The journey to becoming a licensed Psychologist in India is challenging. You need to begin your journey with a bachelor’s degree, then a master’s, then an M.Phil./ PsyD. Once done, you need to do RCI registration to get a license finally. Apart from this long academic journey, one of the recent challenges most students are facing is the changing RCI guidelines.
Those who are already pursuing their psychology degree and those who are planning to pursue it in the academic year 2025 and 2026 are constantly looking for more explicit clarification on RCI new guidelines for Clinical Psychologists. If you are an aspiring psychology student or a mental health professional who wants to practice as a licensed Psychologist in India, this latest update is just for you.
MA Is the New M.Phil.
RCI new guidelines suggest that UGC will discontinue the M.Phil. in Clinical Psychology, which has been a compulsory program for so many years. It is now termed or named as MA in Clinical Psychology, which will be an RCI-regulated 2-year program tentatively to be implemented in all universities/colleges from 2026. These new RCI guidelines will benefit not only students but also working professionals who wish to enhance their competency in the field of Psychology.
Things To Know About This MA Clinical Psychology Course
As per the RCI new guidelines, MA in Clinical Psychology is a 2 year (four semesters) postgraduate program which will help you become a licensed Psychologist in India. Let’s understand what things will be covered in this course and some of the significant benefits:
- It’s An RCI Regulated Program – Unlike previous master’s programs that focused mainly on theoretical concepts and lacked practical training, this new program will be recognized and approved by the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI) and will be taught in RCI-approved institutions. RCI-regulated programs adhere to specific curriculum guidelines and syllabi set forth by the RCI in order to maintain an equal and uniform educational and training experience across institutions. This ensures a standardized level of instruction across institutions.
- Perfect Blend of Practical And Theoretical Foundations – As per RCI new guidelines, this new 2-year program will give hands-on experimental training as well as theoretical foundations. The new curriculum emphasizes skill-based learning through hands-on practice and real-world application – this marks a notable departure from its previous exam-centric format.
- Progressive Development of Students – The training will be imparted for the progressive development of skills, knowledge, and understanding of various techniques, theories, approaches, and methods. Clinical skills, such as assessment, diagnosis, formulation and intervention techniques, are progressively introduced upon this theoretical base. You would not learn complex psychotherapy techniques before understanding basic psychological principles and assessment methods.
- Inclusion of Latest Trends And Practices – RCI’s commitment to including “latest trends and practices” in psychology training is central to their mandate, especially with recent revisions under National Education Policy 2020 curriculum reforms. This ensures that Indian psychologists have all the skills required for dealing with mental health’s ever-evolving landscape and meeting global standards of mental healthcare provision.
- Focus on Other Fields – As per the RCI new guidelines, Clinical psychologists are an increasingly integral component of hospital and healthcare settings’ multidisciplinary teams. A deep knowledge of Psychiatry (medication, diagnostic frameworks), Neurology (brain function disorders), Oncology (cancer treatment and its psychological impact), and Pediatrics (child development disorders and illnesses in children) are crucial skills necessary for providing truly comprehensive care to their clients.
- Prepare Trained Clinical Psychologist – RCI new guidelines and new program are designed to build professionally trained clinical psychologists that are equipped to address India’s growing mental health needs and diagnose mental health problems easily. Research methodologies, statistics and evidence-based practice are given special emphasis. This ensures that clinical psychologists can critically appraise research studies conducted elsewhere, as well as conduct their investigations and apply interventions with proven efficacy.
Eligibility And Selection Process
♦ Eligibility
The RCI new guidelines strives to establish consistent entry requirements, with undergraduate psychology serving as its core eligibility criterion.
Option 1: Four-Year Bachelor of Arts/Science Psychology Honors Degree
- Candidates for admission into this program must hold a four-year Bachelor of Honours in Psychology as their core subject from an institution recognized by UGC.
- At least 60% marks (or its equivalent grade per UGC regulations) is typically required to pass.
Option 2: Three-Year Bachelor’s Degree with Master of Psychology
- Candidates holding a three-year Bachelor’s degree (with Psychology as one of their core disciplines throughout all three years) from an institution recognized by UGC will qualify.
- Following that, they must possess a two-year master’s degree from an approved UGC university in any branch of Psychology such as Applied, Counseling and General – such as Applied, Counseling or General Psychology.
- An aggregate score of at least 60% marks or equivalent grade as defined by UGC is usually required in a master’s degree program.
Option 3: Introduction of Bridge Courses
RCI has instructed universities to consider offering bridge courses so candidates with three-year Bachelor’s degrees in Psychology qualify for 2-year MA Clinical Psychology programs – this development represents an exciting advancement.
♦ Selection Process
The selection process is mainly divided into two parts: Written test (70% weightage) and interview (30% weightage). Here is the detailed selection process:
- Application Submission: Candidates seeking admission into RCI-accredited institutions offering MA in Clinical Psychology programs should directly apply with those offering them via an application form and associated documents and fee submission process.
- Entrance Test (Written Exam): Selection criteria are often an essential element in the recruitment and selection process and account for up to 70% of total scores in some institutions’ examples.
- Interview/Counseling Round: Candidates who pass the written entrance examination typically advance to an interview or counselling round, which carries a 30 percent weightage in total score calculation.
- Document Verification: Before final admission is approved, all academic documents, certificates, and proofs (such as category certificates) submitted for verification are carefully assessed by our admission team.
- Final Selection: An overall merit list will be created using scores accumulated during both entrance exams and interviews, as well as successful document verification.
List of RCI Approved Institutes For Pursuing MA In Clinical Psychology (2025-26)
| S.No | Institution Name | Location | Total Seats |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manav Rachna University | Faridabad, Haryana | 10 |
| 2 | Gurugram University | Gurugram, Haryana | 10 |
| 3 | J.S.S. Medical College (Deemed to be University) | Nagara, Dist- Mysuru | 10 |
| 4 | Christ (Deemed to be University) | Bengaluru, Karnataka | 10 |
| 5 | Global University | Shivpuri, Madhya Pradesh | 10 |
| 6 | Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj University | Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra | 10 |
| 7 | Savitribai Phule Pune University | Pune, Maharashtra | 10 |
| 8 | Lovely Professional University | Kapurthala, Punjab | 10 |
| 9 | Apex Institute of Special Education, Apex University | Jaipur, Rajasthan | 10 |
| 10 | Shyam University, Department of Special Education | Dausa, Rajasthan | 10 |
| 11 | Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University | Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh | 10 |
| 12 | Faculty of Psychology and Behavioural Sciences | Kanpur Nagar, Uttar Pradesh | 10 |
Conclusion
Here’s all you need to know about RCI new guidelines in 2025 and coming years. We suggest all psychology aspirants stay updated with the latest RCI updates from their official website. Remember, this is just the beginning, and soon, more institutions will join the above list in future once they get RCI approval to begin the new MA in Clinical Psychology course, which will replace M.Phil. in 2026. This blog is to spread awareness and serve information on the RCI new guidelines that came in March 2025. Please note to always check the official website (link attached) for more such upcoming updates on this course.
Good luck to all the future Psychologists!
