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Child psychologists help children and adolescents develop emotional regulation skills and manage mental health conditions. They can also conduct research and teach college classes. Earning a doctorate in child psychology prepares you for roles in this exciting field. Learn what you need to know before applying to child psychology doctoral programs.
Popular Online Psychology Doctoral Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
Earning a Ph.D. vs. a Psy.D.
Both a Ph.D. and a Psy.D. are doctoral-level psychology degrees. A Ph.D. emphasizes research, preparing graduates for clinical, academic, and research positions. In contrast, a Psy.D. emphasizes applied clinical psychology, leading to practice-focused careers as a licensed psychologist.
Child psychologists can practice with either doctorate. However, a Ph.D. offers more diverse career paths, including careers as a psychology professor. If you’re interested in clinical practice, a Psy.D. can help you save time and money–these programs typically take 4-5 years, while a Ph.D. can take 5-7 years.
Degree Snapshot
- Typical Admission Requirements: Bachelor’s or master’s in psychology; Minimum GPA; GRE scores; Letters of recommendation; Personal statement
- Time to Completion: 4-6 years
- Common Courses/Subjects: Pediatric psychology; Child and adolescent treatment; Neuropsychological assessment; Psychopharmacology
Why Get a Doctorate in Child Psychology?
The benefits of earning a doctorate in child psychology include:
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Specialization options: By earning a doctorate in child psychology, you’ll specialize your education for clinical, research, or academic roles. You can also specialize in areas like developmental child psychology or school psychology. -
Clinical experience: During your doctorate, you’ll complete supervised clinical requirements to strengthen your research and clinical skills. These clinical experiences also help you meet licensure requirements. -
Research experience: You’ll strengthen your psychology research skills through coursework and a dissertation. Ph.D. programs typically emphasize research more than Psy.D. programs. -
Licensure: A doctorate in psychology helps you meet state licensure requirements to work as a clinical psychologist. In addition to a doctorate, you’ll need to complete examination and clinical experience requirements. -
Career paths: As the highest degree in psychology, a doctorate prepares you for diverse career paths, including as a licensed child psychologist, psychology professor, or researcher.
Example Child Psychology PhD Program Courses
During a doctorate in clinical psychology, you’ll take courses in psychological assessment, treatment methods, and research methods.
While exploring topics such as developmental psychology, cognition, and personality theory, you’ll strengthen clinical skills. For example, you’ll typically complete an internship and practical training to gain supervised clinical experience. Doctoral students also research and defend a dissertation, with Psy.D. students focusing on clinical research topics.
Your coursework requirements will vary depending on the program. Many child psychology doctoral programs include the following courses:
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Pediatric psychology
Explore advanced theory and practice for diagnosing and treating pediatric patients. The course covers common psychological issues and research-based approaches. -
Child and adolescent treatment
Doctoral students examine evidence-based treatment methods for children and adolescents. Topics may include behavioral disorders, developmental disorders, and other common pediatric concerns. -
Neuropsychology
Learners explore the relationship between brain development and behavior in children and adolescents, including cognitive assessment techniques. -
Psychopharmacology
Psychologists preparing for clinical practice learn about the impact of drugs in treating childhood mental health conditions. The course may include clinical components.
Frequently Asked Questions About Child Psychologists
Is PsyD or PhD better for psychology?
A Psy.D. and a Ph.D. can prepare you for clinical and research careers in psychology. The best degree depends on your unique interests and professional goals.
Is there a salary difference between a PsyD and a Ph.D.?
No major salary difference exists between those with a Psy.D. and Ph.D. in psychology. According to Payscale, professionals with a Ph.D. in psychology earn an average of $100,000, while those with a Psy.D. earn $92,000.
Where do child psychologists make the most money?
The highest-paying states for psychologists in clinical and counseling roles include New Jersey, Oregon, and New York, according to May 2022 BLS data.
What Can You Do With a Doctorate in Child Psychology?
As a terminal degree in psychology, a doctorate offers many career paths. For example, you can pursue clinical, academic, and research roles with a doctorate in psychology.
Many doctoral candidates plan to pursue clinical roles. Demand for psychologists continues to grow, and child psychologists need a doctorate to qualify for licensure. You can become a licensed child psychologist with a Ph.D. or a Psy.D. in child psychology.
In addition to clinical applications, a doctorate in child psychology can lead to academic career paths, including as a psychology professor or researcher. Depending on the focus of your doctoral work, a doctorate in child psychology may also lead to opportunities as a school psychologist or developmental psychologist.
Career Advancement
Earning a doctorate can advance your career. You’ll need the degree to become a licensed psychologist or to qualify for many academic and research roles.
Licensure
Child psychologists who work with clients and patients need a doctorate for licensure. While the licensing requirements vary by state, you’ll typically need to meet supervised clinical experience requirements and pass a national licensure examination. Check the requirements in your state for more information.
Professional Organizations
Professional organizations offer career advancement opportunities. Many post job boards, host annual conferences, and offer networking opportunities. The Society of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, a division of the American Psychological Association, focuses on child psychology. School psychologists can also join the National Association of School Psychologists.
Take the Next Steps
Ready to learn more about earning your doctorate in child psychology? Check out our resources on online child psychology doctoral programs.
Page last reviewed on March 28, 2024