Psychologists are qualified and skilled professionals who help people cope with difficult situations, overcome addictions and other abuse, manage an individual’s chronic illness and finally conducts tests to daignose a persisting condition and help in the entire recovery process. Candidates aspiring to become a psychologist after 12th, must first clear class 12th board or equivalent exams followed by clearing various examinations such as CUET and DUET for pursuing undergraduate Physchology courses. It usually takes about 5 years for a person to complete both the undergraduate and postgraduate courses and a variable time of 4 – 6 years for the doctoral degree to become an established psychologist. Becoming a Psychologist may be challenging, but it is a truly rewarding job, in terms of new challenges one can face along the path, or the lucrative salary. The average Salary of a Psychologist is INR 7 LPA which with gradual experience can go up to as much as INR 11 LPA and in certain cases even above. Also Check: Job of a Psychologist
How to Become a Psychologist After 12th: Quick Facts
Eligibility Criteria | 10+2, BA, BA(Hons), BSc in psychology |
Skills Required | Creative Thinking, Patience, Ethical Communication, etc. |
Starting Salary (INR) | 2.3 LPA |
Average Salary (INR) | 4 LPA |
Highest Salary (INR) | 7 LPA |
Eligibility to Become a Psychologist after 12th
- One should have passed Class 12th or equivalent examination from a recognised state or national board and be eligible for UG Psychology courses.
- A minimum of 50% in the Class 12th examination
- Students from arts, science and commerce can apply for psychology courses
- Students may register for BA and BSc. courses at the undergraduate level. Also, they may pursue diploma courses in the field of psychology.
- One should focus on different parts of the psychology syllabus for the undergraduate course and have a basic understanding of the topics before enrollment.
- For Postgraduate courses, candidates have to affix the specialisation field they want to take in. The various fields of specialisation are industrial psychology, clinical psychology, counselling psychology, etc.
- They can take internships between classes to gather real-world industrial experiences
- To work as a clinical psychologist, candidates can move further towards doctoral studies.
Steps to Become a Psychologist after 12th
To become a psychologist, candidates should follow a basic academic roadmap. The roadmap includes three steps - UG, PG and PhD. The respective courses in the three levels that can assist candidates to become a psychologist are:
Undergraduate Courses
- The first step to becoming a psychologist is entering any undergraduate course aligned with the pathway of psychology. These include BA, BSc, and Honours specialisations
- Along the path, candidates must understand every topic in-depth
- Maintain a minimum of 50% aggregate to appear for postgraduate courses
Postgraduate Courses
- To make the curricular profile sounder as a psychologist, one can go for the postgraduate courses - ranging from MA to PG Diploma
- It spans four semesters and has involvement in real-life projects and case studies.
- Candidates can choose specialisation as per their choice - from industrial psychology to clinical psychology to child psychology - there are lots of options one can choose from.
Courses to Become a Psychologist After 12th
There are various undergraduate and postgraduate courses that one can pursue to become a psychologist after the 12th. Candidates will be judged either by their 10+2 grades or the scores of respective entrances if they want to become a psychologist.
Parameters | BA(Hons) Psychology | BA Psychology | BSc Psychology |
---|---|---|---|
Duration | 3 years | 3 years | 3 years |
Eligibility Criteria | Minimum of 55% in 10 + 2 examinations | Candidates have to pass each and every subject in their 10+2 level. Candidates must have completed their 10+2 from any recognized board or equivalent. Candidates should have at least scored 50% aggregate marks in 10+2 depending on the college requirement. | 55 % in 10 + 2 and entrances(if any) |
Top Colleges | Lady Shriram College (New Delhi) Kamala Nehru College(New Delhi) Jesus Mary College(New Delhi) | Fergusson College, Pune Jesus and Mary College, New Delhi Jai Hind College, Mumbai | PSG College of Arts and Science, Coimbatore Presidency College, Chennai St. Teresa's College, Ernakulam |
Entrance Exams | CUET, DUET, JUET, etc. | CUET, SET, IPU CET | Merit-Based |
Average Course Fees (INR) | 15,000 - 4,50,000 | 25,000-2,00,000 pr | 20,000-2,00,000 |
Average Salary (INR) | 1.8 LPA - 6 LPA | 2 LPA - 5 LPA | 4.5 LPA |
Entrance Exams
Candidates should sit in the entrance exams that help them get admitted. The exams such as CUET, and DUET are to be given to enter the top colleges of India which provide the best courses to pursue psychology as a profession.
