Directors of Psychology: How to Become One
If you were to ask a group of directors of psychology about how they arrived at their current job, there's a good chance you would get several different answers about the paths and steps that each person took.
That said, there are still ways that you can develop a baseline understanding of the preparation that is necessary to become one.
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has gathered data to provide you with insight into the type of education that's commonly required for directors of psychology to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of directors of psychology expect candidates to have. In the end, this information will help you create an education or professional development plan that aligns with your career aspirations.
Keep reading to learn more about career steps for directors of psychology.
What Education & Experience is Needed for Directors of Psychology?
Do directors of psychology need a degree? What kind of experience do directors of psychology typically need? Thanks to data sourced from Lightcast™ from real job postings, we can get some clarity on those questions, as well as the level of education that is commonly required for directors of psychology to secure jobs.
Education Level Required in Job Postings for Directors of Psychology
Jobs Postings for Directors of Psychology By Education
- Master's degree: 13,247 (44%)
- No Education Listed: 11,792 (39%)
- Ph.D. or professional degree: 3,033 (10%)
- Bachelor's degree: 1,616 (5%)
- High School or GED: 371 (1%)
A master's degree is the level of education sought the most by employers of directors of psychology. According to job data, a master's degree was required for 44% of positions. In 39% of job listings no education level was listed and in 10% of postings a ph.d. or professional degree was required.
Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Directors of Psychology
Jobs Postings for Directors of Psychology By Experience
- 0-1 Years: 5,817 (63%)
- 2-3 Years: 2,989 (32%)
- 4-6 Years: 366 (4%)
- 7-9 Years: 35 (0%)
- 10+ Years: 74 (1%)
While the amount of required experience will vary based on the responsibility and seniority of the position, an aggregate view of job posting data can help paint a picture of the experience level sought for most job openings for directors of psychology. In 63% of job postings for Directors of Psychology, employers were looking for candidates with 0-1 years of experience. In 32% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience, while 4-6 years of experience was sought in 4% of job postings for directors of psychology.
What Kind of Degree Do Directors of Psychology Need?
So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for directors of psychology, but what type of education or degree will help prepare you for a career in the field?
According to occupational data obtained through Lightcast,™ there are 10 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective directors of psychology, and in 2021 a total of 205,506 of those programs were completed at institutions in the United States.
Check out the information below to learn more about the specific programs that should be considered by prospective directors of psychology.
Top Degree Programs for Directors of Psychology
Top 5 Degree Programs for Directors of Psychology (2021)
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Psychology, General. | 140,792 |
| Early Childhood Education and Teaching. | 32,693 |
| Counseling Psychology. | 9,248 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods, Other. | 6,141 |
| Applied Behavior Analysis. | 5,428 |
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Psychology, General. | 140,792 |
| Early Childhood Education and Teaching. | 32,693 |
| Counseling Psychology. | 9,248 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods, Other. | 6,141 |
| Applied Behavior Analysis. | 5,428 |
| Behavioral Sciences. | 4,169 |
| School Psychology. | 3,179 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas, Other. | 2,323 |
| Developmental and Child Psychology. | 1,419 |
| Clinical Child Psychology. | 114 |
What Skills Do Directors of Psychology Need?
Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by directors of psychology to secure a job?
A good way to understand this is to examine actual job postings for skills commonly sought by employers. Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for directors of psychology, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Directors of Psychology
Based on 26,579 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Directors of Psychology
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| School Psychology | 22,421 | 84% |
| Psychology | 14,569 | 55% |
| Individualized Education Programs (IEP) | 8,915 | 34% |
| Special Education | 5,367 | 20% |
| Student Services | 3,913 | 15% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Directors of Psychology
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communications | 3,790 | 14% |
| Positivity | 2,661 | 10% |
| Research | 2,166 | 8% |
| Planning | 1,892 | 7% |
| Teaching | 1,826 | 7% |
Based on 26,579 job postings related to directors of psychology, school psychology was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 84% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for psychology, individualized education programs (iep), special education, student services and child advocacy were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communications was the most desired skill found in job postings for directors of psychology, followed by positivity, research, planning, teaching and ethical standards and conduct.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| School Psychology | 22,421 | 84% |
| Psychology | 14,569 | 55% |
| Individualized Education Programs (IEP) | 8,915 | 34% |
| Special Education | 5,367 | 20% |
| Student Services | 3,913 | 15% |
| Child Advocacy | 2,626 | 10% |
| Mental Health | 2,428 | 9% |
| Pediatrics | 1,888 | 7% |
| Psychological Evaluations | 1,875 | 7% |
| Intervention Plans | 1,637 | 6% |
| Disabilities | 1,441 | 5% |
| Social Work | 1,215 | 5% |
| Crisis Intervention | 1,114 | 4% |
| Psychotherapy | 983 | 4% |
| Case Management | 963 | 4% |
| Functional Behavior Assessment | 919 | 3% |
| Educational Psychology | 910 | 3% |
| Preschool Education | 842 | 3% |
| Educational Assessment | 736 | 3% |
| Loans | 719 | 3% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communications | 3,790 | 14% |
| Positivity | 2,661 | 10% |
| Research | 2,166 | 8% |
| Planning | 1,892 | 7% |
| Teaching | 1,826 | 7% |
| Ethical Standards And Conduct | 1,672 | 6% |
| Problem Solving | 1,362 | 5% |
| Writing | 1,210 | 5% |
| Management | 1,168 | 4% |
| Leadership | 1,127 | 4% |
| Report Writing | 1,118 | 4% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 1,013 | 4% |
| Advocacy | 978 | 4% |
| Multilingualism | 976 | 4% |
| Consulting | 945 | 4% |
| English Language | 867 | 3% |
| Mentorship | 805 | 3% |
| Coordinating | 792 | 3% |
| Verbal Communication Skills | 673 | 3% |
| Spanish Language | 613 | 2% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information about directors of psychology? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for directors of psychology.
What do directors of psychology do?
How much do directors of psychology make?
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