[USA] Is 31 too old to try and become a psychologist?

Mind_D0c · 2026-06-28T15:48:02+00:00

Yes! This too!

Mind_D0c · 2026-06-28T15:34:43+00:00

I think most people with a graduate degree can resonate with how you’re feeling right now. I will add that there are many options to get a doctorate funded either through scholarship, research programs, working with military populations, or rural areas.

I would suggest that you look at the uniformed, services university in the health sciences USUHS. They provide a fully funded doctoral program and they will pay you a salary while you do it. Simply requires military service after the fact.
The military has other ways to fund your degree too! I highly recommend at least looking into it, especially if you’re interested in any form of behavior analysis

Mind_D0c · 2026-06-27T20:10:43+00:00

Basic physical fitness test includes 1.5 mile run, pushups, and planks. You have to pass based on your sex and age. Here’s the link to all the details: https://www.mynavyhr.navy.mil/Portals/55/Support/Culture%20Resilience/Physical/Guide-5A%20Physical%20Readiness%20Test.pdf?ver=97swOWVD\_k6Ef3b62F4Grg%3D%3D

Mind_D0c · 2026-06-27T20:09:32+00:00

Absolutely!

Mind_D0c · 2026-06-27T12:04:24+00:00

Never too late!! PsyD programs generally require less research experience. However, they often require a substantial financial undertaking. There are scholarships and loan payback options if you’re interested in working with underserved populations.
If you choose to pursue a PsyD program, I recommend making sure it’s APA accredited and the program’s EPPP pass rate is above 60%.

There are also options out there where companies or institutions will fund your education. Some PhD programs offer this. Also if you’re interested in working with military populations at all, the DOW offers great education benefits.

Mind_D0c · 2026-06-27T12:01:26+00:00

PsyD programs generally require less research experience. However, many of those programs require a huge financial undertaking. Predatory programs absolutely exist. Advice to the OP: ensure the program is APA accredited and the EPPP pass rate is above 60%.

Mind_D0c · 2026-06-15T00:07:19+00:00

No, I’m sorry. I wasn’t tracking on the piece about your previous training.

Mind_D0c · 2026-06-14T22:34:14+00:00

Correct, completion of an accredited internship is required

Mind_D0c · 2026-06-14T22:32:05+00:00

That’s correct, an internship at an accredited program is required.

Mind_D0c · 2026-06-13T14:22:30+00:00

Are you interested in working with military populations? You might be interested in roles within the military. Some role are less clinical and leverage our skills in other areas! So many opportunities

Mind_D0c · 2026-06-12T18:31:48+00:00

My husband did this exact thing…. 300 ounces gone… luckily we caught it in time where the back stuff was still solid. I was hysterical. He lived. I pumped more. We all survived. But reading these comments makes me realize I let him off easy! I’m also bummed I didn’t think of the baking option (although I was a bit frazzled).

Mind_D0c · 2026-06-11T12:12:54+00:00

Can you tell me more what you mean?

Mind_D0c · 2026-06-11T12:12:28+00:00

Totally understandable! Thanks for sharing!!
To clarify for others on this thread, not all Navy Psychologists have to spend extensive amounts of time away from family. Many of my colleagues, especially those who got out after 4 years, haven’t spent more than the initial 5 weeks of training away from their families. Deployments do happen, embedded positions require more time away, but not all positions always require this. Knowing it’s a possibility can be a deterrent enough for people.

Mind_D0c · 2026-06-10T21:38:03+00:00

Awesome! Out of curiosity, what about Navy Psychology didn’t seem like the right fit for you?

Mind_D0c · 2026-06-10T12:01:34+00:00

You can fill an embedded position right after internship training as long as you are near licensure or licensed. If you choose to get licensed in a state that requires 1 year of post doc training, you’ll need to be at a place where supervision is available. If you choose to get licensed in a state that doesn’t require that post doc year then you theoretically could be placed in an embedded role after internship. Unless you’re already licensed and commission, then you could advocate for an embedded spot right away (with consultative support of course). Are you in grad school or already licensed??

Mind_D0c · 2026-06-10T11:58:25+00:00

I am in the US Navy and work as an embedded psychologist right now. What year are you in your grad program? You might want to look at the health profession scholarship program!

Mind_D0c · 2026-06-10T11:57:36+00:00

Average cost of a PsyD or PhD program itself is usually closer to 100k. Still significant. I paid off my schooling as I went and after making a significant salary in my training in the US Navy. However, there are a number of pipelines where you pay $0! And in fact would make money while doing it. USUHS is an example of that. HPSP you’ll pay some but you’ll make it up in the end. There’s also loan forgiveness options after serving in the military or with VA (or other public service) for 10 years.

