Colorado Technical University

Can people with bachelor and masters degrees in psychology technically be called psychologists?

Or would that be against the law? To me, they put in the work for the degree, and psychologist is basically one who studies issues regarding the mind. Even if it's a college professor with a masters degree in psychology, hasn't s/he earned the right to be called, even in an informal way, a psychologist?

Public Comments

1. I beieve so however many say to be a psychologist is to be a doctor of psychology uggesting that a PHD allows you the title of a psychologist HOPE THIS HELPS X
2. No. A psychologist is one who has a PhD, Doctorate in Psychology. You might have an MSW, Masters in Social work and be a Social Worker Or and LCPC, Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor Or and LMSW, Licensed Master Social Worker or an LCSW, Licensed Clinical Social Worker. But without a PhD, you cannot be called a Psychologist.
3. I think only the Creator can remove such a knotty confusion. I mean the creator of such confusions.
4. You are and always will be a psychologist by nature since you understand another human being. The major reason why we do not communicate clearly is because of the biases we have. I work part-time as a psychologist and as a counselor of mental health. I do not possess a license. But neither do I call myself a Doctor. You can use a title of anything you want, this is a free u.s.a., but there are some precautions and some ethical considerations. You can be sued legally in some states if you administer meds or even a diagnosis. The proper way to get around a few areas is to never keep notes or records of anybody, and use a bit of legal ethics and self-respect
5. No. Use of the term "psychologist" is legally protected. It requires a LICENSE which is issued by the state (not unlike physicians). To become licensed as a psychologist, you must have a doctoral degree (a Ph.D. or Psy.D.). In addition to the degree, to become licensed, psychologists also require a year long APA approved internship, 1-3 years post doctoral supervised experience, and passing the EPPP and any applicable state-specific tests of jurisprudence. If you are not licensed as a psychologist and call yourself (or work as) a psychologist, you are breaking the law. Years ago, master's level practitioners were licensed at the master's level, and retain that credential. That is why you see a "master's level psychologist" periodically (these folks are aging out). Psychologists are no longer licensed at the master's level, however. ~Dr. B.~
6. It depends on the state in which one desires to practice. For example, I know that in NH people with Master's Degrees can be licensed as psychologists, as can people with PhDs. Some places may only allow those with PhDs to be legal licensed psychologists. To the best of my knowledge, there is nowhere in the United States where someone with only a Bachelor's degree in psychology can become a licensed psychologist.