How to Become a Child Psychologist - Career Path and Job Description

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What is a Child Psychologist?

A child psychologist is a mental health professional who specializes in diagnosing mental health disorders in children. After going to school and earning a bachelor’s, and possibly a master’s degree, the child psychologist is equipped with the knowledge they need to treat troubled young clients.

While the child psychologist has general knowledge of psychology, they have specialized knowledge and experience in dealing with young children. Depending on the level of their education, they may also have done research into mental disorders beginning in childhood. They may work in their own practice, in a larger practice in the community, or for a government agency.

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Steps to Becoming a Child Psychologist

Begin by completing several steps that put your name in front of admissions officers at each university in which you are interested. Even though you may put your hardest work into your applications, you may not be accepted into every university. Still, some will be interested in learning more about you.

You’ll have to take college entrance exams (ACT and SAT) and order your official high school transcripts. You may have to write entrance essays.

Once you are accepted into a university, begin enrolling in your classes. Complete your internship, then take licensing exams for your state.

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Earn a Bachelor's Psychology Degree
Find an Internship / Gain Experience
Earn a Master's (Optional)
Earn a Doctorate
Complete Supervised Clinical Hours
Obtain Licensure
Consider Specializations and Certifications
Continuing Education and License Maintenance

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Step 1: Earn Your Degree

The first step in becoming a child psychologist is to earn a bachelor’s degree in psychology or a closely related field, such as child development, sociology, or human services. This typically takes four years to complete and will provide you with a strong foundation in understanding human behavior, mental health, and developmental processes. During this time, you’ll take introductory courses in general psychology, biology, statistics, and research methods. These subjects are essential for building the knowledge you’ll need to pursue advanced education in psychology.

In addition to core psychology courses, try to take electives that focus specifically on child development, abnormal psychology, and educational psychology. These classes will help you gain insight into the psychological needs and challenges children face. Participating in internships, volunteer work, or any hands-on experiences with children, whether in schools, daycare centers, or mental health clinics, will also be beneficial. Such opportunities allow you to build practical skills and begin networking within the field, giving you a head start on your career.

Step 2: Find an Internship / Gain Experience

Once you’ve completed your bachelor’s degree, the next step is to gain practical experience, which is crucial for advancing in the field of child psychology. Internships, volunteer opportunities, and entry-level jobs will help you apply the theoretical knowledge you’ve learned in the classroom to real-world situations. Look for opportunities to work with children in settings like schools, mental health clinics, hospitals, or social service organizations. These experiences will allow you to interact directly with children, observe their behavior, and learn more about the challenges they face.

An internship or volunteer role will also help you build valuable skills in communication, assessment, and therapeutic techniques—skills you’ll need as a future child psychologist. Additionally, these opportunities will give you the chance to work under the supervision of licensed professionals, offering mentorship and guidance that can shape your future career. The connections you make during this time can also help you secure graduate school recommendations and open doors to job opportunities after you complete your education. The more experience you gain, the better prepared you'll be to pursue advanced degrees and specialized training in child psychology.

Step 3: Earn Your Master's (Optional)

While not always required, earning a master’s degree in psychology can be a valuable step for aspiring child psychologists. A master’s program typically provides more in-depth knowledge and specialized training in child development, therapeutic techniques, and psychological assessments. It also allows you to gain additional experience through supervised internships and research projects, which can further enhance your qualifications.

Some individuals choose to pursue a master’s degree as a stepping stone before applying to a doctoral program, while others may use it as an opportunity to work in the field in roles such as a school psychologist or a mental health counselor. Ultimately, earning a master’s degree can give you a competitive edge and more career options, but it’s important to consider your long-term goals and the requirements of the doctoral programs you may be interested in.

Step 4: Earn A Doctorate

To become a licensed child psychologist, you will need to earn a doctoral degree in psychology. The two main options are a Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) or a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Psychology. Both paths involve rigorous coursework, research, and extensive clinical training, but the focus differs slightly. A PsyD typically emphasizes practical clinical work and therapy, while a PhD in Psychology leans more toward research and academic pursuits.

Earning a doctorate usually takes around 4-7 years to complete, depending on the program and your pace. During this time, you'll be required to conduct original research (for a PhD) or complete intensive clinical training (for a PsyD), including supervised internships and practicums. These programs are highly competitive, so you'll need to demonstrate strong academic performance, clinical experience, and a genuine commitment to the field. After completing your doctoral program, you'll be prepared for a career as a licensed child psychologist, with the expertise to assess and treat children with a variety of emotional, behavioral, and developmental issues.

Step 5: Complete Supervised Clinical Hours

After earning your doctorate in psychology, the next crucial step is to complete a significant amount of supervised clinical hours. These hours are essential for gaining hands-on experience in the field and are a requirement for obtaining licensure as a child psychologist. The number of clinical hours required varies by state but generally ranges from 1,500 to 2,000 hours of supervised work.

