Panamanian regulations state that the Licentiate Degree in Psychology is the
academic degree needed to be recognized and work as a psychologist in the
country. With this degree, professionals become General Psychologists and
subject of responsibilities and rights (salary scale, labor protections, etc). This
makes the transition from students to professionals short and abrupt and has
caused the increased need to raise the hours of supervised practices during the
programs and the emergence of "supervision groups" even after graduation.
Although there is an increase in the enrollment to master's programs, largely
driven by the industry's and labor sector's need for specialized professionals,
there is still a significant group of professionals who are General Psychologists.
Furthermore, Doctoral Degrees in the country are still very limited and
primarily pursued by those interested in an academic career, although they are
not mandatory. Currently, there is only one open Doctoral Program in the
country, in Clinical Psychology, which narrows the opportunities for those
seeking this postgraduate degree.

Although there are academic challenges that need to be addressed, professionals
in the country are recognized for their grounded perspective and ability to
understand the realities of their communities and the nation, adapting their work
and interventions accordingly. Since practical hours are required to obtain the
Licentiate Degree, an applied approach to various topics and challenges is
incorporated from the beginning of psychological education. Furthermore, as
many professors actively work in the industry (clinics, hospitals, businesses,
diplomatic and national leadership roles, etc.) while teaching, they help bridge
the theoretical-practical gap by integrating real-world perspectives into their
classes.