how long does it take to become a neuropsychologist

Last Updated on July 29, 2023

This page explores the details of How Long Does It Take To Become A Neuropsychologist, what is a neuropsychologist, what does a neuropsychologist do, neuropsychologist salary and is neuropsychology hard.

Neuropsychologists are scientists who study the anatomy and functions of the brain. Whether you are studying to become a neuropsychologist or just have a basic understanding of how your brain is hardwired, this book will teach you the fundamentals of neuroscience. You will learn about the research being done related to the brain, how it works, and ways in which it malfunctions. Read on to know How Long Does It Take To Become A Neuropsychologist, what is a neuropsychologist, what does a neuropsychologist do, neuropsychologist salary and is neuropsychology hard.

The field of neuroscience is a perennial minefield of discovery. With over $4.5 Billion in annual funding from the National Institute of Health and a new technology to create “brain maps”, the work that neuropsychologists do is more relevant than ever. In 2018, they deciphered how salmon navigate and found new magnetic cells in the human brain.

How Long Does It Take to Become a Neuropsychologist - CollegeLearners.com

What Is Neuropsychology?

The human brain is arguably the most complicated and astonishing organs in the human body. It can even be called the master organ, since it regulates all of the other organs in the body. For instance, it tells the lungs when to inhale and exhale; it tells the skin when it there’s a sensation, such as an itch or pain; it helps regulate digestion; and it tells the heart to keep pumping. The brain is also master and commander of our cognitive functions and behaviors. Injury to any part of the brain can cause malfunctions in the body, along with unusual thoughts and behaviors.

Understanding how the brain influences our cognitive functions and behaviors falls upon the shoulders of neuropsychologists. Neuropsychology is a branch of psychology that is concerned with how the brain and the rest of the nervous system influence a person’s cognition and behaviors. More importantly, professionals in this branch of psychology often focus on how injuries or illnesses of the brain affect cognitive functions and behaviors.

Modern neuropsychology has roots back in the late 19th century, when animals and humans with brain and nervous system injuries were studied by some of the first neuropsychologists. Unfortunately, the research papers were unreadable for some, partly because they were written in German, and this field came to a halt in the early 20th century.

The field of neuropsychology began to make a comeback after World War II, when doctors found the need to treat veterans with head injuries. In the 1960’s, psychologists revisited the studies done in the late 19th century, and the field has grown rapidly since.

Why Do We Need Neuropsychology?

Imagine having a brain injury. Now, imagine that your injury has made it so that you’re unable to function normally.

Neuropsychology helps doctors understand how brain malfunctions occur, and what happens when they do. By understanding these neurological problems, doctors can help possibly treat and prevent them.

What Are the Education Requirements to Become a Neuropsychologist?

Neuropsychology is often considered to be a mixture of neurology and psychology, and an aspiring neuropsychologist’s education should reflect this. In order to pursue a neuropsychology career, most students start with a four year bachelor degree in psychology, pre-med, biology, or neuroscience.Below is the complete educational path for the Psychologists:

Psychologist Educational TrackSchool ProgramsAverage Education LengthChoosing Online or Campus
1. Earn a Bachelor’s DegreeView Programs4 YearsOnline or Campus
2. Earn A Master’s DegreeView Programs2 Additional YearsOnline or Campus
3. Earn a PHD or PsyDView Programs2-4 Additional YearsOnline or Campus

The majority of aspiring neuropsychologists, however, will usually not be able to secure employment until they have earned more advanced degrees. A handful of people may be able to start their neuropsychology careers with master’s degrees in neuropsychology. In order to make the most of their careers, however, most individuals interested in this field pursue Ph. D.’s.

What Is the Median Salary for a Neuropsychologist?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), neuropsychologists (categorized by the BLS as psychologists, all other) earned an average salary of $98,230 as of May 2019.

Neuropsychologists working in specialty hospitals and general and medical surgical hospitals earned an average income of $92,610 and $92,560, respectively, while those working in psychiatric hospitals earned $73,000.

How Long Does It Take To Become A Neuropsychologist

We begin with How Long Does It Take To Become A Neuropsychologist, then what is a neuropsychologist, what does a neuropsychologist do, neuropsychologist salary and is neuropsychology hard.

Becoming a neuropsychologist takes at least 10 to 15 years of education and training after high school. Board licensing requires professionals to have completed a PhD or PsyD and at least two years of internship hours. Programs are available across the country and there is one hybrid program that affords students the flexibility of online courses and some in-person seminars and practicums. 

In order to be licensed, neuropsychologists are required to complete a PhD or a PsyD (doctor of psychology). Students can choose to complete a doctoral degree in psychology but it is recommended to complete a program specifically in neuropsychology or at least one with a neuropsychology concentration. Specializations in this field include clinical, forensic, cognitive, and pediatric neuropsychology. 