During this period, you'll work under the guidance of a licensed psychologist or another experienced professional who will oversee your work with children and families. This supervised experience provides you with the opportunity to apply the knowledge you've gained during your doctoral studies to real-world scenarios. You'll be expected to conduct assessments, provide therapy, and learn how to handle the complexities of treating children and adolescents in various settings, such as schools, clinics, hospitals, or private practices. The clinical hours will help you build the confidence and expertise needed to work independently and to meet the state’s licensure requirements.

Step 6: Obtain Licensure

Once you have completed your doctoral degree and the required clinical hours, the next step is to obtain licensure to officially practice as a child psychologist. Licensure requirements vary by state, but in most cases, you will need to pass a professional examination and meet specific state-mandated criteria.

The most common exam is the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP), which tests your knowledge in a variety of areas related to psychology, including child development, ethics, and diagnostic skills. In addition to the EPPP, some states may have additional exams or requirements, such as a jurisprudence exam, which focuses on state-specific laws and ethical guidelines for practicing psychology.

Once you pass the exam(s) and meet any additional state requirements, you will be granted a license to practice as a child psychologist. This licensure is necessary for you to offer therapeutic services, conduct assessments, and work in clinical settings. In some states, you may need to renew your license periodically by completing continuing education courses to stay up to date with the latest research and techniques in the field.

Step 7: Consider Specializations and Certifications

After becoming licensed, you may choose to further enhance your expertise by pursuing specializations or certifications within child psychology. Specializing in a particular area can help you stand out in a competitive job market and expand your career opportunities. Specializations can include areas like child and adolescent therapy, neuropsychology, school psychology, or working with children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) or trauma.

There are various certification programs offered by professional organizations, such as the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP), which offers board certification in child and adolescent psychology. These certifications typically require additional training, experience, and exams to prove your proficiency in a specific area. Earning these certifications not only demonstrates your commitment to professional growth but also adds credibility to your practice.

In addition to certifications, seeking specialized training in therapeutic approaches, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) or play therapy, can help you provide more targeted and effective care for children. Consider attending workshops, conferences, or pursuing additional coursework to continue expanding your skill set. Specializing and gaining certifications in a niche area can open doors to new career paths, whether in private practice, schools, or healthcare settings, while allowing you to make a more significant impact in the lives of children and families.

Step 8: Continuing Education and License Maintenance

Once you’ve obtained your license as a child psychologist, your journey doesn't end. In fact, staying current with new research, therapeutic techniques, and ethical guidelines is an essential part of maintaining your professional competence. Continuing education is a requirement for renewing your license, and it also helps you provide the best possible care to your clients.

Most states require licensed psychologists to complete a certain number of continuing education (CE) credits every few years. These can be earned through workshops, seminars, online courses, or attending professional conferences. Many of these opportunities will cover emerging trends in child psychology, such as advancements in developmental psychology, new treatment approaches, or legal and ethical issues. By pursuing these educational opportunities, you not only keep your license active but also enhance your knowledge and skills, which can improve the quality of your practice.

Additionally, professional organizations like the American Psychological Association (APA) often offer certifications and CE programs tailored to child psychologists. These programs can help you specialize further or stay updated with evidence-based practices. Keeping up with continuing education ensures that you remain a well-rounded, informed, and effective child psychologist throughout your career. This ongoing learning process also contributes to your personal growth, allowing you to adapt to the evolving needs of children and families.

What Does a Child Psychologist Do?

Child psychologists primarily work with children who are either going to be tested for mental disorders, who have already been diagnosed with at least one, or who have suffered from some sort of trauma. In arriving at a diagnosis, the psychologist administers tests that aid them in determining the level of maladjustment the child may be suffering from. Once they have determined the child’s diagnosis or diagnoses, they meet with their young client in regular therapy sessions, which may include just the child, their parents, or family group sessions. You will study, interpret, and record how your clients relate to you, their families, and their environments.

At first, the biggest part of the psychologist’s work is to build trust in the child, so they can talk openly about how they feel and what is happening in their life.

Some child psychologists may work in research at government, academic, or private organizations. Other school psychologists work with children in the school system. These professionals help students to look at their problems and develop performance plans for the child. Along with trust-building, the psychologist views the coordination of a child’s care and recovery to be one of the most important things they will do.

Child Psychologist Skills to Acquire

As a child psychologist, you are working with young children who are hurting or suffering from a mental condition or emotional trauma. You need to have several specialized skills that will allow you to connect and communicate with them.

Statistics/Psychometrics
You need to be skilled with numbers, equations, and statistics. You will be working with quantitative knowledge and data that you must know how to read and interpret.

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Communication
You’re studying and working with human behavior. You want your clients to tell you what they are thinking and feeling.
Ethics
This is important in all professions, but especially when you are working with human emotions. In your position, you are working with one of the most vulnerable populations.
Research
Whether you work with clients or not, you will be actively involved in research. You may be searching for an effective treatment for a client or carrying out experiments.
Problem-solving
You need to have more than one plan in place to deal with problems in treating clients.
Critical Evaluation
Know how to assess what is actually going on, no matter what story you are being told.

Child Psychologist Career & Salary

Where Might You Work?

