Psychology and Counselling

What you need to know

1. 1
   A psychiatrist is a doctor (MBBS + MD) who can prescribe medicine. A clinical psychologist assesses and treats with therapy, and needs an RCI qualification and registration. A counsellor supports people with everyday problems.
2. 2
   BA or B.Sc Psychology after Class 12 is open to any stream, but it alone does not make you a psychologist.
3. 3
   The clinical route now takes about 6 years after Class 12: a 4-year degree, then a 2-year Master in Clinical Psychology (which replaces the M.Phil).
4. 4
   Calling yourself a clinical psychologist without RCI registration is an offence. Short online "therapist certificates" are not enough.

Official sources

• rehabcouncil.nic.inRCI: recognised courses↗
• pib.gov.inPIB: Tele-MANAS (14416)↗

Inside this branch

• Every year: the calendar
• Who does what2 more
• After Class 122 more
• Becoming a clinical psychologist2 more
• School counsellor1 more
• Other routes1 more
• Jobs and pay2 more
• Free learning and help1 more
• Law and ethics1 more
• For girls1 more
• Avoid scams1 more

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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What you need to know

1. 1
   CUET (UG) for BA or B.Sc Psychology at central universities: usually in May.
2. 2
   Clinical master's entrances (CIP Ranchi, NIMHANS and others): applications usually in March and April, tests in April and May.
3. 3
   NCERT Diploma in Guidance and Counselling: applications usually from September to November, course from January.
4. 4
   Exact dates change every year: always check the official website before you apply.

Official sources

• cipranchi.nic.inCIP Ranchi: entrance exams↗
• riebbs.ac.inNCERT Diploma in Guidance and Counselling (PDF)↗

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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Learn from these 2

• Official
  PIB: India's mental health programmesWho works in district mental health teams.
  Free
• Article
  Mental Healthcare Act 2017 (text)Legal definitions of psychiatrist, clinical psychologist, social worker.
  Free

Inside this branch

• Kinds of work
• Want to prescribe medicine?

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What you need to know

1. 1
   Clinical (hospitals, clinics), counselling, school counselling, child, organisational and HR, sports, forensic, rehabilitation, research and teaching.
2. 2
   Psychiatric social workers (MSW plus clinical training) and psychiatric nurses also work in mental health teams.

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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What you need to know

1. 1
   Only psychiatrists can. That route is NEET, MBBS and then MD in Psychiatry.

Official sources

• Vaidaani roadmapBecome a doctor→

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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Learn from these 3

• Official
  RCI: Bachelor in Clinical Psychology notice (PDF)Science stream, Clinical Assistant licence, no distance mode.
  Free
• Article
  PTI: UGC stops distance psychologyStudy psychology in regular mode.
  Free
• Official
  NPTEL: Introduction to PsychologyTry the subject free.
  Free

Inside this branch

• The degree
• RCI clinical bachelor's

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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What you need to know

1. 1
   BA or B.Sc Psychology accepts any stream at most colleges; central universities admit through CUET. Choose a 4-year (honours) degree if you may want the clinical route.
2. 2
   Distance and online psychology degrees were stopped by UGC from 2025 (reported): study in regular mode.

Official sources

• Vaidaani roadmapAfter Class 12: all choices→
• Vaidaani roadmapArts and Humanities careers→
• theweek.inPTI: UGC stops distance and online psychology↗

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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What you need to know

1. 1
   RCI's 4-year Bachelor in Clinical Psychology needs Class 12 Science and an entrance test. Graduates register as Clinical Assistants, not psychologists, and cannot practise on their own. It never runs online or by distance.

Official sources

• cdnbbsr.s3waas.gov.inRCI: Bachelor in Clinical Psychology notice (PDF)↗

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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Learn from these 6

• Official
  RCI: Master in Clinical Psychology (PDF)Eligibility, entrance, 2-year training.
  Free
• Official
  RCI: recognised coursesAll RCI psychology courses.
  Free
• Official
  RCI: approved institutionsCheck the institute before applying.
  Free
• Official
  RCI and UGC: M.Phil phase-out (PDF)Admissions only up to 2025-26.
  Free
• Official
  CIP Ranchi: entrance examsClinical psychology and PSW admissions.
  Free
• Official
  NIMHANS: admissionsClinical psychology and PSW courses.
  Free

Inside this branch

• The steps
• What changed

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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What you need to know

1. 1
   After a 4-year psychology degree with 55% (50% for SC and ST), join the 2-year Master in Clinical Psychology (M.Clin.Psy) at an RCI-approved institute: entrance test plus interview. With a 3-year degree, first do a bridge year or the first year of an MA.
2. 2
   Then register on RCI's Central Rehabilitation Register. Only then can you practise as a clinical psychologist.

Official sources

• cdnbbsr.s3waas.gov.inRCI: Master in Clinical Psychology (PDF)↗
• rehabcouncil.nic.inRCI: approved institutions↗

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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What you need to know

1. 1
   UGC allowed new M.Phil Clinical Psychology admissions only up to 2025–26; the master's replaces it. Those with an MA can also take RCI's 1-year Professional Diploma (registers as an associate) or a Psy.D.
2. 2
   Top institutes like CIP Ranchi and NIMHANS have few seats but pay trainees a monthly stipend.

