careers in psychology for scandanavian students

8/12/2019 Careers in Psychology for Scandanavian Students

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Career Guide for Scandinavian Students

Aguidetocareersinps studentsychologyforScandinavianAdrian Parker

Professional education in the three Scandinavian countries, Denmark, Norway andSweden, follows a rather similar plan. The title of psychologist is protected by law in

these countries and is a generic one covering all specialties relating to the use of the

itle psychologist.t

HowdoIbecomeapsychologist?To become a psychologist, students can gain entry to a five or six year course leading

to a MasterofScienceinPsychology degree followed by a one year (two years inDenmark and integrated in the degree in Norway) of internship or practical

experience under supervision, which also includes some training in conductingpersonal therapy.

The table below provides a list Scandinavian universities that run stateapprovedcourses:

CopenhaganAarhus

Alborg

Denmark

Odense (Syddansk Univeritet)

Oslo

Bergen

Norway

Trondheim


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Tromso

Gothenburg

Lund

Uppsala

Stockhold

Vxsj

Sweden

The Karolinska Institute

The syllabus for stateapproved courses varies between universities, but generallyincludes cognitive psychology, social psychology, neuroscience, personality

psychology and developmental psychology as the basic building blocks followed by

specialized modules in psychopathology, psychological treatment, occupationalpsychology and professional ethics. Problembased learning is usually an important

feature of the courses. Competition for entry in all three countries is highlycompetitive, to the extent that some universities give extra points for relevant work

xperience.e

WhathappensafterIhavecompletedmydegree?After gaining this degree and completing the approved internship, practitioners are

eligible to apply for registration with the relevant Psychological Association for theircountry (called authorization or even legitimation). In Norway, a course in

professional psychology last six years and has the practical experience integratedwithin the course. Because of the highly structured nature of the course, with all

students covering the same core topics, it is practical experience and supplementarypostgraduate courses that determine the specialty that is finally chosen, whether it

be educational, occupational, health or clinical psychology.

Further education is encouraged, and after five years of practice, it is possible toapply for a qualification as a specialist psychologist. Specialist orders are currently

under development and vary between countries, but include clinical psychology,

forensic psychology, neuropsychology and child psychology. In Sweden there is afurther two year parttime postgraduate qualification and registration procedure


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required for working independently as a psychotherapist. Psychologists,

psychiatrists and social workers are eligible to register as psychotherapistsproviding they have completed this course and had the relevant training in personal

therapy.

Job prospects are good in all three countries, with wages being highest in Norway,

then in Denmark. Clinical psychologists can often gain reimbursement from the

state insurance for their services. This is generally the case in Norway and Denmark,but less so in Sweden. Private practice is well established in the Scandinavian

countries.

OtheroptionsBecause of the stiff competition, some students choose to do basic degree inpsychology, BachelorofPsychology, (kandidatexamin) which requires three yearsand it is then possible to supplement this with a one or two year Master ofPsychology degree. The doctoral degree is Doctor of Philosophy or Ph.D and inSweden this often requires financing from a project or place of work. These forms of

ducation would not however allow the use of the title psychologist.e

PsychologyacrossEurope,theUKandtheUSThe plan of education in Scandinavia is thus markedly different from that in the UK

and US where the basic requirement for licensing or registration in clinical area is adegree of DoctorinClinicalPsychology or Psy.D or Clin.Psy.D. which has both clinicaland research components to it. Other approved postgraduate courses are available

in UK for registration in such established applied areas as occupational and

educational psychology. There is also a clearer career structure and greaterprofessional independence in the UKs national health service than exists in

Scandinavian countries (with the exception of Norway where clinical psychologistshave a high professional status).

There is an attempt to enable mutual recognition of education with in the European

Union (www.efpa.eu/europsy) with the basic entry requirements being a degree inpsychology of 5 years duration plus 2 years of practical experience. This is however

a recommendation and not a lawful requirement and how this will fit with the UKrequirements for clinical psychology, is unclear.

The Psychology Societies in Sweden function also rather differently from the US andUK, as part of the trade union as well as a professional and political bodies.
http://www.efpa.eu/europsyhttp://www.efpa.eu/europsyhttp://www.efpa.eu/europsyhttp://www.efpa.eu/europsyhttp://www.efpa.eu/europsy


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in Scandinavia:Psychological societies

Denmark: www.dp.dk

Norway: http://www.psykol.no/

Sweden: http://www.psykologforbundet.se/

ReferenceParker, A. (1990) Towards an international profession of clinical psychology: An Anglo-

Swedish perspective. International Journal of Psychology,25, 355-370.
http://www.psykol.no/http://www.psykologforbundet.se/http://www.psykologforbundet.se/http://www.psykologforbundet.se/http://www.psykologforbundet.se/http://www.psykologforbundet.se/http://www.psykologforbundet.se/http://www.psykologforbundet.se/http://www.psykologforbundet.se/http://www.psykologforbundet.se/http://www.psykol.no/

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