Career Resources for Undergraduate Psychology Students Who Plan to Become Professional Psychologists

Career Resources for Undergraduate Psychology Students Who Plan to Become Professional PsychologistsThe majority of students majoring in psychology will not continue on to a career as a professional psychologist. However, for the percentage of students who are sure that psychology is the field for them having the tools and resources available will help them move towards their goal of graduate study and employment as a professional psychologist. The following is a list of 100 career resources for undergraduate psychology students who plan to pursue a career as a professional psychologist.

Honor Societies
Associations and Foundations
Accrediting Bodies
Conferences
Financial Aid
Scholarships
Job Search
Internships
Salary Information
Graduate Programs
Social Media Sites

Honor Societies

Psi Chi: The International Honor Society In Psychology – An internationally recognized honor society for exemplary college students pursuing a degree in psychology.

Psi Beta: National Honor Society in Psychology for Community and Junior Colleges – Psi Beta’s mission is “to encourage professional development and psychological literacy of all students at two-year colleges through promotion and recognition of excellence in scholarship, leadership, research, and community service”.

Associations and Foundations

American Psychological Association – The American Psychological Association is the largest scientific and professional organization for professional psychologists and psychology students in the United States.

American Psychological Association of Graduate Students – The mission of APAGS is to build “a better future for psychology by serving as a united voice to enrich and advocate for graduate student development”.

American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry 
- A professional medical organization made up of child and adolescent psychiatrists who promote healthy development and support to children, adolescents and families who are affected by disorders of feeling, thinking and behavior.

American Psychiatric Association – The American Psychiatric Association, is the world’s largest organization for professional psychiatrists and psychiatric students.

Association for Psychological Science – The Association for Psychological Science (previously the American Psychological Society) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of scientific psychology and its representation at the national and international level.

Association for Humanistic Psychology – AHP is a national organization made up of educators, students, doctors, politicians, scientists, health and social workers and activists who share humanistic values and want to make a difference in the world.

The Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB) – ASPPB is an international association of psychology licensing boards in the United States and Canada. The association creates and maintains a standardized written exam, the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP), which is used by most psychology licensing boards to evaluate candidates for licensure and certification.

Cognitive Neuroscience Society (CNS) – The CNS is an international academic society focused on multi-disciplinary approaches to cognitive brain function.

Experimental Psychology Society – The Experimental Psychology Society is a group of students, scientists and professionals passionate about the scientific investigation within the field of Psychology.

International Association of Applied Psychology – The International Association of Applied Psychology is the oldest international association of psychologists. The main goal is to create dialogue between those who devote themselves to scientific work in the various fields of applied psychology, while advancing the study and achievement likely to contribute to the scientific and social development in these fields.

International Neuropsychological Society (INS) – The INS is a multi-disciplinary, non-profit organization focused on boosting communication between the various scientific disciplines, which contribute to the understanding of brain-behavior relationships.

National Association of School Psychologists – The mission of the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) is to create educationally and psychologically healthy environments for all children by implementing research-based, effective programs that prevent problems, enhance independence, and promote optimal learning.
http://www.nasponline.org/

Society for a Science of Clinical Psychology – The SSCP was created in 1966 with the purpose to uphold and further promote the integration of the scientist and the practitioner in training, research, and applied endeavors.

Accrediting Bodies

The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) – CACREP accredits Master’s and Doctoral Degree Programs in Counseling Psychology and sub-specialties that are offered by colleges and universities in the United States and internationally.

The Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE) – The Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education is a specialized accrediting body that accredits Master’s Degree, Doctoral Degree, and Post-Graduate Degree Clinical Training Programs in Marriage and Family Therapy in the United States and Canada. The Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) officially recognizes the COAMFTE.

The National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) – NASP’s mission of representing and supporting school psychologists, is accomplished through promotion of professional competence; defining appropriate graduate education and professional development; preparation of school psychologists for employment; identification of best professional practices; and advocacy for the value of school psychological services.

The American Psychological Association (APA) – The APA Commission on Accreditation (APA-CoA) is recognized by both the secretary of the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, as the national accrediting authority for professional education and training in psychology.

The Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System (PCSAS) – PCSAS is an independent, non-profit body responsible for accreditation of doctoral programs in psychological clinical science. The system was created to promote excellent science-centered education and training in clinical psychology.

Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) – CHEA accreditation shows that the standards and processes of the accrediting organization are consistent with the academic quality, improvement and accountability expectations that CHEA has established, including the eligibility standard that the majority of institutions or programs each accredits are degree-granting. Includes: Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), New England Association of Schools and Colleges Commission on Institutions of Higher Education (NEASC-CIHE), North Central Association of Colleges and Schools The Higher Learning Commission (NCA-HLC), Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACS), Western Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (WASC-ACCJC) and Western Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges Universities (WASC-SCUC).

Conferences

Annual American Psychological Association Conference – Annual meeting for members of the APA to meet, gather information, discuss research, attend symposiums and lectures and further the field of psychology.

