How to Become a Psychologist after 12th: Career Guide, Courses, Eligibility, Entrance Exams, Top Colleges, Skills, Salary

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Ahana Bhaduri

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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.

Bachelor of Science [B.Sc] (Psychology) : 7 answered questions

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Ques. What are the best DU colleges for Psychology?

● Top Answer By Arshita Goyal on 07 Oct 22

Ans. Delhi University provides a wide range of courses in all disciplines, as well as top-tier faculty and infrastructure. B.A. (Honors) in Psychology ranked highly on the list of best Art courses at Delhi University. The programme includes in-depth study in Psychology with Research, as well as practical papers and workshops. The following is a list of the top ten DU Colleges for Psychology (Honors) Lady Shri Ram College For Women- Lady Shri Ram College for Women provides courses in all disciplines. LSR is the best art college in the country, and it is consistently ranked first for its faculty and educational excellence. Jesus And Mary College- JMC is a prestigious educational institute affiliated with the University of Delhi. For a long time, the college has been ranked as a top college for Art courses. Mata Sundari College For Women- It is a supreme institute for girls to obtain degrees in graduate and postgraduate studies. This college provides the most assistance in Psychology (Hons). Indraprastha College For Women - Indraprastha College for Women is a women's college that is ranked among the top colleges in the country for Psychology (Hons) and has the best faculty in the field. Kamla Nehru College- Kamla Nehru College is located on the south campus. This is the best college for courses in Arts, Commerce, and Science, and it is ranked first in the country for Art courses. Gargi College- This is an all-girls college in New Delhi's south. The college is best known for its outstanding faculty and departments. Zakir Husain College - This is a well-known Delhi University institution. The college has been ranked first in the nation for providing excellence in Psychology. Keshav Mahavidyalaya- It is an off-campus college that ranks first on the University's list of best colleges. The college has also received numerous awards for its educational and research programmes. Bhim Rao Ambedkar College- The college is ranked ninth on the list of best colleges for Psychology (Hons). It has also received numerous awards for its excellence in education and faculty. Daulat Ram College For Women - DRC is a women's college that offers courses in science, commerce, and the arts. This college is one of the best in the country for Psychology (honors). For the PG courses, there are North and South campuses. North Campus offers an MA in Psychology, while South Campus offers an MA in Applied Psychology.  Every year, entrance exams for these courses are held, and the competition is fierce. The exam is of the objective variety. They call you for an interview if you pass the entrance exam, i.e. score the minimum qualifying marks (75% this time). Following the interview, a merit list is created. Because Psychology is the most sought-after course at DU, the bar is set fairly high.Read more
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Ques. Is NIMS University good for a B.Sc in Psychology?

● Top Answer By Sarita Varshney, on 01 Nov 21

Ans. No, it is not a good university for B.Sc. in Psychology. For this course, you should apply to a central or state university which will be better than a private university.  The university is very expensive, you will know this after you get admission because there are many recurring charges which are later revealed.  Go for a government university in Jaipur or in your area where you will get proper exposure which is important for your growth and future prospects. They will also have good faculties and your education cost will be minimal.Read more
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Ques. How is the B.Sc. psychology department of Bethune College? Can I get admission if my rank is 40 and there are 13 seats?

● Top Answer By Reeti Chakraborty, on 18 Nov 21

Ans. Yes, you can get admission in B.Sc Psychology at Bethune College as a number of students leave their seats for better colleges. You can then try to get a seat during the second, third or fourth cut-off list. Bethune College has highly qualified faculty members but the classes are not conducted regularly. Sometimes they even fail to complete the syllabus. But if we ignore these flaws, they are quite brilliant as educators. If you're joining this college, make sure you can study by yourself because you will not get constant attention from teachers. Bethune College will provide you with a better experience. In Bethune, you will develop both academically and holistically. Overall it is a great institution to be a part of.Read more
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Ques. Which one is a better college for psychology, a B.Sc in Loreto or Bethune?

● Top Answer By Aditi Ghose on 30 Nov 21

Ans. Loreto is a better option for doing a B.Sc degree in Psychology. Loreto offers great academics. The faculties are well-qualified and helpful. They will help you with your doubts even after class. However, you should know that Loreto is quite strict regarding its rules and regulations. If you don’t have any issues with their rules, you can easily fit in. Read more
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Ques. Which college or university is better for a bachelor's in psychology: DU or MSU Baroda?

● Top Answer By Jayant Thakur on 31 Dec 22

Ans. What truly distinguishes universities such as DU, JNU, and BHU is their brand value and large alumni base. It's as if they've created a brand, particularly for social science courses. A degree from it is valuable in and of itself. Second, while faculty may be similar in some ways, exposure at DU is unparalleled. You will learn a lot. MSU Baroda is a great university with a vibrant past and a strong alumni base, but in the current scenario, good colleges of DU stand out. But, yes, you must work hard and take the initiative to learn and gain knowledge wherever you study because, in the end, it is the knowledge you acquire that counts.Read more
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Ques. does st xavier's college mumbai offers bsc psychology

● Top Answer By Varun Pandey on 24 Jan 24

Ans. St. Xavier’s College Mumbai does not offer a BSc. in Psychology. Instead, it offers a BA in this discipline. For general category students, the cutoffs are quite high, around 97%.  Xavier’s offers a really good foundation in Psychology. The teachers over there expect students to be perfect in answer writing as well as practical work. The college forces its students to participate in extracurriculars and social welfare work so that their overall personality improves. You should consider joining the BA Psychology program at St. Xavier’s. However, keep in mind that the seats are very limited, and the competition is very high. To get in, you either need good scores, or you must have presented papers in their seminar or been in the editorial team of their magazine.Read more
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Ques. As a humanities student with psychology can I apply for BSc in psychology with economics in Loreto?

● Top Answer By Lagnajita Dasgupta on 28 Feb 22

Ans. Yes, if you have a background in Psychology, you can easily apply for BSc in Psychology. Economics is one of the electives offered for this course. You can opt for other electives as well, such as Education Human Rights Sociology, English, Hindi, Bengali, Political Science, Mathematics. Read more
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