5 Benefits of Becoming a Licensed Psychologist

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High Earning Potential

Although it’s safe to say that a good wage shouldn’t be the only thing that draws you towards a career opportunity in psychology, it’s also fair to note that wages can play a big part in deciding whether or not a particular professional path is right for you. We all want to be able to earn enough money to be comfortable after all.

According to information from the BLS, psychologists that are working in school, clinical, and various counseling positions earnED an average of around $74,030 as of May 2014. Additionally, the BLS reported that in 2014, industrial-organizational psychologists earned an average of approximately $90,070. Crucially, it’s worth noting that these figures do not include the wages of self-employed psychologists, although the BLS stated that around one third of all psychologists are currently self-employed, with many having their own private practices.

To give you a better idea of the possibilities available in the world of a licensed psychologist, the national average salary for all occupations in May 2014 was around $47,230 according to the BLS. This means that the average income for psychologists provides you with a much better chance to earn above-average income.

Flexibility of Working Opportunities

Because psychologists are very much in high demand at this point in time, it’s worth noting that people with a license to become a clinical, or professional psychologist will be able to manage their career more flexibly than people in some other industries. In many positions, particularly for psychologists who work in private practices, it’s possible to set your own working times, because you have the option to schedule your appointments with patients around your schedule and preferred working hours. Although some devotion to weekend and evening hours may be required, depending on your patient needs, there’s a lot of versatility in this career.

In fact, one of the most flexible options available for licensed psychologists today is the option to become self-employed. In fact, a lot of people are now taking this route rather than choosing traditional employment. A psychology career is fantastic for those who have the desire to be their own boss, as many psychologists go on to establish a private practice center once they have gotten enough experience. Although being self-employed isn’t the best option for everyone, it also gives you complete flexibility over your working schedule, and allows you to choose the way you spend your time.

Lots of Career Choices

There are lots of different degrees available in the world of psychology, and that means that there are lots of job opportunities. For example, a psychologist might focus on addiction psychology, and consider working with people in rehabilitation centers to help them overcome their problems with substance abuse and discover better ways of dealing with stress. On the other hand, a psychologist might focus on clinical training, so that they can treat patients and help them to live better lives from a more doctor-focused perspective.

One particularly popular choice for people with an interest in criminal justice and psychology is the realm of forensic psychology. This area allows individuals to work closely with the police force and criminal justice system to help solve crimes and help victims to find out who was the cause of their grief. Each individual can simply choose their preferred specialty when taking a master’s degree in psychology.

Range of Work Environments

Since there are plenty of different job opportunities to choose from as a licensed psychologist, it only makes sense that there would be a number of working environments to explore. The ability to choose from a wide range of environments is a great benefit for psychologists who have a particular view of their future in mind. For instance, they can work for universities and schools, or government agencies, hospitals, research institutions, mental health centers and more.

Counseling and clinical psychologists can choose to create their own work environments by opening their own practices or working on a private contract. Additionally, as we already mentioned above, psychologists will be able to control their work schedules in many different industries, giving people in this workforce a lot of choice when it comes to designing the career that suits their needs best. Importantly, where you choose to work could limit your flexibility. For instance, industrial psychologists may be required to work according to a very specific schedule.

Job Satisfaction

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, a career as a licensed psychologist can deliver a more satisfying experience. It brings with it satisfying challenges on an intellectual level, along with the unique reward of being able to help other people. Psychologists are often at the forefront of new technology and knowledge, whether they are applying new research to the sector, or conducting research.

For instance, many psychologists can help engineers to create gadgets that are more user-friendly. Additionally, counseling, clinical, and school psychologists all enjoy the satisfaction of assisting others who want to make progress in their personal and professional lives. For instance, some psychologists are responsible for helping people overcome drug addiction.

Another source of satisfaction is that they can collaborate with a wide team of different professionals such as administrators and physicians. What’s more, as a psychologist, they will have the chance to work with different clients on a daily basis, all from different walks of like, backgrounds, and cultures. This could mean that they help a range of people overcome emotional and mental obstacles.

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