Duties and Responsibilities
In a nutshell, studying human behavior and the human mind is what psychologists do. However, there are many specialties. Research psychologists study the social, cognitive, physical and emotional aspects of human behavior while psychologists in health fields provide mental health care in schools, clinics, one-on-one in private settings and hospitals.

On the other hand, psychologists working in applied settings like government, nonprofit organizations, business and industry, provide training and work as advocates for psychology.

Psychologists, like other social scientists, collect information and formulate theories to order to test their validity. Of course, research methods are dependant upon the topic being studied. In some instances, psychologists collect data through controlled laboratory experiments or by monitoring aptitude, personality or intelligence tests. Other methods include surveys, observation, interviews, clinical studies and questionnaires.

Many Psychologists focus on a number of different specialties and then apply their knowledge to a variety of projects like sports, education, law and health and human services.

Clinical psychologists represent the largest specialty and more often than not work in counseling centers, clinics, hospitals, group or independent practices.

They also assist emotionally and mentally troubled patients adjust to life and in some instances, assist surgical and medical patients deal with injuries and illness.

Psychologists can be seen in physical rehab settings treating patients with neurological conditions, illnesses, arthritis, spinal cord injuries, or chronic pain. In addition, others help patients deal with the death of a family member, divorce or other type of personal crisis.

In addition to providing group, family and individual psychotherapy many clinical psychologists implement and design behavior altering programs. Other clinical psychologists work hand-in-hand with doctors and other health specialists in developing and implementing intervention and treatment programs that patients can understand while another segment of clinical psychologists work in medical schools and universities, where they teach graduate students in the practice of behavioral medicine and mental health services.

A few segments of specialization within clinical psychology include neuropsychology, geropsychology and health psychology. Health psychologists study how psychological, social factors and biological issues affect overall health. They also push disease prevention and healthier living through counseling and concentrate on how patients view overall quality of life and adjust to treatments and illnesses.

Neuropsychologists often work in head injury and stroke programs and study and relationship between behavior and the brain.

Geropsychologists focus on the special needs faced by the elderly. The continued growth of these types of specialties is a reflection of the increased participation of psychologists in specialized patient groups and direct services.

For treatments that include any type of medication, clinical psychologists often consult with other medical personnel regarding the best treatment for a patient.

Normally, clinical psychologists are not allowed to prescribe medication; only physicians and psychiatrists are allowed to prescribe many medications to treat patients. However, there are two exceptions; two States, New Mexico and Louisiana currently permit properly trained clinical psychologists to prescribe medications with certain restrictions.

Counseling psychologists often work in institutions like group or individual practices, hospitals and college counseling centers and use a variety of techniques like test and interviewing when advising patients on how to cope with the problems of everyday life, including life stages problems, career and work issues.

School psychologists focus on students in elementary, secondary and early childhood schools. They also work with school personnel, parents and teachers to build healthy, supportive and safe learning situations for all students.

Student behavioral and learning issues are addressed by school psychologists.

They suggest improvements in parenting methods, management techniques and evaluate both the gifted and talented student and the student with disabilities on the best ways to properly educate them.

Because of their understanding of the psychology of learning environments they are in a position to improve socialization, learning and teaching strategies.

In addition, they may appraise the effectiveness of academic and prevention programs, behavior management procedures and other school based services.

For the benefit of improving the quality of the work environment and productivity, industrial-organizational psychologists apply research methods and psychological principles. Others research management and marketing problems and screen, counsel applicants for jobs, train and perform organizational development and analysis.

In addition, industrial psychologists often work as consultants, brought in by management to improve or solve a particular issue.

The study and analysis of the cognitive, social and physiological development that happens from everyday living is done by developmental psychologists. Some specialize in behavior during childhood, infancy and the teen years or changes that happen as one get older.

In addition, some developmental psychologists study developmental disabilities and their effects and others are researching and developing methods to help elderly patients remain independent longer.

Social psychologists study how people interact with other people and with their social environment. They often work in organizational consulting, marketing research, systems design or other applied psychology fields. Notable areas of study include perception, leadership, group behavior and attitudes.

Research psychologists; also know as experimental psychologists, often due their work in colleges and other private research centers, nonprofit, business and government institutions. They focus their study on the behavior of both humans and animals like pigeons, monkeys and rats.

