Working as a child psychologist is a challenging but rewarding career path that will give you the sense of purpose and satisfaction that’s unique to helping others. You’ll be instrumental in helping struggling children express, explore and overcome trauma, providing them with the tools not just to cope but to thrive.
There’s no quick and easy route into this profession, but once qualified you can make a direct difference in the lives of vulnerable children and their families. Discover the key stages you’ll need to go through to become a practising child psychologist.
- Obtaining key qualifications
Building on an undergraduate degree in psychology is the most common entry into the profession. If you hold a degree in another subject, you can take a one-year conversion course to acquire the necessary knowledge. Without a solid education foundation, you won’t be eligible for specialist postgraduate training in child psychology.
When you meet the requirements, you’ll need to apply for and complete a doctorate in Educational Psychology or Clinical Psychology – both of which are three-year courses.
Clinical Psychology courses are primarily provided by the NHS while Educational Psychology postgraduate degrees often require partial or full self-funding. These courses are competitive with limited spaces, and candidates with excellent results and evidence of experience are favoured.
- Gaining relevant experience
While studying for your undergraduate and doctoral degrees, you need to gain work experience. Most postgraduate programmes have this as an entry requirement, and either way it will help you get ahead in your training.
Prioritise opportunities to work with children and young people so your experience is as relevant as possible, but don’t overlook the benefits of involvement in related areas. Examples of things you could do include working as a teaching assistant in a school, volunteering in a residential care setting or shadowing psychologists in sessions within the NHS or private sector.
- Registering with governing bodies
Once you complete your doctorate, you must register with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) to practise legally as a child psychologist in the UK. Registration affirms that you meet and will strive to continue meeting expected professional standards in conduct, ethics and clinical ability.
You could also consider applying for chartered membership with the British Psychological Society. While not a legal requirement, this gives you access to a wide professional network and events that support your ongoing development.
- Choosing how to specialise
Child psychology isn’t one size fits all. As your career progresses, you’ll discover which areas interest you most and you can use this knowledge to specialise. Narrowing down the services you offer can help boost business in the long run as it reinforces your expertise, giving you a competitive edge and increasing the likelihood of client satisfaction.
You can choose to set up your own practice if you value the freedom and flexibility of being self-employed. Take the essential steps to create a safe space for you and visiting children, such as employing soothing design elements and establishing clear boundaries. You could also consider psychologists’ insurance for a potential layer of legal and financial protection.
If you prefer to be part of a larger organisation, there are many options available to you as a qualified child psychologist. Public sector opportunities such as the NHS and prisons typically provide greater job security while private healthcare services often offer higher salaries. You could also be attached to community teams volunteering vital services in the local area.
Disclosure: this is a collaborative post