Best Online Child Psychology Degrees

Child Psychology Online Degrees

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Psychologists specialize in topics such as forensic psychology, industrial-organizational psychology, or rehabilitation psychology. Other professionals work solely with a specific age group, such as children.

Also known as developmental psychology, child psychology concerns the biological and social forces affecting children's cognitive, social, and physical development. Child psychologists' training and experience allow them to treat developmental disorders. Doing so promotes positive outcomes for children and their families.

Professionals need more than a child psychology bachelor's degree to practice. State licensure requirements include a doctorate in psychology. A doctorate may take up to eight years, depending on the type of degree students earn. States also require supervised training and passing one or more exams.

Recent high school graduates and nontraditional learners interested in this career path should consider a child psychology degree online program at the bachelor's level. A psychology degree exposes students to different psychology subfields while preparing them for graduate school.

Child Psychology Degree Questions

What Are the Requirements for a Child Psychology Degree?

Child psychology degrees require a high school or GED diploma for admission. Schools may recommend standardized test scores, recommendation letters, and an essay. Most colleges and universities require FAFSA results for financial aid purposes. Incoming students should speak with an academic or enrollment counselor before signing up for courses.

Child psychology programs feature unique graduation requirements such as experiential learning and an internship. Experiential learning involves developing hands-on skills and setting short-term and long-term career goals. In an internship, students spend at least 150 hours working at one or more job sites serving children and families.

Accreditation for Child Psychology Degrees

Schools offering child psychology programs need two forms of accreditation. Six regional accrediting agencies use U.S. Department of Education standards to evaluate the United States' postsecondary institutions. Please avoid colleges and universities without regional accreditation, as graduates may experience difficulty attaining employment or admission to another academic program.

Colleges and universities awarding online degrees also need national accreditation from the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC). Online learners attending a DEAC-accredited school receive the same educational experience as their on-campus peers.

Private agencies and organizations confer programmatic accreditation on exemplary degree-granting programs. Although child psychology degrees at the bachelor's level cannot attain programmatic accreditation from the American Psychological Association (APA), reputable doctoral programs must possess it. Many states' licensure requirements include graduating from an APA-accredited doctorate in psychology program.

Certifications and Licensure for Child Psychology

Although licensure requirements vary by state, candidates must possess a doctorate in psychology, work under a licensed psychologist for at least 2,000 hours, and pass the Examination for the Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP). The Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards developed this exam and provides licensure candidates with guides and other test-preparation materials.

California requires the EPPP and the California Psychology Law and Ethics Exam. Other states require a similar exam covering relevant laws and regulations. Licensure candidates also submit to a criminal background check and provide work references. The California Board of Psychology contacts references to determine if candidates possess at least 3,000 hours of supervised work experience.

Like other states, California requires psychologists to complete continuing education (CE) to renew their license. Professionals must attain at least 36 CE credits every two years, 25 of which they may complete through online coursework.

Child Psychology Specializations

Child psychology degrees allow students to customize their education in different ways, such as through electives, minors, and study abroad experiences. Another option involves specializations. Also known as concentrations or tracks, specializations feature in-depth coursework in a single psychology topic. Students choose a specialization after exploring different psychology subfields during their first and second years.

Not all colleges and universities offer the specializations below. Students earning a child psychology degree online without specializations achieve the same result through electives on a single topic. Degree-seekers work with an academic advisor to choose courses aligning with their education and professional goals.

Best Online Child Psychology Degrees