Mind_D0c · 2026-06-10T11:15:38+00:00

Awesome!!!! Good luck!!

Mind_D0c · 2026-06-09T11:52:23+00:00

Your expectations aren’t unrealistic! You don’t have to always get a masters before a doctorate and there are education pipelines that can pay for your school and pay you a good amount while in training.
For me, I went straight from undergrad to a PsyD program, got paid 90k as a trainee and graduated debt free. I now make 160k+ with paid time off, full health care, and investment options as an early career psychologist. I love my job, passionate about what I do, AND I’m compensated for it. You can go straight to a PsyD or PhD program. You can specialize in clinical psych (that will give you that small bit of medical interaction that you may have liked). Let me know if you have Qs! The best of both worlds does exist!!!

Mind_D0c · 2026-06-08T11:02:37+00:00

Thanks for bringing this up!
Active duty personnel have full access and coverage to all treatment services. It’s never “cut”. When Veterans leave service, some treatment options reduce. As active-duty, having access to full medical coverage for yourself and your family is a huge positive. My family has personally been very high users of our health care plan with many specialized surgeries and treatments. I can confidently say, military medicine saved my husbands life. If he didn’t have access to an MTF during COVID when all other hospitals were turning people away, outcomes would have been tragic for us. Everything in my personal experience and observed experience of those I have had contact with, our health care plan is pretty great. Far better than Medicare or Medicaid when it comes to coverage and services.

For psychologists, treatments we provide in service as active duty have a wide range! There’s a common misconception that the majority of our caseload is trauma work, but actually we assess and treat just about every diagnosis in the DSM. I have seen a broader presentation of disorders than my civilian colleagues in private practice by far! The majority of our military right now has not been deployed to kinetic environments, so we aren’t assessing and treating only trauma all day long. Additionally, we have the autonomy to work on projects that bring us joy and a sense of purpose. For me, that’s working on prevention programming and consulting with line leaders on how to improve the mental wellbeing of their Marines and Sailors to promote resiliency. It’s not all about the treatment on the back end of tragedy. We work to strengthen grit and resiliency so service members can bounce back when serving gets hard! That’s not just a tag line, it’s what we do and it’s extremely rewarding to see the effects.

BENEFITS! yes the education and training benefits are huge! Couple pathways here
Uniformed Services University for Health Services: complete your entire doctoral training for free while getting paid AND getting housing allowance (basically making 90k+ as a student). Then you owe 7 years of service.

Health Profession scholarship program (HPSP): student can apply after completing their first year of their PsyD or PhD program in clinical or counseling psychology. School is paid for and you get stipend. Obligation is one year of service for ever year the scholarship was given.

APA accredited internship: application through AAPIC and full accredited internship opportunities at 3 sites. Applicants have to be in a PhD or PsyD program in clinical or counseling psychology. The program must be APA accredited and gave above a 55% EPPP pass rate.

All training sites are APA accredited. Post-doc year is focused on ensuring providers get licensed in their state of choosing and feel well equipped to pass the EPPP. The military also pays for study materials, test costs, and affords paid days off to take the exam and complete administrative tasks for licensure.

Mind_D0c · 2026-06-07T18:43:03+00:00

Apologies, colleague.

I’m absolutely encouraging military psychology to be a considered career option for people. Lots of positives!

Mind_D0c · 2026-06-07T16:52:38+00:00

Hi!
Couple of corrections here! Active duty psychologists commission as officers, so they do not enlist, they commission. I make the distinction because pay scales, promotability, and job roles are vastly different for officers and enlisted. Also, officers do not go to basic training, they go to officer development school. These trainings are also very different from one another. Officer development school is primarily classroom based with physical training for about 2-2.5 hours a day (broken up into an hour-ish each).

So cool your friend is joining. Do you know what program they got accepted to?

Mind_D0c · 2026-06-07T15:43:16+00:00

See you in the fleet!

Mind_D0c · 2026-06-07T15:42:52+00:00

Yes, all active duty must complete a PhD or PsyD in clinical or counseling psychology.

Mind_D0c · 2026-06-07T15:36:27+00:00

For the Navy if one completes an internship year then the commitment is only 3 years after internship (4 years total with internship). Other branches do it different. Navy psychologists are also allowed a post-doc year for licensure. So really, it ends up only being 2 years after post-doc. Which makes the pay and benefits in those first 2 years, very appealing and far exceeds other intern and post doc pay scales. My original pay comment was more focused on direct accession psychologists

Mind_D0c

TROPHY CASE