NCSPP - National Council of School and Programs of Professional Psychology / Membership

Professional Psychologists have doctoral degrees (Psy.D., Ph.D., or Ed.D.) in psychology. The degree is usually in the area of clinical, counseling, or school psychology. Traditionally, Professional Psychologists have provided personality and intelligence testing, diagnostic services, individual, family, marital, and group therapy, and other forms of treatment. Psychologists can also be helpful in personal actualization - helping people to reach their full La Salle University potential. Thus, such areas as executive coaching and sports psychology are focused on the further enhancement of already well-developed skills. This is a major emphasis of the "positive" psychology movement. Psychologists' roles also include consultation, management, supervision, and education. Psychologists in many states are working to attain prescription privileges. Professional Psychologists are typically licensed to provide the above services in one or more states.

Psychological training and practice differ from those of other fields and professions in their empirical and scholarly foundations. According to the American Psychological Association, psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. The discipline embraces all aspects of the human experience - from the functions of the brain to the actions of nations, from child development to care for the aged. Psychology is applicable to every conceivable setting from scientific research centers to mental health care services. "The understanding of behavior" is the enterprise of psychologists.

What is the difference between the Ph.D. and Psy.D. degrees?

Both Ph.D. and Psy.D. programs have been offering a greater variety of types of training, conceptual frameworks, and emphases over time. As e result, this question requires an increasingly complex answer. The links below lead to several different explanations of the two degrees' similarities and differences.

What is the Psy.D. Degree?
http://www.internationalgraduate.net/psyd.htm

Appreciating the PsyD: The Facts.
http://www.psichi.org/pubs/articles/article_171.asp
by John C. Norcross and Patricia H. Castle - University of Scranton (2002)
Eye on Psi Chi, 7 (1), 22-26.

Psy.D. according to Wikipedia.
There is also http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PsyD, which is a work in progress, as is true of all entries in this source.

Schools and Programs of Professional Psychology

These schools and programs provide the kinds of educational and practical experiences required for the practice of professional psychology. There are programs in clinical, counseling, school, and other areas of professional psychology. Students are trained to provide personality and intelligence testing, diagnostic services, individual, family, marital, and group therapy, and other forms of treatment. These institutions may also provide coursework in such areas as executive coaching, sports psychology, forensic psychology, and psychopharmacology. They may provide preparation for involvement in consultation, management, supervision, and education. Each link connects you with the university or program page. Click here for a list of Schools and Programs in Professional Psychology. Click here for a list of Schools and Programs of Professional Psychology organized by region.

These links to APA's Student Financial Aid Pages (click here) and Peterson's Web Site (click here) lead to information about how to finance your advanced degree, including through loans, grants, employment on campus, and off-campus jobs.

Click here for the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral & Internship Centers (APPIC) link or click here for the APA internship link to learn more about internships for students in doctoral programs.

Click here to see APA Classified Ads. Jobs and post-doctoral positions are listed by state. Within state, jobs are typically listed first, followed by post-doctoral positions.

This link to the web site run by the Association for State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB) can be very helpful. Click here for the ASPPB site.

Preparing for your career as a Psychologist

Click here to print or read an article about how to prepare for your career in psychology. This link also leads to the Psi Chi National Honor Society web site.

Click here for a printable PDF file of the abstract for "Expectation and Actuality in Clinical Psychology Practica: Students' Perspective" by Steven M. Gross of Antioch New England Graduate School.

These forms pertain to student representive to NCSPP. Click on name of form to access it.
Representation Cycle - Schools take turns sending student delegates. This schedule shows which school are eligible for student NCSPP conference funding.

Joining professional organizations is a good way to become familiar with the field and profession, as well as meet Graduate student Tracy Reduzzi speaking at EPA

Graduate student Tracy Reduzzi speaking at EPA

future colleagues.There are many major psychological organizations that have student memberships. Click here to read descriptions of these organizations.

American Psychological Association Student Page
Click here to view information that APA has compiled for students.