Types of Child Psychology Careers: Helping the Next Generation Thrive

Published on: October 8, 2025

A female child psychologist speaking to a young boy.

Curious about the many ways that professionals support kids’ mental and emotional health? This guide breaks down the most meaningful child psychology careers, from school-based support and child counseling to research and advocacy, so you can see what working with children looks like day to day. We outline the range of career paths and the types of jobs in child psychology that match different strengths — no matter if you love one-on-one conversations, data or collaborative work with families and teachers. You’ll also learn how to become a child psychologist, including why starting with a solid psychology degree can ultimately help the next generation thrive.

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What Is Child Psychology?

Weaving together biology, environment and experience, child psychology focuses on how children think, feel, learn and behave from infancy through adolescence. Specialists in this area study milestones and individual differences to support kids’ mental health, school success and family relationships — work that sits at the heart of many jobs in child psychology. For students exploring career paths in assessment, research or child counseling, understanding this foundation shows why a psychology degree is the first step toward meaningful roles working with children.

Understanding the Field

Child psychology is the branch of psychology devoted to the systematic study of children’s behavior, adjustment and growth from birth through adolescence. Practitioners may assess development, provide therapy and collaborate with families, schools and health teams; this spans clinical, counseling and school settings.

Why does this matter scientifically? Early childhood is a period of rapid brain growth when experiences shape neural development and later outcomes, making timely support especially impactful.

Why Child Psychologists Are Important

Broadly speaking, child and school psychologists help:

Identify learning and behavioral challenges.

Deliver evidence-based child counseling and interventions.

Coordinate supports that improve academic and social outcomes.

The need is significant: Recent U.S. data shows that anxiety, behavior disorders and depression are among the most common conditions in children. This underscores the role of early detection and care, as early intervention is linked to better long-term outcomes for children and families.

Top Jobs in Child Psychology

If you’re exploring child psychology careers, there are numerous career paths that fit different strengths and settings. The following jobs in child psychology all center on working with children and supporting healthy development. Most roles start with earning a psychology degree and build toward focused training in assessment, therapy or research.

Clinical Child Psychologist

Clinical child psychologists assess and treat emotional, behavioral and developmental concerns in infants through adolescents across clinics, hospitals and private practice. Independent practice usually requires a doctorate, supervised training and state licensure, with optional board certification in clinical child and adolescent psychology. These roles often include evidence-based therapy, family collaboration and care coordination that align closely with child counseling.

School Psychologist

School psychologists work inside PreK–12 schools to:

Evaluate learning and behavior.

Design interventions.

Partner with families and educators to enhance academic and social outcomes.

Practice is guided by NASP’s Model for Comprehensive and Integrated School Psychological Services, which outlines domains like data-based decision making and consultation. If you seek a job working with children in educational settings, this is one of the most direct career paths.

Developmental Psychologist

Developmental psychologists study how children grow in cognition, language and social functioning, then translate findings into programs and policies that support kids. These professionals often pursue graduate training focused on lifespan development with a child emphasis, and they may work in:

Universities

Research centers

Hospitals

Community agencies

This route suits those drawn to research-oriented jobs in child psychology grounded in a strong psychology degree.

Research Psychologist (Child Development Focus)

Research psychologists design studies and analyze data, then ultimately publish findings on topics such as early learning, mental health screening and intervention outcomes. Many affiliate with the American Psychological Association’s (APA) Division 7 for developmental science as well as collaborate with clinicians and schools to turn evidence into practice. It’s a rigorous track that can inform policy and improve child counseling approaches across systems.

Child Counselor or Therapist

Child counselors and therapists provide talk therapy and play-based interventions for concerns like anxiety, grief and behavior challenges — frequently involving families in treatment. Licensure typically follows a master’s in counseling or a related field, supervised clinical hours and passing a state exam, with many practitioners specializing in youth. If you’re wondering how to become a child psychologist but prefer a master’s-level route centered on therapy, child counseling offers a direct path to working with children.

Pediatric Neuropsychologist

Pediatric neuropsychologists are licensed psychologists who specialize in brain–behavior relationships. They conduct comprehensive evaluations after conditions like brain injury, epilepsy or developmental disorders to guide treatment and school support. Training includes doctoral study, internship and postdoctoral specialization in pediatric neuropsychology. This is a highly specialized option within child psychology careers for those who enjoy assessment and multidisciplinary teamwork.

How to Become a Child Psychologist

When mapping out how to become a child psychologist, the path typically entails a psychology degree, graduate training, supervised experience and state licensure with optional board certification. These steps prepare you for evidence-based care and open a range of career paths within child psychology careers, from assessment to child counseling to research-focused jobs. Requirements vary by state, so plan ahead and verify specifics with your licensing board.

Step 1 — Earn a Bachelor’s Degree

Start with a strong undergraduate foundation in psychology or a related field to build research skills, statistics competence and child development knowledge. Many graduate programs expect coursework in methods and stats, plus experiences that show commitment to working with children. A psychology degree also keeps you competitive for research labs and assistant roles that strengthen your application.

Step 2 — Pursue a Graduate Degree

Most clinical child roles require a doctoral program (PhD or PsyD) that includes advanced coursework, clinical practice and an APA or CPA accredited internship. Programs often emphasize developmental psychopathology, assessment and interventions relevant to child counseling and family systems. Some students complete a master’s on the way to the doctorate, depending on the program structure.

Step 3 — Complete Supervised Clinical Experience

States typically require supervised hours beyond internship through a formal postdoctoral fellowship or equivalent supervised practice. These hours deepen competence in assessment, therapy and consultation with schools or medical teams that serve children. Track requirements early since hour totals and settings can differ by jurisdiction.

Step 4 — Obtain Licensure and Certification

After education and supervised experience, candidates pursue licensure. This generally includes passing the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP) knowledge exam and meeting state-specific requirements, with some jurisdictions also using an EPPP skills exam. Board certification in Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology through the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP) is optional but can signal advanced specialty competence once licensed. Always confirm timelines, exams and documentation with your state board.

Step 5 — Continue Professional Development

Licensure maintenance usually involves continuing education (CE) to stay current on ethics, cultural responsiveness and evidence-based care for youth. Ongoing learning supports growth across career paths and helps you adapt to new research that shapes jobs in child psychology and child counseling practice. Check your state board and professional associations for CE requirements and specialty opportunities.

Career Outlook and Salary Expectations

The outlook for child psychology careers is steady. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects overall employment of psychologists to grow 6% from 2024 to 2034 and reports a 2024 median wage of $94,310. School psychologists earn a national median of around $85,000 based on 2023 federal wage estimates, though pay varies by district and state. Mental health counselors who provide youth-focused child counseling are seeing high demand, too, with a 17% growth projection for mental health–related roles.

Of course, exact earnings will depend on factors like education, licensure and setting, but completing a psychology degree and specialized training can open higher-earning career paths and competitive jobs in child psychology.

Take the First Step Toward a Future Helping Kids Thrive

Looking to turn your interest in working with children into a meaningful career? Compelled by the above career paths and the wide range of jobs in child psychology?

At Husson University, our fully online Bachelor of Science in Psychology can help you build the right foundation. Start your journey with a flexible online program designed to fit your life and goals. Explore Husson’s online B.S. in Psychology and see how your next step can lead to real impact.