Key Takeaways
Child psychologists build meaningful careers helping children manage trauma, stress, and behavioral or emotional challenges.
Although the path can take up to 10 years, the field is projected to grow faster than average from 2024 to 2034.
You can begin by earning a doctoral degree, completing supervised clinical training, and meeting state licensure requirements.
Child psychologists can make a lasting difference in the lives of children and families, but entering the field takes years of education and professional preparation. Understanding that process early on can help you choose the right degree, meet licensing requirements, and avoid unnecessary delays on your path to becoming a child psychologist.
This guide walks through each stage and explores licensure, career opportunities, and the skills needed to succeed.
Popular Online Psychology Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
5 Key Steps to Becoming a Child Psychologist
Child psychologists must earn a doctoral degree, complete supervised clinical training, and obtain a state license. From undergraduate study to licensure, it typically takes at least 10 years to become a child psychologist. While licensure requirements vary by state, the process generally includes the following steps:
1. Complete a Bachelor's Degree Program
Your journey begins with a bachelor's degree, which typically takes about four years of full-time study. Ideal majors include general psychology or child psychology. This program builds your educational foundation for graduate school.
2. Consider a Master's Program in Child Psychology
Master's degrees in child psychology are optional for some doctoral paths but can strengthen your application and provide a bridge between foundational and advanced studies. If you did not specialize in child psychology at the bachelor's level, a concentrated master's degree can also help you address knowledge gaps.
Note that some doctoral programs accept candidates without an advanced degree. However, a master's degree can support your success at the doctoral level. Schools also offer intensive graduate programs leading to a combined master's and doctoral degree.
3. Complete an Accredited Doctoral Program
To become a child psychologist, you will need a doctoral degree. Some states additionally require that you earn a doctorate specifically accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA).
Psychology doctorates come in doctor or psychology (Psy.D.) and doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) variants. Psy.D. degrees generally emphasize applied clinical skills, while child psychology Ph.D. programs focus more on research and pedagogy. Both degrees can qualify you for licensure.
4. Gain Supervised Experience
Along with a doctorate, you must complete supervised clinical training to qualify for a child psychologist license. Graduate programs work some of these experiences into their curricula, but you must continue accruing hours beyond graduation. Specific requirements vary by state, with the APA citing a range of 1,500-6,000 hours.
5. Apply for State Licensure
You can proceed with licensing after completing your education and accruing the necessary number of clinical experience hours. You must pass the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP) to earn your initial license. Some states also require jurisprudence and/or ethics tests.
Popular Online Psychology Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
What Does a Child Psychologist Do?
Child psychologists work with children and adolescents to assess, diagnose, and treat emotional, mental, behavioral, and developmental challenges. These highly trained professionals use evidence-based therapies and assessments and often collaborate with families, schools, and healthcare providers.
The field offers the opportunity to specialize by age group or practice setting, including schools, hospitals, private practices, or community mental health clinics.
Key skills for a child psychologist include:
Strong communication skills
Critical thinking and decision-making skills
Empathy and compassion
Psychological assessment
Common Work Settings
Child psychologists often operate private solo or group practices, but they also work in other settings, including:
Hospitals and healthcare facilities
Mental health centers
Human services organizations
Educational institutions
Government agencies
Some work in multiple settings, or on a contract or consultant basis. While remote telehealth sessions can work well for adult clients, they pose unique challenges for children and adolescents. Researchers documented these challenges in a 2023 study published in the Current Psychology journal.
Face-to-face sessions remain a widely used standard in child psychology. However, child psychologists can use telehealth platforms to make mental health services available to people who would not otherwise be able to access them.
Career Outlook for Child Psychologists
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects a 6% job growth for psychologists from 2024 to 2034, much faster than the average for all occupations. Salaries vary by location and experience. According to the BLS, psychologists (including child psychologists) earn the highest average salaries in California, Illinois, Wisconsin, Georgia, and Florida.
According to Payscale data from September 2025, salaries range from $77,171 for child psychologists with less than one year of experience to $96,000 for those with 20-plus years of experience.
Average Annual Salary
$89,206
Projected Job Growth, 2024-2034
+6%
Source: Payscale (Sept. 2025)
Child Psychologist Licensure and Certification
Child psychologists must be licensed to practice independently, and licensure requirements vary by state, especially when it comes to supervised experience. Some states require as few as 1,500 supervised hours, while others, such as West Virginia, require master's-level applicants to complete several years of supervised experience, which adds up to well over 5,000 hours.
In almost every state, child psychologists must earn a doctoral degree (PhD or PsyD), complete supervised clinical experience, pass the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP), and meet any additional state-specific requirements. Board certification in a specialty, such as clinical child and adolescent psychology, is voluntary but can demonstrate advanced expertise.
Professional organizations for child psychologists include:
Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB)
American Board of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology (ABCCAP)
Expert Tip
What is something you wish someone had told you when you were on the path to becoming a psychologist?
"The time and financial commitment! In order to be a practicing psychologist, one has to attain their doctorate. Student loans/financial aid added up to a six-figure amount for me after five years (counting internship year), and I was mired in debt. After graduation, you then need to accumulate supervision hours and then study and pass the EPPP licensure exam to be a practicing psychologist, which also involves more time and money. If a student has a clear idea that they want to do just therapy, for example, they may want to be aware that there are other pathways to that goal that would reduce the time and costs (i.e., LPC, LCSW, etc)."
Become a Child Psychologist in Your State
The steps to become a child psychologist can vary depending on the state where you plan to practice. Learn more about specific requirements in some of the top states for child psychologists:
Frequently Asked Questions About Child Psychologists
It typically takes at least 10 years to become a licensed child psychologist. The process includes undergraduate and doctoral degrees, thousands of hours of supervised experience, and examination requirements. Your timeline will depend on how efficiently you complete your schooling and experiential training.
