Hi Career Guide,

In terms of career prospects in Psychology, a student has lots of scope depending on where exactly his or her interest lies in. A psychologists can work in corporates to hospitals to schools to various other setups depending on their field of specialization.

Please note, to pursue Psychology, a students needs to be a graduate in Psychology followed by a masters degree in any specialization as per their choice. Though there are a lot of diploma and short term courses in Psychology as well as correspondence courses, for graduates in any stream, but for them to function as a psychologists is not that easy because of lack of knowledge in the field of therapies and testing.

Please note, majorly a psychologists is seen in 2 roles: 1. Therapies, which we term as counseling. 2. testing, conducting various test for specific evaluation.

In terms of specialization, A student can choose from:

1. Clinical Psychology: Please note that now rules here have changed as to who qualify as a Clinical psychologists. A student needs to pursue an M.Phil to be qualified as a clinical psychologists and mainly to address a client with a major disorder required for institutionalising. A student with an MA degree is qualified to conduct the test but cannot address the issue of the client. They can work as a therapist and are termed as a counselor. A clinical psychologist has opportunities to work in Hospitals or clinical settings and after few years of work experience can start on their own too, whereby they can work as a consultant or a visiting psychologists. They can also work in schools as well as rehabilitation centres.
2. Counseling Psychologists: A student after pursuing an MA can work as a counseling psychologist. They are well versed with test especially IQ and other simple test and as well as therapy. They manly deal with the general population addressing less severe issues. They can find opportunity under a psychiatrist or have their own setting or can work in a counseling organization and can work as a school counselor
3. Industrial Psychologist: After MA, these counselors work in an industry as a employee counselor. Their main task is to help in addressing grievances of employees and help in increasing productivity by hiring the right candidate. They administer test to hire the right candidate and also are in the process of conducting training programs in sync with the HR. Few psychologists after an MA pursue an MBA in HR, so working as an HR cum counselor.
4. Social Psychologist: After an MA in this field, counselors work with the societal causes. They work with NGO and other social workers and address the human right issues.
5. Guidance and counseling: They are counselors who are termed as academic counselors. They are well versed with vocational test like IQ and Aptitude test and well familiar with the academic field. Based on the test they guide students towards selecting a career
6. Forensic / Criminal Psychologist: These are counselors who work in association with the forensic team and are the ones who help in finding criminals. Though not very popular in India.
7. Special education: After a masters degree in any field above, a student can opt for a diploma or a B.ED in Special education. These are counselors who helps students with their learning issues and guides them accordingly. Addressing issues related to learning disorder, low IQ, low attention span etc.

Please note that since counseling is a small team, so in an organization you would find all the specialisations together. And someone who is open to all sorts of learning, then start learning from each other. So they can be well equipped with the others field of expertise. But can only not certify the client.

Hope this helps.

Wish you good luck...........