Is it Possible to Earn A Degree in Behavioral Psychology by Way Of Test-Out Method?

[4dog]

A friend of mine is now also interested in earning a Bachelor's degree the same test-out-method way I'm currently busy with because she didn't think it is possible do it in such a short time and at this low cost. However, she wants to do behavioral psychology to help people with social-behavior issues. Is this possible via the test-out method and which courses will she need to take? I can't provide her with any assistance in this regard, so I said I'll ask the experts.

[nosey561]

A friend of mine is now also interested in earning a Bachelor's degree the same test-out-method way I'm currently busy with because she didn't think it is possible do it in such a short time and at this low cost. However, she wants to do behavioral psychology to help people with social-behavior issues. Is this possible via the test-out method and which courses will she need to take? I can't provide her with any assistance in this regard, so I said I'll ask the experts.

A degree in general Psychology is possible, but that's probably it.She could do CLEP,DSST,TECEP,UEXCEL exams (Or GRE for Charter Oak).

[4dog]

I have no clue what the difference is between general psychology and behavioral psychology, and I don't think my friend knows either, but she has a specific idea in mind, so I'm merely trying to help her. I presume she can enroll at any of the big 3?

It would probably also be best to ask an academic advisor at one of these colleges to help with a degree plan for her since it's quite a unique area of study or is it straight forward?

[sanantone]

Behavioral psychology is not really a thing as far as degree programs. There are psychology programs that focus on applied behavioral analysis. These programs are designed to prepare students for the behavior analyst certification. Behavior analysts work with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. I believe you need a graduate degree to become a behavior analyst as opposed to just an assistant behavior analyst, so you're more likely to find applied behavior analysis programs at the master's level.

Most people get a general psychology degree at the undergraduate level and specialize at the graduate level, but you might be able to find a small number of undergraduate programs in clinical, counseling, organizational, applied, forensic, and educational psychology.

[mysonx3]

A general psychology degree is highly test-friendly at the Big 3, for what it's worth

[4dog]

This is fantastic information. Thank you so much. I will tell my friend and she can take it forward.

I'm really glad I've joined this forum. I've every time received really good assistance here. Thank you all so much.

[dfrecore]

It's even possible to only do a BALS degree, and then focus on the aspect of Psych she wants in a Masters program, since that's what she'll need to move forward in Psych. That's especially true if she already has credits that won't easily fit into a Psych degree. She can still take a bunch of Psych courses, but just not get a Psych degree, since that's not usually a requirement for a masters degree.

Capella has a MS in Psych through their FlexPath program, which is competency-based, with concentrations in Child & Adolescent Development, Educational Psych, General Psych, I/O Psych, and Sports Psych (last time I checked).

My advice is to get the fastest/cheapest BA, so that she can focus on her MA when the time comes.

[cookderosa]

Her goal, which is a specific TYPE of psychology can be obtained eventually, but she'll have to start with general psychology to get there. As Dfrecore mentioned, this is going to require either a master's or doctorate to get into the niche where she can BE a behavioral psychologist - but there are things she can do now.

1) General degree in psych- no problem. Lots of good advice already.

2) Start work asap for a company like this- https://www.indeed.com/cmp/Alternative-B...ompanyname

Companies like that hire you with zero experience and train you on the job PLUS will help her get credentialed as a Board Certified Behavioral / Registered Behavioral Technician. She'll work while doing her school (yes, she can do both) and should be able to graduate with her bachelor's and have her credential in 2 years or less. Work + education is the home run here because she'll be working in the field and she'll find out IMMEDIATELY if she actually does want to pursue a masters in this field. She might hate it, might love it, but she'll know. Further, there are tons of special niches in psychology, if this isn't her flavor, she's able to use her general psychology degree to pivot into something else.

Other behavior jobs /careers that might appeal to her are drug/alcohol addiction, eating disorders, life coaching, OCD management, and others. The field is wide open.
Good luck!

[sanantone]

Just so that your friend knows, behavior analysts are not psychologists, and states often to have laws on what titles people can use. Behavior analysts can have psychology degrees, but they don't need psychology degrees. They either need a master's degree with a major in applied behavior analysis or a master's in psychology or education plus the behavior analysis coursework required by BACB. There are non-degree ways to qualify, but those are more complicated. 

