Clinical Psychology Careers: Exploring Job Options

Clinical psychology is a field that combines opportunities for professional growth with the chance to make a meaningful impact on people’s lives. Those pursuing clinical psychology careers work in private practices, hospitals, schools, research institutions, forensic facilities, and specialized environments such as sports, performance, and health psychology settings, making it one of the more versatile career choices in the behavioral sciences.

Exploring the range of potential clinical psychology careers and the typical duties for each position can help individuals align their personal interests, strengths, and professional priorities with the right role. It can also clarify whether to commit to an advanced degree program, an essential step, since most positions require a doctorate to practice independently. 

What Is Clinical Psychology?

Before exploring specific clinical psychology careers, it helps to understand the foundations of the field.

Psychology is the scientific study of the human mind and human behavior. Within this field, multiple subfields exist, including:

• Clinical psychology
• Cognitive psychology
• Developmental psychology
• Social psychology
• Neuroscience

Clinical psychology is the specialty focused on assessing, diagnosing, and treating mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders in people of all ages across the lifespan. Clinical psychologists rely on evidence-based intervention, psychological testing, psychotherapy, consultation, and research-informed practice.

They work with individuals, couples, families, groups, or communities to improve their daily functioning, manage their symptoms, and support their long-term well-being.

Clinical psychologists typically work with:

• Individuals experiencing mood disorders such as depression or bipolar disorder
• Those living with anxiety issues, trauma-related conditions, or panic disorders
• People struggling with substance use or behavioral addictions
• Children and adolescents with mental, behavioral, or emotional concerns
• Individuals coping with major life transitions, grief, or chronic illness
• Families or couples experiencing relationship distress
• Patients needing neuropsychological assessments for cognitive or neurological issues
• Athletes addressing psychological challenges related to injuries, transitions, or confidence 

Psychologist Job Outlook and Salary

When evaluating clinical psychology careers, it’s important to consider the long-term job outlook and current salary for the field.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment of psychologists is projected to grow by 6% from 2024 to 2034. By comparison, the national growth rate for all occupations is projected to be 3%, which means psychologists have a stronger-than-average employment outlook.

Salary data is also encouraging. In 2024, the BLS reported the median annual wage for psychologists as $94,310, with top earners in the upper 10th percentile making more than $157,000. An individual’s earnings can vary based on their education, experience, and region, and the job demand and type of facility they work for. For example, the BLS reports school psychologists had a median annual salary of $86,930 in 2024, while for clinical and counseling psychologists it was $95,830.

Those pursuing a clinical psychology career should consider how best to balance their interest in a specialty area with their need for an income that meets their professional and personal goals. 

Careers in Clinical Psychology

Clinical psychology careers span therapeutic practice, assessment, research, and applied specialties across a range of settings that include hospitals, schools, and private practices. Exploring these roles can help aspiring clinical psychologists identify the client population, day-to-day responsibilities, and credentialing path that best matches their interests and professional goals. 

Child Psychologist

Child psychologists assess and treat emotional, developmental, and behavioral issues in children and adolescents. They use developmentally appropriate therapies and often work closely with families and schools to support children’s healthy growth and learning outcomes.

Because their focus is exclusively on children and teens, child psychologists are most often found in schools, pediatric clinics, community mental health centers, and private practices.

Typical duties of child psychologists include:

• Conducting developmental and psychological assessments
• Providing individual, family, and group therapy tailored to children’s developmental stages
• Collaborating with parents, teachers, pediatricians, and school administrators on interventions and accommodations
• Designing and monitoring treatment plans and behavioral interventions
• Educating families and advocating for school-based supports 

How to Become a Child Psychologist

Individuals researching how to become a child psychologist should plan for an extensive educational and training experience that prepares them to treat youth populations.

• Education: Earn a bachelor’s degree in psychology or a related field. From there, pursue a master’s degree, which is the required credential to be a mental health counselor, or a doctoral degree, which allows individuals to practice independently as a licensed child psychologist.
• Training: Complete a supervised clinical internship or practicum, typically lasting a year or more depending on an individual’s state and program requirements.
• Licensure: Apply for state licensure after meeting supervised-hour and exam requirements.
• Certification: Many licensed psychologists pursue board certification through the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP). For child psychology specialists, this may involve completing postdoctoral training and passing the American Board of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology (ABCCAP) exam. 

Health Psychologist

Health psychology is a popular focus in the psychology field, but exactly what does a health psychologist do? These professionals study how psychological, behavioral, and social factors influence people’s physical health. They design interventions that promote healthy behaviors, support treatment adherence, and help patients cope with their medical conditions. Their work often focuses on chronically ill patients, individuals making lifestyle changes (such as stopping smoking or losing weight), and populations engaged in public health initiatives.

Health psychologists work in hospitals, medical clinics, public health agencies, universities, corporate wellness programs, and research institutions.

