EMPLOYMENT IN EMPLOYMENT IN PSYCHOLOGYPSYCHOLOGY

According to the United States According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics' latest Bureau of Labor Statistics' latest Occupational Outlook Occupational Outlook Handbook*, in 2006:Handbook*, in 2006:

• • Psychologists held about Psychologists held about 166,000 jobs166,000 jobs

Among salaried psychologistsAmong salaried psychologists30% were employed by educational 30% were employed by educational

institutions in positions other than institutions in positions other than teaching, such as counseling, testing, teaching, such as counseling, testing, research, and administration. research, and administration.

30% were employed in health care, 30% were employed in health care, primarily in offices of mental health primarily in offices of mental health practitioners and in outpatient care practitioners and in outpatient care facilities, private hospitals, nursing and facilities, private hospitals, nursing and residential care facilities, and individual residential care facilities, and individual and family service organizations.and family service organizations.

10% in government agencies at the State 10% in government agencies at the State and local levels, primarily in public and local levels, primarily in public hospitals, clinics, correctional facilities, hospitals, clinics, correctional facilities, and other settings. and other settings.

Some psychologists work in, research Some psychologists work in, research organizations, management consulting organizations, management consulting firms, marketing research firms, religious firms, marketing research firms, religious organizations, and other businesses. organizations, and other businesses.

Many other psychologists held faculty Many other psychologists held faculty positions at colleges and universities, and positions at colleges and universities, and as high school psychology teachers as high school psychology teachers

For wage and salary clinical, For wage and salary clinical, counseling, and school psychologistscounseling, and school psychologists

Median annual earnings of were $51,170. Median annual earnings of were $51,170. The middle 50 percent earned between The middle 50 percent earned between

$38,560 and $66,970. $38,560 and $66,970. The lowest 10 percent earned less than The lowest 10 percent earned less than

$30,090. $30,090. The highest 10 percent earned more than The highest 10 percent earned more than

$87,060. $87,060.

Median annual earnings in the Median annual earnings in the industries employing the largest industries employing the largest numbers of clinical, counseling, and numbers of clinical, counseling, and school psychologists:school psychologists:

Offices of other health practitioners Offices of other health practitioners $59,600 $59,600

Elementary and secondary schools 54,480 Elementary and secondary schools 54,480 Offices of physicians 51,140 Offices of physicians 51,140 Outpatient care centers 44,010 Outpatient care centers 44,010 Individual and family services 37,490 Individual and family services 37,490

For wage and salary industrial-For wage and salary industrial-organizational psychologistsorganizational psychologists

Median annual earnings were $63,710. Median annual earnings were $63,710. The middle 50 percent earned between The middle 50 percent earned between

$48,540 and $81,880. $48,540 and $81,880. The lowest 10 percent earned less than The lowest 10 percent earned less than

$36,620. $36,620. The highest 10 percent earned more than The highest 10 percent earned more than

$112,660$112,660

Significant Points:

Most specialists, including clinical and counseling psychologists, need a doctoral degree; school and industrial-organizational psychologists need a master’s degree.

Opportunities in psychology are limited for those with only a bachelor’s degree.

A doctoral degree usually is requiredA doctoral degree usually is required for employment as an independent for employment as an independent licensed clinical or counseling licensed clinical or counseling psychologist. Psychologists with a Ph.D. psychologist. Psychologists with a Ph.D. qualify for a wide range of teaching, qualify for a wide range of teaching, research, clinical, and counseling research, clinical, and counseling positions in universities, healthcare positions in universities, healthcare services, elementary and secondary services, elementary and secondary schools, private industry, and schools, private industry, and government. Psychologists with a Doctor government. Psychologists with a Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) degree usually of Psychology (Psy.D.) degree usually work in clinical positions or in private work in clinical positions or in private practices practices

• A doctoral degree usually requires 5 to A doctoral degree usually requires 5 to 7 years of graduate study7 years of graduate study.. The Ph.D. The Ph.D. degree culminates in a dissertation based on degree culminates in a dissertation based on original research. Courses in quantitative original research. Courses in quantitative research methods, which include the use of research methods, which include the use of computer-based analysis, are an integral computer-based analysis, are an integral part of graduate study and are necessary to part of graduate study and are necessary to complete the dissertation. The Psy.D. may be complete the dissertation. The Psy.D. may be based on practical work and examinations based on practical work and examinations rather than a dissertation. In clinical or rather than a dissertation. In clinical or counseling psychology, the requirements for counseling psychology, the requirements for the doctoral degree usually include at least a the doctoral degree usually include at least a 1-year internship.1-year internship.