Official sources

• cdnbbsr.s3waas.gov.inRCI and UGC: M.Phil admissions end (PDF)↗
• cipranchi.nic.inCIP Ranchi: entrance exams↗
• nimhans.ac.inNIMHANS: admissions↗

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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Learn from these 3

• Official
  CBSE affiliation bye-lawsClause 2.4.12: counsellor and wellness teacher.
  Free
• Official
  NCERT Diploma in Guidance and Counselling (PDF)Eligibility, centres, fees.
  Free
• Article
  Careers360: CBSE counsellor rules tightenedOne counsellor per 500 students (reported).
  Free

Inside this branch

• The rules

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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What you need to know

1. 1
   CBSE requires every secondary school to have a counsellor and wellness teacher: a graduate or postgraduate in psychology, or in child development, or a graduate with a counselling diploma. CBSE tightened this in 2026 (one per 500 students, plus a career counsellor; reported).
2. 2
   Teachers and psychology postgraduates can take NCERT's 1-year Diploma in Guidance and Counselling.

Official sources

• cbse.gov.inCBSE affiliation bye-laws (counsellor rule)↗
• riebbs.ac.inNCERT Diploma in Guidance and Counselling (PDF)↗
• Vaidaani roadmapTeaching careers→

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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Learn from these 2

• Official
  CIP Ranchi: psychiatric social work prospectus (PDF)Eligibility and selection.
  Free
• Official
  RCI: recognised coursesRehabilitation psychology courses.
  Free

Inside this branch

• More paths

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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What you need to know

1. 1
   Psychiatric social work: MSW plus clinical training at institutes like CIP Ranchi and NIMHANS.
2. 2
   Rehabilitation psychology courses are also RCI-regulated. Teaching in colleges needs a master's with 55% and UGC NET.

Official sources

• rehabcouncil.nic.inRCI: recognised courses↗

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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Learn from these 2

• Official
  PIB: Tele-MANASThe national mental health helpline and its teams.
  Free
• Official
  AIIMS Bathinda: psychologist post (PDF)Example qualifications and pay.
  Free

Inside this branch

• Where the jobs are
• Honest pay

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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What you need to know

1. 1
   Government hospitals, medical colleges, the District Mental Health Programme (in about 767 districts) and the Tele-MANAS helpline need clinical psychologists and social workers. Also schools, NGOs, companies and private practice.
2. 2
   Example: an AIIMS contract psychologist post paid basic ₹56,100 a month and needed an M.Phil.

Official sources

• pib.gov.inPIB: India's mental health programmes↗
• pib.gov.inPIB: Tele-MANAS (14416)↗

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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What you need to know

1. 1
   With a BA alone, expect support roles. Master's-level counsellors often start at about ₹20,000–40,000 a month (reported). Qualified, registered clinical psychologists are in short supply.

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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Learn from these 3

• Official
  SWAYAMFree online courses.
  Free
• Official
  National Scholarship PortalCentral and state scholarships.
  Free
• Official
  PIB: Tele-MANAS 14416Free support, 24 hours.
  Free

Inside this branch

• What exists

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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What you need to know

1. 1
   Free psychology courses on NPTEL and SWAYAM (certificate exam is paid). Scholarships on the National Scholarship Portal.
2. 2
   If you or a friend need support: Tele-MANAS 14416 (or 1-800-891-4416), free, 24 hours, in many languages.

Official sources

• nptel.ac.inNPTEL: Introduction to Psychology (free)↗
• pib.gov.inPIB: Tele-MANAS (14416)↗
• Vaidaani roadmapScholarships for every stage→

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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Learn from these 3

• Article
  Mental Healthcare Act 2017 (text)Confidentiality and suicide sections.
  Free
• Official
  RCI statutory warning (PDF)Practising without registration is an offence.
  Free
• Article
  RCI Act section 13 (text)Who may practise and the penalty.
  Free

Inside this branch

• What to know

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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What you need to know

1. 1
   Under the Mental Healthcare Act 2017, a person with mental illness has a right to confidentiality, and a person who attempts suicide is presumed to be under severe stress and is not punished.
2. 2
   Under the RCI Act, practising as a rehabilitation professional without RCI registration can mean up to a year in jail or a fine.

Official sources

• casemine.comMental Healthcare Act 2017 (text)↗
• cdnbbsr.s3waas.gov.inRCI: practising without registration is an offence (PDF)↗

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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Learn from these 1

• Official
  CIP Ranchi: entrance examsStipend-paid clinical training.
  Free

Inside this branch

• What to know

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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What you need to know

1. 1
   Many women work in psychology and counselling. Hospitals, clinics and schools with 10 or more staff must have an Internal Committee for harassment complaints (POSH Act).

Official sources

• Vaidaani roadmapFor girls: every scheme→

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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Learn from these 4

• Official
  RCI: blacklisted institutionsInstitutions to avoid.
  Free
• Official
  RCI: fraud advisory (PDF)RCI writes only from nic.in or gov.in.
  Free
• Official
  UGC: fake universitiesCheck before paying.
  Free
• Official
  Cyber crime portal (helpline 1930)Report fraud.
  Free

Inside this branch

• Red flags

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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What you need to know

1. 1
   "Become a certified psychologist or therapist in weeks": short certificates do not make you a clinical psychologist.
2. 2
   "RCI-approved online or distance clinical psychology": RCI does not allow clinical psychology by distance. Check the RCI approved and blacklisted lists and UGC's fake universities.
3. 3
   Calls or WhatsApp groups claiming to be an "RCI regional chapter": RCI says it has none and writes only from nic.in or gov.in email.

Official sources

• rehabcouncil.nic.inRCI: approved institutions↗
• rehabcouncil.nic.inRCI: blacklisted institutions↗
• ugc.gov.inUGC: fake universities↗
• rehabcouncil.nic.inRCI: circulars and notices↗

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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