You have the power to change the lives of others.
Become a Mental Health Professional in California with a Master of Psychology
- As a licensed counselor or therapist, you will be able to support people through a wide range of mental health challenges. A Master of Psychology degree program will equip you with the skills and training you need to become a lifeline to those in need.
A Master of Psychology degree is the first step toward a career helping others
In the state of California, a Master of Psychology degree is required in order to obtain licensure as a therapist or counselor. This means that it’s the beginning of your journey to a thriving career as a mental health professional.
Your Master of Psychology program is where you’ll be primed in the foundations of the psychology field, building hands-on skills while developing expertise in the concentration area where you’d like to focus your career.
Time to Complete
2 years full-time, 3 years part-time (on average)
Eligibility
Those with bachelor’s degrees in any subject
Formats Available
In-person, online, hybrid (varies by institution)
Field Practicum
Required at most institutions
Master of Psychology programs typically offer one of two degree types: a Master of Arts (M.A.) in Psychology or a Master of Science (M.S.) in Psychology. Either one of these degree pathways will leave you eligible for the licensure you need to provide therapy directly to patients.
Regardless of their format, these programs typically include a mix of coursework and field work, providing students with a depth of knowledge about the psychology field as well as the hands-on skills needed to rise to the responsibilities of a licensed counselor or therapist.
Bachelor’s in Psychology programs can help motivated students accelerate their educational journeys
In order to get a Master’s in Psychology in California, one must hold a bachelor’s degree in any subject.
If you don’t yet have a bachelor’s degree, fear not: there are numerous universities offering Bachelor of Psychology degrees that can start your education in mental health services now.
It’s possible to get a BA in Psychology online in California as well as on-campus at many undergraduate colleges and universities. Many elect to pursue online bachelor’s degrees in psychology in California to maximize their flexibility while in school. These programs (both in-person and online) typically take four years to complete.
Program Concentrations in Every Area of the Psychology Field
There are psychology degrees available in a huge concentrations and specifications, allowing you to focus your career on the cause or community that most speaks to you. These counselors and therapists can be employed in a variety of clinical and institutional settings depending on their focus areas, so it’s worth looking into the day-to-day details of the career path that interests you.
Note: Different schools may have slightly different names for psychology concentrations, but the following focus areas align with the general course offerings at psychology schools in CA.
Applied Psychology / ABA
These clinicians typically work in behavioral health clinics, schools, and private practices to provide support for those with behavioral issues, in particular young people and adults with autism spectrum disorder.
Clinical Psychology
This is a broad field of psychology that equips students to diagnose and treat clinical mental health issues. There are typically clinical psychology concentration tracks designed to prepare students for both LMFT and LPCC certification.
Counseling Psychology
This is an ideal concentration for those whose primary goal as a psychologist is to provide one-on-one or group counseling to individuals, couples, and families, in contexts ranging from clinics, private practices, schools, community organizations, and more.
Developmental Psychology
This arena of psychology focuses on emotional, behavioral, and psychological development, particularly in relation to social and environmental factors,
Experimental Psychology
A research-focused branch of the psychology field, this concentration track involves data analysis and other statistics-related skills that are typically intended to prepare students for work in labs and research facilities, as well as businesses that employ psychological consultants.
Forensic and Public Service Psychology
Students specializing in forensic psychology can find numerous careers in civic organizations within the legal system, from victim advocacy to correctional system counseling to providing assessments during forensic investigations.
Health Psychology
This emerging subfield of psychology is typically a research-heavy branch of the field focused on relationships between mental and physical health, with an emphasis on disability and disease.
Industrial-Organizational Psychology (I/O) Psychology
This quickly rising sector of the psychology field prepares students to work as psychologists in large businesses, offering counseling services as well as consulting roles that may inform internal management or even business strategy.
Marketing Psychology
Another business-related pathway for psychology students, this burgeoning field is an exciting and unconventional choice for those interested in consulting roles related to advertising and marketing in corporate settings.
School Psychology
These psychologists typically work on elementary, high school, and college campuses to provide emotional and behavioral counseling, as well as identifying symptoms of distress or challenges for students who might be struggling.
Social Psychology
This is a research-focused arena of psychology that considers the influence of environmental, economic, and social factors on mental health development, taking a broad approach to understand psychology on a communal level.
Sports Psychology
These psychologists are typically employed at universities and athletic training centers to support athletes in a variety of ways, including preparing for rigorous training and managing challenges such as injuries and rehabilitation.
Graduate Programs Designed to Equip You With the License or Certification You Want
In order to provide direct counseling to patients, or to diagnose clinical mental health conditions, California psychologists are required to hold licensure with the CA Board of Psychology.
Many Masters in Psychology programs in California are designed specifically to prepare students for licensure exams in the area of their choosing so that they graduate well on their way to full counseling credentials.
There are a few different psychology licenses in California that foreground different clinical skills or services.
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)
These mental health professionals typically work with couples and families, providing counseling that is primarily focused on relationships and conflict resolution. They can be employed in a range of settings including private practices, outpatient care centers, substance abuse treatment centers, hospitals, and more.
Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC)
Those with LPCC certification are focused on treating mental health conditions, working primarily with individuals to provide diagnoses and treatment plans. Like LMFTs, they can be employed in a large number of contexts, such as community mental health clinics, schools, hospitals, private practices, and many other settings.
Licensed Educational Psychologist (LEP)
These psychology professionals specialize in working with young people in educational settings, meaning they are primarily employed in schools and organizations serving students. They are focused on educational processes, working with students who are exhibiting challenges with learning and keeping up with academic expectations.
Pupil Personnel Services (PPS)
In California, PPS credentials are required to work as school counselors for students grades K-12. This certification qualifies psychologists to provide therapy and counseling to students, typically from within school institutions.
Fantastic Educational Opportunities All Over the State of California
No matter where you live in the Golden State, there are fantastic opportunities for you to pursue a Master of Psychology degree.
Thanks to online education options, you won’t have to relocate to find a program that meets your needs.
Prospective applicants choose from an array of program types offered by institutions of all types. Take a look at the list below to get a sense of the types of schools offering psychology degrees.
Christian Universities
Many of the top Master of Psychology programs in California are offered by Christian universities, which are a great choice for students who wish to incorporate religious and spiritual teachings into their study of psychology. Many of these schools are also open to students of diverse religious backgrounds, meaning even students outside of the Christian faith should consider these opportunities.
Cal State Universities
Many schools within the CSU system offer master’s degrees in psychology, providing a quality education that is also among the most affordable in the state. With locations all over California, this is one of the most cost-effective and convenient options for students in every part of the state.
Private Psychology Institutions
There are several private institutions across the state of California that are focused exclusively on psychology, oftentimes offering unique specialization pathways that align a study of psychology with outside disciplines such as somatic practices and other emerging modalities in the therapy and counseling field.
California psychologists earn among the highest salaries in the nation, and boast the highest employment levels.
Indeed, salaries for psychologists of all types in California – including clinical and counseling psychologists, I-O psychologists, and school psychologists – are among the very highest in the state, and the state has the #1 highest employment rate of psychologists in the country, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Achieve Your Dreams
Resources to Help You Fund Your Education
A career in psychology promises to be remunerative in the long-term, but for many students, the cost of graduate school can be daunting. Fortunately, there are many ways prospective graduate school applicants can fund their studies so that they can focus on their education and plot the next steps of their careers.
Trending Conversations and Up-to-Date Developments in the Psychology Field
One of the exciting things about the field of psychology is that it is evolving every day. Tune in here for updates on current debates, emerging ideas, and new frontiers in the world of mental health services.