Persons with a master’s degree in psychology may work as industrial-organizational psychologists or school psychologists. They also may work as psychological assistants, under the supervision of doctoral-level psychologists, and conduct research or psychological evaluations. A master’s degree in psychology requires at least 2 years of full-time graduate study. Requirements usually include practical experience in an applied setting and a master’s thesis based on an original research project. Competition for admission to graduate programs is keen. Some universities require applicants to have an undergraduate major in psychology. Others prefer only coursework in basic psychology with courses in the biological, physical, and social sciences; and statistics and mathematics

A bachelor’s degree in A bachelor’s degree in psychologypsychology qualifies a person to qualifies a person to assist psychologists and other assist psychologists and other professionals in community mental professionals in community mental health centers, vocational health centers, vocational rehabilitation offices, and rehabilitation offices, and correctional programs. They may correctional programs. They may work as research or administrative work as research or administrative assistants or become sales or assistants or become sales or management trainees in business. management trainees in business. Some work as technicians in related Some work as technicians in related fields, such as marketing researchfields, such as marketing research..

In the Federal GovernmentIn the Federal Government, , candidates having at least 24 candidates having at least 24 semester hours in psychology and semester hours in psychology and one course in statistics qualify for one course in statistics qualify for entry-level positions. However, entry-level positions. However, competition for these jobs is keen competition for these jobs is keen because this is one of the few areas because this is one of the few areas in which one can work as a in which one can work as a psychologist without an advanced psychologist without an advanced degree degree

Aspiring psychologists who are interested in direct patient care must be emotionally stable, mature, and able to deal effectively with people. Sensitivity, compassion, good communication skills, and the ability to lead and inspire others are particularly important qualities for persons wishing to do clinical work and counseling. Research psychologists should be able to do detailed work independently and as part of a team. Patience and perseverance are vital qualities because achieving results from psychological treatment of patients or from research usually takes a long time.

Overall employment of Overall employment of psychologists is expected to grow psychologists is expected to grow faster than the average for all faster than the average for all occupations through 2012occupations through 2012, due to , due to increased demand for psychological increased demand for psychological services in schools, hospitals, social services in schools, hospitals, social service agencies, mental health service agencies, mental health centers, substance abuse treatment centers, substance abuse treatment clinics, consulting firms, and private clinics, consulting firms, and private companies. Clinical, counseling, and companies. Clinical, counseling, and school psychologists will grow faster school psychologists will grow faster than the average, while industrial-than the average, while industrial-organizational psychologists will have organizational psychologists will have average growth average growth

Among the specialties in this field, school psychologists may enjoy the best job opportunities. Growing awareness of how students’ mental health and behavioral problems, such as bullying, affect learning is increasing demand for school psychologists to offer student counseling and mental health services.

Clinical and counseling Clinical and counseling psychologistspsychologists will be needed to help will be needed to help people deal with people deal with depressiondepression and other and other mental disorders, mental disorders, marriage and family marriage and family problemsproblems, , job stressjob stress, and , and addictionaddiction. . The rise in healthcare costs associated The rise in healthcare costs associated with unhealthy lifestyles, such as with unhealthy lifestyles, such as smoking, alcoholism, and obesity, has smoking, alcoholism, and obesity, has made prevention and treatment more made prevention and treatment more critical. The increase in the number of critical. The increase in the number of employee assistance programs, which employee assistance programs, which help workers deal with personal help workers deal with personal problems, also should spur job growth problems, also should spur job growth in clinical and counseling specialties in clinical and counseling specialties

Industrial-organizational Industrial-organizational psychologistspsychologists will be in demand to will be in demand to help to boost worker productivity and help to boost worker productivity and retention rates in a wide range of retention rates in a wide range of businesses. Industrial-organizational businesses. Industrial-organizational psychologists will help companies deal psychologists will help companies deal with issues such as workplace diversity with issues such as workplace diversity and antidiscrimination policies. and antidiscrimination policies. Companies also will use psychologists’ Companies also will use psychologists’ expertise in survey design, analysis, and expertise in survey design, analysis, and research to develop tools for marketing research to develop tools for marketing evaluation and statistical analysis. evaluation and statistical analysis.

