How to become a psychologist

Build a career exploring human behaviour, promoting mental health, and providing therapeutic support.

If you've ever wondered about the human mind, what makes us tick, and how to help people navigate life's challenges, then a career in psychology might be just the path for you. But what is it like to be a psychologist in Australia?

According to RMIT’s Associate Professor of Psychology, Karen Hallam, “Being a psychologist can be a tough job, but it’s a really meaningful job to help people, who are sometimes going through the worst time in their life and be a person that helps lift them up.”

Psychotherapy session, woman talking to his psychologist in the studio

How to become a psychologist

“A psychologist is a mental health professional whose specific role is to help people who are experiencing psychological distress. In Australia “psychologist” is a protected title. This means you need to be registered in Australia with a special accrediting body.” Explains A/Prof Hallam.

To qualify as a psychologist, you must complete an accredited undergraduate degree with a major in psychology and a Bachelor of Psychology (Honours), followed by a Masters in Clinical Psychology. All RMIT psychology courses are accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC).

Psychology study pathways

There are multiple pathways to becoming a clinical psychologist, depending on your previous education and qualifications.

Step 1A: Bachelors (3 - 5 years)

If you have not previously completed a Bachelors degree, you will need to complete a Bachelors degree in Psychology.

Step 1B: Other Bachelors degree (3 - 4 years) + Graduate Diploma (2 years)

If you have already completed a Bachelors degree in an unrelated field you can complete a Graduate Diploma to attain eligibility to apply for entry into Honours.

Online Graduate Diploma of Psychology

Step 2: Honours (1 year)

To be eligible for entry into a psychology Master's degree you must complete an Honours degree.

Bachelor of Psychology (Honours)

Step 3: Postgraduate (2 years)

To become a registered psychologist you must complete a masters degree.

Master of Clinical Psychology

Step 4: Registration

Upon completion of the your Masters you'll be eligible to apply for registration with the AHPRA (Psychology) Registration will allow you to practice in any Australian state or territory. Specialist endorsement as a clinical psychologist is possible after two years of supervised practice following completion of the Master of Clinical Psychology.

All bachelor degrees will enable you to enter the workforce with psychology skills, however you cannot practice as a psychologist without completing a Masters degree and registering with the Psychology Board of Australia (a part of AHPRA). Masters degrees vary based on your interest area but RMIT runs the Masters of Clinical Psychology program.

Explore psychology degrees

Bachelor of Psychology

Throughout this degree you will explore topics such as perception and consciousness, theories of learning, memory, cognition, emotion, motivation, and stress. You will also undertake studies in Health Wellbeing and Nutrition, Counselling and Virtual Care, as well as concepts behind Working with Psychological Health.

Bachelor of Psychology (Honours)

Explore the scientific discipline of psychology and its application in the workplace. You will learn about psychological assessments and interventions, and write two theses that directly engage you in the research process.

Master of Clinical Psychology

This degree provides you with the advanced knowledge and clinical skills that will enable you to function as professional clinical psychologist in a wide range of health, community, and allied settings.

Explore RMIT's accredited psychology courses

“A psychology student at RMIT will typically experience a mixture of lectures and tutorials. Psychology is all about people, communities, and building relationships, and the students you meet while studying are going to be their future colleagues. So, you’ll get to know other students and work together in groups.” Says A/Prof Hallam.

How long does it take to become a psychologist?

If you are studying full-time it takes a minimum of 6 years of study plus two years of supervised practice to become a clinical psychologist. You must complete a relevant bachelor’s degree, a Bachelor of Psychology (Honours), and a Masters of Clinical Psychology.

A/Prof Hallam advises, “It sounds intimidating to do six years of study but take it one step at a time. Rather than seeing it as “I've got six years ahead of me”, think of it as “I've got four years to learn how people work”. And then you've got just two more years, and in those two years you work with real clients as a provisional psychologist.”

What does a psychologist do?

A psychologist’s work involves understanding how people think, feel, and behave, and using this knowledge to help individuals navigate through life's challenges. In essence, a psychologist's role is to promote mental health and wellbeing, helping individuals to understand themselves better and make positive changes in their lives.

Psychology is a broad field with many areas of specialisation including counselling, sport psychology, educational psychology, organisational psychology and forensic psychology. The most common specialisation is as a clinical psychologist, diagnosing and treating mental health problems. Psychologists work in a range of community and workplace settings such as hospitals, government departments, universities and community health centres.

What is the difference between a psychologist and a psychiatrist?

Psychologists focus on human behaviour and therapeutic techniques, primarily using talk therapy to help clients. Although they work in the healthcare sector, they cannot prescribe medication.

Psychiatrists are medical doctors who specialise in mental health. They can provide therapy but are also able to prescribe medications.

Psychiatrists and clinical psychologists often work together to treat patients.

A student visits a support worker to discuss mental health.

Tasks, duties and responsibilities of a psychologist

A psychologist’s day-to-day can vary depending on their specialisation, but some common duties include:

Conducting psychological assessments and evaluations to diagnose mental health conditions
Providing individual, group, or family therapy based on the needs of the client
Developing and implementing treatment plans tailored to the client's needs
Monitoring the progress of clients and adjusting treatment plans as necessary
Conducting research to contribute to the field of psychology
Keeping up-to-date with the latest research and developments in psychology
Providing reports and documentation as required.

“As a clinical psychologist in private practice, I will talk to a client about some of the issues that are going on in their life and why these issues may be occurring. We'll then work together to come up with some ideas that can help them based on specific therapies I use, which includes teaching people strategies and trying different ways of thinking. After a session, I will write out my case notes to prepare for the next session. I'll also communicate with their doctors about how treatment's going. And finally, I'll manage billing and other business-related admin.” Says A/Prof Hallam.

What skills does a successful psychologist need?

According to A/Prof Hallam, “You should be someone who enjoys talking to people and who has a curiosity and desire to understand people and why we do the things we do. You also need to be able to develop and apply a treatment plan s that is based on both what we know from scientific research works best for a specific issue and how it might help the person we are working with.”

Where do psychologists work?

“Psychologists work everywhere. We work in the community, in schools, in the mental health and hospital systems, various companies and organisations, we work for the government in policy, and we work in academia. Many psychologists also work for themselves or with other psychologists or allied health teams private practice psychology clinics across Australia.” Says A/Prof Hallam.

How much do psychologists earn?

The median weekly earnings for a psychologist in Australia are $2,054 per week* and the median hourly rate is $59 per hour*.

Learn more about your psychology study options

Whether you're a Year 12 student weighing up your options or thinking about switching careers, RMIT has a range of accredited undergraduate and postgraduate courses for domestic and international students that will provide you with a wide range of knowledge and skills in human behaviour.

Explore RMIT's accredited psychology courses

*Source: www.jobsandskills.gov.au 2023

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