Is an M.A. necessary before you get a PhD?

If I get my MA in Counseling Psychology, would I be considered for Clinical Psychology PhD programs?

• After I finish my masters, I am considering going for my PhD. I wanted to know if Clinical Psych PhD programs would look at me since my MA is in Counseling Psych and not Clinical. Thanks.

• Answer:

  I don't know but you get get an appointment at your school or one you are thinking about going to with a professor in the PhD psychology Dept. and he/she can give you all of the information about what is required to get int a PhD program there. Just call the Department and ask for an appointment with one of the professors. I have done that at least 3 times in different fields and had no problem getting an appointment and the professors were very friendly. Make sure you get your information from an authoritative source. You don't want to show up asking to get into a PhD program and either not have the required courses or have taken more courses than necessary. Even if after you get a masters in Counseling psychology if you don't have all the courses necessary, it's possible that you might only have to take 1 or 2 courses to qualify. Actually, if your interested in a PhD program you should find out the requirements now. What if you need to go into a different MA program? Also, can you get a well paying job with a MA in Counseling Psychology so that you can afford to live while you get a PhD? It would be good to check on that first.