Notable areas of study in experimental research include thought, attention, learning and memory, motivation, perceptual and sensory processes, the effects of substance abuse, neurological and genetic components affecting behavior.

Work Atmosphere
Like all fields, the work environment of psychologists differs by employer and location. For example; counseling, school and clinical psychologists in private practice often work in their own offices and determine their own work hours.

On the other hand, many have extended weekend or evening hours to accommodate their patients while those working in nursing homes, hospitals and other health care facilities can have work schedules that include both weekends and evening hours. Those employed in clinics and schools work more traditional daytime hours, as well as those in industry and government.

Many psychologists working in universities and colleges as faculty members divide their time between research and teaching. They may also have part-time consulting practices and have some administrative duties.

These days, many psychologists are working on teams and consulting with other professionals and psychologists. Like other jobs, they experience pressure due to tight schedules, deadlines and overtime.

For some, travel is required to conduct research and to participate in conferences. As a result, it’s not uncommon for routines to be interrupted.

Education and Training
A license, masters or doctoral degree are standard requirements for most psychologists.

For psychologists interested in starting their own practice a doctoral degree is the normally the required credential. A plethora of opportunities exist for psychologists with a PhD or Doctor of Psychology - (PsyD) like clinical, teaching, counseling positions in universities, research, elementary and secondary schools, private industry, health care services and government.

It takes most people 5 - 7 years of graduate study to earn a doctoral degree, climaxing in a dissertation based on their original research. Today, a key part of graduate study includes courses that encompass the use of computer-based analysis centered on quantitative research methods.

On the other hand, the PsyD degree may be based on examinations and practical work other than a dissertation while psychologists pursuing a counseling, school or clinical psychology doctoral degree are normally required to complete an internship of at least 1 year.

To work as a school psychologist most States require a specialist or equivalent degree. On the other hand, there are still a few States use a master's degree as a measuring guide to credential their school psychologists.

For those pursuing a specialist (EdS) degree they are required to complete a 1 year full-time internship and at a minimum 3 years of full-time graduate degree study which translates in 60 graduate semester hours.

Due to the influence a school psychologist has on the mental and educational health aspects of a students' developmental growth, training normally encompasses coursework in both psychology and education.

Individuals with master's degree in psychology can work as industrial-organizational psychologists or psychological assistants under the watchful eye of a psychologist with a doctoral degree.

Earning a psychology master's degree normally takes a minimum of 2 years of full-time graduate study.

Graduating requirements normally require real-world experience in an applied setting and a master's thesis built upon an original research project.

Requirements are fairly consistent throughout the college and university system with a few exceptions but most requirements include an undergraduate major in psychology and coursework in basic psychology, with add-on courses in statistics and math, along with the physical, biological and social sciences.

To qualify to be an assistant for other psychologists and professionals you'll have to earn a bachelor's degree in psychology. You will also be able to work as an administrative or research psychologists assistant with a bachelor's degree. Others with bachelor's degrees work in related fields like marketing, service, business management or sales technicians.

Individuals with at least 24 semester hours in psychology and one course in statistics, qualify for entry-level positions in the federal government. As you would expect, the competition for these types of jobs is high because it's one of the few ways to work in the psychologist arena without one of the advanced degrees.

The APA (American Psychological Association) is currently responsible for accrediting doctoral training programs in counseling, school and clinical psychology. They also accredit the institutions providing internships for doctoral students in the same aspects of psychology.

The associations that approve advanced degree programs in school psychology are the National Association of School Psychologists along with the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education.

Licensing
Certification and licensing requirements, in all States and the District of Columbia, must be met in order for independent practice psychologists or for those psychologists who offer any form of patient care. This includes school, clinical and counseling psychologists.

Licensing laws vary by State and position and mandate that licensed or certified psychologists limit their practice to only those aspects of the psychological spectrum in which they have developed skills and abilities through training and experience.

Normally, counseling and Clinical psychologists are required to have doctorate in psychology, a properly approved internship, at least 1 year, preferably 2 years of experience and regardless of which state one chooses to practice that State will require that they pass an examination.

A standardize test is normally administered by the State Licensing board with many States supplementing that with additional essay or oral questions. A few states even require continuing educational classes in order to qualify to have their license renewed.

NASP (National Association of School Psychologists) awards the NCSP (Nationally Certified School Psychologist) designation, which recognizes professional competency at a national, rather than State, level in school psychology.

