* 4 years: A bachelor's degree (often in psychology, but sometimes a related field).
* 3-4 years: A doctoral degree (Ph.D. or Psy.D.) in clinical or counseling psychology. Some programs may be longer.
It's important to note that after completing the doctoral degree, many psychologists also complete a year or more of supervised postdoctoral training before they are licensed to practice independently. Therefore, the total time commitment can be even longer than 7 years.