How To Become A Child Psychologist: Salary, Education Requirements And Job Growth

Doug Wintemute is a staff writer for Forbes Advisor. After completing his master’s in English at York University, he began his writing career in the higher education space. Over the past decade, Doug has researched and written extensively about acade.

Doug Wintemute Staff Writer

Doug Wintemute is a staff writer for Forbes Advisor. After completing his master’s in English at York University, he began his writing career in the higher education space. Over the past decade, Doug has researched and written extensively about acade.

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Doug Wintemute Staff Writer

Doug Wintemute is a staff writer for Forbes Advisor. After completing his master’s in English at York University, he began his writing career in the higher education space. Over the past decade, Doug has researched and written extensively about acade.

Doug Wintemute Staff Writer

Doug Wintemute is a staff writer for Forbes Advisor. After completing his master’s in English at York University, he began his writing career in the higher education space. Over the past decade, Doug has researched and written extensively about acade.

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Figuring out how to become a child psychologist should be easier than it is, but, unfortunately, a lot of the information available is unclear and outdated.

In an effort to provide a straightforward guide about the process, we at Forbes Advisor reviewed the different state requirements for licensure and explored the options and opportunities in the field to ensure you know what to expect from the child psychologist profession.

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How To Become a Child Psychologist

Every state requires child psychologists to hold a license to practice, and the journey to licensure can take 10 years or more. While the exact requirements vary by state, the following steps highlight the typical milestones you’ll need to meet along the way.

Step One: Earn a Bachelor’s Degree

Your path to licensure begins with a bachelor’s degree in psychology or a related field. While you don’t always need to start with a psychology degree, you will need prerequisite courses in psychology later on, so many students begin with a psychology-related major.

Along with foundational courses in general psychology, some bachelor’s programs in psychology offer child psychology concentrations, which emphasize child development and child-specific clinical approaches.

Step Two: Consider a Master’s Degree

A master’s in child psychology is not a mandatory requirement for child psychologists, but it can be helpful for developing a specialization, building clinical experience and earning admission to a competitive doctoral program. Some doctoral programs even offer advanced standing to master’s degree holders, which can reduce the time and money needed for their doctorate.

Step Three: Complete a Ph.D. or Psy.D. Program

To become a clinical child psychologist in any state, you need a doctorate in psychology —either a research-heavy Ph.D. in psychology or a clinical-focused Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.). Your doctorate will equip you with the advanced theory, research methods and clinical practice skills required for the psychologist profession and meet the educational requirements for licensure.

You should strongly consider a program with accreditation from the American Psychological Association (APA), as all states accept APA-accredited degrees, and some require them.

Step Four: Meet the Experience Requirements

Child psychologist licensure requires substantial experience in the practice of psychology. The number of hours needed depends on the state but typically ranges between 3,000 and 4,000 hours. In most cases, psychologist hopefuls can complete half the required hours by internship and the other half through postdoctoral experience.

In California, for example, 1,500 of the total 3,000 hours can come via internship, while Oklahoma accepts up to 2,000 hours from predoctoral internship hours.

Step Five: Apply for State Licensure

Once you’ve satisfied the requirements for licensure in your state, you can apply to the appropriate licensing board and pay the initial application fee. When approved, you can then register to take the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP) developed by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB).

This first part of the EPPP is required for psychologist licensure in all states, while only some states, such as Georgia, require candidates to pass the second part as well. Depending on your state, you may also need to pass a jurisprudence exam, which covers state-specific laws and practice rules.

Step Six: Consider Board Certification

While not mandatory, experienced child psychologists can pursue Clinical Child & Adolescent Certification from the American Board of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology to bolster their credentials and improve their career and advancement opportunities.

This specialty credential requires three years of postdoctoral experience, a practice sample that highlights your competencies, and a passing score on an oral exam. The entire process typically takes six months.

What Is a Child Psychologist?

Child psychologists study, diagnose and treat various behavioral, cognitive and emotional conditions in young people. They specialize in child development and the issues that children and adolescents encounter most, such as social pressures, challenges at school, trauma, substance abuse and family issues.

These specialists often work in hospitals, schools, government agencies, and private child and family centers. Because of the age of their clients, child psychologists use unique treatment methods, such as play therapy and parent-child interaction therapy, along with child-appropriate assessment and intervention strategies.

Child Psychologist Salary and Job Outlook

While the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) doesn’t report child psychologist data directly, the median annual salary for clinical and counseling psychologists is $95,830, as of May 2024. The BLS also projects 13% growth for clinical and counseling psychologists between 2023 and 2033, over three times faster than the average rate for all occupations.

Evidence suggests that much of the demand in this field is for child psychologists specifically. According to the World Health Organization, for example, 14% of adolescents (ages 10-19) experience mental health issues, many of which go untreated. The APA also reports that children and adolescents are the largest age groups waiting for psychologist care and sitting on a psychologist waitlist.

And that’s all in spite of the fact that clinical child and adolescent psychology is the second-largest primary specialty and one of the most popular certifications awarded by the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP).

Child Psychologist Specializations

Child psychologists can specialize during their studies, through their research and in their clinical practice. By specializing, you can develop a highly focused understanding of your unique patient group and acquire niche skills for assessing, diagnosing and treating them.

During your doctoral program, for example, you may focus on topics like parent-child relations, childhood trauma and adolescent delinquency. In your professional work as a child psychologist, you can specialize in certain age groups, patient types or scenarios, such as forensic child psychology, pediatric psychology and crisis intervention for children.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Child Psychologists

What qualifications do I need to become a child psychologist?

While the requirements vary by state, child psychologists need, at minimum, a bachelor’s degree, a doctorate in psychology, professional experience and a passing score on the psychologist licensing exam.

How long does it take to become a child psychologist?

It can take 10 years or more to become a child psychologist. That time frame includes a four-year bachelor’s degree, four- or five-year doctorate, and at least one year of postdoctoral experience.

Is it hard to become a child psychologist?

Becoming a psychologist takes a great deal of effort and commitment, and the process can be quite challenging. According to the ASPPB, the average pass rate on the EPPP for graduates of accredited doctoral programs is over 77%.

https://www.forbes.com/advisor/education/psychology-and-counseling/become-a-child-psychologist/