Psychologists
(NOC 4151)
in All Education, Law, Government, Social and Community ServicesPsychologists assess, diagnose, and treat behavioural, emotional, and cognitive disorders. They research, develop, and apply theories about relational behaviour and mental processes. Psychologists also teach and consult. They work in private practice, clinics, prisons, hospitals, mental health facilities, rehabilitation centres, community service organizations, businesses, schools, universities, and in government and private research agencies. Psychologists may specialize in applied psychology or experimental research. Sub-specialties include behavioural psychology, child psychology, cognitive psychology, developmental psychology, educational psychology, industrial psychology, neuropsychology, social psychology, or sports psychology. Clinical psychologists interview patients, give diagnostic tests, provide individual, family and group psychotherapy, and design and implement programs to modify behaviour. Counselling psychologists provide treatment to improve physical and mental health. School psychologists work with students, teachers, parents, and administrators to resolve students' learning and behaviour problems. Experimental psychologists investigate aspects of human and animal activity to understand and explain behaviour. Industrial/organizational psychologists focus on personnel selection, job satisfaction, and workplace performance.
Job Outlook
Good
Read more
Compared to: All Education, Law, Government, Social and Community Services
Factors behind the good outlook for psychologists include a growing public interest in mental health and the expected creation of billing codes for private psychologists under Nova Scotia's public health insurance program. Organizations in some areas of the province have reported difficulty recruiting psychologists, so those with less experience may improve their prospects by being willing to move to where opportunities arise. Nova Scotia is one of four provinces in which the title psychologist can be used with just a master's degree (and four years of supervised experience).
Hourly Pay
$19.45
Minimum$41.03
Median$53.85
MaximumAnnual Pay
$11,977
Minimum$63,850
Median$117,028
MaximumCompared to: All Education, Law, Government, Social and Community Services
Hourly Pay
$16.30
Minimum$30.00
Median$51.30
MaximumAnnual Pay
$5,616
Minimum$44,335
Median$92,599
MaximumAbout the job
Nature of work
Psychologists assess, diagnose, and treat behavioural, emotional, and cognitive disorders. They research, develop, and apply theories about relational behaviour and mental processes. Psychologists also teach and consult. They work in private practice, clinics, prisons, hospitals, mental health facilities, rehabilitation centres, community service organizations, businesses, schools, universities, and in government and private research agencies.
Psychologists may specialize in applied psychology or experimental research. Sub-specialties include behavioural psychology, child psychology, cognitive psychology, developmental psychology, educational psychology, industrial psychology, neuropsychology, social psychology, or sports psychology.
Clinical psychologists interview patients, give diagnostic tests, provide individual, family and group psychotherapy, and design and implement programs to modify behaviour. Counselling psychologists provide treatment to improve physical and mental health. School psychologists work with students, teachers, parents, and administrators to resolve students' learning and behaviour problems. Experimental psychologists investigate aspects of human and animal activity to understand and explain behaviour. Industrial/organizational psychologists focus on personnel selection, job satisfaction, and workplace performance.
Job duties
Psychologists:
- Examine and assess behaviour, diagnose behavioural, emotional, and cognitive disorders, counsel clients and provide therapy.
- Help clients manage physical illness and disorders.
- Counsel individuals and groups to achieve more effective personal, social, and career development and adjustment, and offer mediation services.
- Use standard psychological tests for assessment.
- Plan intervention programs and complete program evaluation.
- Apply psychological theory and principles about behaviour and mental processes like learning, language development, memory, and perception to develop treatment programs.
- Make hypotheses and experimental designs, review literature, complete studies and publish research papers, educational texts, and articles.
- Present at conferences, workshops, or symposia.
- Provide consultation services to government and other organizations.
Sample job titles
- behavioural therapist
- child psychologist
- clinical psychologist
- counselling psychologist
- developmental psychologist
- human development psychologist
- psychologist
- psychotherapist
- school psychologist
Skills
- You should be mature, patient, and interested in helping others. You must have excellent spoken and written communication skills. Excellent listening and critical thinking skills, an understanding of human behaviour, and awareness of diversities are also important.
Job requirements
- A master's degree in psychology is required for the designation "Psychologist" in Nova Scotia.
- A period of supervised practical experience is required in most jurisdictions.
- Successful completion of the written Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP) is required in most provinces.
- Oral examinations and board interviews are required in some provinces.
- Registration with a regulatory body is required in Nova Scotia.
- Membership in the provincial professional association for psychologists is mandatory.
Other considerations
- There has been an increase in psychologists working in the private sector. Self-employment is common for psychologists. 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.
By the numbers
Quick look
employed in 2016
employed full-time
self employed
median age
Compared to: All Education, Law, Government, Social and Community Services
employed in 2016
employed full-time
self employed
median age
Where will I likely work?
