4151-NOC

Psychologists

(NOC 4151)
Annual Earnings
$85,948
Typical Education Background
Degree
Job Openings
(2022-2032)
1,010

Career Overview

Psychologists support people’s mental, emotional, cognitive and behavioural health. They assess clients, diagnose disorders and provide treatment to help patients adjust and grow in their personal and working lives.

Duties

In general, psychologists:

  • Take a science-based approach to addressing disorders related to how people act, feel and think
  • Use standard psychological testing
  • Tailor treatment programs to clients’ needs
  • Provide psychotherapy, also called talk therapy
  • Carry out research and publish papers and articles
  • Provide expertise in court cases
  • Give presentations at conferences and workshops
  • Teach in classrooms and supervise the clinical training of students
  • Consult with government and other organizations

They treat people with a broad range of issues including:

  • Mental health problems, such as anxiety and depression
  • Neurological conditions, such as brain injury and dementia
  • Cognitive issues with learning, memory, problem solving, intellectual ability and performance
  • Psychological issues brought by physical illness
  • Marital and family problems
  • Stress and anger management
  • Addiction and substance use

Psychologists usually focus their practice in a specific area such as clinical, counselling, forensic, health, rehabilitation or school psychology.

Earnings

Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.

Annual Earnings

$85,948

Provincial Hourly Rate

High$56.58/hr
Median$41.21/hr
Low$21.00/hr
Source: B.C. Labour Market Information Office, derived from 2022 Job Bank Wage data

Work Environment

# Workers Employed

2,500

% Employed Full Time

36%
Source: 2016 Census

Most psychologists work in private practice. Some work for businesses, governments, social welfare agencies or private research firms. Others work in institutions, including clinics, prisons, hospitals, courts, mental health facilities, schools and universities. Many psychologists work in a combination of settings. For example, they may work part time in a health facility and part time in private practice.

Psychologists work closely with individuals, couples, groups and families. They also often work in teams with other health-care professionals.

Psychologists deal with complex and stressful situations. They work with people with mental health problems and other issues. They are bound by a strict code of ethics and they must keep information confidential while making judgment calls on potential risks to their clients or others. Psychologists may also face the pressure of research and publication deadlines.

Psychologists working in private practice usually work in offices. They may meet with clients outside of regular office hours. Many enjoy the flexibility of being able to set their own hours. Psychologists who work in institutions – like hospitals – keep regular daytime hours, but may also work some evenings and weekends. Psychologists in colleges and universities also tend to work regular hours, dividing their time between teaching, research and administrative tasks. Overtime is required in some specialties.

The use of technology is increasing in the workplace. The COVID-19 pandemic created a rapid transition to virtual care. Psychologists must be comfortable with digital record keeping and video conferencing.

Psychologists sometimes travel to attend workshops or conferences or to do research.

Career Pathways

New psychologists usually focus on either research or clinical practice.

A combination of self-employment, teaching and part-time contracted employment in public institutions continues to be a popular work option, particularly for new graduates.

With experience, psychologists may enter private practice or set up a private research or consulting firm. Experienced psychologists may also move into management or administrative positions. Some teach psychology at the post-secondary level. Others choose to transfer their skills and knowledge to other careers in health care.

Workers with a bachelor's degree can assist psychologists and other mental health professionals in clinical settings or in data collection and analysis. Or they may work in related fields, such as marketing research.

Occupational Interests

It’s important to understand what kinds of occupations align with your interests.

For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.

Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:

Investigative
Investigative

Job Titles

Biopsychologist
Neuropsychologist
Psychologist
Psychologist / therapist, behavioural
Psychologist, chartered / registered
Psychologist, child / school
Psychologist, clinical / counselling
Psychologist, cognitive
Psychologist, community
Psychologist, developmental / educational
Psychologist, forensic
Psychologist, industrial / organizational
Psychologist, intern
Psychologist, physiological psychologist
Psychologist, research / experimental
Psychologist, social
Psychologist, sports
Psychotherapist

Education, Training and Skills

Psychologists in B.C. must:

  • Complete a doctoral degree in psychology
  • Gain supervised practical experience
  • Register with the College of Psychologists of British Columbia (CPBC), by completing a 12-month internship and passing written and oral exams

Some psychologists pursue additional post-doctoral training to gain specialized knowledge. Those interested in a research career benefit from extensive training in quantitative research methods and a background in computer science.

When registering with CPBC, psychologists self-declare an area of competence in one of nine practice areas. If at any point they wish to expand their practice beyond this area, they must demonstrate that they have completed the coursework, training and supervised practice that will prepare them to do so.

