist here. The route to qualifying can be a long one! I was 28 before I got onto training

Your sister will need a undergraduate degree in psychology, (from an approved course) achieving at least a 2:1 for any Clinical psychology Doctoral Program to consider her.

If she doesn't get at least a 2:1 then she may have to complete a relevant masters in order to prove her academic ability. Some people have also done PhD's and then applied for clinical training, but this is pretty hardcore.

Then people generally tend to need several years of "real world" experience post university. Such as working with people in some capacity with mental health difficulties, people with learning difficulties or Older people. I worked for 6 years as a research assistant in mental health research, which is an alternative way, but less common. This "real world" experience can be quite low paid, or as a volunteer. You don't get into CP by wanting to earn money!

Only then will an approved clinical psychology training degree consider you. There are often hundreds of applicants which get whittled down to a hundred or so interviews for around 30 places. It's a long hard road and I am so glad I don't have to do it again!

More info here
careers.bps.org.uk/area/clinical/how-do-i-become-one

and here
www.leeds.ac.uk/chpccp/entry.html

Thank you @TwinkleTee that's really helpful. That supports everything she's read so far. Importantly, do you enjoy the career?

Twinkle tee
I think topping up a 2:2 with a masters is a thing of the past. Certainly our local course has said 2:1 or above only.

I am not sure if there may be a degree of snobbery about the ou in some doctoral courses?

The main thing would be to wow with experience so I would get volunteering now both to get an assistants post but also to get on the clinical course.

Personally I wouldn’t do it. It’s cut throat, uncertain and the profession is not what it was. (Increased workload, decreased pay etc).

Should have explained that an assistant psychology role is the traditional work experience between undergrad and post grad and back in the day you had no chance if you didn’t get one.

Getting an assistants job can be tough and v competitive. They are better paid these days though. I think more and more people are undertaking alternative relevant work experience though.

I'm a clinical psychologist too and I think the criteria for entry into the doctorate training programme varies slightly between different courses. I am on the selection panel for a couple of unis: one will accept applications with a 2:2 topped up with a masters and the other insists on a 2:1 at undergrad. Different courses are looking for slightly different qualities I think. I love my job but recently have set up my own business which is significantly better than working in the NHS imo. Good luck!

Another one here. I don't think an OU degree will be looked down on by most courses so long as it's a good degree, i think mature applicants are often looked on quite favourably and it may allow her the option of doing relevant work experience alongside so that she graduates in a good position to get AP jobs. I second what everyone else has said about it being fiercely competitive, there's a big pool of keen people who fit the basics (relevant work exp plus psych degree) and not a super-clear pathway such that lots of them find themselves going through many wilderness years of low paid jobs, volunteering and doing masters' degrees etc without any guarantee of getting on training at the end.

One thing to be really aware of - at the moment CP is in the privileged position of being a paid three year training at NHS band 6 (more than many nurses get) so once you 'get on' you're sorted from a stability POV. There are rumours that this will be axed at some stage and it will become self-funded. I would want to be aware of this if i was embarking on what is quite an uncertain career path.

Dependent on what aspect of CP attracts her i would at least consider a couple of other options, given that she'd be starting from scratch - 1) medical degree then specialise in psychiatry - of course massively competitive to get in/long/expensive, but a bit more objective clarity about what you need to make the grade and 2) self-funded training as a child or adult psychotherapist - long, expensive and requiring lots of tenacity and organising your own career path, but could be done slowly alongside working.

I should say i think CP is in loads of ways a great job, i really enjoyed my assistants jobs and my training. Qualified jobs have their ups and downs but there are a lot of positives.

The degrees have to be bps accredired and i dont think open university is. There are a few unis that do undergraduate and masters degrees via online/ distance learning. Others have posted the bps links. Its a long old road to a professional doctorate in psychology but plenty of jobs once she gets that phd

i'm pretty sure the OU BSc is accredited - the BPS website lets you or your sister check though OP

Another CP here and to be honest, I wouldn’t train again. The nhs is tough and getting tougher and increasingly impossible to do what you need in order to help people. Senior clinicians are leaving in droves (or manouveured out as they cost too much) and many are turning to private practice. Why does she want to do it? If to be a therapist, there are quicker ways! Im currently at a crossroads and not sure what to do next with my career.

The ou course is accredited.

Well..... yes...

It is still "a job" (with all the pros and cons of any job) and quite an emotionally demanding one too. You do need good self care strategies that you need to continually use or else you are in danger of burning out.
Also the wider systemic issues of working in a massively decimated NHS at the moment does add a lot of pressure, you never feel like you can do enough! A Sisyphean task!

That being said... it is significantly rewarding being able to help people negotiate their way through this life of ours with less distress and to hopefully help undo some of the damage and hardship that people have had to endure.

I wish your sister good luck!

The OU degree is accredited, I've just completed mine and have BPS membership.

The OU shouldn't be a barrier, there were several people on my two level 3 modules that have gone on to clinical psychology PhDs with brick universities, and lots that have gone on to other MSc or PhDs. I'm in a post graduate group and couldn't count the number of those with PhDs that got their BSc at the OU, being able to balance self directed study with jobs and family is brilliant practice for Masters and PhD level study.

I'm hoping to start a Masters in September and then go on to apply for assistant psychologist posts (though forensic not clinical). It is a very long journey, especially for clinical, as you need the BSc, possible Masters, then PhD and then work experience and supervision before being fully qualified. It is also very expensive and not guaranteed that it will be easy or even possible to get a clinical post at the end. The OU itself is much more expensive than when I started my degree but is eligible for student loans, as are post grad degrees since last year.

Ah apologies, for some reason i thought the ou psych degree wasnt bps accredited.

Thanks everyone. She has only just thought of this as an option. She's very intelligent but has never known which path to take which is difficult. I don't want to put her off too much at this stage as she's really fired up about it and a degree in psychology won't limit her if she's decided that is the sort of area she'd like to pursue. Thanks again