How to Become a Child Psychologist

Programs Currently Accepting Applicants

Syracuse University : Master of Social Work (CSWE accredited. Standard and Advanced Standing tracks. No GRE required.)

Northwestern University : Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy (Complete your COAMFTE-accredited MFT online program in as few as 21 months. No GRE required.)

University of Southern California : Online Master of Education (ME) in School Counseling (No GRE required)

Capella University : Master's and PhD in Counseling (CACREP Accreditation. Master's and PhD options avaialble. )

Fordham University : Master of Social Work (Earn an MSW online. Traditional and advanced standing online MSW options are available. Accredited by the CSWE.)

Northwestern University : Online MA in Counseling (CACREP Accredited)

Pepperdine University : Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology Degrees (GRE scores are not required to apply, and you can earn your degree in as few as 27 months. LPC/MFT emphases available.)

NYU Steinhardt : Online MA in Counseling for Mental Health and Wellness (MPCAC accredited, GRE not required)

Purdue University Global : Master of Science in Human Services (100% Online, Multiple Start Dates)

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How Long Does It Take to Become a Child Psychologist?

Aspiring child psychologists must undergo education and training for nearly a decade before they can attain licensure and certification in the profession. How long it takes to become a child psychologist often depends on the length of the education, which traditionally comes in the form of a four-year bachelor’s degree, usually in psychology, social work, or a related program, before a two-year master’s degree in child and developmental psychology or a related field, although part-time students often take longer.

After completing a master’s degree, students undertake a doctoral program, either a Ph.D. in Psychology or a Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.). The primary difference between the two is that the Ph.D. dedicates more time to research and academics, while the Psy.D. is more focused on hands-on clinical practice.

Consider a Featured Online Counseling Program

School and Program Information	Online Program? Entry Requirements	Course Information
Syracuse University Master of Social Work CSWE accredited	✔ Online No GRE Required	Syracuse University’s CSWE-accredited online Master of Social Work program is preparing the next generation of social work leaders through an emphasis on digital innovation and social justice. Learn More
Northwestern University Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy COAMFTE Accredited	✔ Online GRE Not Required Bachelor's Required	The COAMFTE-accredited [email protected] is offered by The Family Institute at Northwestern University. Full-time students can complete the program in as few as 21 months. No GRE is required, but applicants must hold an undergraduate degree. Full and part-time tracks available. Learn More
University of Southern California Online Master of Education (ME) in School Counseling Prepares you for school counseling credential	✔ Live, online classes No GRE requirement	Bachelor’s degree and minimum 2.5 GPA required Learn More
Capella University Master's and PhD in Counseling CACREP Accredited	✔ Online GRE Not Required	Choose from Addictions, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Human Behavior. Marriage and Family Therapy, or School Counseling specialties Learn More
Fordham University Master of Social Work Accredited by the CSWE.	✔ Online Bachelor's Degree	Fordham’s top-ranked Graduate School of Social Service offers a future-focused online MSW program, preparing students for integrated practice with all populations. Bachelor's degree required. Learn More
Northwestern University Online MA in Counseling CACREP Accredited	✔ Online GRE Not Required Bachelor's Required	Prepare to pursue licensure in as few as 18 months Full-time, part-time, and accelerated track options available Learn More
Pepperdine University Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology Degrees LPC/MFT emphases available.	✔ Online No GRE Required. Bachelor's Degree Required.	Choose your path at Pepperdine: pursue licensure as either an LMFT or LPC and serve diverse clients with our online master’s in clinical psychology. GRE scores are not required to apply, and you can earn your degree in as few as 27 months. Take the next step toward creating a positive social impact today. Learn More
NYU Steinhardt Online MA in Counseling for Mental Health and Wellness MPCAC Accredited	✔ Online GRE not required; Bachelor’s degree and minimum 2.5 GPA required	As few as 21 months to complete Learn More
Purdue University Global Master of Science in Human Services HLC Accredited	✔ Online Bachelor's Degree Required	Advance into leadership positions managing organizational policies, staff, funding, intervention programs, and more. Choose a concentration in family/community services or organizational/social services. Prepare to sit for industry credential exams. Learn More

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☰ For detailed degree information, view the guides to:
Online CACREP Accredited programs | Online MPCAC Accredited programs

Clinical Requirements

Qualifying for licensure as a child psychologist requires hands-on experience. This usually comes in the form of internship training, which exposes students to the day-to-day demands of the job and enables them to shadow active professionals, learning from them in a clinical setting. Internships provide valuable opportunities for students to work and develop skills with patients under a licensed psychologist’s direct supervision. The time commitment for supervised clinical experience varies between programs, ranging from a few hundred to nearly 2,000 hours per year.

