How to become a RCI Licensed Psychologist in India

Becoming a clinical psychologist is one of the most rewarding jobs in the health care industry. In this blog, we will take a look at the different steps you need to follow to become a RCI licensed clinical psychologist in India.

Clinical Psychologist is a dream career for all psychology students, not even for psychology but other graduate students are also want to be a Clinical Psychologist. Let us inform to students not from Psychology background in their graduation, are also eligible to become a Clinical Psychologist. In the following article we have mentioned the steps that how an individual can start their practice or work as a registered Clinical Psychologist in India in several departments.

First Step is your Master in Psychology (MA/M.Sc in Psychology), in order to become a clinical psychologist firstly you need to complete your masters in psychology, there is 3 Major universities in Delhi that is; University of Delhi (DU), Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) and Ambedkar University Delhi (AUD). These universities offer Masters in Psychology even students from non-psychology background can also apply in these universities.

Once you complete your Matsers in Psychology (Regular Mode Masters is preferred always), following three courses are available for you. To become a registered clinical psychologist in India you need to take a licence from Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI). Course mentioned below are approved by RCI and after completion of the any of below course you will get a licence from RCI, and you can start your practice as a Clinical psychologist in India. Read the course details given below, all three have different course duration and have different ranks, but have similarities in working area.

Professional Diploma in Clinical Psychology

The course is organized as one-year full time training program with theoretical inputs and hands-on clinical experience, to provide services with minimum level of competence in core areas of clinical psychology. On completion of the course, the candidates are eligible to be considered for specialist posts (but not for faculty appointments in the field of Clinical Psychology teaching and training) in a wide variety of health care settings such as short-term and long term mental health care facilities, mental health institutes, private/public run general or mental hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation units, schools and other community care centres as Associate Clinical Psychologist.

M.Phil in Clinical Psychology

The aim of this course is to prepare the trainee to function as a qualified professional Clinical Psychologist in the areas of mental and physical health by offering Diagnostic, Therapeutic, Rehabilitative, Administrative services, and to work towards promoting the well-being and quality-of-life of individuals.

On completion of the course, the trainee is expected to perform the following functions:

• Diagnose mental health problems.
• They can apply psychological principles and techniques in rehabilitating persons with mental health problems and disabilities.
• To undertake responsibilities connected with teaching and training in core and allied areas of Clinical Psychology.
• To undertake administrative and supervisory/decision-making responsibilities in mental health area.
• To provide expert testimony in the court of law assuming different roles.

Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology

The aim of this program is to train and assist candidates in developing the knowledge base, attitudes, judgment, professionalism and technical skills essential to function as a consultant clinical psychologist and trainer, based on the principle of progressively increasing levels of responsibility in core areas and sub-specializations.

The Psy.D. is applied clinical doctorate degree and its overall objective is to prepare candidates to practice at the doctoral level with flexibility to be useful in various different practitioner roles, make scholarly contributions to professional community, 6 and take leadership positions in the mental health field.

Candidates interested in pursuing any course in the discipline of Clinical Psychology should only apply to RCI-accredited institutions.

Any qualification gained after completing a course or training at a non-RCI recognised institution is not valid for employment or practice. Every year, a list of accredited institutions, together with the courses they provide , is published in the press for the general public's awareness.

The same list can be found on their website http://www.rehabcouncil.nic.in

Source: Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI)

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