Typical duties of health psychologists include:

• Designing and evaluating programs to promote healthy behaviors and adherence to medical regimens
• Providing psychotherapy focused on coping with chronic disease, pain management, and lifestyle changes
• Teaching stress-management techniques
• Supporting clients in finding a healthy work-life balance and preventing burnout
• Conducting behavioral assessments and health-related research
• Advising healthcare teams on integrating psychological care into medical treatment
• Developing workplace wellness or community health programs and measuring their outcomes 

How to Become a Health Psychologist

Pursuing a career in health psychology requires a blend of academic preparation, clinical training, and professional licensure.

• Education: Earn a bachelor’s degree in psychology or a related field such as public health, biology, or social science, followed by a doctoral degree in psychology with a concentration in health psychology. Some applied or research roles may be available with a master’s degree, but clinical practice usually requires doctoral training.
• Training: Graduate programs include a supervised practicum and an internship in a healthcare setting such as a hospital, rehabilitation center, community health clinic, or research institution. These offer direct patient care and interdisciplinary collaboration experience.
• Licensure: Obtain state licensure by completing supervised clinical hours and passing the EPPP or an equivalent state exam. Requirements vary by state.
• Certification: Though it’s optional, acquiring board certification in clinical health psychology through the ABPP demonstrates advanced expertise and can strengthen candidates’ career prospects. 

Forensic Psychologist

Forensic psychologists apply psychological expertise in legal and criminal justice contexts. They conduct psychological evaluations, provide risk assessments and expert testimony, and support courts, correctional systems, and law enforcement officials in decision-making. Their work often involves assessing defendants, victims, or incarcerated individuals who are engaged with the legal system.

Forensic psychologists are typically employed by courts, correctional facilities, forensic hospitals, law enforcement agencies, private consultancies, and academic or research organizations.

Typical duties of forensic psychologists include:

• Conducting forensic assessments to determine individuals’ competency, sanity, and risk of reoffending
• Preparing psychological reports for courts and legal proceedings
• Providing expert testimony and consultation to attorneys, judges, and parole boards
• Assisting correctional systems with rehabilitation planning, suicide prevention, and treatment programs
• Supporting law enforcement with offender profiling and investigative consultation
• Conducting research and developing assessment tools for legal applications 

How to Become a Forensic Psychologist

Individuals pursuing forensic psychology must undergo specialized training that provides them with clinical and legal knowledge as well as applied experience in justice settings.

• Education: Earn a bachelor’s degree in psychology, criminal justice, or a related field. Graduate training is essential, with a master’s degree sometimes accepted, though a doctoral degree generally is required for clinical practice and expert evaluations.
• Training: Complete a supervised practicum and an internship in a forensic or legal setting (e.g., a court, correctional facility, forensic hospital, or police unit). These provide hands-on experience with evaluations and risk assessments.
• Licensure: Obtain state licensure by completing the required supervised hours and passing the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP) or its equivalent. Some states also require character assessments of candidates or additional supervised practice.
• Certification: Although it’s not a requirement, acquiring board certification through the American Board of Forensic Psychology (ABFP) demonstrates expertise and can open the door to senior-level roles. 

Learning Specialist

Learning specialists use principles of educational and developmental psychology to assess students’ learning profiles, design individualized interventions, and support students with diverse learning needs in academic settings. They typically work with students who have learning disabilities, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and language-based disorders, and students needing academic accommodations.

To support students effectively, most learning specialists work in K–12 schools, higher education learning centers, private learning clinics, and educational consultancies.

Typical duties of learning specialists include:

• Assessing students’ academic skills and learning profiles using standardized tests and classroom data
• Developing individualized education plans or targeted intervention plans and monitoring their progress
• Providing direct instruction or coaching in reading, math, executive function, and study skills
• Training teachers and parents on strategies to support diverse learners and classroom accommodations
• Coordinating with multidisciplinary teams (special education teachers, school psychologists, therapists) to implement support strategies 

How to Become a Learning Specialist

A career as a learning specialist requires a strong foundation in education and practical experience supporting students with diverse needs.

• Education: Earn a bachelor’s degree in education, special education, psychology, or a related field. Most employers prefer candidates with a master’s degree focused on instructional strategies, assessment methods, and interventions for students with specific learning needs.
• Training: Complete a supervised practicum or internship in a school, tutoring center, or clinical setting to gain hands-on experience supporting diverse learners.
• Licensure: Depending on their state and employer, candidates may need to obtain a teaching license. Requirements typically include passing state exams, completing supervised teaching hours, and maintaining continuing education credits.
• Certification: Acquiring a certification is usually not required to become a learning specialist. However, some employers may prefer to hire certified candidates, especially if the position requires specialized knowledge or skills.  

Neuropsychologist

Neuropsychologists evaluate and treat individuals with the cognitive and behavioral effects of brain injuries, neurodegenerative diseases, and developmental neurological conditions, including those with traumatic brain injuries, aftereffects of stroke, dementia, learning difficulties, and other neurological or cognitive disorders.

Neuropsychologists work in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, neurology clinics, academic medical centers, and private practices.

Typical duties of neuropsychologists include:

• Administering and interpreting neuropsychological tests that assess memory, attention, executive function, and language
• Providing diagnostic reports that inform medical and rehabilitation plans
• Collaborating with neurologists, psychiatrists, and rehabilitation teams on treatment and cognitive rehabilitation planning
• Monitoring cognitive changes over time and evaluating the effectiveness of treatments
• Conducting research on the relationship between the brain and behavior and on rehabilitation methods 

How to Become a Neuropsychologist

Becoming a neuropsychologist who can treat patients and collaborate with medical teams requires extensive education, clinical training, and licensure.

