HI, I am currently pursuing BA. Psychology honours from IGNOU and as per the latest RCI guidelines it is compulsory to have a 4 year BA degree or a 3 1 bridge course degree to become a clinical psychologist but IGNOU doesn't offer any bridge course or an extented year for the same. what should i do?

You are doing BA Psychology Honours from IGNOU. As per the new RCI (Rehabilitation Council of India) rules, to become a licensed clinical psychologist, you must complete either a 4-year UG degree in psychology or a 3-year UG plus 1-year bridge course. IGNOU does not offer a 4th year or any bridge course right now.

If you are in your first or second year, you can think about taking admission in a 4-year UG course in psychology from any regular or online university that follows NEP 2020. This will make you eligible for clinical psychology later.

If you are in the final year or already finished your degree from IGNOU, then you have to wait and see if any RCI-approved universities start offering a 1-year bridge course. Some colleges may start this soon as per new rules.

You can also finish your BA from IGNOU and then do a normal M.A. in Psychology. After that, you can work in psychology fields that do not require RCI license like counselling, teaching, or industrial psychology. But to become a clinical psychologist with an RCI license, your degree must follow the new 4-year rule or have a bridge year.

It is a good idea to contact RCI directly or call universities like NIMHANS, CIP Ranchi or others that offer M.Phil Clinical Psychology, and ask if they will accept your current degree or not.

RCI official website:
https://rehabcouncil.nic.in

Dear Aspirant,

You are currently pursuing a BA in Psychology (Honours) from IGNOU. According to the latest guidelines from the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI), becoming a Clinical Psychologist now requires either a four-year undergraduate degree in Psychology or a 3+1 model, which consists of a three-year BA and a one-year bridge course. Unfortunately, IGNOU does not provide a bridge year or a four-year honours program. This creates a significant challenge for your clinical psychology goals. However, there is a clear path forward. After completing your three-year BA, you can enroll in a regular, UGC-recognized two-year MA or MSc in Psychology. Make sure to achieve at least 55 percent in your first year. This will qualify you to apply for the RCI-approved MA in Clinical Psychology program, which has replaced the previous M.Phil course. This program leads directly to licensure as a Clinical Psychologist. Alternatively, you can consider options like IGNOU’s RCI-approved Post Graduate Diploma in Rehabilitation Psychology (PGDRP). This program allows you to practice as an Associate Clinical Psychologist. While the path may appear complicated, with careful planning and informed academic choices, you can still achieve your goal of becoming a Clinical Psychologist under the new RCI guidelines.

Best wishes