Most provinces in Canada require you to have a doctoral degree in order to be a licensed clinical psychologist, but some may allow you to work as a psychologist with just a master’s degree, such as Saskatchewan, Alberta, and Newfoundland. Some bachelor’s degree programs may allow you to go straight into a Ph. D. program without having to earn a master’s degree. Check out the school’s website to see if they have a program that allows you to do it.
For instance, in Ontario, you’ll need to pass exams that cover professional practices and ethics in order to be certified.
Most people use student loans and apply for grants and scholarships to help pay for their tuition.
For a full list of all of the accredited universities in Canada, visit: https://cpa. ca/accreditation/cpaaccreditedprograms/#clinical.
Joining the staff of an established facility is easier and is a great way to gain experience. You won’t have to worry about things like payroll and billing—that’s all handled by the facility. Starting your own practice means you can carve a niche for yourself and set your own hours. But you’ll also need to pay your staff, handle overhead costs, and market your business to find more clients.
Keep in mind you’ll likely have a fair amount of student loans to pay off at first. But once you’re debt-free, you can earn a pretty penny as a practicing clinical psychologist.
If you want to be a clinical psychologist, look at the PsyD programs and the Ph. D. programs. [11] X Research source You require a long, big commitment of eight years to become a clinical psychologist. [12] X Research source Think about whether you need the doctor in front of your name. If you do not need it, you can check out other more inexpensive and shorter programs.