According to Life Tips, as associate's degree is usually considered a paraprofessional degree. In some jobs, you will likely be supervised by someone with a higher degree or more professional experience. However, an associate's degree is a good place to get a foothold in the field of psychology. Keep in mind that if you're looking toward a career as a clinical psychologist, sports psychologist or forensic psychologist, you must pursue a doctorate degree in psychology. In addition, most counseling and therapy positions require a master's degree.
However, students with an associate's degree in psychology can enter the mental health profession as a case worker, criminal justice worker or counselor's aide. Other entry-level positions include family support positions, crisis intervention, teen mentoring, government benefits case work, or a service position helping people with developmental disabilities. Sales and marketing segments also have niches for mental health workers who don't hold advanced degrees or licenses.
When deciding where you want to apply an associate's degree in psychology, think about the people you may want to serve, or visualize the setting where you may be best suited. Do you see yourself working with people with disabilities, serving senior citizens, helping immigrants, or motivating adolescents? Every population has different needs and challenges that must be addressed. Some patients can have more serious life issues, like drug addiction, while others need help with academic challenges. A mental health professional is, therefore, needed in many settings, like schools, prisons, offices or service facilities.
One benefit of an associate's degree is that you don't have to stop there. Transferring the credits you earn toward a higher degree in psychology, like a bachelor's, master's, or doctorate, is an option. Becoming a psychologist usually requires five to seven years of full-time graduate work and writing a dissertation. There are also licensing requirements to satisfy in many states.
According to the American Psychological Association, opportunities for work in psychology are expanding in number and scope. The move toward preventing illness rather than merely diagnosing and treating it often leads to healthier behaviors and psychologists are big contributors to this process.