In line with the National Education Policy 2020, which mandates the discontinuation of all M.Phil programs, the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI) has announced major changes to its clinical psychology licensing pathway. Historically, the M.Phil in Clinical Psychology was a key route for graduates to become licensed clinical psychologists. However, an official notification released on March 3, 2024, stated that the M.Phil program will be eliminated starting with the 2024-25 academic session. In its place, RCI will introduce three new courses: PG Diploma, Master of Psychology (M.Psy), and Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D).
To qualify for these courses, applicants must have a UGC-recognized Bachelor’s Degree (Hons) of 4 years duration (8 semesters). However, this presents a challenge, as the only psychology bachelor’s degree in India is a 3-year B.Sc or BA course. Another option provided is a UGC-recognized Master’s Degree in any branch of Psychology of 2 years duration (4 semesters) after obtaining a 3-year Bachelor’s Degree with Psychology as a major/core subject in all three years. This essentially forces current master’s graduates to reapply and complete another master’s degree in psychology due to the inefficiency of RCI as a statutory body.
Further complicating the situation, on June 14, 2024, RCI appparently announced the introduction of an RCI-approved B.Sc Clinical Psychology (Hons) 4-year course, which will grant graduates a license to practice as counseling psychologists and rehabilitation psychologists. While this decision marks the first time a licensing body for counseling psychologists has been established, it disregards the many practicing and aspiring psychologists who are graduates of UGC-regulated MA, M.Sc, M.Phil, and Ph.D. programs. These individuals will now be deemed unqualified by RCI and denied licensure to practice as counseling psychologists, say experts. Additionally, the eligibility requirement for the new B.Sc Clinical Psychology (Hons) program specifies students who have completed the 12th class with a science stream or equivalent. This ignores the fact that most schools offer psychology only as an optional subject in the humanities stream, sidelining many aspiring psychology students, note practicing professionals.
The notification also contradicts the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions Act, 2021, which states that NCAHP will regulate Behavioral Health Sciences Professionals, except clinical psychologists covered under RCI for PWD. This raises questions about RCI overstepping its jurisdiction and attempting to regulate a profession that should be governed by another statutory body.
Dr. Lakshmi T.K., founder and president of Mastermind Foundation and The Mind Care, condemned the ruling: “As a practicing professional in this field, I find this very disheartening. Psychology should be regulated by a single body offering licensure and training to various subdivisions to ensure proper regulation and centralization.”
Prof. Sam Manickam, founder of the Indian Psychological Network (IPN), addressed colleagues in a meeting on February 9, 2024: “We need to use our psychological skills to help the entire psychology community in India achieve our objectives. We need to assist policymakers in making informed decisions rather than questioning their motives. We are psychologists first, regardless of our specialization.”
Yudhajt Roychowdhury, a NET-qualified B.Sc and M.Sc Clinical Psychology graduate, expressed his concerns: “This notification spells doom for both professions since I’ll be unregistered as a counseling psychologist unless I return to college for 4 years. Many students may not enroll in general psychology programs, which could lead to job termination if student inflow and departmental finances decline.”
Shruti Balaji Babar, an M.Sc Medical Psychology student, conveyed her plight: “The RCI’s recent licensure bill leaves current master’s students in a state of panic and uncertainty. The council’s silence on licensure eligibility is negligent, requiring immediate academic inquiry and policy clarification.”
Smriti Gupta, a BA psychology student from Delhi University, stated: “The recent RCI notification has caused nothing but confusion and fear among students and professionals. It seems as if someone who knows little about our field is making regulations for such an important line of work.”
These overlapping and contradictory notifications not only impact professionals and students but also the nation’s mental health. The new regulation could lead to a shortage of psychologists due to the limited number of universities regulated by RCI, creating a monopoly of licensed professionals who may charge higher fees. Additionally, underqualified bachelor’s graduates may enter the market as licensed counseling psychologists. The Ministry of Health and Education must intervene to address RCI’s bypassing of the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions Act, 2021.
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