Pursuing a specialization in psychology is a strong way to become a competitive applicant, particularly when it comes to roles that require such credentials in order to apply in the first place. In some cases, these specializations may also lead to higher salaries and greater responsibilities down the line.
Read on to learn more about:
- Specializing in neuropsychology
- Graduate programs in neuropsychology in California, including PhDs and Master’s Programs
- Postdoctoral fellowships (or “postdocs”)
- The average salary for neuropsychologists across the state
What is Neuropsychology?
Neuropsychology is a field that links the study of the brain (neurology) with the study of the mind (psychology).
In this field, experts are focused on researching, understanding, and better treating the relationship between the brain and behavior, cognition, and emotions.
This can be related to cognitive abilities like memory, language, and problem-solving. In these cases, neuropsychologists have been known to work with patients who are living with conditions such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, or dementia.
Neuropsychologists can also be called in to work with patients who have suffered traumatic brain injuries or strokes. Some patients with diagnosed psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia and bipolar, or with developmental disabilities like autism, may also benefit from working with neuropsychologists.
However, not all neuropsychologists work directly with patients: some are focused on research, using skills honed during graduate education and supervised internship or fieldwork to conduct studies. Though these professionals do not generally help individuals live with and recover from neurological issues, they play a vital role in helping all medical and psychiatric professionals better understand this complex area of human health.
Becoming a Neuropsychologist: A Time Commitment, But A Worthy One
Becoming a neuropsychologist is a deeply meaningful profession, but – broadly speaking – it is a path that takes longer to pursue than other specializations in psychology.
For example, school psychologists are able to practice with just a master’s degree or similar, meaning that – after completing a bachelor’s degree (which typically takes four years) – they will be able to enter the workforce as a licensed psychologist in about two to three years.
By contrast, neuropsychologists typically need to complete not only a PhD, which takes between five and seven years, but also a postdoctoral fellowship, which can take up to two years.
The longer duration can be attributed to the fact that neuropsychologists are expected to have a meaningful understanding of neuroscience, an extremely complex field that requires of professionals to have demonstrable understanding and meaningful research experience.
What Is A Postdoctoral Fellowship?
A postdoctoral fellowship, also known as a “postdoc,” is a temporary position typically pursued by individuals who have recently completed doctorate programs (in this case, PhD or PsyDs).
This period can allow for recently-graduated doctors in psychology to complete independent research projects. In these intermediary roles, postdocs are able to step into leadership roles in neuropsychology in a supervised environment, offering something of a middle step between graduate school and the workforce.
Postdocs can also allow for doctors in psychology to identify and work closely with mentors in the field. These mentors are typically experienced neuropsychologists who can offer support, guidance, and resources to newer entrants into the field.
When it comes to a salary, postdoctoral fellowships are generally funded through grants or university resources. Alternatively, PhDs or PsyDs may have received postdoc positions through applying for specific fellowship programs, in which case the salary is provided there.
Neuropsychology PhD Programs in California
There are a number of universities in California that offer neuropsychology PhD programs in California, including:
- San Diego State University (SDSU) in partnership with UC San Diego: A five- to six-year-long program operated through two public universities in Southern California, which offers students the opportunity to find fieldwork placements at close to 30 different supervised training sites around the region. Neuropsychology students typically work with partner sites including SDSU and UC San Diego, the Salk Institute, Rady Children’s Hospital, and the VA Medical Center. This program includes a two-year core curriculum required for all psychology PhD students, which touches on topics like therapeutic interventions and skills, psychopathology, and the theory/techniques of psychological assessment.
- Loma Linda University: A 6-year program at a Seventh-day Adventist university in Southern California. Degree includes required courses in topics like psychopharmacology, functional neuroanatomy, and neurocognitive disorders in the aging population.
- Palo Alto University (PAU): Here, neuropsychology is offered as an “emphasis” in the Clinical Psychology PhD program. The PhD generally takes about five years to complete, at least two of which must be completed on-site in Palo Alto (Northern California). Required courses in the neuropsychology emphasis include: neuroanatomy and neuroimaging; cognitive rehabilitation; and neuropsychological assessment.
Southern California’s UCLA, which is one of the best-regarded universities in the state, has a psychology doctoral program with a number of available specializations, including those that overlap with neuropsychology, though none specifically come with the “neuropsychology” title as such. Some of the offerings available from UCLA that are similar and/or related, but not identical, to neuropsychology include:
- Cognitive neuroscience
- Cognitive psychology
- Computational cognition
- Developmental psychology
- Learning and behavior
- Social and affective neuroscience
It’s important to note that, while some of these programs are focused on the behavioral element of neuropsychology that is a cornerstone of the field, many do not include the exploration of neurology – meaning biology and anatomy – required of these mental health professionals.
To learn more about UCLA’s program – or about any of the programs touched on above – it’s best to get in touch with the university directly to understand how their programs may or may not offer the skill set necessary to become a licensed and practicing neuropsychologist.
Do I Need a Master’s Degree to Become a Neuropsychologist?
Yes and no. In short: if you’re planning to become an official, licensed and practicing neuropsychologist, you will need a doctoral degree. A master’s degree is completed along the way to getting a doctoral degree, meaning that any practicing neuropsychologist – by definition – has a master’s.
However, some aspiring professionals in the field of psychology may not be interested in completing a PhD or PsyD program: these degrees can take between five and seven years to complete, requiring significant investments of time – and, in some cases, money.
Some jobs in psychology that only require a master’s degree include school counselor, substance abuse counselor, behavioral therapist, crisis intervention specialist, marriage and family counselor, and, in some cases, forensic psychologist.
Because neuropsychology requires a doctoral degree, it’s unlikely that anyone aspiring to become a neuropsychologist would complete just a terminal master’s in the field independent of a graduate program.
The one instance in which this may be of use is if an applicant is concerned about their GPA or competitiveness when applying to PhD or PsyD programs. In that case, a master’s degree in a related field of psychology may boost their application, particularly if there are any shortcomings they’re particularly concerned about.
Salary Expectations for Neuropsychologists in California
Neuropsychologists are a type of clinical psychologists, which tend to be among the highest-earning professionals in the field of psychology.
Psychologists in California can also expect to earn a salary comfortably higher than in other states – though, significantly, this should be considered in relation to local housing and living costs.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, California is the second-highest paying state for what it categorizes as “Clinical and Counseling Psychologists” after New Jersey. In the Golden State, these professionals earned an average of $132,410 annually in 2023.
Clinical psychologists in Southern California were particularly well compensated. In the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim metropolitan area, the average professional in this field took home around $128,080 last year. In San Diego-Carlsbad, also in Southern California, the number of employed clinical psychologists was lower – around 1,520 citywide – but the compensation was higher, with a take-home pay of around $147,760 that year.
In Northern California, clinical psychologists in the San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward metropolitan area numbered around 1,520 as well, mirroring their counterparts downstate. These mental health professionals earned an average of $66.95 an hour, or a total of $139,250 by years’ end.
2023 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary and employment figures reflect state data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed December 2024.