FAQs Psychology is not an easy career path. The work is often very rewarding, it can also be emotionally exhausting. A psychiatrist is a medical doctor. Because of HMO and insurance billing, most psychiatrists are limited to doing evaluations and medication checks, not psychotherapy. A psycholgist has a doctorate in psychology and cannot write prescriptions.
Psychologists do therapy, testing, evaluations, research etc.
They usually work in hospitals, schools or private practice. A bachelor degree in psychology or a related field takes 4 years full time to complete. Obtaining a master degree usually takes 2 years full time. A doctorate degree takes up to five years after that, including internships and writing a dissertation. In most states you need a doctorate to practice independently as a psychologist.