Programs for neuropsychology are accredited by the American Psychological Association Commission on Accreditation (APA-CoA). The APA-CoA is recognized as an accrediting body by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). 

Students should endeavor to attend an accredited institution because it indicates a high standard of education. Furthermore, attending an accredited program is a requirement to be a licensed neuropsychologist through the American Board of Clinical Neuropsychology (ABCN).

what is a neuropsychologist

Next, we consider what is a neuropsychologist, what does a neuropsychologist do, neuropsychologist salary and is neuropsychology hard.

Clinical Neuropsychology

Clinical Neuropsychology is a specialty field within clinical psychology, dedicated to understanding the relationships between brain and behavior, particularly as these relationships can be applied to the diagnosis of brain disorder, assessment of cognitive and behavioral functioning and the design of effective treatment.

How Long Does It Take to Become a Neuropsychologist - CollegeLearners.com

Specialized Knowledge

The required expertise for this area is based on the way that behavior and skills are related to brain structures and systems.

Problems Addressed

Neuropsychological evaluations are requested specifically to help understand how the different areas and systems of the brain are working. Testing is usually recommended when there are symptoms or complaints involving memory or thinking. This may be signaled by a change in concentration, organization, reasoning, memory, language, perception, coordination or personality. The change may be due to any of a number of medical, neurological, psychological or genetic causes.

Populations Served

Clinical Neuropsychology serves people across the entire age and developmental span whenever there are concerns about brain function. This can range from developmental concerns in infants, academic challenges in childhood, adolescence and early adulthood, work and social challenges in adulthood and concerns about declining function in old age. Some of the conditions neuropsychologists routinely deal with include developmental disorders like autism, learning and attention disorders, concussion and traumatic brain injury, epilepsy, brain cancer, stroke and dementia.

Skills and Procedures Utilized

The neuropsychological evaluation consists of gathering relevant historical information, a neuropsychological examination, analysis and integration of data and findings, and feedback to the referral source. History is obtained through reviewing medical and other records, and through interview with the patient. With the patient’s permission, family members or other knowledgeable persons may be interviewed and asked to share their perceptions and perspective on important aspects of the history and symptoms. The examination typically consists of the administration of standardized tests using oral questions, paper and pencil, computers, the manipulation of materials such as blocks and puzzles, and other procedures. Depending on the scope and intent of the evaluation, testing may focus on a wide range of cognitive functions including attention, memory, language, academic skills, reasoning and problem solving, visuospatial ability and sensory-motor skills. The neuropsychologist may also administer tests and questionnaires concerning psychological aspects of mood, emotional style, behavior and personality.

what does a neuropsychologist do

More details coming up on what does a neuropsychologist do, neuropsychologist salary and is neuropsychology hard.

What Does a Neuropsychologist Do?

The duties and responsibilities of neuropsychologists may vary, depending on their specialties.

Some neuropsychologists, for instance, work primarily as researchers. This might involves studying both healthy humans and animals, and those with brain injuries or illnesses.

Neuropsychologists might also work in clinical settings as well. This typically involves assessing and diagnosing patients. This can be done by observing specific symptoms and using sophisticated technology, such as brain scans. After successfully diagnosing a neurological problem, neuropsychologists can then often recommend a course of treatment, which can include therapy, medication, or surgery.

Where Do Neuropsychologists Work?

As with a neurologist’s duties, a neuropsychologist’s place of employment might vary, depending on his specialty.

Neuropsychologists that are primarily concerned with research might work in private or government research facilities. Some universities might also hire these professionals to conduct research and teach.

Clinical neuropsychologists might work in a number of different healthcare settings. This can include hospitals, clinics, and physicians’ offices. Some neuropsychologists might also choose to open private practices, and treat patients in their offices or work as consultants.

Typical work settings for neuropsychologist include universities, research labs, hospitals, mental health clinics, and pharmaceutical companies. Work duties can include:

  • Administering neurological tests to patients
  • Using test results to determine if a patient is suffering from neurological impairment
  • Recommending a course of treatment for patients with neurological impairments
  • Conducting clinical research on memory, brain function, language acquisition, and more
  • Testifying in court cases based on their assessments, findings, or research. 
  • Working with pharmaceutical companies to develop drugs for neurological disorders

neuropsychologist salary

Next, neuropsychologist salary and is neuropsychology hard.

How much does a Neuropsychologist make?

As of Jan 19, 2022, the average annual pay for a Neuropsychologist in the United States is $126,217 a year.

Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $60.68 an hour. This is the equivalent of $2,427/week or $10,518/month.

While ZipRecruiter is seeing annual salaries as high as $188,000 and as low as $72,500, the majority of Neuropsychologist salaries currently range between $103,000 (25th percentile) to $140,000 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $166,500 annually across the United States. The average pay range for a Neuropsychologist varies greatly (by as much as $37,000), which suggests there may be many opportunities for advancement and increased pay based on skill level, location and years of experience.