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Child psychologists work in one of several possible settings:

Hospitals (local, state, and private)
7% of child psychologists work in hospital settings
Elementary and secondary schools (public and private)
27% of child psychologists work in a school setting
Government
10% of child psychologists work for government agencies or as part of government programs
Self-employed
24% of child psychologists have their own practices
Outpatient healthcare services
18% of child psychologists work in these types of facilities

Child psychologists are included in the number of clinical, school, and counseling psychologists employed in the U.S., with 147,500 working in their field.

Next, there are some child psychologists who prefer to work solo, consulting with their clients and counseling them. They may work as a member of a healthcare team, working in independent research, or work alongside social workers and doctors as they treat client illnesses and help to promote wellness in each of their clients.

Potential Career Paths

You need to know where you want to work once you graduate. Once you have this settled, you’ll know where to focus your job search.

Your options include research, government employment, foster care programs, shelters, education, and even juvenile probation/law enforcement.

You may also come to the conclusion that you need to continue your education and go on to earn your graduate or postdoctoral degrees.

Licensed Child Psychologist
Workers in this position will provide both testing services or therapy to young clients, especially those younger than 11 years old. Candidate must be licensed in their field and have experience in working or training with children and teens.

Psychologist Child Psychiatry
Workers in this position will provide mental health assessments, diagnosis, and treatment. They will also intervene when the client is in crisis. The children who are seen in practice may present with a wide range of mental health issues after a psychiatric evaluation. The psychologist will collaborate with the treating physician, psychiatrist, and allied health professionals to create a treatment plan. This team also directs each child’s treatment program. You may also provide outpatient psychotherapy to individuals, couples, families, and groups.

Child and Adolescent Psychologist
This professional will provide individual and family therapy. They will also administer psychological and psychoeducational evaluations to children three years old and older and provide therapy to older children and adolescents. Parent consultations are a regular part of the services provided. The psychologist must be able to evaluate, diagnose, and treat mental illnesses as outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistics Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V). You also must be able to write comprehensive psychoeducational and psychological testing reports.

In-Home Services Practitioner
These psychologists provide in-home services for clients of a protective services office. They will develop and implement interventions for children and families who are receiving voluntary services to reduce risk to the children and promote the safety of the children in the home. These children may have experienced or be at risk of experiencing child abuse or maltreatment. To qualify, the candidate should hold a master’s in psychology, counseling, social work or sociology from an accredited university.

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School Psychologist
These professionals provide school-based collaboration and consult with other professionals to eliminate or reduce student learning and behavioral problems as they all work together to increase the skill level of parents, administrators, teachers, and other key staff members. The psychologist will evaluate students for diagnosis of disabilities, for educational planning, and to comply with assessment plans. You will be expected to provide primary, secondary, and tertiary mental health services.

Child Psychologist
A child psychologist is needed to provide services to children and their families in a variety of settings. These include at home, day care, a community setting, or in an office setting. This professional will carry out several evaluations or services in accordance with state and county regulations. Duties include providing high-quality evaluations and evaluations that meet Early Intervention requirements. You’ll also attend IFSP meetings and conduct parent education as a member of the evaluation team and provide high-quality individual sessions, which will be evidenced by improvement in parent and child satisfaction.

Career Outlook

The employment outlook for psychologists (overall) indicates that the profession is projected to grow about 14% between 2016 and 2026. This growth is faster than the average for all other occupations. However, growth of employment will vary by specific occupation.

School, counseling, and clinical psychologists should grow about 14% between 2016 and 2026. This is partially due to the larger demand for psychological services in schools, mental health centers, hospitals, and social services agencies.

Looking specifically at school psychologists, growth will go up mostly because of the increased awareness of the link between learning, mental health, and the increasing need for school-based mental health services. These professionals will work with students who have special needs, behavioral issues, and learning disabilities.

School psychologists will also be relied on more because of the need to learn how home- and school-based factors impact a child’s ability to learn. As research in this area increases knowledge, administrators and teachers can use it to improve teaching techniques.

Job candidates with doctoral or postdoctoral work experience, or an education specialist degree, will have the best chance of landing jobs in school psychology, counseling, or clinical psychology positions.

Advancing From Here

If you have a master’s degree, you might want to think about returning to school to work on your doctoral degree. You will find it easier to land your first job choice. And it should take you three months or less to find a job when you graduate with your doctoral degree.

You will be able to specialize in Child Clinical Psychology, School Psychology, or Applied Developmental Psychology. After earning your doctoral degree, you will be able to concentrate on research, teaching psychology, or working for the National Institutes of Health with a focus on psychology or child psychology.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Where do child psychologists work?

Child psychologists work in schools, hospitals, private practices, and government agencies.

What do child psychologists do?

Child psychologists work with children 17 and under to treat and diagnose mental, social, emotional, and behavioral issues.

What is the median salary of a child psychologist?

Child psychologists make around $78,000 on average up to about $120,000 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

What skills does a child psychologist need?

A child psychologist needs to have strong communication, ethics, and problem- solving skills. They need to have a good grasp on statistics, psychometrics, and ability to conduct research.

What is the job outlook for child psychologists?

The child psychologist profession is projected to grow by about 14% between 2016 and 2026.

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