Doctor of Psychology

Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) is a professional doctorate degree intended to prepare graduates for practice in psychology. Earning the degree was originally completed through one of two established training models for clinical psychology. However, Psy.D. programs are no longer limited to Clinical Psychology as several professional schools have begun to award professional doctorates in Business Psychology or Organizational Development.

An individual who earns a doctorate in clinical psychology, educational psychology or counseling psychology from an American Psychological Association (APA) accredited program may become licensed to diagnose and treat mental disorders, conduct psychological testing and complete psychological evaluations, and provide psychotherapy and psychopharmacology.

For non-clinical doctorates in psychology, programs are not accredited by the APA and there is no license to practice; however, the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology, a division of the APA, maintains a database of Industrial and Organizational Psychology programs that meet its criteria. An individual who earns a doctorate in an industrial-organizational field may enter high-level careers in human resources, consulting or applied research.

The degree is usually abbreviated as Psy.D. in the United States and Canada and also D.Psy. or D.Ps. in Canada. In the United Kingdom and Ireland it is often abbreviated as DClinPsych or ClinPsyD. In Australia it is often abbreviated as DPsych or DPsych (Clinical).

Read more about Doctor Of Psychology:  Background, Education and Clinical Training, Licensing, Licensing Exam

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