Psychologists
High opportunity occupation
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.
They work in private practice or in clinics, correctional facilities, hospitals, mental health facilities, rehabilitation centres, community service organizations, businesses, schools and universities, and in government and private research agencies.
Job Titles
Duties
In general, psychologists:
- Take a science-based approach to addressing disorders related to how people act, feel and think
- Help clients manage physical illness and disorders
- Counsel individuals and groups to achieve more effective personal, social and vocational development and offer mediation services
- Use standard psychological testing
- Plan intervention programs and conduct program evaluation
- Tailor treatment programs to clients’ needs
- Carry out research and publish papers and articles
- Give presentations at conferences and workshops
- Consult with government and other organizations
- Conduct applied psychology and experiemental research
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.
Special duties
"Psychological associates" may be granted permission by provincial regulatory authorities to perform duties normally restricted to psychologists, specifically diagnosing psychological disorders and communicating diagnoses to clients.
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.
Work Environment
# Workers Employed
2,000% Employed Full Time
49%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.
Related Careers
Occupational Interests
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For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.
Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:
Education, Training and Skills
Psychologists in B.C. must:
- Complete a doctoral degree in psychology. This is required to use the designation "Psychologist" in Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba and British Columbia
- A master's degree in psychology is required in order to use the designation "Psychological Associate" in Prince Edward Island, Ontario, Manitoba and British Columbia
- Gain supervised practical experience
- Pass the written ethics and juriprudence exam
- 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.
Top 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!
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.
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Talking to others to share information effectively.
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Keeping track of and assessing your performance, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Being able to solve novel, ill-defined problems in complex, real-world settings.
Understanding how new information could be used to solve current and future problems in making decisions.
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
2,000Employment by Region
| Region | Employment | % Employment of this Occupation |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 20 | 1.0% |
| Kootenay | 40 | 2.0% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 1,385 | 69.1% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 0 | 0.0% |
| Northeast | 20 | 1.0% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 150 | 7.5% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 385 | 19.2% |
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 (2024-2034)
890Forecasted Job Openings
Forecasted Employment Growth Rate
Composition of Job Openings
Job Openings by Region (2024-2034)
| Region | Job Openings | Avg. Annual Employment Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | Not available | Not available |
| Kootenay | 10 | 1.2% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 630 | 1.8% |
| North Coast and Nechako | Not available | Not available |
| Northeast | 0 | -0.1% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 70 | 1.5% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 170 | 2.1% |
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
| Industry | Job Openings (2024-2034) |
|---|---|
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 650 |
| Educational Services | 170 |
| Public Administration | 30 |
| Professional, Scientific and Technical Services | 20 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | 10 |
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
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British Columbia Association of School Psychologists (BCASP)bcasp.ca
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British Columbia Psychological Association (BCPA)www.psychologists.bc.ca
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Canadian Psychological Association (CPA)www.cpa.ca
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Canadian Register of Health Service Psychologists (CRHSP)www.crhspp.ca
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College of Psychologists of British Columbiawww.collegeofpsychologists.bc.ca
Career Videos
Watch the video below to see what a day in the life of a clinical psychologist is like.
Watch the video below to see what a day in the life of a clinical psychologist is like.