At present, 29 States recognize the NCSP and allow those with the recognized certification to transfer credentials from State to State without retaking the certification exam However, this seamless transfer normally only happens between States that recognize the NCSP and have similar certification requirements.

NCSP requirements include a 1,000 plus hour internship, with 600 of those hours finished in a school setting, at least 60 graduate school psychology semester hours and obviously a passing score on the National School Psychology Examination.

Wannabe psychologists interested in direct patient care must be emotionally mature, mature stable and have the ability to effectively deal with people.

For those interested counseling and clinical work excellent communication skills, sensitivity, empathy and the ability to inspire and lead are of particular importance.

On the other hand, for those more detailed and independent types the best route may be the research psychologist.

Of course, to become an effective psychologist in any of the specialties requires great patience and perseverance, because achieving results in research or in the psychological treatment of patients can take long periods of time.

Certification and Advancement
The ABPP (American Board of Professional Psychology) recognizes professional accomplishments by awarding certification in 13 different specialties. To qualify for ABPP certification an individual needs a doctorate in psychology, many years of experience, postdoctoral training in their specialty, professional endorsements and need to successful pass the specialty board examination.

Other ways psychologists can better position themselves for advancement opportunities is by improving their skills through continuing education, by earning an advanced degree or after gaining work experience to start their own practice.

Employment
In 2006 there were about 165,000 working psychologists in the various specialties. Of those 165,000 approximately 30 percent were working at educational institutions in positions other than teaching like research, testing, counseling and administration.

An additional 20 percent were working in health care, hospitals, outpatient mental health and substance abuse centers, offices of physicians' and offices of mental health practitioners and government agencies at the local and State levels employed psychologists in correctional facilities, law enforcement, and other settings.

After gaining experience about one-third were self-employed in 2006 through private practice or set up private consulting or research firms, as compared with about 7.5 percent of other professionals.

On top of jobs mentioned earlier, many psychologists were employed as faculty at colleges, universities and high school psychology instructors.

Projected Employment
Better-than-average employment growth is expected (about 14 percent through 2016) for the foreseeable future but the best job prospects will be for those individuals with a doctoral degree from a leading college in an applied specialty like health or counseling and for those with a doctoral or specialist degree in school psychology.

High competition will be faced for those holding a master's degree in fields other than industrial-organizational psychology and relatively speaking opportunities will be less available for those holding a bachelor's degree.

The reasons behind the continued employment growth for psychological services will be the result in demand for psychological services in hospitals, consulting firms, substance abuse treatment clinics, mental health centers, schools and social service agencies.

The increase in health care costs due to unhealthy lifestyles like obesity, alcoholism and smoking has made treatment and prevention more critical. In addition, an increase in the number of worker assistance programs, which assists employees in dealing with personal issues, should also be factors contributing to increased employment for counseling and clinical specialties.

Counseling and clinical psychologists will also be in demand in order to help individuals deal with job stress, additions, family and marriage issues, depression and a variety of other mental disorders.

The aging population will be a major factor in the demand for psychologists trained in geropsychology which are trained to help the elderly deal with the physical and mental challenges that happen as a result of the getter older.

The need to increase worker output and boost retention rates in a variety and wide scope of businesses with feed the increased demand for industrial-organizational psychologists. They will also be needed to deal with problems like antidiscrimination policies and diversity in the workplace.

Employment Prospects
Those holding a doctoral degree from a leading college in an applied specialty like health or counseling and for those with doctoral or specialist degree in school psychology will have an edge over those not holding those credentials.

High competition will be faced for those holding a master's degree in fields other than industrial-organizational psychology and relatively speaking opportunities will be less available for those holding a bachelor's degree.

Earnings
In 2006 median yearly earnings of counseling, school and clinical psychologists were $59,000 while the middle 50 percent were earning between $45,000 and $78,000, the lowest 10 percent were earning less than $35,000 and the highest 10 percent were earning over $102,000.

Median yearly earnings in areas employing the highest number of clinical, counseling, and school psychologists are listed below:

In May 2006, median yearly earnings for industrial-organizational psychologists were about $86,000 while the middle 50 percent were earning between $66,000 and 114,750, the lowest 10 percent were earning less than $48,000 and the highest 10 percent were earning over $140,000.