How many years of college to be a child psychologist

Salary, Education Requirements And Job Growth – Forbes Advisor

Updated: Aug 2, 2022, 1:24pm

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Children’s mental health affects how they think, act, feel and relate to others, and poor mental health can have devastating effects on them. Even toddlers and young children can suffer from mental health issues.

If you enjoy working with children and you’re wondering how to become a child psychologist, read on to find out what you need to know to enter this career field. If you want to make a difference in children’s lives, becoming a child psychologist may be a good career option.

Child Psychologist Job Outlook

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) does not report data on child psychologists specifically, but it does track data on psychologists overall. The BLS projects jobs for psychologists to increase by 8% between 2020 and 2030.

Children of all ages need mental healthcare. According to a study by the Centers for Disease Control, 1 in 6 children between the ages of 2 and 8 have been diagnosed with a mental, behavioral or developmental disorder. And 8.9% of adolescents and teens aged 12 to 17 have attempted suicide. These statistics indicate a critical need for child psychologists to help children of all ages manage their emotional, behavioral and mental health issues.

What Does a Child Psychologist Do?

Child psychologists provide psychological services to children and adolescents to help promote their mental health and well-being. These professionals use specialized knowledge and strategies to address the psychological needs of children who are struggling with behavioral, emotional or other mental health challenges.

Below are a few ways child psychologists support children’s well-being:

• They use testing and evaluation procedures to assess children’s psychological, intellectual and cognitive issues.
• They address psychological, emotional, developmental, cognitive and behavioral issues that children may be experiencing.
• They treat children who struggle with trauma and loss, anxiety, stress, depression, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), cognitive deficits, behavioral problems, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), suicidal ideation, addiction, eating disorders and other conditions.
• They provide interventions, such as psychotherapy and behavior modification.
• They may work to develop preventative programs for bullying, teen pregnancy, childhood obesity, substance abuse and other issues.

Child Psychologist Salary

Child psychologists earn an average annual base salary of around $65,000. Child psychologists with 20 or more years of experience earn an average annual salary of around $96,000.

Steps to Becoming a Child Psychologist

If you want to become a child psychologist, plan to spend six to eight years completing the education required for licensure. You must complete a bachelor’s degree, a doctorate, an internship and a postdoctoral fellowship before you can move forward with testing for licensing and certification.

As you plan your career path, learn your state’s specific requirements, as each state sets its own licensing requirements.

Earn a Bachelor’s Degree

To become a child psychologist, you must earn a bachelor’s degree in child psychology, psychology or a related field. Majoring in one of these subjects helps you learn the basics of psychology and prepare to begin your doctoral program. Bachelor’s degree coursework varies among majors.

If you choose a bachelor’s degree in child psychology, coursework may include child development, adolescent development, educational psychology and disorders of childhood and adolescence.

A bachelor’s degree in psychology involves more general coursework. Courses may include introduction to psychology, introduction to anatomy and physiology, statistics and scientific investigation. If you choose this path, consider taking classes that focus on children’s mental health issues, if they are available.

Complete a Psy.D. or Ph.D. Program

A master’s degree would enable you to work as a mental health counselor, but you need a doctorate to become a child psychologist. To become a child psychologist, you could theoretically move directly into a doctoral program after earning your bachelor’s. However, if your undergraduate degree is in a field unrelated to psychology, you may need to earn a master’s in child psychology or psychology first.

You can pursue a Psy.D. or a Ph.D. for your doctoral degree. Either of these degrees provides a deep understanding of the principles of child psychology and prepares you to work as a child psychologist. However, there are differences between the two degree types.

Ph.D.

A Ph.D. is more research-focused than a Psy.D. It’s common for those who earn this degree to work in teaching, research or clinical practice. Choose a Ph.D. if you want to learn more about the principles of research as they relate to your field.

The coursework required for a Ph.D. may include advanced research methods, statistics, abnormal psychology, developmental psychology, personality psychology and experimental methods.

Psy.D.

Choose a Psy.D. if you want to concentrate less on research and more on direct work with children in clinical settings. You can complete this degree program more quickly than a Ph.D. program because a Psy.D. has fewer requirements.

Coursework required for a Psy.D. may include child development, adolescent development, social psychology, cognitive foundations of behavior, psychological theories and research methods.

Gain Pre-Professional Experience

Doctoral programs for psychology typically require internships. The Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers provides information on finding internships and helps candidates match with internship opportunities.

You must complete a postdoctoral fellowship to become a child psychologist. A fellowship involves working for a specific number of hours under supervision, typically lasting one or two years. A fellowship allows you to gain real-world experience working with children in a clinical setting.

Apply for State Licensure

After earning your doctorate, you must pass the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP)—the national licensing exam—to become a licensed child psychologist. The Association of State and Provincial Psychology Board (ASPPB) oversees the EPPP.

Specific licensing requirements vary by state, so check your state’s guidelines to ensure you’re meeting the requirements. The ASPPB maintains an online directory of licensing boards in the U.S. and Canada.

