Psychology salaries - Is my friend right?

cazziebo

Keeping_Motivated wrote: »

Thanks Melancholly I agree with your post and I do not want to spend years studying psychology for it not to improve my skills or my salary prospects...

However, that still leaves me not knowing what to do next? Need to give it some serious thought as I am definately ready to start some kind of study. The OU is also attractive as I could use vouchers to fund it.

KM x

If you already have a degree the OU offer a course "Post Graduate Conversion Diploma in Psychology" It's a shorter route to Graduate status with the BPS and GBR (graduate basis registration) which enables you to enrol in post grad courses. It allows you to use the letters Dip Psych after your name. The courses followed are roughly the same as the BSc Psychology course, but not as many.

I'm studying for this one but only out of interest (saddo!). The OU materials are excellent, the tutor support is fantastic. I've already done a post grad diploma and masters with the OU in other subjects and been really impressed with what they offer. It is certainly hard work combining it with a job, but this was certainly the only way I could have achieved it.

Keeping_Motivated

Thanks Cazziebo

No I don't already have a degree so I would be starting from scratch in that sense.

Thanks for your reply you sound very positive about the OU which is good to know. I've just been on their site now but I am still no wiser as to what to do I'll keep thinking.

KM x

pandora205

Keeping_Motivated wrote: »

I'm thinking of doing a psychology degree with the OU... I'm a qualified counsellor and I am ready to continue with some study but after reading this thread I'm not sure if its worth it or how much it would advance my career prospects as a counsellor?? Maybe I should look into something else?

Any advice? sorry for the hi jack OP

KM x

Hi

I did my first degree with the OU many years ago following the BPS accredited courses. It has stood me in good stead ever since: it's given me a broad background in many areas of psychology and is well thought of academically.
Studying with the OU is hard work though, especially if you are working full time.

System

If you want to register with the BPS you need a 2.1 or above, so I wouldn't suggest taking a degree unless you are confident that you are capable of getting this. (A 2.1 is equivalent to an A-/B+).

I've seen many people go into psychology unaware of this matter and end up with a 2.2 or below and then complain that the degree was 'useless' to them.

meema

pandora205 wrote: »

On the subject of whether psychologists are doctors or not, the answer is that we are not. Even when psychologists have a doctorate we are not doctors in the usual sense even though we can use Dr before our names. Doctors have studied medicine and sometimes go on to study psychiatry, which is an entirely different discipline!

Anyone who holds a doctoral qualification is a doctor, including educational and clinical psychologists. The term 'doctor' is an academic term and refers to someone who has completed a research thesis of a particular standard. Physicians have borrowed this term and in fact are awarded an 'honorary' doctorate. It's the academics who are the 'real' doctors!

No_Future

maxheadroom wrote: »

Psychologists do as well if not better than docs

the standard NHS contract fro them is for 37.5 hours and for doctors it is 40 hours

The suplements referred to on the NHS careers websit fail to mention that to get the 50% supplement that is for a 56 hour week averaged meaning as long as over 6 months the hours on average are 56 then you cnba work dangerous hours. it

Many drs work at least 56 hrs a week

System

Salary is usually proportional to length/difficulty of study.

Medicine: 6 years + 2 years experience
Clinical Psychology: 3 years + 2 years experience + a 3 years postgrad

They are both about the same. Therefore wages are similar.

With psychology you are taking a larger risk, as you might end up with a graduate degree & no entry into postgraduate study.

People who argue that psychology is a low pay job are right, a psychology degree alone won't get you far, it's the post graduate study that makes the difference.

As for the argument about 'too many psychologists' - you'll find that the majority of psychologists move to the US/Japan/Europe etc. where pay (& demand) is much higher.

pandora205

Not sure about too many psychologists - we find it difficult to appoint EPs and have had to make use of locums to cover vacancies. This is due to the changes to the three year training route and a national shortage.
This contrasts with the large numbers apply for the training courses.
So I wouldn't say we have too many educational psychologists at any rate!

DrFluffy

Errata wrote: »

No, they'e not doctors, they're fully qualified psychologists !

No - they are real doctors (of the holding a higher degree variety), rather than the pretend doctor that comes at the end of a medicine degree

Errata

DrFluffy wrote: »

No - they are real doctors (of the holding a higher degree variety), rather than the pretend doctor that comes at the end of a medicine degree

I take your point, but I know which type I'd send for if I had a broken leg and which I'd send for if I was suffereing from PTSD.