Based on recent job posting activity on ZipRecruiter, the Neuropsychologist job market in both Kano, NG and throughout the entire state of is not very active as few companies are currently hiring. A Neuropsychologist in your area makes on average $126,217 per year, or the same as the national average annual salary of $126,217. ranks number 1 out of 50 states nationwide for Neuropsychologist salaries.

To estimate the most accurate annual salary range for Neuropsychologist jobs, ZipRecruiter continuously scans its database of millions of active jobs published locally throughout America.

What are Top 10 Highest Paying Cities for Neuropsychologist Jobs

We’ve identified 10 cities where the typical salary for a Neuropsychologist job is above the national average. Topping the list is Palo Alto, CA, with San Mateo, CA and Berkeley, CA close behind in the second and third positions. Berkeley, CA beats the national average by $21,735 (17.2%), and Palo Alto, CA furthers that trend with another $27,821 (22.0%) above the $126,217 average.

Importantly, Palo Alto, CA has a moderately active Neuropsychologist job market with only a few companies currently hiring for this type of role.

Neuropsychologist and Clinical Neuropsychologist Career Video - YouTube

With these 10 cities having average salaries higher than the national average, the opportunities for economic advancement by changing locations as a Neuropsychologist appears to be exceedingly fruitful.

Finally, another factor to consider is the average salary for these top ten cities varies very little at 9% between Palo Alto, CA and Bellevue, WA, reinforcing the limited potential for much wage advancement. The possibility of a lower cost of living may be the best factor to use when considering location and salary for a Neuropsychologist role.

CityAnnual SalaryMonthly PayWeekly PayHourly Wage
Palo Alto, CA$154,039$12,837$2,962$74.06
San Mateo, CA$153,314$12,776$2,948$73.71
Berkeley, CA$147,952$12,329$2,845$71.13
Daly City, CA$147,538$12,295$2,837$70.93
Richmond, CA$144,013$12,001$2,769$69.24
Irvine, CA$143,137$11,928$2,753$68.82
Odessa, TX$140,906$11,742$2,710$67.74
Stamford, CT$140,232$11,686$2,697$67.42
Orange, CA$139,834$11,653$2,689$67.23
Bellevue, WA$139,833$11,653$2,689$67.23

What are Top 5 Best Paying Related Neuropsychologist Jobs in the U.S.

Analyzing similar jobs related to the Neuropsychologist job category, we found five that were relevant. However, none pay more than the $126,217 average for Neuropsychologist jobs. Nevertheless International Neuropsychologist, Faculty Neuropsychologist, or Clinical Neuropsychologist may still be interesting positions to explore.

Job TitleAnnual SalaryMonthly PayWeekly PayHourly Wage
Clinical Neuropsychologist$97,138$8,095$1,868$46.70
Faculty Neuropsychologist$92,685$7,724$1,782$44.56
International Neuropsychologist$92,215$7,685$1,773$44.33
Research Neuropsychologist$91,559$7,630$1,761$44.02
Pediatric Neuropsychologist$90,973$7,581$1,749$43.74

is neuropsychology hard

Neuropsychology covers research and experimentation in the pursuit of the “hard science” regarding the problem generally defined as “the hard problem of consciousness”. It does this with a combination of hard science and the cognitive tool we call the scientific method, which is not “hard science”.

You will enjoy very hard work. You will be content to earn, in your career, a good salary but not a massive salary. (For the same amount of blood, sweat, and tears, there are other careers with the potential to make you much richer financially).

Do you have to be really smart to be a psychologist?

Simeon’s Answer. Yes, being a great thinker is important for psychological work, but you’ll find it’s just as, if not more, important to be an emotionally intelligent person when it comes to psychological work.

What skills do you need to be a neuropsychologist?

There are many skills neuropsychologists must develop over years of study and practice in order to be successful, including:

  • Thinking Critically. …
  • Clarity when Speaking and Superb Listening. …
  • Writing and Documentation. …
  • Problem Solving. …
  • Monitoring and Awareness. …
  • Interpretation and Analysis. …
  • Willingness to Learn.

What GPA do you need to be a neuropsychologist?

Most graduate neuropsychology programs have a minimum grade point average (G.P.A.) requirement of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Some school admissions are more competitive than others, so requirements may be higher for the institution you choose.

What should I major in if I want to be a neuropsychologist?

Most aspiring neuropsychologists major in psychology or a closely related field. During an undergraduate degree, psych majors learn about neuroanatomy, brain-behavior disorders, and psychological research. Students may also take specialized courses in neuropsychology or neuroscience.

About the author

Study on Scholarship Today -- Check your eligibility for up to 100% scholarship.

Leave a Comment