Annual National Association for School Psychologist Conference – A yearly meeting of NASP members to discuss current trends in School Psychology.

Society of Pediatric Psychology Annual Conference – The annual conference for Division 54 (Society of Pediatric Psychology) outlines top research and practice in the field of pediatric psychology.

Association for Applied Sports Psychology Annual Conference – The annual AASP convention features workshops, lectures, and symposiums to further the study and practice of sports psychology.

Psi Chi Research Conference – Various chapters of the Psi Chi National Honor Society of Psychology students hold research conferences throughout locations in the United States.

Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology Annual Conference – Annual meeting for professionals and students in the growing field of Industrial and Organizational Psychology.

Financial Aid

Federal Student Aid – The website of Federal Student Aid Services provided by the United States Department of Education.

FinAid – This free website has grown into one of the largest providers of Financial Aid Information in the United States.

Financial Aid Finder – This free website offers top rated financial aid resources researched by a leading management team.

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) – Provides information for several types of federally funded student aid programs, many of which are designed for working students.

The National Student Loan Data System – The NSLDS is the United States Department of Education’s (ED’s) central database for student aid.

Sallie Mae – One of the largest providers of student loans in the United States, offering working students many options for student loans.

StudentLoans.gov – A clearinghouse of financial aid opportunities, student aid projects and information for those individuals seeking student aid.

Scholarships

American Psychological Association Scholarship Database – A database of APA accepted scholarship and grant opportunities.

American Psychological Foundation Graduate Student Scholarships – The American Psychological Foundation (APF) Graduate Student Scholarships is a pool of 16 annual scholarships for graduate student research.

Benton-Meier Scholarship – The American Psychological Foundation supports two annual $2,500 scholarships named the Benton-Meier Scholarships. These scholarships are available for graduate students in neuropsychology.

FastWeb.com – This free web site is one of the leading scholarship search services in the country. This service guides students through important decisions such as choosing a college, how to best pay for college and how to find a job or internship.

The Jack Kent Cooke (JKC) Foundation Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship – This scholarship program creates unique opportunities for the country’s top community college students to complete their Bachelor’s Degrees by transferring to a four-year college or university.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Undergraduate Scholarship – The NIH scholarship fund supports chosen applicants up to $20,000 per academic year in tuition, educational expenses, and reasonable living expenses to scholarship recipients.

National Pathfinder Scholarship Fund – The National Federation of Republican Women established the National Pathfinder Scholarship Fund in 1985 in honor of First Lady Nancy Reagan. The fund supports three annual scholarships of $2,500 each, which are available to students seeking financial assistance and support.

The Pilot International Founders Scholarship Fund – This fund supports five individual Scholarship Programs to aid both graduate and undergraduate students in preparation for a career in one of chosen areas of service focus including – Youth Leadership & Development, Brain Safety & Fitness and Caring for Others in Times of Need.

Psi Chi Scholarship Fund – The International Honor Society of Psychology Students, also known as Psi Chi, funds a number of scholarships available to both undergraduate and graduate students seeking degrees in the field of Psychology.

Scholarships.com – A free web service that compiles hundreds of scholarships for undergraduate students pursuing a psychology degree.

ScholarshipExperts.com – This website helps to serve the needs of college undergraduate and graduate students and high school seniors who need assistance in figuring out how to pay for their education.

The Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality Scholarship Fund – The Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality awards two grants of $1,000 each year for student members who are actively conducting human sexuality research.

Job Search

American Psychological Associations PsycCareers – The APA’s online career resource center.

Career Builder– An extensive list of psychology positions at various educational and experience levels.

Career Rookie – A job search resource for newly graduated students or students still attending college.

College Helper – An extensive listing of part-time jobs, seasonal opportunities and opportunities for students enrolled in college.

Indeed – A website that outlines a wide variety of job opportunities. Students can find jobs in the field of psychology or jobs to help support themselves while attending schools.

Monster College – This website is a part of the Monster.com brand and helps recent college graduates and college students find their first career.

Psychology Career Center – A website that was created to guide ambitious psychologists, psychology students and job seekers to make well informed career choices by offering them important, reliable and up-to-date career development, job search and employment information.

PsychologyJobs.com – A comprehensive list of psychology jobs at all levels throughout the United States.

Simply Hired – A resource for jobs in psychology or related fields throughout the country.

Snag A Job – The countries most comprehensive list of student jobs.

Internships

Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers – A centralized service that matches students with appropriate psychology internships and fellowships.

APPIC Internship Matching Program – The APPIC Internship Matching Program (the “Match”) places applicants into psychology internship positions at training sites in the United States and Canada.

Internships.com – A website offering services to students searching for internship opportunities in their future career. This host supplies a number of excellent psychology internship positions.

InternshipMatch.com – A website offering over 30,000 internships in a wide variety of areas.

American Psychology Association Undergraduate Internships – A listing of internship and research opportunities for motivated psychology undergraduate students.