Halifax
$63,902 median annual incomeNorth Shore
$82,174 median annual incomeAnnapolis Valley
$32,987 median annual incomeSouthern
$72,202 median annual incomeCape Breton
$78,726 median annual incomeCompared to: All NS Occupations
Halifax
North Shore
Annapolis Valley
Cape Breton
Southern
Top Industries of Employment
Health care and social assistance
Educational services
Public administration
Other services (except public administration)
What is the age of Employment?
35-44
55-64
25-34
45-54
65+
15-24
Compared to: All Education, Law, Government, Social and Community Services
35-44
45-54
25-34
55-64
15-24
Top levels of education
Master
$61,026 median annual incomeDoctorate
$100,294 median annual incomeBachelor
$25,914 median annual incomeDiploma Above Bachelor
N/ACompared to: All Education, Law, Government, Social and Community Services
Bachelor
$45,929 median annual incomeCollege Diploma
$35,398 median annual incomeMaster
$71,043 median annual incomeHigh school
$29,055 median annual incomeDoctorate
$100,443 median annual incomeEducation & training
Clinical Psychology
College or University ProgramThese programs prepare students for the independent professional practice of clinical psychology, involving the analysis, diagnosis, and clinical treatment of psychological disorders and behavioural pathologies. They include courses in clinical assessment and diagnosis, personality appraisal, psychopathology, clinical psychopharmacology, behaviour modification, therapeutic intervention skills, patient interviewing, personalized and group therapy, child and adolescent therapy, cognitive and behavioural therapy, supervised clinical practice, ethical standards, and applicable regulations.
Institutions providing this program
Community Health Services/Liaison/Counselling
College, Trades, or University ProgramThese programs prepare students to serve as facilitators, advocates, and referral professionals linking health care and related social services with affected recipient communities. They include courses in public and community health, human and social services, health services administration, group counselling, health education, group advocacy, cross-cultural and multilingual communication, and applicable laws and policies.
Institutions providing this program
Various, NS
Educational Psychology
College or University ProgramThese programs focus on applying psychology to the study of the behaviour of individuals in the roles of teacher and learner, the nature and effects of learning environments, and the psychological effects of methods, resources, organization and non-school experience on the educational process. They include courses in learning theory, human growth and development, research methods, and psychological evaluation.
Institutions providing this program
Forensic Psychology
College or University ProgramThese programs preapre students to apply clinical, counselling, school, and neuropsychology skills to the provision of psychological services within the criminal justice and civil legal systems, including consultation, assessment, and interventions. They include courses in the epidemiology of mental/behavioural disorders, risk factors for violence and criminality, profiling and patterning, psychological testing, prediction and intervention measurement, forensic assessment, criminal and civil law and procedures, secure environments, forensic treatment and intervention skills, and professional standards and ethics.
Institutions providing this program
Health/Health Care Administration/Management
College or University ProgramThese programs prepare students to develop, plan, and manage health care operations and services within health care facilities and across health care systems. They include courses in planning, business management, financial management, public relations, human resources management, health care systems operation and management, health care resource allocation and policy making, health laws and regulations, and applications to specific types of health care services.
Institutions providing this program
Sydney, NS
Industrial and Organizational Psychology
College or University ProgramThese programs focus on the scientific study of individual and group behaviour in institutional settings, applications to related problems of organization and industry, and that prepares individuals to apply such principles in industrial and organizational settings. They include courses in group behaviour theory, organizational theory, reward/punishment structures, human-machine and human-computer interactions, motivation dynamics, human stress studies, environmental and organizational influences on behaviour, alienation and satisfaction, and job testing and assessment.
Institutions providing this program
Psychology
College or University ProgramThese programs focus on the scientific study of individual and collective behaviour, the physical and environmental bases of behaviour, and the analysis and treatment of behaviour problems and disorders. They include courses in the principles of the various subfields of psychology, research methods, and psychological assessment and testing methods.
Institutions providing this program
Wolfville, NS
Sydney, NS
School Psychology
College or University ProgramThese programs prepare students to apply clinical and counselling psychology principles to the diagnosis and treatment of student behavioural problems. They include courses in child and/or adolescent development, learning theory, testing, observation and other procedures for assessing educational, personality, intelligence and motor skill development, therapeutic intervention strategies for students and families, identification and classification of disabilities and disorders affecting learning, school psychological services planning, supervised counselling practice, ethical standards, and applicable regulations.
Institutions providing this program
Employment requirements & contacts
Regulations
Right to Title and Practice: This job is regulated. The job title is protected, and you may not use it without a professional licence. A licence shows that the holder has met provincial requirements and is required to legally do this work.
Contacts
Additional resources
There are no additional resources for this occupation.