Licensure and Certification

The American Board of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology (ABCCAP), part of the larger American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP), conducts licensing examinations in child psychology. The process involves completing both a general online application and a specialty-specific application.

Licensure is offered to professionals under different criteria, depending on their state of employment. Common prerequisites include a doctoral degree in psychology, completion of the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP), completion of the jurisprudence examination, and a set number of hours of supervised experience in a doctoral program internship.

Master of Social Work Program at Syracuse University

Syracuse University - Master of Social Work (CSWE Accredited)

Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy Program at Northwestern University

Northwestern University - Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy (COAMFTE Accredited)

Online Master of Education (ME) in School Counseling Program at University of Southern California

University of Southern California - Online Master of Education (ME) in School Counseling ( Accredited)

Master's and PhD in Counseling Program at Capella University

Capella University - Master's and PhD in Counseling (CACREP Accredited)

Master of Social Work Program at Fordham University

Fordham University - Master of Social Work (CSWE Accredited)

Online MA in Counseling Program at Northwestern University

Northwestern University - Online MA in Counseling (CACREP Accredited)

Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology Degrees Program at Pepperdine University

Pepperdine University - Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology Degrees ( Accredited)

Online MA in Counseling for Mental Health and Wellness Program at NYU Steinhardt

NYU Steinhardt - Online MA in Counseling for Mental Health and Wellness (MPCAC Accredited)

Master of Science in Human Services Program at Purdue University Global

Purdue University Global - Master of Science in Human Services (HLC Accredited)

Child Psychologist Skills

Child psychologists must be equipped with many soft and actionable skills to perform effective clinical treatment for their patients.

Communication. Child psychologists must be able to communicate treatment plans to patients, set proper expectations for treatment, and actively listen to develop trusting relationships.

Strategy. An important skill for all psychologists is the ability to articulate custom treatment plans based on the needs of individual patients. They must also know when to refer patients to other professionals or consult with physicians and other experts.

Scientific skills. Child psychologists may be called upon to perform scientific studies of brain functions; research psychological, emotional, and other disorders; identify behavioral patterns; write articles; and share research findings with peers.

Child Psychologist Salary and Job Outlook

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) doesn’t have separate statistics for child psychologists, but reports that psychologists in general made a median annual salary of $82,180 as of May 2020. The highest earners in the field made approximately $137,590. Additionally, the BLS provides industry-specific median annual incomes, with psychologists working for the government making a median of $100,360; hospitals, $90,640; ambulatory health care services, $85,970; and elementary/secondary schools, $77,560.

Positions for psychologists are expected to grow by 8% between 2020 and 2030, the same as the projected average for all occupations. Growth for the period is expected to be slightly higher at 10% for clinical, counseling, and school psychologists.

Counseling Degrees for Proactive Students

Mental health issues such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), behavior problems, anxiety, and depression are increasingly affecting children and teens between the ages of 2 and 17. The CDC reports that 9.4% of youths in this age range have received an ADHD diagnosis, and 7.4% of those ages 3 to 7 have been diagnosed with depression. Child psychologists work to help these millions of children every day.

Counseling Degrees Online offers a directory of online undergraduate and postgraduate counseling programs to help you navigate becoming a child psychologist. Featuring more than 1,200 counseling programs, our guide is the most comprehensive guide to counseling education on the internet.

Customize your search by selecting programs by state, counseling type, area of study, and online availability, and begin your path to a career in child psychology.

Sources:
American Board of Professional Psychology, Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology
Betterteam, Child Psychologist Job Description
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Data and Statistics on Children’s Mental Health
Houston Chronicle, “What Are the Qualifications, Skills or Aptitudes Needed for a Child Psychologist?”
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Psychologists

Still Looking for a Counseling Degree?

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