How to Become a Child Psychologist

You might be interested in child psychology if you're passionate about helping children. To become a child psychologist, you likely need to earn a relevant doctoral degree and become licensed in the state where you work, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

While Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) doesn't currently offer a doctoral psychology program, there are plenty of related positions you can find to help children, teens and their families with a master’s or even a bachelor’s degree.

What Does a Child Psychologist Do?

Child psychologists can work with children, teens and families in a variety of settings, from private practice to social service agencies, schools, treatment facilities and more. Some also focus on research, said Dr. Barbara Lesniak, executive director of social science programs at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU).

Lesniak, who has been at SNHU for 14 years, holds a Doctor of Psychology. Before moving into higher education, she spent over 15 years providing online and in-person counseling services, specializing in virtually helping clients in acute crisis situations.

“Most child psychologists enter the field because they want to help youngsters,” she said. “In all of these roles, they help children directly or work in roles like advocacy or designing educational programs.”

If you enjoy working with kids, child and adolescent psychology could be a great field for you, said Sara Cramer, MS, CIMI, an adjunct psychology instructor at SNHU and a Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS).

As young people are dealing with more stress, there's a growing need for psychology professionals.* According to a 2025 article in the National Library of Medicine, there has been an increase in anxiety and depression in youths over the last decade.

"Children and adolescents are faced with more stress and anxiety than ever before, and they will need the support and advocacy of child psychologists," said Cramer, who has worked as a childcare provider, preschool teacher and behavioral specialist consultant.

Child psychologists are well-suited to help children and adolescents cope with the stressors in their lives that may affect their behavior or emotional well-being, including things like grief, divorce, bullying and more, according to Cramer.

“They also work with children who experience developmental issues such as autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, learning disabilities, etc.,” she said.

Child psychologists also assess children for many of those diagnoses, as well as depression and other mental health disorders, using an array of cognitive and achievement tests. Many also choose to focus on different areas of psychology, including developmental psychology, abnormal psychology or adolescent psychology.

Learn more: 8 Types of Psychology With Real-World Perspective

How Long Does It Take to Become a Child Psychologist?

“The journey to becoming a child psychologist takes years to complete,” said Cramer. It requires certain education and licensure.

Many child psychologists begin with a 4-year bachelor’s degree in psychology. Depending on the program, you may be able to choose a concentration in child and adolescent development.

"Focusing on child and adolescent psychology during the undergraduate years is a great place to start on the journey to becoming a child psychologist," said Cramer. "The knowledge a student would gain during this time would provide a solid foundation for master-level courses."

From there, you might pursue a master’s in psychology with a concentration in child and developmental psychology. How long it takes to get a master's degree depends on the program and your pacing, but it can typically be completed within two years.

It’s also essential to research your state’s specific licensing and supervision requirements. All but a few states require child psychologists to have a doctorate. You will also need to complete a number of hours of supervised work and pass a state licensing exam, said Dr. Thomas MacCarty, associate dean of social sciences at SNHU.

“Apart from the educational requirements and state guidelines to become licensed, child psychologists need to be well-grounded emotionally and psychologically,” said MacCarty, who worked as a licensed school psychologist for over 20 years before moving into higher education.

How Do You Get Into Child Psychology?

Different roles are available within the child psychology field based on education level. If you aren't sure what level of education you want to pursue yet, you might consider starting with a bachelor's degree.

Undergraduate Degree

Although many roles require further education, not all do.

"There are many paths a student can pursue with a degree in psychology concentrating in child and adolescent development," said Cramer.

Some career paths might require additional certifications or licensure, but according to Cramer, a bachelor's degree might allow you to work in roles like:

• Elementary or preschool teacher
• Probation officer
• Social service assistant
• Substance abuse counselor

An undergraduate degree can also open up opportunities in juvenile detention facilities, childcare facilities, government social work agencies and opportunities to work as a life coach or developmental or behavioral specialist, MacCarty said.

