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If I major in psychology, with a possible specialization in clinical psychology, what should I expect after graduation?
I'm interested in gaugin what exactly the job market will look like and/or what entry level positions in a career with this degree will entail.
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3 answers
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Diana’s Answer
Hi Xavier!
Great question — and one that many psychology students have when they’re getting close to graduation.
Here’s what you can expect after earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology and eventually specializing in clinical psychology:
1. Entry-level roles after your bachelor’s degree
With a bachelor’s degree, you can work in roles related to:
• Mental health support (behavioral technician, case management assistant)
• Research assistant in psychology labs
• Crisis hotline support
• Human resources or training departments
• Community programs or non-profit organizations
These roles help you gain experience before starting graduate school.
2. Graduate school is essential for clinical psychology
To practice as a clinical psychologist, you’ll need:
• A master’s (optional depending on the country)
• A doctoral degree (Ph.D. or Psy.D.)
• Supervised clinical hours
• A license in your state or country
This process can take several years, but it’s where you develop real clinical skills.
3. What your early clinical training looks like
During graduate school you’ll get:
• Hands-on experience with patients
• Training in assessment, diagnosis, and treatment
• Exposure to different clinical settings (hospitals, private practice, community centers)
This is where you discover what type of clients, populations, or approaches you enjoy the most.
4. Job market outlook
Clinical psychology continues to grow, especially in:
• Anxiety and mood disorders
• Trauma-focused work
• Health psychology
• Community mental health
• Telehealth
There is strong demand for mental health professionals.
5. Advice I give students
• Get early experience through internships, volunteering, or research.
• Don’t worry if you aren’t “sure yet” what specialty you want — you discover that along the way.
• Focus on developing communication, empathy, and critical-thinking skills.
• Take care of your own mental health while studying mental health.
If you have any questions about the clinical psychology path or want guidance choosing a focus area, feel free to ask — I’m happy to help!
Great question — and one that many psychology students have when they’re getting close to graduation.
Here’s what you can expect after earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology and eventually specializing in clinical psychology:
1. Entry-level roles after your bachelor’s degree
With a bachelor’s degree, you can work in roles related to:
• Mental health support (behavioral technician, case management assistant)
• Research assistant in psychology labs
• Crisis hotline support
• Human resources or training departments
• Community programs or non-profit organizations
These roles help you gain experience before starting graduate school.
2. Graduate school is essential for clinical psychology
To practice as a clinical psychologist, you’ll need:
• A master’s (optional depending on the country)
• A doctoral degree (Ph.D. or Psy.D.)
• Supervised clinical hours
• A license in your state or country
This process can take several years, but it’s where you develop real clinical skills.
3. What your early clinical training looks like
During graduate school you’ll get:
• Hands-on experience with patients
• Training in assessment, diagnosis, and treatment
• Exposure to different clinical settings (hospitals, private practice, community centers)
This is where you discover what type of clients, populations, or approaches you enjoy the most.
4. Job market outlook
Clinical psychology continues to grow, especially in:
• Anxiety and mood disorders
• Trauma-focused work
• Health psychology
• Community mental health
• Telehealth
There is strong demand for mental health professionals.
5. Advice I give students
• Get early experience through internships, volunteering, or research.
• Don’t worry if you aren’t “sure yet” what specialty you want — you discover that along the way.
• Focus on developing communication, empathy, and critical-thinking skills.
• Take care of your own mental health while studying mental health.
If you have any questions about the clinical psychology path or want guidance choosing a focus area, feel free to ask — I’m happy to help!
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Xavier !
Being well informed about a mental health career will help you put things into perspective. If you become a Psychologist, it is not an "entry level" job, it is a professional career that you would know how to do.
