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A child psychologist uses his or her knowledge of the human mind and behavior to treat children and adolescents. Some child psychologists specialize in research. This path will show you what you need to know about how to become a child psychologist.
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A child psychologist uses his or her knowledge of the human mind and behavior to treat children and adolescents. Some child psychologists specialize in research. This guide will show you how to become a child psychologist.
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Introduction
- Child psychologists begin their studies in college, earning a bachelor's degree in psychology. They then continue on to earn a doctoral degree, which requires 5-7 years of additional study after they complete their undergraduate studies. If you'd like to specialize in child psychology, you'll also need additional training after you receive your doctorate.
Step 1: Earn a Bachelor's Degree
- Some graduate programs require applicants to have completed an undergraduate psychology major, but others prefer a diverse background which includes biological, physical, and social sciences as well as courses in statistics and mathematics and basic psychology. If you are interested in child psychology, you may want to consider taking coursework in child development. Toward the end of college, students will sit for the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) and apply to graduate schools.
Step 2: Complete a Doctorate
- Before beginning specialized study in child psychology, you must earn a doctoral degree (PhD or PsyD). Completion of the doctorate will take 5-7 years, and include one year of practice as an intern. In order to meet the qualifications for board certification in child psychology, the doctoral program must be accredited by either the American Psychological Association (APA) of the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA). The doctoral program also needs to include specific coursework and clinical experience related to children and adolescents. At least two thirds of the doctoral internship must be spent with children or adolescents.
Step 3: Specialize in Child Psychology
- In order to be certified as a child psychologist, the candidate needs to complete a postdoctoral fellowship in child psychology. The fellow is also required to take and pass a specialty board examination. The post doctoral training consists of:
- Two years of experience in practice that focuses on treating children and adolescents. One of these years must be supervised for a minimum of one hour per week, face-to-face, by a credentialed child psychologist.
- One or more year of a clinical child and adolescent psychology post-doctoral residency program.
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