A lot of addictions counselors simply have degrees in counseling and sometimes social work or marriage and family therapy. The pathways to become an addictions counselor and behavior analyst are quite different, so you kind of have to choose one or the other after earning a bachelor's degree because the required graduate coursework and internships will be different. 

You may not even need a graduate degree in your state to become an addictions counselor, but you might be limited to substance abuse counseling. States usually require a master's degree to provide psychotherapy to those with other behavior disorders. Most masters in psychology programs are not designed to meet the licensing requirements for marriage and family therapists, licensed professionals counselors, or licensed mental health counselors. Some states have masters-level psychological associates/assistants/technicians. Some people call them masters-level psychologists (on the ignorant Student Doctor Forum), but they are not. That's why their legal title is different. 

One-by-one, states are starting to license behavior analysts, and they're requiring BACB certification. The pathway to become a licensed psychologist is different. School psychologists need a master's or EdS in school psychology. Psychologists need a doctorate in psychology, and it's usually only clinical and counseling psychology programs that are designed to meet licensure requirements. 

https://www.bacb.com/bcba/bcba-requirements/

[basicunitoflife]

Her goal, which is a specific TYPE of psychology can be obtained eventually, but she'll have to start with general psychology to get there.  As Dfrecore mentioned, this is going to require either a master's or doctorate to get into the niche where she can BE a behavioral psychologist - but there are things she can do now.

1) General degree in psych- no problem.  Lots of good advice already.  

2) Start work asap for a company like this-  https://www.indeed.com/cmp/Alternative-B...ompanyname

Companies like that hire you with zero experience and train you on the job PLUS will help her get credentialed as a Board Certified Behavioral / Registered Behavioral  Technician.  She'll work while doing her school (yes, she can do both) and should be able to graduate with her bachelor's and have her credential in 2 years or less.  Work + education is the home run here because she'll be working in the field and she'll find out IMMEDIATELY if she actually does want to pursue a masters in this field.  She might hate it, might love it, but she'll know.  Further, there are tons of special niches in psychology, if this isn't her flavor, she's able to use her general psychology degree to pivot into something else.  

Other behavior jobs /careers that might appeal to her are drug/alcohol addiction, eating disorders, life coaching, OCD management, and others.  The field is wide open.
Good luck!

Ocean Community College, Union County College and a few others have just launched the very first associates degree is psychosocial rehab in the country. This degree path actually has the internship built in as clinical hours!! The clinical hours are done through Rutgers. The Rutgers website boasts a 90% employment rate which is good for a psychology degree, an associates degree at that. It seems to be modeled after nursing associates degree programs, in that you graduate with the associates in psychology and you get a state license to do psychosocial rehab (basically social work and talk therapy rolled into one). The clinical portions are not given during the summer and the program is 1.5 years long. So it should be possible for someone to do courses with SL and SDC in the summer and obtain a BA in psychology from TESU a couple of months after they finish the associates degree. The articulation agreement between the CC and Rutgers wants your standard Gen Ed. classes done, most of which can be clepped for additional cost savings and more importantly, time.

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A friend of mine is now also interested in earning a Bachelor's degree the same test-out-method way I'm currently busy with because she didn't think it is possible do it in such a short time and at this low cost. However, she wants to do behavioral psychology to help people with social-behavior issues. Is this possible via the test-out method and which courses will she need to take? I can't provide her with any assistance in this regard, so I said I'll ask the experts.

I don't mean to burst your friend's bubble... but has she/he ever thought about occupational therapy? Occupational therapist help train ppl to live productive lives, drive folks back and forth to work, work in rehab, work with brain injuries and even autism, and the also do Counseling psychology in home and in mental health facilities and rehab facilities. The main thing is, they are actually paid a reasonable salary. 
It's tough to make a good living with psychology degrees unless you start your own therapy business which you'll have to market the crap out of, or go for clinical psychology which is massively competitive (even more competitive than medical school). $20 an hour is not enough to get kicked, punched by someone's autistic kid, pissed on and screamed at as a registered behavioral psychologist. It's very hard work and it's not for everyone. Maybe your friend should try before she buys?? It sucks to go through schooling with rose colored glasses only to be hit with the realities of the job after you're in debt, and stuck. In my very VERY humble opinion, why not choose a career with the internship built into the degree path so you can know what you're getting into?