How to Become an Industrial-Organizational Psychologist: A Step-By-Step Guide

A master’s degree offers the research and interpersonal skills needed for many careers in industrial-organizational (I-O) psychology, but licensure requires a doctorate. These are the steps to licensure:

A bachelor’s degree in psychology or a non-psychology major with coursework in psychology and related fields serves as a stepping stone to I-O psychology careers. Most I-O careers require a graduate degree. Earning a bachelor’s degree from an accredited school broadens employment prospects and helps you gain admission into graduate programs.

An I-O psychology master’s requires coursework in organizational behavior and culture, workplace performance, and I-O testing and research. This degree, which takes about two years to complete, prepares you for careers in human resources, employee training, consulting, and more. Additionally, it provides the foundation for doctoral study, required for licensure and advanced clinical and research roles.

A Psy.D. or a Ph.D. in I-O psychology opens up advanced leadership, clinical, and research opportunities in industry, education, government, and consulting. If you are interested in practical applications for clinical practice, you can choose to earn a Psy.D. degree that takes four to six years to complete. If you plan to conduct scientific research to advance the field, you can enter a Ph.D. program, finishing your degree in five to eight years. Both options meet educational and training requirements for I-O psychology licensure in most states.

Although not always necessary for many corporate, government, research, or consulting roles that do not involve clinical work, a license is required to use the “psychologist” title in most states. Whatever the work setting, you must be licensed to provide clinical services, including assessments and treatments.

Licensure requirements vary by state, but you typically need a doctoral degree, a passing score on the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP), and completion of two years, or approximately 3,000 hours, of supervised clinical experience.

Potential careers in I-O psychology depend on your degree and experience, and whether you focus your job search on clinical, supervisory, or academic positions.

Employment settings include business, education, government, and non-profit or community organizations. To improve your marketability, you can obtain voluntary certifications in specialties such as business consulting, human resources, and talent development.

Once employed, your state board requires you to complete a certain number of continuing education hours to maintain your license and keep current in the field. Professional certifications also require ongoing continuing education to retain your specialty designation.

An I-O psychologist makes an average annual salary of just over $110,000, with the highest paid earning $161,000. However, overall compensation varies considerably by degree, experience, licensure and certifications, location, and employer.

I-O psychologists work in both the public and private sectors, serving as human resources professionals, training and policy specialists, educators, and researchers. They use a variety of tools, from traditional psychometric testing to contemporary data analytic applications, to improve employee well-being, workplace productivity, and organizational effectiveness.

Common workplace settings include:.