In order to be a Clinical Psychologist in the State of Washington, you will need to obtain your Doctoral Degree in order to practice. You should only go into this career if you have a strong interest in human behavior beyond the average person. There is no way to determine your income beforehand or your experience with the study or the career. You will have to go through the 8- 11 years of college in your state and it's way too early to know how things are that long from now. You will just have to decide to go into a mental health career because you love it regardless of how much your salary would be.
As for the job market, it would be wrong to say how it will be in your town and area and your state 8 - 11 years from now. You have to go into a field of work that factors like that wouldn't matter to you. You cannot write the script for your career nor can you set a desirable income for it especially when the actual work for it is the more important thing to focus on and learn about. The mental health professionals traditionally have been good careers and generally provide a good living.
Once you obtain your Doctorate and License to practice, you can work in various venues such as hospitals, clinics, rehab centers, mental health offices and eventually open your own practice. You also could contribute to research, articles for Journals, giving lectures and trainings, sitting on discussion panels and Boards of companies. This is why it's impossible to know your income with so many possibilities. Knowing what the going rates are right now will not help you 8 -11 years from now.
You also didn't mention exactly which mental health career you are intending. My advice is to learn more about all of the various mental health/behavioral health careers and find one that you would be strongly driven to. Even though this is not a field of work people go into for the money, what you put into this career will be what matters.
Best wishes in all you do !
Being well informed about a mental health career will help you put things into perspective. If you become a Psychologist, it is not an "entry level" job, it is a professional career that you would know how to do.
In order to be a Clinical Psychologist in the State of Washington, you will need to obtain your Doctoral Degree in order to practice. You should only go into this career if you have a strong interest in human behavior beyond the average person. There is no way to determine your income beforehand or your experience with the study or the career. You will have to go through the 8- 11 years of college in your state and it's way too early to know how things are that long from now. You will just have to decide to go into a mental health career because you love it regardless of how much your salary would be.
As for the job market, it would be wrong to say how it will be in your town and area and your state 8 - 11 years from now. You have to go into a field of work that factors like that wouldn't matter to you. You cannot write the script for your career nor can you set a desirable income for it especially when the actual work for it is the more important thing to focus on and learn about. The mental health professionals traditionally have been good careers and generally provide a good living.
Once you obtain your Doctorate and License to practice, you can work in various venues such as hospitals, clinics, rehab centers, mental health offices and eventually open your own practice. You also could contribute to research, articles for Journals, giving lectures and trainings, sitting on discussion panels and Boards of companies. This is why it's impossible to know your income with so many possibilities. Knowing what the going rates are right now will not help you 8 -11 years from now.
You also didn't mention exactly which mental health career you are intending. My advice is to learn more about all of the various mental health/behavioral health careers and find one that you would be strongly driven to. Even though this is not a field of work people go into for the money, what you put into this career will be what matters.
Best wishes in all you do !
Chinyere Okafor
Educationist and Counseling Psychologist
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Answers
Updated
Chinyere’s Answer
Hi Xavier,
Psychology, particularly clinical psychology, has a very particular post-graduation reality that isn't typically stated well up front, so it's a wise question to ask now.
First, a quick reality check, even with a clinical concentration, a bachelor's degree in psychology is typically not a guarantee for employment as a therapist or psychologist. Consider it a starting point rather than the ultimate destination. After graduation, there is a lot of activity in the job market, but primarily at the entry-level, experience-building layer.
What the post-graduation employment market truly looks like: Jobs supporting clinical, behavioral, or community-based work are usually in high demand. Prior to graduate school, these practical, people-oriented jobs are intended to increase hours and exposure. That’s a smart question to ask now, because psychology, especially clinical psychology, has a very specific post-graduation reality that isn’t always explained clearly upfront.
Common entry-level roles include:
- Behavioral Health Technician / Mental Health Technician
- Case Manager or Case Management Assistant
- Psychiatric Technician
- Residential Counselor or Youth Support Worker
- Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Technician
- Research Assistant (especially if you’re considering grad school)
- Crisis Line or Community Outreach Coordinator
Direct client connection, record keeping, collaboration with licensed experts, and understanding the inner workings of systems like healthcare, education, or social services are all common components of these positions.
