Are you also trying to figure out how to become a Clinical Psychologist after the New Education Policy (NEP) and revised courses by RCI? Well, the concern is genuine, and this article will help you understand the whole matter in the simplest way.
A Master’s degree in Psychology is considered as a baseline if you want to make your career in Psychology. After the implementation of the new education policy (NEP 2020), a student can now choose to pursue either 2 years or a 1-year master’s degree in Psychology, depending on the duration of their Bachelor’s degree. However, due to NEP, the students face uncertainty and confusion related to their careers and further courses in Psychology.
Major concern among students:
- Will M.Phil Clinical Psychology get discontinued? If yes, then how do I become a Clinical Psychologist?
- I don’t have a bachelor’s degree in Psychology, but with a Master’s degree in Psychology, Will I be able to become a Clinical Psychologist?
Within one year, Psychology students have seen many circulars related to changes/modifications in professional courses offered by RCI.
The root cause of all these circulars and changes is the discontinuation of the M.Phil (Clinical Psychology) course, which was notified by UGC in the NEP. And the eligibility criteria for revised courses.
M.Phil in Clinical Psychology is one of the popular choices to become a registered Clinical Psychologist in India. The course provides comprehensive learning and practical exposure to its trainees. PDCP and PsyD Clinical Psychology are the other courses that also provide RCI recognition in the field of Clinical Psychology.
The Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI), is a responsible organization for developing and regulating skill-based rehabilitation courses including professional courses in Clinical Psychology such as M.Phil in Clinical Psychology, Professional Diploma in Clinical Psychology, and Psy.D Clinical Psychology.
Also read: RCI Approved M.Phil Clinical Psychology Institutes and Universities
Changes NEP brings in Psychology Education?
In March 2024, the RCI uploaded a draft circular containing the changes in current Clinical Psychology courses. The circular talked about the replacement of the current M.Phil Clinical Psychology course with new M.Psy (Clinical Psychology) and with changes in the syllabus.
Three months later, in the last week of June 2024, the RCI uploaded another circular where they replaced the term M.Psy (Clinical Psychology) with M.A. (Clinical Psychology) as the replacement of the current M.Phil in Clinical Psychology, and all other points were the same as the one uploaded earlier in March.
These back-to-back changes in rules and nomenclature of the courses have put the prospective students in dilemma and much more confusion.
The change in eligibility criteria for getting admission into these professional clinical psychology courses has become the biggest fear for students coming from non-psychology backgrounds.
Click here to read about the draft revised eligibility and courses in Clinical Psychology.
How can I become a clinical psychologist according to new rules?
At present, the path to becoming a Clinical Psychologist is still the same as previous. A candidate with a valid master’s degree in psychology can further enroll in one of the RCI-recognized courses such as M.Phil Clinical Psychology, PDCP, or PsyD. On successful completion of an RCI-recognized course, s/he will get an RCI license to practice.
Is having a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology important?
Having a bachelor’s degree in psychology can be helpful for a student as they are already familiar with the subject and motivated towards their career in Psychology.
RCI has not yet confirmed the final eligibility criteria and the replacement of M.Phil Clinical Psychology. We expect RCI to give the final notice on this matter by the end of 2024.
Until the final eligibility is introduced, candidates can follow the current eligibility & courses to become a Clinical Psychologist.
What if they introduce the new eligibility?
In the large interest of students, the RCI shall make a provision to provide a way to get a license to those students who have graduated in Non-Psychology and have a Master’s in Psychology. Hence, if you are aiming to become a clinical psychologist, you should continue your educational journey and keep putting in your efforts with the right strategy to achieve your goal.