Retraining in psychology

[WakeupWho]

I'm currently in a job earning 30k where it's very hard to progress any further up (a lot of stagnation at higher levels). I'd ideally like a job where in a few years I'd be earning 70k if possible. I did a counselling studies degree years ago and I'm thinking of doing a psychology masters conversion but I'm not sure about being able to get on the doctorate/afford it so not sure about aiming to be a qualified counselling psychologist as I'd ideally like.

What careers could I aim for with just the psychology masters that would pay 70k in a few years?

Unfortunately a psychology masters conversions doesn’t lead to any specific job roles, rather it is a pre-requisite for further training, such as the doctorate. However even if you did got on the doctorate you wouldn’t be earning 70k in a few years. That is equivalent to being the top of band 8b (5 years service). After 3 years on the doctorate, newly qualified clin psychs are band 7.

It’s very difficult to get on to the dclinpsy. You need several years of practical experience in different areas eg on a psych ward, as an HCA, in children’s social care, a research assistant and on average it takes 3-4 applications to get on.

You can’t be any kind of psychologist including a counselling one without the dclinpsy. I’m not sure that it’s the fastest way to progress your career to a higher salary. The masters doesn’t really qualify you for anything except the dclinpsy or a phd - I have one, I’m a civil servant 😆

If you have a look on the Mature Study and Retraining board, @WakeupWho, you’ll find quite a few threads on this subject:

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/mature_students