What the actual task will involve: Expect monitoring, well-defined procedures, and organized surroundings. Treatment will be supported, not led by you. This includes monitoring sessions, carrying out care plans, gathering information, controlling conduct, and interacting with supervisors. Although it's not glamorous, it's quite formative. This is where you find out if working at a clinic gives you long-term energy.
Pay and advancement, being truthful: Particularly in the beginning, entry-level psychology positions are typically low-paying. Treating these positions as strategic stepping stones towards the following yields the true return on investment:
- Master’s programs (counseling, social work, marriage & family therapy)
- Doctoral programs (clinical or counseling psychology)
- Employers and graduate programs value experience plus reflection far more than just the degree title.
How to position yourself well before graduation: Get experience before senior year if possible (internships, part-time roles, volunteering).
- Build relationships with professors, recommendations matter.
- Keep a simple log of what you’re learning; this becomes gold for grad applications and interviews.
- Be clear on your long-term goal, so your first job aligns with it.
In summary, a psychology major with a clinical focus can definitely position you for a strong, people-centered career path if you're willing to see your first one to three years as a growth phase rather than an end goal. You're asking the right questions at the right time, which is already a strong signal that you're thinking strategically. After graduation, expect meaningful, hands-on work that builds competence, not instant clinical authority.
Best wishes!
Psychology, particularly clinical psychology, has a very particular post-graduation reality that isn't typically stated well up front, so it's a wise question to ask now.
First, a quick reality check, even with a clinical concentration, a bachelor's degree in psychology is typically not a guarantee for employment as a therapist or psychologist. Consider it a starting point rather than the ultimate destination. After graduation, there is a lot of activity in the job market, but primarily at the entry-level, experience-building layer.
What the post-graduation employment market truly looks like: Jobs supporting clinical, behavioral, or community-based work are usually in high demand. Prior to graduate school, these practical, people-oriented jobs are intended to increase hours and exposure. That’s a smart question to ask now, because psychology, especially clinical psychology, has a very specific post-graduation reality that isn’t always explained clearly upfront.
Common entry-level roles include:
- Behavioral Health Technician / Mental Health Technician
- Case Manager or Case Management Assistant
- Psychiatric Technician
- Residential Counselor or Youth Support Worker
- Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Technician
- Research Assistant (especially if you’re considering grad school)
- Crisis Line or Community Outreach Coordinator
Direct client connection, record keeping, collaboration with licensed experts, and understanding the inner workings of systems like healthcare, education, or social services are all common components of these positions.
What the actual task will involve: Expect monitoring, well-defined procedures, and organized surroundings. Treatment will be supported, not led by you. This includes monitoring sessions, carrying out care plans, gathering information, controlling conduct, and interacting with supervisors. Although it's not glamorous, it's quite formative. This is where you find out if working at a clinic gives you long-term energy.
Pay and advancement, being truthful: Particularly in the beginning, entry-level psychology positions are typically low-paying. Treating these positions as strategic stepping stones towards the following yields the true return on investment:
- Master’s programs (counseling, social work, marriage & family therapy)
- Doctoral programs (clinical or counseling psychology)
- Employers and graduate programs value experience plus reflection far more than just the degree title.
How to position yourself well before graduation: Get experience before senior year if possible (internships, part-time roles, volunteering).
- Build relationships with professors, recommendations matter.
- Keep a simple log of what you’re learning; this becomes gold for grad applications and interviews.
- Be clear on your long-term goal, so your first job aligns with it.
In summary, a psychology major with a clinical focus can definitely position you for a strong, people-centered career path if you're willing to see your first one to three years as a growth phase rather than an end goal. You're asking the right questions at the right time, which is already a strong signal that you're thinking strategically. After graduation, expect meaningful, hands-on work that builds competence, not instant clinical authority.
Best wishes!