Name of the Exams | Application Deadlines | Exam Dates | Result Declaration |
---|---|---|---|
CUET | Till April 5, 2024 | May 15 - 31, 2024 | June 2024 |
IPU CET | February 1 – April 15, 2024 | April 27 – May 14, 2024 | June 2024 |
Top Psychologist Colleges
Here’s a list of top colleges that provide undergraduate psychology courses. In the Western parts of India, several top colleges in Mumbai and Pune provide the best courses in undergraduate-level of psychology. In eastern India, Kolkata is a great centre to study psychology. In the southern parts, there is Bengaluru and in Northern India, there are several respectable colleges under the umbrella of DU where one can study psychology.
Name of the Colleges | Location | Average Fees(INR) |
---|---|---|
St. Xaviers College | Mumbai | 2,96,000 |
Lady Shriram College | New Delhi | 10,000 |
Kamla Nehru College | New Delhi | 10,500 |
Sophia College for Women | Mumbai | 40,140 |
Fergusson College | Pune | 65,655 |
Christ University | Bengaluru | 2,00,000 |
Loreto College | Kolkata | 3,51,000 |
Asutosh College | Kolkata | 29,790 |
Presidency College | Kolkata | 16,000 |
Mithibai College | Mumbai | 2,75,000 |
Skills Required to Become a Psychologist After 12th
These are some skills candidates need to grasp to channelise their interests and start the journey to become a psychologist after the 12th. These are not hard skills, but a mixture of several soft skills. The capability of a person as a psychologist does not depend on the subjects he or she is taught, rather it depends on these skills.
Research Skills | Observational Skills | Technology Skills |
Perspective Taking Skills | Scientific Skills | Analytics Skills |
Patience | Problem-Solving | Critical Thinking |
Benefits of Becoming a Psychologist After 12th
Being a psychologist is a challenging job, yet it has some perks and benefits. From having social respect to having a flexible work schedule, it has many offers and many perks. Those are enlisted as follows:
- Respect associated with the job- Mental health is an important issue in society. A person catering to the minds of people indeed earns respect in society.
- Flexibility in Work Schedule - Candidates can work anytime, and schedule appointments at their convenience
- Good Salary- Psychologists in India make a good amount of money, ranging from INR 0.3 LPA at minimum to INR 7 LPA
- New Challenges to Solve- Human brain has a unique pattern in each individual, To pinpoint a specific modus operandi is impossible for anyone. A psychologist has such a challenging job where one has to solve new problems and prescribe new, correct and creative solutions to them every time.
Salary of a Psychologist
A psychologist is a profession that one can opt for is not only a challenging thing to do, but it pays well enough, and the pay is incremental along with years of experience. This is simply because psychology has no specific rulebook to solve a problem, rather solely depends on the mettle of the psychologist.
Designations | Average Salary (INR) |
---|---|
0 - 1 year | 2.60 LPA |
2 - 5 years | 4.60 LPA |
6 - 10 years | 7.10 LPA |
10 - 20 years | 11.90 LPA |
How to Become a Psychologist After 12th: FAQs
Ques: How to become a psychologist after the 12th?
Ans: To become a psychologist after the 12th, you should give specific entrance exams such as CUET, and DUET to get into colleges that offer undergraduate psychology courses. Then you can pursue Master's Degree courses and further proceed to Doctoral courses if you want to.
Ques: How much does a psychologist earn in India?
Ans: The average salary of a psychologist in India is about INR 3 LPA where the fees may range up to as high as INR 9 LPA – 11 LPA.
Ques: What is the scope of psychology after the 12th?
Ans: Psychology is entangled directly with human nature. Also, after the Mental Healthcare Act of 2017, psychology has broadened its spectrum to various applied fields, such as education, clinical field, forensic sciences, etc.
Ques: What are the benefits of becoming a psychologist after the 12th?
Ans: When you become a psychologist, you get exposure to various facets of the human mind. You develop new perspectives, do the noble work of solving mental conditions, and make a good amount of money.
Ques: How many years does it take to become a psychologist after the 12th?
Ans: If someone wants to become a psychologist after earning as much as qualifications as possible, then he/she will have to study for a bachelor's degree for 3 years. For master's degree, it takes about 2 years, for a doctorate about 4-6 years,
Ques: What are the skills that are prerequisites to becoming a psychologist?
Ans: The prerequisites that are needed for you to join a psychology course are the drive to solve a problem, the quest to find the intricacies of the human mind, patience, communicational skill, and an inner urge to help people suffering from different mental conditions.
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