• Education: Earn a bachelor’s degree in psychology, biology, neuroscience, or a related field. Next, complete a doctoral program; consider a PhD in neuropsychology or a PsyD in clinical psychology with a neuropsychology concentration.
• Training: Complete a supervised practicum, an internship, and a residency in a hospital, rehabilitation center, or research facility to develop expertise in neuropsychological testing and cognitive rehabilitation.
• Licensure: Neuropsychologists must obtain state licensure to practice independently. This requires completing supervised clinical hours and passing the EPPP.
• Certification: Many professionals pursue board certification through the American Board of Clinical Neuropsychology (ABCN) or ABPP to enhance their career opportunities. 

Psychotherapist

Psychotherapists provide clients with evidence-based talk therapies to treat their mental health conditions and improve their emotional functioning. They treat a broad range of types of clients, including individuals, couples, families, and groups facing depression, anxiety, relationship issues, trauma, and other psychological concerns.

Psychotherapists typically work in private practices, hospitals, community mental health centers, schools, rehabilitation centers, and teletherapy platforms.

Typical duties of psychotherapists include:

• Conducting intake assessments and developing individualized treatment plans
• Providing regular psychotherapy sessions using appropriate therapeutic modalities
• Maintaining clinical records and progress notes
• Coordinating care with other providers
• Facilitating group therapy and providing psychoeducation to clients and families 

How to Become a Psychotherapist

Becoming a psychotherapist involves a combination of academic study, clinical training, and professional licensure to prepare for work in counseling and mental health treatment.

• Education: Earn a bachelor’s degree in psychology, social work, counseling, or a related field, followed by a master’s degree in counseling, social work, marriage and family therapy, or clinical psychology. Doctoral study is optional for advanced clinical practice, research, or academic roles.
• Training: Complete a supervised practicum and an internship in a clinical setting such as a hospital, community mental health center, school, or private practice.
• Licensure: To practice independently, psychotherapists must obtain state licensure. Requirements vary by state but generally include completing a set number of supervised clinical hours, passing a licensing exam, and maintaining continuing education credits.
• Certification: Although not usually a requirement, acquiring a certification in a specialized therapeutic approach such as cognitive behavioral therapy, trauma-focused therapy, or family systems therapy can expand clinicians’ career opportunities and help them stand out in competitive markets. 

Sports Psychologist

Sports psychologists help athletes and teams enhance their performance, manage their competition anxiety, and mentally recover from injuries. Through mental skills training and applied performance techniques, they help athletes, coaches, and teams improve their focus, confidence, and consistency.

Sports psychologists typically work with professional and collegiate teams, private performance clinics, training centers, and military programs, and as independent consultants.

Typical duties of sports psychologists include:

• Teaching mental skills—visualization, self-talk, concentration—to athletes
• Developing pregame routines and performance plans to overcome nerves and enhance focus
• Providing anxiety and stress-management interventions for competition
• Supporting athletes through injury recovery and return-to-play processes
• Consulting with coaches on team dynamics, leadership, and communication
• Running workshops on motivation, burnout prevention, and transition planning 

How to Become a Sports Psychologist

Sports psychology is a specialized field that blends psychological expertise with knowledge of athletics and performance. Qualifying for this role requires an advanced education, supervised training, and licensure.

• Education: Earn a bachelor’s degree in psychology, kinesiology, or a related field to establish a foundational knowledge of human behavior, mental health, and exercise science. Pursue graduate study—a master’s degree and, typically, a doctoral degree—in psychology with a focus on sport or performance psychology.
• Training: Complete a supervised practicum and an internship in an athletic, clinical, or research setting to gain experience working with athletes on their mental health and performance enhancement.
• Licensure: Sports psychologists must obtain state licensure to practice independently. This involves completing supervised clinical hours, passing the EPPP, and meeting state‑specific requirements.
• Certification: Acquiring a certification isn’t required to practice; however, professional credentials enhance an individual’s credibility. Consider board certification in sports psychology through an organization such as the American Board of Sport Psychology or the ABPP. 

Leverage Your Education Into a Career in Psychology

Individuals interested in pursuing a clinical psychology career have a number of specialties to choose from, each focused on a specific area of psychology or a certain client population. One thing they have in common is that they all require the right combination of clinical skills, supervised training, and appropriate licensure or certification.

For those wondering how to become a clinical psychologist, the best first step is identifying the degree program that meets your state’s requirements for licensure and supports your professional goals. 

Bryant University’s Doctor of Clinical Psychology program is a practitioner-based program, designed to prepare students to provide clinical services across a wide range of settings. The program covers ethics and professional issues, psychological assessments, adult psychopathology, research and design methods, and other topics relevant to aspiring psychologists. Students can choose a concentration in Health Psychology or Child and Adolescent Psychology.

Learn more about the program and its curriculum so you can see how it supports your clinical psychology career goals.