How much schooling 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.

where to study, salary, pros and cons

Author: Rufina Belkina

Updated December 3, 2022

Psychologist specializes in regularities, forms and manifestations of mental phenomena and personality states, in the features of human mental development. He can both engage in research activities and apply his knowledge in practice (to provide advice, to work with personnel in enterprises and institutions). This is a helping profession from the category of "man-to-man". By the way, the ProfGid career guidance center has recently developed an accurate career guidance test that will tell you which professions suit you, give an opinion about your personality type and intelligence. The profession is suitable for those who are interested in biology and psychology (see. choosing a profession based on interest in school subjects).

Well-known psychologists

Examples of companies with psychologist vacancies

Short description

The quality of life of each person is affected not only by his physical health, but also psychological health. In recent decades, this truth has become increasingly fixed in the minds of people, and psychologists have become an effective tool for solving many internal problems that a person is not able to cope with on his own. Often they work together with doctors, or use their knowledge to maintain a comfortable psychological climate in organizations. Work in the field of psychology also requires a sufficient level of awareness, the absence of serious internal contradictions on the part of the psychologist himself, therefore it is almost always preceded or accompanied by a visit by a specialist to his own psychotherapist.

Features of the profession: what is a psychologist?

Psychologists always work with people. They are required to unconditionally follow professional ethics and adhere to the well-known principle of "do no harm". The psychological problems faced by their clients are almost always complex and rooted deep in their past. Understanding them can be difficult even for experienced professionals, so the profession involves regular additional education and advanced training. The main job responsibilities of a psychologist can be as follows:

Analysis of the psychological state and psychological processes, personal characteristics, the level of a person's psychological development (or the psychological climate in a team).
Providing psychological assistance to people in resolving intrapersonal problems (or teams to resolve interpersonal conflicts).
Conducting psychological diagnostics, processing the results, compiling psychological portraits of a person.
Corrective work aimed at eliminating deviations from normal psychological development (most often carried out with children).
Carrying out preventive work aimed at preventing deviations in psychological development.
Carrying out career guidance activities.
Provision of services to commercial and state firms (maintaining a favorable psychological climate among workers, recruiting personnel, resolving conflicts, working with dysfunctional families, and so on).
Providing assistance to doctors and social services in working with certain categories of the population (people with addictions, victims of domestic violence, terminally ill, etc.).
Conducting psychological research and experiments aimed at developing new knowledge in the field of psychology.

Psychologists (even those who are engaged in science, and not directly helping people) inevitably require a high level of empathy, as well as the ability to distance themselves from the client's problems and not allow them to seriously affect their own psychological state. This must be partly inherent in the person himself, partly achieved during study and personal psychotherapy.

Pluses and minuses of the profession of a psychologist

Pluses

Socially significant profession.
Opportunity to help people.
An interesting job with quite a bit of routine.
Decent pay.

Cons

Lack of university education for successful practice.
The need to constantly educate yourself and go to your own therapy (or at least supervision).
Low income at the beginning of a career or when working in state-owned enterprises.
Emotionally expensive profession.

Important personal qualities

As already noted, excellent empathy is the most important quality for a psychologist. But this does not mean that he plunges into empathy with each client and gives him advice. The task of a psychologist is to help a person find answers to his own questions, and not to impose his own point of view. Therefore, emotional stability, impartiality, the ability to think without value judgments, observation, tact, and responsibility are also extremely important for him. Without these qualities, it will be too difficult to occupy the vacancy of a psychologist and adequately fulfill your duties.

Training for a psychologist

Training for a psychologist involves higher education (specialty "Psychology", code 37.03.01). For admission, you must pass the Unified State Examination in Russian, Biology and Mathematics or a foreign language at the discretion of the university. In some educational institutions, as part of the introductory campaign, interviews are also conducted with all applicants (you can find out about this on the official website of the university, where one of the main profiles is supposed to be a psychologist).

Full-time education lasts 4 years, all other courses last 5 years. After completing your studies, you can enroll in a master's program (this option is more suitable for those who plan to engage in scientific psychology).

Courses

Universities

3 years

80,000 ₽/year

60 budget places
4 years

240,000 ₽/year

15 budget places
4 years

200,000 ₽/year

12 budget places
4 years

37 budget places

Place of work

Who is a psychologist and what does he do - these are questions, the answers to which depend on the place of his work. So, there are counseling psychologists who run their own practice. There are scientific specialists working in educational institutions and research institutes. There are psychologists in schools, private and public companies, one way or another responsible for the atmosphere in the team. There are clinical psychologists who work in medical institutions together with doctors (for this, a basic education at a university for a psychologist is not enough, it is necessary to complete additional studies).

Salary of a psychologist

The level of income of such specialists depends on where they work, as well as on their level of qualification. Counseling psychologists usually start low and increase with experience.

Salary of a psychologist for December 2022

Information on salaries is provided by the portal hh.ru.

Russia 15000-65000 rubles

Moscow 34000-130000 rubles

Career growth

In organizations and institutions, a psychologist can theoretically take leadership positions. The practitioner may increase the cost of his consultations, provide training, start his own organization, emphasize working with other psychologists, and so on.

Professional knowledge

General psychology.
Developmental and differential psychology.
Psychology of personality.
Psychodiagnostics.
Pathopsychology.
Social and family psychology.
Psychological counseling.
Conducting group trainings.

Famous psychologists

Sigmund Freud, the founder of psychoanalysis, whose work had a huge impact on the development of psychology in general.
I.P. Pavlov, author of numerous studies of conditioned and unconditioned reflexes.

Examples of companies with vacancies in psychology | 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.

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.

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.

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.

People affected by emergency situations are in dire need of the support provided by psychologists of 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 have 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.

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;
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.

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 grade 9

After graduation 9-ty classes 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.

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.

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.

If an applicant for various reasons cannot apply 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 term 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.

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, 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.

You can acquire the qualification of a psychologist in another way - 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, vocational retraining courses are suitable, the duration of which varies from 1 to 1.

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