In India, one has to complete graduation and postgraduation in psychology to pursue a career in psychology. The 3+2 model of education is the existing model that is the basic requirement as of now. The different branches in psychology that are available in post graduation include clinical psychology, educational psychology, organizational behavior, applied psychology, forensic psychology and a post graduation in psychology. The different areas that a psychologist can work in depend on but are not exclusive to the post graduation specialization. For example, an educational psychologist might be expected to work in school or educational settings, however in the current settings, these mandates are not followed strictly. Hence, for a post graduate in psychology the various work areas could be from content development in psychology, helpline call management, counseling (face to face/phone/video), research, teaching and trainer. The different segments/sectors of work are schools, hospitals, NGOs, organizations, etc. For enrollment in specific segments like military or sports psychology, the protocols set by the organization need to be met by the candidates like clearing an entrance examination or clearing interview mandates. An Mphil/Psyd in clinical psychology is required from specialized institutions for practicing as clinical psychologist.

Each country usually has their own mandates for certification as a psychologist. The basic requirement for licensing is a Phd or required clinical supervision hours along with clearing the specialized licensing examination. However, most western countries follow a graduation + post graduation (4+2) years model as opposed to the 3+2 model in India. This creates a 1 year gap for aspirants and they have to complete 1 year work experience or do another post graduation to complete the requirement before pursuing Phd. To get a student visa to the UK, apart from relevant certificates, you might require a score of 7 and above in IELTS exams (varies from university to university). To get more understanding of the processes required for each country, it might be better to get in touch with a senior or a colleague who has gone through the process.

At present the only body that is providing license for psychologists is Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI) and they provide license to only clinical psychologists that complete Mphil/Diploma in Clinical psychology/ psycho- social rehabilitation/PsyD as mandated by RCI. The allied healthcare bill of 2021 has included Psychology as part of the paramedical field however the process of licensing is not initiated yet.