Obtain Board Certification

Becoming board-certified signifies that you have proven expertise in your chosen specialty. The American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP) handles certification for licensed psychologists in 15 specialty areas.

The American Board of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology (ABCCAP) is a member board of ABPP and handles board certification for the clinical child and adolescent psychology credential. You must pass the ABCCAP exam to become certified.

Frequently Asked Questions About Child Psychologists

What skills are needed to be a child psychologist?

Child psychologists need to have excellent analytical, observation, problem-solving and research skills. They also need to be compassionate and understanding since they may work with children who have serious mental disorders or those who may be victims of abuse.

How long does it take to become a child psychologist?

It should take you six to eight years to complete your education requirements. All in all, it takes eight to 10 years to complete your fellowship, take your exams and go through the licensing and certification processes.

What is the difference between pediatric psychology and child psychology?

Pediatric psychologists typically work in medical facilities such as pediatric hospitals, treating children with life-threatening illnesses. Child psychologists may work in other settings, including outpatient clinics, hospitals, government agencies and private practices.

Is a child psychologist a doctor?

No, a child psychologist is not a medical doctor. In most states, psychologists cannot perform medical procedures or write prescriptions.

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How Many Years of Education Are Needed to Become a Child Psychologist? | Work

By Chron Contributor Updated October 12, 2021

Child psychologists work in clinical settings, schools or research facilities. They work with children and adolescents who are experiencing mental illness or traumatic life events. Job growth for psychologists is expected to increase by eight percent from now and 2030, according to the U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The BLS reports the average annual salary for a psychologist was ​$82,180​ in 2020. While child psychology is a solid career choice, it usually requires a total of at least eight years of schooling after high school.

Look at the Job Description

Child psychologists observe children's behavior and interpret it. Psychology degree courses provide competencies necessary to diagnose and treat mental illnesses, help children deal with trauma, conduct research at the university level and help institutions create environments that promote sound mental health. They consult with family members, school personnel, medical professionals and law enforcement. Child psychologists, often referred to as developmental psychologists, may work in schools, where their focus is on learning and behavior issues. In most states, psychologists are not authorized to prescribe medicine.

Earn a Bachelor's Degree

Child psychologists need to earn a bachelor's degree from an accredited school. An aspiring child psychologist is not required to major in psychology, but will need to complete a number of psychology courses. The clinical child psychology program at the University of Kansas requires students need to complete at least 15 hours in psychology, with coursework in statistics and research methodology. For students that major in psychology, classes will include research methods, neuroscience, individual and group processes, memory and learning and psychopathology.

At the University of Minnesota, students must earn at least 54 credits for a psychology bachelor of science degree, including 36 psychology credits. It takes at least four years to earn a BSN. Admission to graduate programs in psychology is often competitive. At the University of Kansas, applicants must show potential and proficiencies as demonstrated through transcripts, grade point averages, test scores and letters of recommendation, as well as relative experience.

Attain a Master's and Doctorate

Most child psychologist positions require a doctoral degree, which requires five or more years to complete. It is possible to work as a school psychologist with a master's degree, which takes three years to earn. According to the BLS, there are two different types of masters degrees and doctoral degrees for child psychologists, each leading to different career paths. A Ph.D. is aimed at psychologists that want to pursue a career in research, whereas the Psy.D., or doctor of psychology degree, is geared to those desiring to practice in a clinical setting.

Some programs, such as the Clinical Child Psychology Training Program at the University of Kansas, provides competencies in research and clinical practice working with youth and family concerns. Look at clinical psychology specializations that fit your interests and talents.

Gain Necessary Licensing

Upon completion of psychology degree courses and degrees, would-be psychologists must become licensed before they can practice. Licensing requirements vary from state to state. The American Psychological Association notes several requirements for obtaining a license. You must earn a doctoral degree in psychology, work 1,500 to 6,000 hours under the supervision of a licensed psychologist, pass the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology, pass a jurisprudence exam (if applicable) and receive approval by a state licensing board. School psychologists need to get licensed through their state's department of education. They will need to pass the teacher certification test and may need to do an internship. The APA advises to begin preparing for licensing during the second or third year of graduate school.

How much to study as a psychologist. | SYNERGY University

Psychologist is a profession that appeared in our country about 40 years ago. To many young people facing a choice, it seems very attractive. They have questions: how to get an education and how much to study as a psychologist, is it possible to get this specialty in a college or only at a university after grade 11.

Main tasks

To a person who is familiar with the work of a psychologist only from the outside, it may seem simple and even pleasant. In a cozy office, a consultant has a friendly conversation with a client, receiving a good reward for this. nine0003

Indeed, a favorable environment is necessary, because the main tasks are to help a person to look into himself, to reconsider habitual patterns of behavior and relationships with others, to promote personal growth and self-realization. No matter how paradoxical it may sound, the goal of the psychologist's work is to become unnecessary for the client.

Talking and conducting trainings is the external side of the activity of a specialist in the field of practical psychology. Most of the time is spent preparing for meetings, selecting and developing methods, analyzing and summarizing the results, and creating recommendations. nine0003

Where to work

Work in psychological assistance centers is far from the only sphere of professional realization.

