After I've finished my PhD, I'll be aiming for a DSc.

Agree with this. There are, depressingly, too many people with too much to say about the life choices of other people. You only get one life. If doing two PhDs is what gets you out of bed then you are free to do exactly that without others making you feel bad.

I don't think I would do a second phd or even a professional doctorate but I would love to do a second Masters that focused on clinical counselling skills and I may do this after completing the PhD this year and taking a bit of a break. Not sure yet though, I just love this sort of work more I think than what I do currently although that is enjoyable if stressful at times.

I had to do the Phd though and don't regret this as I think all of the knowledge areas will suit each other and it may help me establish a private practice in a few years time as well as training my professional writing skills. I spend most of my time in 'the real world' whatever that is and fit all of my studies in during weekends and term breaks and holidays. If I did enrol in a M Counselling, this would be undertaken while I work in my current work, and I have no doubt the skills learned would enhance both my professional and personal life.

Yes, I am a mad fool that is doing his second PhD and both have been part time while I worked in industry. So why the second PhD? Well it is simple… how does one maintain his research edge when he is working for a living? Simple, you carry on studying, its ordinarily hard on your life but this is how you maintain your edge. Hard bloody work!
PhD Chemistry 1996
PhD Chemical engineering 2020 (fingers crossed)

Cool! Did you get funding to do your second PhD or do you self fund? Just curious. I have to say though, another way to maintain your research edge when working for a living is to do research as a living! Or so I thought! Was this not possible in your case? I'm really curious about this stuff because I've considered doing a second PhD myself.

It's very rare I pop by here now but this caught my eye.

I guess you've found a good reason to do a second PhD in order to keep your edge and fair enough. You'll also know what's involved on your second go and will to some degree be able to plan accordingly. But doing this alongside you job both times is not something I envy. I remember 12 to 16 hour days especially for the last couple of years as I wrote up and that I'd not wish on anyone. Admittedly I was full time and there was just the PhD.

As per Tudor Queen, how are / did you fund these PhDs? I imagine you having to pay the fees unless your company has supported you.

Ian

Hello,

I also hold 2 PhDs, an earlier in Chemical Catalytic Converter Design/Modelling/Simulation (Chemical Eng) and a recent one in Automatic Image Recognition (AI/Computer Eng).

I needed a career change so as to enter the IT sector.

you did it like me... after 24 years a second PHD.My first at 1994 and the second 2010 :-)

Although most people typically stop at one doctoral degree and later earn honorary degrees if they are especially successful or have made ground-breaking discoveries, there are quite a few people who do hold more than one PhD degree. One reverend, Rev. Bryan Belrad has four doctoral degrees that he earned himself, along with some honorary ones bestowed upon him. There are other people who do hold several master's or bachelor's degrees, such as one person in Kalamazoo who has more than 20 college-level degrees, and had been enrolled in college for more than 40 years. I have a double major doctoral degree that can be seen as two PhD's individually, in inorganic and physical chemistry, and pursued both of the majors at the same time during my nine years at SUNY Albany, from 2002 to 2011. However, my diploma only shows 'Chemistry', so I usually tell people directly about the two majors. Theoretically, there is no limit to how many doctoral degrees someone can hold, but it depends on how motivated and capable the person is as a college student or whether he/she has easy access to campuses. It does take a great deal of effort and good strategy planning to pull this off.