Applying to PhD in Clinical Psychology with previous Masters

[josephusis]

I am about to complete a Masters in clinical psychology at a Canadian university, but I would like to eventually move to and practice in the United States. It would probably be easier to just do my schooling in the states, but it seems like my Masters would not mean much, and I would have to basically start from the beginning.  If I stay in my current program, I expect to finish my internship 4 years after I get my Masters. Is it feasible to find a PhD program in the states that I could finish in 4 years?  Or would I have to look into a PsyD?  I am very competitive in terms of grades, publications, research experience etc.

Thanks!

[PsyDuck90]

In the US, even most PsyDs take more than 4 years. The shortest programs are 4+1 (4 years at the school and 1 year of internship). Some schools will allow you to transfer in some MA level classes. 

However, the APA and CPA have a reciprocity agreement, so if you complete your doctorate in Canada, you can still apply for APA accredited internships or get licensed in the US with a CPA accredited internship. 

[Romedy]

15 hours ago, josephusis said:

I am about to complete a Masters in clinical psychology at a Canadian university, but I would like to eventually move to and practice in the United States. It would probably be easier to just do my schooling in the states, but it seems like my Masters would not mean much, and I would have to basically start from the beginning.  If I stay in my current program, I expect to finish my internship 4 years after I get my Masters. Is it feasible to find a PhD program in the states that I could finish in 4 years?  Or would I have to look into a PsyD?  I am very competitive in terms of grades, publications, research experience etc.

Thanks!

I completed a Masters in the US before applying to PhD programs. I was not a competitive applicant out of undergrad (I was a non-traditional student and did not do much research at the undergrad level) and so needed the Master's degree to be competitive for PhD applications.

I was able to waive a couple courses, but my PhD will still be a 4+1 (4 years on campus/externship, 1 year APA internship) model. That said, my coursework is somewhat lighter than some of my classmates and I have more time for research. I will also be able tos tart my dissertation much sooner than my classmates.

For me, it came down to my future job. If you can do what you want with a Master's degree, then why go on? If you need a PhD for the job you want, then do what needs to be done to get the PhD.

[PsycUndergrad]

If you are in a CPA-accredited program, you might be better off staying where you are. Like the first poster said, there is a reciprocity agreement between the APA and CPA and you can apply to the US for internship and subsequent licensure. It would almost definitely take longer to go through the application process again, get accepted (which is obviously not a guarantee) and start over again.