How to Become a Child Psychologist (With Common Skills)

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Updated March 28, 2025

There are several specialty areas in psychology, including child and adolescent psychology. Those who choose this specialty can look forward to a rewarding career working with children and helping them with a range of situations. It's important to understand the process of becoming a child psychologist and the skills needed to be successful in the role when deciding if this is the career for you.In this article, we discover how to become a child psychologist, discuss what a child psychologist is, evaluate their average salary, and learn the skills of these professionals.Key takeaways:

The process of becoming a child psychologist involves obtaining a relevant undergraduate degree, completing a postgraduate qualification, receiving supervised experience and achieving the required licensure.
A child psychologist looks after children's mental health, dealing with a range of behavioural and mental health issues by conducting psychological testing and helping with developmental challenges.
Child psychologists can work in diverse settings such as schools, hospitals, and government organizations, and their roles and salaries vary based on specialty area and geographical location.

How to become a child psychologist

To know how to become a child psychologist, it's essential to consider the education requirements of this career. You can follow these steps to become a professional in this field:

1. Obtain relevant undergraduate educational qualification

The first step in becoming a child psychologist is obtaining an undergraduate bachelor's degree. Students most commonly major in psychology, social work, or sociology. These courses are likely to provide a good foundation for future study that is necessary to become a child psychologist. It's important to ensure you complete any courses that are prerequisites or recommended before studying any specialization in psychology at a graduate level. The courses that admissions officers look for on a student's transcript when considering them for admission into graduate programs can include:

General psychology
Child psychology
Statistics
Research methods
Abnormal psychology
Trauma and crisis
Neuropsychology
Behavioural psychology
Developmental psychology
Social sciences
Family interventions
Personality

2. Complete postgraduate studies

Once you have completed your undergraduate degree, the next step is completing a postgraduate qualification. Admission to postgraduate school usually requires a grade point average (GPA) of 3.5 and excellent letters of recommendation. There are two options for students:

Master's in psychology

Depending on whether you're studying part or full time, a master's usually takes between two to three years to complete. It can involve taking set courses, including one in research methods and one in statistics, passing examinations, and completing a major research project. A master's degree is typically a requirement for those who wish to work in places, such as schools, colleges, universities, private educational organizations, corporations, and the government. The typical jobs of graduates with a master's degree include child welfare workers, school counsellors or administrators, testing and assessment psychologists, or therapists.

Doctorate in psychology

If you're planning on being a clinical child psychologist, which involves diagnosing and treating children with mental health issues, then it's essential for you to complete a doctorate, which usually takes between three and five years. Most doctorates are in clinical or experimental psychology. A doctorate in psychology typically requires a master's degree, but some universities don't require students to complete a master's degree to gain admission to their doctorate programs. The program may require the completion of courses, examinations, original research, and a written thesis or dissertation.

3. Complete internship or supervision

It can be necessary to spend one year interning and receiving supervision if you're planning on becoming a clinical child psychologist and providing psychological services to children and adolescents. You can accomplish this while you're studying for your doctorate. While some courses require students to complete practical experiences as part of their education, this more intensive internship allows you to get a more comprehensive understanding of the role of a child psychologist. The supervision element can give you the chance to discuss cases with experienced colleagues and gain experience.Related: Psychologist Interview Questions and Answers

4. Complete relevant licensure

To get a licence to practise psychology in Canada, most provinces require:

The appropriate graduate degree
The completion of supervised experience
The passing of oral or written examinations

Examinations usually show and validate your expertise in the field and your level of knowledge to practice psychology. You can consider a doctorate as the entry-level requirement for a career as a clinical psychologist, although some provinces, such as Alberta and Saskatchewan, allow individuals to become chartered psychologists or college professors with a master's qualification. The requirements for licensure vary between the provinces, so it's important to check what the requirements are in the province where you intend to practise.Related: How to Become a Psychologist in Canada

What is a child psychologist?

A child psychologist is a specialized professional who looks after the mental health of children. The role of a child psychologist can involve assessing a range of behavioural and mental health issues and coming to a diagnosis. Child psychologists are experts in administering and assessing psychological testing. They can also help children deal with developmental issues, such as those associated with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, adjustment disorder, and phobias. Another part of their role involves helping children cope with events that can affect them psychologically, including divorce, grief, trauma, and abuse.Related: How To Become a Child Counsellor (With Salary and Job Outlook)

Child psychology specialties

Child psychologists usually work in one of six specialty areas:

Adolescent psychology. These psychologists help teenagers deal with issues that apply to them, focusing predominantly on working with 12- to 18-year-old individuals. They often work closely with the teenager's parents, teachers, and medical providers to improve outcomes.
Developmental child psychology. This branch of child psychology observes the emotional and cognitive development of children. They research how ageing affects children and consider how early development can affect their adult life.
Abnormal child psychology. These psychologists often work with children who are the victims of trauma, emotional or physical abuse, and show abnormal psychological development. Their role is to help children and young people address the issues.
Educational psychology. This specialty involves the learning processes and teaching methods in schools. They can make suggestions regarding the curriculum and classes to ensure they address the psychological needs of the students.
Clinical child psychology. This specialty assesses children with psychological and developmental issues, diagnoses them, and formulates treatment plans. Professionals with this specialization can also conduct research.
School psychology. Typically working as school therapists or counsellors, these psychologists assess children's needs in the school environment and their eligibility for government help. They can address issues such as bullying and communication at elementary, middle, and high schools.

Where do child psychologists work?

Child psychologists work in a range of different settings, such as schools, hospitals, and doctors' offices. Some professionals prefer to work in a government setting, helping to shape educational policies. Other child psychologists choose to work in private practice.

What is the difference between a child psychiatrist, child psychologist, and child therapist?

A child psychologist can treat a broad range of disorders that may affect children and their families. Typically, they work with a child psychiatrist. The child psychiatrist is a qualified and licensed doctor who can prescribe medication to a child to address their mental health issues. A child therapist aims to help the child make decisions and confront behavioural patterns to address any developmental issue.

Salary expectations

A child psychologist's salary can vary according to their specialty area and the province where they're practising. The average salary of a child psychologist is $44.29 per hour. This amount can also vary depending on their expertise level and their workplace.Related: How Much Do Psychologists Make in Canada? (With Primary Duties)

Common skills of child psychologists

Child psychologists possess a unique skill set that they develop through gaining on-the-job experience and education. There are common skills most child psychologists possess, including:

Communication. They need excellent communication skills, such as active listening, to communicate effectively with their patients, parents, colleagues, medical professionals, authorities, and social workers. It's essential for these professionals to be able to moderate their communication to ensure the children's comprehension.
Problem-solving. They can identify the behavioural issue of a child and find the best approach to address it and find a solution. The psychologist may research different aspects of the child's or adolescent's history to make an appropriate diagnosis and plan for treatment.
Trustworthiness. To be effective in their role, a child psychologist requires the trust of the child or adolescent, to the degree they feel comfortable speaking about their life. Their techniques are more likely to be effective when there is a comfortable relationship between the therapist and the patient.
Patience. The therapy process can require time when they're attempting to gather information and diagnose the child's issue. Patience is essential to developing a trusting relationship.
Empathy. This is the ability to understand the feelings and thoughts of another. By showing empathy, psychologists can develop a therapeutic relationship with a child.
Analytical evaluation. Child psychologists can evaluate all the information available to produce a diagnosis. Typically, they analyze the history of their patients to formulate, with the parents, plans or steps to follow.

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