Memberships in the BC Psychological Association and the Canadian Psychological Association are also available, but not required.

Workers coming to B.C.

Psychologists who are certified by a regulator elsewhere in Canada can apply for the same certification from the regulator in B.C. Under the terms of the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA), most applicants who are transferring their credentials from elsewhere in Canada will not be required to complete additional training or testing. However, the B.C. regulator may ask applicants to provide further information, such as a letter of good standing, references or a criminal record check.

Workers who trained outside of Canada

Psychologists who trained outside of Canada and have never received certification from a Canadian jurisdiction will likely need a full assessment. Most occupational regulators have a process for assessment and recognize internationally trained applicants. Contact the College of Psychologists of BC for details on how to apply for certification in B.C.

For information about labour mobility in Canada, visit www.workersmobility.ca.

View a list of Professional Regulatory Authorities in B.C.

Some other provinces require only a master’s degree for certification. Although the Canadian Free Trade Agreement allows psychologists from these provinces to apply for CPBC certification, psychologists without a doctoral degree must operate within a more limited scope when working in B.C.

Education programs in B.C.

The following program areas are related to this occupation:

  • Psychology (Arts)
  • Psychology (Science)
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Find out more information about programs offered specifically for this career.

Skills

Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.

Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.

See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!

Active Listening

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

89%
Reading Comprehension

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.

83%
Social Perceptiveness

Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

81%
Critical Thinking

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

81%
Speaking

Talking to others to share information effectively.

80%
Writing

Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

77%
Complex Problem Solving

Being able to solve novel, ill-defined problems in complex, real-world settings.

76%
Judgment and Decision-Making

Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

75%
Active Learning

Understanding how new information could be used to solve current and future problems in making decisions.

73%
Monitoring

Keeping track of and assessing your performance, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

72%

Labour Market Statistics

Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.

Employment

Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.

Employment

2,500
Source: 2016 Census

Employment by Region

Map of BC Map of Cariboo region Map of Kootenay region Map of Mainland/Southwest region Map of North Coast and Nechako region Map of Northeast region Map of Thompson-Okanagan region Map of Vancouver Island/Coast region
Cariboo
Kootenay
Mainland/Southwest
North Coast and Nechako
Northeast
Thompson-Okanagan
Vancouver Island/Coast
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Region Employment (2022) % Employment of this Occupation
Cariboo 20 1.2%
Kootenay 90 2.6%
Mainland/Southwest 1,990 68.1%
North Coast and Nechako 20 0.6%
Northeast 30 1.0%
Thompson-Okanagan 210 6.8%
Vancouver Island/Coast 530 19.5%
Source: 2016 Census and B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Labour Market Outlook

The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.

Forecasted Job Openings (2022-2032)

1,010
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Forecasted Job Openings

Forecasted Employment Growth Rate

Composition of Job Openings

Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Job Openings by Region (2022-2032)

Map of BC Map of Cariboo region Map of Kootenay region Map of Mainland/Southwest region Map of North Coast and Nechako region Map of Northeast region Map of Thompson-Okanagan region Map of Vancouver Island/Coast region
Cariboo
Kootenay
Mainland/Southwest
North Coast and Nechako
Northeast
Thompson-Okanagan
Vancouver Island/Coast
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Region Job Openings Avg. Annual Employment Growth
Cariboo 0 -6.7%
Kootenay 0 0.0%
Mainland/Southwest 720 1.5%
North Coast and Nechako 0 0.0%
Northeast 0 -4.0%
Thompson-Okanagan 80 0.5%
Vancouver Island/Coast 200 1.6%
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Industry Highlights

Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.

Forecasted Job Openings by Industry

IndustryJob Openings (2022-2032)
Health Care and Social Assistance149,700
Educational Services64,500
Public Administration49,200
Professional, Scientific and Technical Services148,000
Repair, Personal and Non-Profit Services46,100
For additional industry information, visit the Industry Profiles page.
Source: 2016 Census and B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Insights from Industry

Demand for psychologists is highest for graduates who focus on neuropsychology and forensic psychology.

While most job openings come from retirements, new positions are also emerging as the demand for health care increases. These jobs are usually in rehab centres and schools, and in programs that combat drug use, family violence, crime and mental health issues.

Opportunities for psychologists in private practice are growing as counselling and testing for children becomes more common and as more insurance companies cover psychological treatment. Businesses are also hiring more organizational consulting psychologists. In addition, companies that provide therapy to employees are fuelling the demand for counselling psychologists.

Opportunities remain strong in general for those with an applied focus in areas such as clinical, counselling, health and educational psychology. Research jobs are also available in schools, universities, government and in private companies involved in data collection and analysis.

Resources