If you are considering a career as a child psychologist, you will need to obtain your BA at an accredited institution and then earn a PhD or PsyD at an American Psychological Association approved university. Choose a program that specializes in child psychology or, at minimum, has professors who treat this population. You should focus your thesis on the area of child psychology and complete your internship at an organization that treats mental illnesses in youth. Becoming a child psychologist can take six to eight years, but the process is rewarding and fulfilling. You may find that having a specialty in the vast field of psychology gives you an edge over students who study general psychology.
A licensed child psychologist may choose to establish a private practice specializing in one of the following areas of child psychology: developmental, adolescent or abnormal child psychology. Generally, a private practice is most successful after the psychologist has made connections working in the community. The psychologist will often get new clients through community referrals. One of the major benefits of having a private practice is setting your own hours, determining which clients you want to treat and deciding if you want to participate with insurance companies.
Keep in mind that a thriving private practice also requires basic knowledge of business: how to keep the practice up and running, how to set fees, and how to manage finances. Psychologist working in private practice combat isolation by remaining connected to other clinicians and sharing ideas.
Child psychologists wishing to work in the community, in a public setting or at a mental health organization or institution have an array of options. They may choose to work in the courts with children involved in divorce or abuse cases or adolescents in juvenile detention facilities. Child psychologists can often be found in the public schools, treating children with behavioral and developmental problems. Finally, child psychologists may also work in a mental health hospital treating those with severe psychotic disorders.
Child psychologists who enjoy research and teaching might consider working at a university as a professor or adjunct instructor. As a professor of child psychology, you can advise undergraduate and graduate theses, design your own courses, conduct research, and work closely with aspiring future psychologists. You can also apply for grants and scholarships to fund your projects. Professors and researchers who work at universities tend to split their time between teaching and research.
Often aspiring child psychologists volunteer or intern at a variety of settings while in graduate school to decide which environment best suits their interests. Some psychologists work for years in the community before retiring to private practice, while others simultaneously maintain a community-based job and private practice. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the starting salaries for psychologists begin at around $60,000.