Trainee PWP degree or BSc Psychology degree ?

Hey everyone,

I’ve currently secured a job as a HCA/Social Therapist in a acute psych inpatient unit.

I was wondering whether after a year of experience, should I apply for a trainee psychological wellbeing practitioner degree which is effectively like an apprenticeship funded by your workplace/the organisation offering it, allowing you to gain a level 6 psychological wellbeing practitioner qualification from a university - qualifying me as a psychological wellbeing practitioner. .

OR

whether I should do a BSc Psychology degree at Open university? I’m thinking about possibly doing a masters, wondering if they’d accept the pwp qualification? I want to become a clinical psychologist or go into occupational/educational psych.

Please let me know ☺️

If you are considering a career in psychology, you will need that degree. Having this will open up more doors for you, so that would be my suggestion.

The PWP role is really good experience for the clinical psychology but you won't get onto the doctorate without an accredited undergraduate degree or conversion course in psychology

I think I really need to weigh the pros and cons as I’m hearing it’s near enough impossible to get onto the doctorate even with years of experience and 1st/2.1 in your BSc and a masters. I will be funding my education myself therefore do not have money to waste.. I need to think very carefully about my decision. I’m also considering whether I’m cut out to study a doctorate.. a lot to think about.

What i would say also, not to make your decision any tougher, is that plenty of people do get on the doctorate every year (i did mine last year). When i was considering the course I was put off by lots of people who said it was impossible, but i got on first time with 18months worth of experience. I am not for 1 minute saying it was easy or will be easy for anyone, but there are always 2 sides to every story, and sadly a lot of the people who say it is impossible are also the ones who havent got on or may not ever do so. A certain amount of luck is needed with anything competitive but it is not as bad as you may have heard. The important thing is you do what you want and what you think you are capable for.

Good luck,

Greg

18 months? Wow this makes me feel much better, I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone get on a doctorate that quick?! Did you do masters or was it just BSc? I’ve heard a lot of horror stories so this was refreshing

I think I need to really weigh up the pros and cons as some individuals are saying there’s no point doing a psychology degree due to not being able to get onto the doctorate / it being near enough impossible.