Determined to help kids learn to express themselves, Essence Myers '26 decided to earn a bachelor's degree in psychology with a concentration in child and adolescent development at SNHU.

She said not being able to express yourself during childhood can follow you into adulthood. "When they have somebody that they're able to make sure that they're feeling heard or seen, it goes (on to) a better ending result," Myers said.

She said one of the final courses of her program, "Problem Solving for Social Change," was meaningful as she thought about the next steps in her career.

"It made you think about the thought process of people, and how people move," Myers said. "So it really was an eye opener into, like, the real world."

Graduate Degree

While you will probably need a doctorate to become a licensed and practicing child psychologist, earning a master's degree is still an important step. It can also open doors to other areas in the field. (Note: SNHU does not currently offer a doctorate in psychology.)

Most people with a master’s degree concentrating in child psychology can work in many of the same settings as a licensed psychologist in supportive roles, Lesniak said, but their roles will differ.

“The biggest difference is the ability to work independently and to be licensed. Those with a graduate or doctorate degree will be able to get a professional license to practice if they meet the requirements,” she said. “There are far more opportunities available for someone with a graduate or doctoral degree and more earning potential.”*

According to BLS, in 2024, master's degree holders earned a weekly median salary of $1,840 versus $1,543 for those with a bachelor's degree.*

According to Cramer and MacCarty, at the master's level, you may find work in roles such as:

• Behavioral specialist
• Case manager
• Community service manager
• Child advocate
• Family therapist

“The one caveat (is that) there may be additional coursework, experience or supervised hours needed for licensing to meet the requirements for the different jobs available,” MacCarty said.

The type of job you do within child psychology can depend on the kind of work that most interests you.

Since many go into the field to help young people, many “gravitate toward jobs like doing individual or family therapy, running group therapy sessions, working with children caught up in the court system or helping children with special needs and their families negotiate the education system,” Lesniak said. Others prefer to focus on research or academia.

“While they don’t provide direct services, they add critical pieces to the body of knowledge in the child psychology field,” she said.

Recently, Allison Melendy '26G earned a master's in psychology with a concentration in child and developmental psychology at SNHU. Her goal? To support children and their families.

"I am hoping to work with children and their parents to just help them better with social/emotional skills, and build a better foundation for parenting and the school environment," Melendy said.

She decided to enroll in SNHU's online program because it offered her the flexibility she needed to work full-time while continuing her education.

Melendy noted that her capstone course was especially beneficial in preparing her for the future. "It brought everything together," she said. "It was something that you worked towards, like one goal, the whole class."

What Skills Do Child Psychologists Need?

Like many liberal arts and social science disciplines that rely heavily on soft skills, a degree with a child psychology concentration can help you build adaptable and transferable skills like communication, analysis and more. You will also need to master field-specific theory and be familiar with commonly used tests, assessments, research techniques and methods to work with children and families, Lesniak said.

“These types of programs provide a broad range of skills, as well as knowledge that’s very specific to the field of child psychology,” she said.

Cramer said flexibility is a vital skill for a child psychologist, as well as verbal and non-verbal communication and listening skills.

“Since students will be working with children who have special needs or those who have experienced a trauma, it is very important to be compassionate, enthusiastic and trustworthy,” she said. “In my own opinion, it is important for students to know how to adapt to changing situations. If the plan in mind does not work, one needs to be quick to develop a new plan.”

*Cited job growth projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions and do not guarantee actual job growth. Actual salaries and/or earning potential may be the result of a combination of factors including, but not limited to: years of experience, industry of employment, geographic location, and worker skill.

Joe Cote is a writer and organic marketer at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU), where he has worked since 2016. Previously he spent more than a dozen years as a reporter and editor at weekly and daily newspapers in Vermont and New Hampshire. He lives near SNHU's Manchester, New Hampshire campus with his wife and daughter. Connect with him on LinkedIn.