Master’s degree holders in fields other than school or industrial-organizational psychology will face keen competition for jobs, because of the limited number of positions that require only a master’s degree. Master’s degree holders may find jobs as psychological assistants or counselors, providing mental health services under the direct supervision of a licensed psychologist. Still others may find jobs involving research and data collection and analysis in universities, government, or private companies

Opportunities directly related to psychology will be limited for bachelor’s degree holders. Some may find jobs as assistants in rehabilitation centers, or in other jobs involving data collection and analysis. Those who meet State certification requirements may become high school psychology teachers

Which Mental Health Professional Is Right Which Mental Health Professional Is Right For Me?For Me?There are many types of mental health There are many types of mental health professionals. Finding the right one for you professionals. Finding the right one for you may require some research. Often it is a good may require some research. Often it is a good idea to first describe the symptoms and/or idea to first describe the symptoms and/or problems to your family physician or clergy. problems to your family physician or clergy. He or she can suggest the type of mental He or she can suggest the type of mental health professional you should call health professional you should call

Types of Mental Health ProfessionalsTypes of Mental Health Professionals

Psychiatrist - medical doctor with special training in the diagnosis and Psychiatrist - medical doctor with special training in the diagnosis and treatment of mental and emotional illnesses. Like other doctors, treatment of mental and emotional illnesses. Like other doctors, psychiatrists are qualified to prescribe medication. psychiatrists are qualified to prescribe medication. Qualifications:Qualifications: should have a state license and be board eligible or should have a state license and be board eligible or certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.

Child/Adolescent Psychiatrist - medical doctor with special training in the Child/Adolescent Psychiatrist - medical doctor with special training in the diagnosis and treatment of emotional and behavioral problems in children. diagnosis and treatment of emotional and behavioral problems in children. Child/Adolescent psychiatrists are qualified to prescribe medication. Child/Adolescent psychiatrists are qualified to prescribe medication. Qualifications:Qualifications: should have a state license and be board eligible or should have a state license and be board eligible or certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.

Psychologist - Counselor with an advanced degree from an accredited Psychologist - Counselor with an advanced degree from an accredited graduate program in psychology, and 2 or more years of supervised work graduate program in psychology, and 2 or more years of supervised work experience. Trained to make diagnoses and provide individual and group experience. Trained to make diagnoses and provide individual and group therapy. therapy. Qualifications:Qualifications: a state license a state license

• Clinical Social Worker - Counselor with a masters degree in social work from an accredited graduate program. Trained to make diagnoses and provide individual and group counseling. Qualifications: state license; may be member of the Academy of Certified Social Workers.

• Licensed Professional Counselor - Counselor with a masters degree in psychology, counseling or a related field. Trained to diagnose and provide individual and group counseling. Qualifications: state license

• Mental Health Counselor - Counselor with a masters degree and several years of supervised clinical work experience. Trained to diagnose and provide individual and group counseling.

Certified Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor - Certified Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor - Counselor with specific clinical training in alcohol Counselor with specific clinical training in alcohol and drug abuse. Trained to diagnose and and drug abuse. Trained to diagnose and provide individual and group counseling. provide individual and group counseling. Qualifications:Qualifications: state license state license

Nurse Psychotherapist - A registered nurse who Nurse Psychotherapist - A registered nurse who is trained in the practice of psychiatric and is trained in the practice of psychiatric and mental health nursing. Trained to diagnose and mental health nursing. Trained to diagnose and provide individual and group counseling. provide individual and group counseling. Qualifications:Qualifications: certification, state license certification, state license

• Marital and Family Therapist A counselor with a masters degree, with special education and training in marital and family therapy. Trained to diagnose and provide individual and group counseling. Qualifications: state license

• Pastoral Counselor - Clergy with training in clinical pastoral education Trained to diagnose and provide individual and group counseling. Qualifications: Certification from American Association of Pastoral Counselors

• Lifelong Learning Skills : Reading with comprehension and the

ability to identify major points. Speaking and writing in a clear,

organized, and persuasive manner. Writing in a particular style. Listening attentively. Taking accurate notes. Mastering efficient memory strategies. Developing critical thinking skills.

• Submitting assignments on time and in acceptable form.

• Behaving in a responsible, punctual, mature, and respectful manner.

• Managing stress and conflict successfully.

• Organizing the physical environment to maximize efficiency.

• Observing and evaluating the attitudes and behaviors of role models.

• Maintaining an accurate planner or calendar.

• Working as a productive member of a team.

• Interacting successfully with a wide variety of people.

““If you don’t take advantage of If you don’t take advantage of the opportunities that surround the opportunities that surround you, someone else will.”you, someone else will.”