To ask about becoming a Chartered Psychologist...

[ArsenalsPlayingAtHome]

Seeking advice for a family member, hope that's OK.

He got a 2:2 in his first degree (which seems to fall short from what I can gather,) and is now in the process of applying for a Masters in Psychology (Conversion).

We've been researching on line about career paths, gaining chartered status and the various different areas, but it's not very well explained. Can I ask, do you have to have a certain number of years practising, post the Masters, then do a doctorate in order to become a Chartered Psychologist? Will the fact that he only got a 2:2 in his first degree completely scupper his chances of ever becoming a Chartered Psychologist?

I think it will, he thinks not. His first degree was in education, not psychology.

Please can anyone shed some light? Thank you for reading this & for any advice.

You're pretty much correct. To be able to use the protected title of Psychologist, whether Educational or Clinical or Counselling or whatever, you must
a) complete a psychology degree that confers Graduate Basis for Chartered membership of the British Psychological Society, or GBC
b) once you have GBC, you can apply to compete a three year doctorate in the specialism of your choice. Any application will require at least one year full time experience in a job applying psychology with a relevant client group.

The Educational and Clinical doctorates are funded, i. e. you get paid to train, so are astoundingly competitive. I know a Clin Psych who achieved a First in her UG psych degree, a Distinction in her Masters, who found a job as an assistant psychologist, and still applied for the doctorate for 4 consecutive years before securing a place. She was a superb candidate, it's just that there are so many people trying to do the same and very few places.

It is possible to self - fund, but you're typically looking at £15k tuition fees a year for 3 years, and it is a full time course.

I don't think the 2:2 would necessarily scupper his chances of ever becoming a possibilities, but it depends on what he wants to specialise in and how persistent he is prepared to be. Due to the tiny numbers of doctorate places, many excellent candidates apply repeatedly and never get a place - if it's important to have a back up plan.

Please forgive typos; I'm a bit pissed.

But there are lots of things you can do with a psychology degree apart from being a psychologist, and is a fascinating subject. I wouldn't want to put him off doing the masters

Thanks MeanTangerine I wish I was pissed .

Having read your advice, by my reckoning, he'd be at about 50/51 by the time he could be a Chartered Psychologist at the very earliest, and probably more like 55 given that places are so few.

Be honest - in your opinion, is that too late to be entering the profession?

Thanks again for replying.

Yes that's true - he's looking into alternatives as well.

As its so ridiculously competitive, the vast majority of Clinical psychology doctorates require as a MINIMUM of a 2:1, often now requested 'top end of 2:1' or above... In reality 66% or above....as a minimum he would need a conversion course... BUT he would automatically be screened out, with a sucessful conversion course, as he has a 2:2 in his (unrelated) first undergraduate degree...

At one point some courses enabled you to mitigate a 2:2 with a distinction in Masters or conversion course... Now only a tiny number of courses do this...

I think 3 out of the 30+ courses. I helped someone (who was very good) applying with a 2:2 in her undergrad... Sadly she wasnt even offered an interview.

The other question to ask... Has he actually met anyone who is a chartered psychologist with a 2:2?....The picture has changed dramatically over the last handful of years....

He presumably needs categorical proof of what he needs rather than waste time/money on conversion course? Unless he's doing it for some other reason?

Eeeeesh. I'm not enough of an expert to make that call. I should add that I've also met lucky lucky bastards people who got in the first year they applied. But it's not a guaranteed thing for anyone, I guess is my point. I know some courses would say that they like people from all walks of life and would like to increase diversity in the profession, but they also want people who can think like a psychologist, and twenty five years of thinking like (say) a teacher might not be the best preparation for that. But I don't know the chap we're talking about and maybe he already thinks like a psychologist. I dunno.

What area of psychology is he most interested in? What kind of clients does he want to have? What does he want his working day to look like? Working with mentally ill people? Of any particular age range? Or might he want to go into occupational psychology, supporting businesses to help employees become more productive. Or counselling? Or working with kids? Or in prisons? Because there are many roles which use psychology which are not chartered psychologists., iyswim, and the career advice would be different.

What would be an acceptable minimum salary after 2, 5, or 10 years? (ball park)

As meantangerine says it does depend on persistence to a certain extent....

Does he know which branch of chartered psychology he's hoping to go into?
I'm wondering whether he's thinking Educational psychology?

Depends what branch he wants to go into and whether he has relevant experience. Educational and clinical are intensely competitive, but if he gets a distinction on his conversion, has experience as a teacher where he’s taken on responsibilities such as SEN roles etc he might be in with a shot.

Other routes, such as Counselling or occupational psychologist are self funded usually, and are still competitive. Places like Birkbeck do part time MSc. In Occupational Psychology which may be an option.