Child and adolescent psychologists work in schools, boarding schools, kindergartens. Using special techniques, they check the personal characteristics of the children and build individual rehabilitation or training programs. After evaluating the abilities and inclinations of young men and women, consultants advise which profession to choose.

Correctional work is also within the competence of psychologists. They help children overcome difficult life moments, form behavior patterns in difficult situations, work with "special" kids and their parents. nine0003

Psychologists get jobs as personnel managers at enterprises and are engaged in the selection and competent placement of personnel, taking into account psychological compatibility, helping employees to adapt to new conditions.

The main task of a psychologist in the field of business is to increase the efficiency of the company, motivate employees to achieve high work results and psychological relief.

Another opportunity for professional realization is work in sports clubs and sections, health-improving institutions. Here, the duties include: selection of team members, assistance in resolving conflicts, career guidance. nine0003

People affected by emergencies are in dire need of the support provided by psychologists from the Ministry of Emergency Situations. In addition, they work with the rescuers themselves. Such specialists are also needed in law enforcement agencies. Here they participate in the formation of personnel to solve combat missions, help prevent violations of discipline, support soldiers, officers and their families in crisis situations.

Clinical psychologists occupy a special place. This area of ​​\u200b\u200bactivity is in contact with medicine, so usually their place of work is medical institutions. Considering somatic diseases through the prism of psychotherapy, they help patients and their loved ones cope with the disease. nine0003

People suffering from drug addiction, alcoholism, gambling and other types of addictions, which are so widespread today, and their relatives also need support. It is provided by employees of specialized centers and narcological dispensaries.

Who can become a good specialist

Psychologists, of course, are not born. To acquire key qualities:

• the ability to respect the personality of another person;
• sincere interest in the client's problems; nine0042
• tolerance;
• observation;
• striving for continuous personal development;
• possession of special techniques and other professional tools.

You need to get a thorough training in an educational institution. However, this profession, like no other, presupposes the presence of natural inclinations. First of all - empathy, focus on communication with other people, the desire to help them. nine0003

You should not choose it for a person who wants to solve only his own personal problems, who is not interested in others.

How much to study as a psychologist after the 9th grade

After completing the 9th grade, an applicant can enter a college or technical school. There are no specialized secondary vocational educational institutions of a psychological profile in our country. However, by choosing a future vector of activity, you can choose the vocational school of the corresponding direction. nine0003

For example, in order to become a sports psychologist in the future, you need to go to college with a degree in physical education or close to it. It is better for a corporate or organizational psychologist to start training in the direction of "Professional training by industry" or "Commerce", for children and adolescents - to choose a pedagogical college, for penitentiary or judicial - legal, clinical - medical.

How much to study after 11 grades

Graduates of 11 grades can also enter colleges and acquire a specialty in the same areas. The term of study for full-time education is 2 years, for part-time education - 3 years. nine0003

This is a good opportunity to start getting a psychological education for those applicants who could not immediately enter the university. Exams for admission are not provided, applicants participate in the competition of certificates - the higher the average score, the more chances to enter.

Higher education can be obtained in different ways. The top ten includes not only educational institutions located in Moscow (Moscow State University, RANEPA, RUDN University, Russian State University for the Humanities, National Research University Higher School of Economics), but also universities in St. Petersburg, Novosibirsk, Kazan, Tomsk and Vladivostok. nine0003

If for various reasons an applicant cannot qualify for admission to a prestigious university, do not despair. Most regional classical universities and pedagogical academies have departments of psychology.

In most universities, applicants enter the undergraduate program, where the duration of study is 4 years. For clinical psychologists, in addition, there is an opportunity to study as a specialist for 5 years. At the correspondence department - in all directions for six months more. nine0003

The list of entrance examinations differs in different educational institutions, but usually it is required to submit the results of the Unified State Examination in the Russian language, biology, social studies, and sometimes in mathematics.

Immediately after receiving a diploma, you cannot start practical consulting - for this you need a certificate of specialization at the same university where the person studied, or at another university.

It is possible to obtain a second higher education in 3.5 years. This can be done while studying in parallel at another university. nine0003

There is another way to acquire the qualification of a psychologist - in the magistracy. For example, a person with a higher education in a related specialty - a teacher, a social worker or a doctor - after training for 2 years, will receive a new profession of "clinical psychologist". This option is more suitable for those who plan to devote themselves to research activities.

For practical work, professional retraining courses are suitable, the duration of which varies from 1 to 1.5 years, depending on the number of hours included in the program. If the main education is far from psychology, you will first have to take another retraining course. nine0003

Benefits of working as a psychologist

Today this profession is available to almost everyone who wants to help people. Due to the high demand, specialists have the opportunity to choose a place of work and improve their skills.

A novice employee at a school or childcare facility will not, of course, immediately receive a high salary. However, after retraining and gaining experience, he will be able to get a job in a large medical center or go into private practice. With a good clientele, he will always have a high income. nine0003

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