American Psychology Association Accredited Internship Programs in Professional Psychology – A state-by-state guide of all APA accredited internship opportunities throughout the United States and Canada.

Careers in Psychology Internships – An extensive database of psychology internships located throughout the United States and Canada.

Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia – Clinical Child Psychology Internship Training Program – The mission of the Internship Program at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) is “to train future child psychologists who are prepared to promote the adaptive development of children from diverse backgrounds”.

University of California Berkley – Professional Psychology Internship Program – The pre-doctoral internship program works to provide training experiences to further interns’ professional development and personal growth.

Harvard Medical School – Cambridge Health Alliance – This internship program works to prepare psychology students be leaders in service and training.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology Undergraduate Biology/Brain and Cognition Sciences Summer Research Internship – The Department of Biology and the Department of Brain & Cognitive Sciences (BCS) at MIT offer a joint ten-week research-intensive summer training program in the biological sciences, neurosciences or biomedical-related fields.

Salary Information

United States Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Handbook – The BLS offers annual information regarding salary levels, educational requirements, employment trends and other relevant information.

Psychologist Salaries – A list of various specialty areas within the field of psychology and their corresponding average salaries.

US News and World Report List of Social Service Salaries – A list of the highest paid social service positions in the United States.

Indeed – A graphical representation of the average salary for psychologists in the United States, by sub-specialty.

Salary By State – A list of the average psychologist salary in all fifty states in the nation.

Report of the APA Salary Survey – A report published by the American Psychological Association with survey data regarding average salaries for Psychologists throughout the country.

Global Post: Entry Level Salary for a Clinical Psychologist – An article that discusses starting salaries for psychologist as well as salary levels with varying levels of experience.

Career Profiles – A listing of Psychologists Salary and wage information depending upon their years of experience in the field.

Graduate Programs

US News and World Report – The 2013 listing of the Best Psychology program in the United States.

American Psychology Association: Applying to Graduate School – A helpful resource for students who plan to apply to graduate programs in psychology.

Social Psychology Network – A list of Social Psychology Graduate programs throughout the world.

Psychology Degree Guide – A state-by-state list of graduate training programs in psychology. Students can also narrow their search according to which type of psychology program they are considering.

American Psychological Association (APA) Accredited Psychology Programs – A complete list of all graduate programs in the United States and Canada who have been awarded APA accreditation.

Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)– A comprehensive list of all graduate training programs who have been given CACREP accreditation.

The Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (CAMFTE) – A list of Marriage and Family Therapy graduate degree programs who have received CAMFTE accreditation.

Social Media Sites

Psychology Today Facebook Page – The Facebook page for the popular media publication, Psychology Today.

Elsevier Psychology Facebook Page – A Facebook page designed to allow professionals and students to connect with fellow researchers, share insights, and keep in touch with the latest news, books, and journals in their field.

All About Psychology Facebook Page – A Facebook page for students and educators in the field of psychology.

Association for Psychological Science Facebook Page – A Facebook page for the Association for Psychological Science (APS), a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of scientific psychology.
https://www.facebook.com/PsychologicalScience

American Psychological Association Facebook Page – The Facebook page of the APA, an association which works to advance psychological science to promote health, education and human welfare.

Psi Chi Facebook Page – The Facebook for the Central Office of the Psi Chi National Psychology Honor Society. Students can also search for the Psi Chi chapter at their college or university.

Psychology Students Network on Linked In – The LinkedIn Page for the Psychology Students Network, which supports and connects psychology students throughout the country.

American Psychological Association Linked In Page – A LinkedIn page for the APA, which connect psychology professionals, researchers and students.

Psychology Today Twitter Feed – The Twitter feed for the popular media outlet and magazine, Psychology Today.

Social Psychology Twitter Feed – The Twitter feed for the Social Psychology Network.

Dr. Gordon B Schmidt Twitter Feed – Dr. Schmidt’s feed talks about many aspects of Industrial /Organizational Psychology. He is a professor of Organizational Leadership at IPFW who studies motivation, gossip, and social media.

Dr. David Ballard Twitter Feed – Dr. Ballard is the head of APA’s Center for Organizational Excellence and Psychologically Healthy Workplace Program. The feed discusses topics such as Business, psychology, health, well-being and performance.

Mental Illness Policy.org Twitter Feed – Information from a perspective of unbiased non-partisan science-based policy information on serious Mental Illness.

Psychotherapy Brown Bag – Psychotherapy Brown Bag is an online magazine discussing the use of science in clinical psychology. Co-written by Dr. Michael Anestis, PhD and Dr. Joye Anestis, Ph.D.

About the Author

After earning a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Rutgers University and then a Master of Science in Clinical and Forensic Psychology from Drexel University, Kristen began a career as a therapist at two prisons in Philadelphia. At the same time she volunteered as a rape crisis counselor, also in Philadelphia. After a few years in the field she accepted a teaching position at a local college where she currently teaches online psychology courses. Kristen began writing in college and still enjoys her work as a writer, editor, professor and mother.