A psychologist is a professional who specializes in understanding, diagnosing, and treating mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders.
The primary role of a psychologist is to understand how people think, feel, and act and to help them lead healthier more balanced lives.
Psychologists play a crucial role in improving the psychological well being of individuals and communities. They work in hospitals, private clinics, schools, NGO’s, rehabilitation centers and research institutions.
According to a 2022 report by the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), nearly 1 in 7 Indians suffers from some form of mental disorder, including depression, anxiety, or a substance abuse.
In this article, we will explore about career as a psychologist, we will break down on eligibility criteria, courses, admission process and job prospects.
As per the WHO estimates that around 56 million indian suffer from depression and 38 million from anxiety disorders.
With a country of over 1.4 billion people,
Before exploring career options in this field…. Firstly, let us understand “Psychology”.
What is Psychology?
The word Psycology comes from the Greek word “psyche” meaning mind or soul and logia means study of. Thus, Psycology is the scientific study of mind, emotions and behavior.
Psychologists use observation, experiments, and assessments to understand mental processes and help individuals improve their emotional well-being, relationships, and overall quality of life.
Psychologist Vs Psychiatrist
Sometimes peoples think that the Psychologist and Psychiatrist are same profession, but they both are completely different.
Psychiatrist is a medical doctor with an MBBS + MD in Psychiatry. The Psychiatrist treat patients by prescribing them medications as and when needed.
On the other hand, Psychologists holds a bachelor’s or master’s degree in Psychology. They focuses on talk therapy, counseling, and behavioral interventions. They are not allowed to prescribe medications to the patients.
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The term “psychology” has been in use since the 16th century, but it emerged as a modern scientific discipline in the late 19th century.
Types of Psychologist
Once you decide to become a Psychologists, you need to understand that there are different type of Psychologists based on their roles and specialization:
Clinical Psychologist
They specializes in diagnosing and treating mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders such as depression, anxiety, and trauma. They are employed in hospitals, clinics, and private practice.
Counseling Psychologist
Helps individuals cope with life challenges, stress, and relationship issues.
Focuses on improving overall well-being rather than treating severe mental illnesses.
Educational / School Psychologist
The education Psychologist works in schools to support students’ learning and emotional needs.
Industrial-Organizational Psychologist
Applies psychology to workplace environments to improve productivity, employee satisfaction, and management practices.
Forensic Psychologist
Works within the legal system, helping with criminal profiling, court cases, and witness assessments.
Neuropsychologist
Studies brain function and its impact on behavior and cognition. They often works with patients recovering from brain injuries or neurological conditions.
Sports Psychologist
Works with athletes to enhance performance, manage stress, and improve focus and motivation.
Health Psychologist
Focuses on how psychological factors affect physical health and illness prevention.
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Psychology Courses in India
The first step to become a Psychologist is to pursue bachelor’s and master’s programs in Psychology. In India, many universities offers courses like B.Sc in Psychology or BA, MA in Psychology.
After completing these degrees, aspiring psychologists can choose a specialization such as clinical, counseling, industrial-organizational, or educational psychology.
Below we have listed popular UG and PG courses in Psychology:
Bachelors Courses
- B.Sc in Psychology
- BA (Hons) in Psychology
- Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
Master Courses
- Master of Arts in Psychology
- Master of Arts in Applied Psychology
- Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology
- M. Sc in Psychology
Doctoral Courses
- Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology
Eligibility Criteria
Below we have mentioned eligibility criteria to pursue psychology courses in India:
UG Courses
- Candidates must have completed 10+2 from a recognized board.
- Minimum 50–55% aggregate marks (may vary by college).
- Some universities require English and/or Psychology as core subjects in Class 12.
- Admission can be merit-based or through entrance exams like CUET.
PG Courses
- Candidates must hold a bachelor’s degree in Psychology or a related field (e.g., Sociology, Social Work, Anthropology, Nursing, etc.) from a recognized university.
- Minimum 50–60% aggregate marks in graduation.
- Admission is usually through entrance exams like CUET-PG, TISSNET, or university-level tests.
Admission Process
Many universities offer direct admissions to students in these courses in case of number of students are less than the seat allotted.
