A child psychologist is a psychologist who specializes in the issues and disorders that affect young children and teenagers.http://education-portal.com/articles/Child_Psychologist%3A_Career_Profile.html Child psychologists may work directly with children in a clinical setting or may perform research on the issues of childhood.http://education-portal.com/articles/Child_Psychologist%3A_Career_Profile.html A child psychologist might also work with social workers in a supervisory capacity, dealing with issues such as family problems, substance abuse, and child development.http://education-portal.com/articles/Child_Psychologist%3A_Career_Profile.html

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment opportunities for all psychologists is expected to grow 12% during the next eight years.http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos056.htm This growth is as fast as the average growth of other occupations and reflects a growing need for the services provided by psychologists in a variety of settings.http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos056.htm The steps below will assist you in learning how to become a child psychologist.

The first step to becoming a child psychologist is obtaining a bachelor's degree from an accredited university.http://www.guidetoonlineschools.com/child_psychology_info.html 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.http://www.guidetoonlineschools.com/child_psychology_info.html

If you are interested in child psychology, you may want to consider taking coursework in child development. Since the field of psychologist is heavily involved in research, it will also be helpful to work with professors in a research setting during your undergraduate studies.http://www.guidetopsychology.com/be_psy.htm Toward the end of college, students will sit for the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) and apply to graduate schools.http://www.ets.org/gre/general/about

Before beginning specialized study in child psychology, you must earn a doctoral degree (PhD or PsyD).http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos056.htm 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)http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos056.htm. The doctoral program also needs to include specific coursework and clinical experience related to children and adolescents.http://education-portal.com/articles/Child_Psychologist%3A_Career_Profile.html

• 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:

1. 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.
2. One or more year of a clinical child and adolescent psychology post-doctoral residency program.http://www.guidetopsychology.com/be_psy.htm

• After making it through college, graduate school, and a fellowship, child psychologists are ready to put their skills and knowledge of human behavior to work helping children and adolescents.