While some other colleges or universities organize their own entrance examination for providing admissions. Some entrance examinations are listed here:
- CUET UG 2025
- CUET PG 2025
- TISSNET
- JMI Entrance Exam
- IGNOU OPENMAT
- NIMHANS Entrance Exam
- Private University Exams – Like Amity University, Ashoka University, and Symbiosis International University entrance tests
Entrance Exams – CUET 2025
Top Psychology Colleges in India
Where to get admission?
Top colleges to pursue courses in the field of psychology are mentioned below:
- National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore
- Lady Shri Ram College for Women (LSR), New Delhi
- St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai
- Christ University, Bangalore
- Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai & Chennai
- Amity Institute of Behavioural Health and Allied Sciences, Noida
- IIT Delhi – Department of Humanities and Social Sciences
- Indian Institute of Psychological Research, Bangalore
- Indraprastha College for Women, Delhi
- Mithibai College, Mumbai
- Fergusson College, Pune
- Kishinchand Chellaram (KC) College, Mumbai
- K. J. Somaiya College of Arts & Commerce, Mumbai
Skills Required
For becoming psychologist aspirants, one have some key skills which will help them to become professional psychologist. The skills are given below:
- You should have to be shown empathy with your clients so that they can share their feelings or problems with you without any hesitation. It will make them free to say anything.
- You should have strong communication skill to communicate with your client effectively.
The observation skill inside you is to be very accurate. It will help you to understand the facial expression, body position, actions and many others of the people.
Career Scope
“Job opportunities are endless for a Psychologist.”
They can easily find jobs in private and government sectors. Psychologist mostly taken up for jobs in various universities, colleges & schools, hospitals, clinics, government agencies, etc. Countries like Europe, USA, New Zealand & Australia are the popular places for job opportunities.
The employment in psychology is expected to rise in a few years. Most of the job opportunities will open in the clinic and in the school psychologist.
Due to more demand in health care centres, hospitals, mental health centres, social health services and schools will lead to the growth of employment in psychology sector.
With the increase in the aging population, mental problems, physical problems the need of psychologist is increasing. There are a number of sectors offer for the psychology degree holder’s. You can work in various psychology departments in different hospitals.
Recruitment Areas
- Rehabilitation Centers
- Psychological Research Centres
- Advertising Industry
- Teaching
- Welfare Organizations
- Psychological assessment and testing
- Research Establishments
- Development of prevention programs
- Forensics
- Universities/schools
- Child/ Youth Guidance Centers
Duties of a Psychologist
- Identify and research human behaviors and emotional patterns.
- Use test and assessment to aid in diagnosing a mental health condition for the patient.
- Gathere information through their observations, conversation, interviews, surveys, and other methods used.
- Search organizational, psychological, emotional, behavioral, diagnose disorders, using information collected from their research study.
- Offer long term counselling for those patients suffering from mental health disorders.
- Write reports, articles, research theory, and to share collected data.
- Studies the behavior and brain functions.
Job Profiles
- Psychotherapist
- Counselor
- Teacher
- Consultant
- Clinical Psychologist
- Psychiatrist
- Clinical Social Worker
- Psychiatrist Nurse
- Art Therapist
- Practitioner
Salary & Payscale
The starting salaries of psychologists are modest, candidates have to start with ₹20k–₹40k per month. However, with experience specialization, and the right network, their income can increase significantly.
Over time, psychologists working in reputed hospitals, private clinics, corporate sectors, or starting their own practice can earn anywhere between ₹6 lakh to ₹15 lakh per annum or more.
Candidates working in neuropsychology, sports psychology, or industrial-organizational psychology are paid much higher than general psychologists.
In the below table, we have listed salary trend of a psychologist working in India, based on their experience:
| Experience | Salary Trend |
| Entry Level (0-2 yr) | ₹2.5 – ₹3 LPA |
| Mid Level (3-6 yr) | ₹5 – ₹8 LPA |
| Senior Level (7 yr) | ₹8 LPA – ₹14 LPA |
| High Paying specialization | ₹15 to ₹30 LPA or more |
| Private Practice | varies |
Books & Study Materials
Some good books to study psychology are listed here:
Thinking Fast and Slow, by Daniel Kahneman
The Interpretation of Dreams by Sigmund Freud
The Power of Habit by Charles M. Duhigg
The Neurotic Personality of Our Time by Karen Horney
The Antidote: Happiness for People Who Can’t Stand Positive Thinking by Oliver Burkeman
FAQ’s
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