Applied Psychologist

The service we work in and what we earn

• We work with people of all ages in a range of clinical settings such as hospitals, clinics and in the community.
• Forensic psychologists usually work within secure hospitals or prisons, or with those who have a history of offending. 
• In our NHS Trust, applied psychologists work with adults and children with a wide range of mental health needs, as well as people with learning disabilities, and neurodivergent needs such as Autism.

Qualified applied psychologists earn from £46,000 to £85,000 per year.

How to get started

You’ll need doctorate level training in either clinical, counselling, or forensic psychology, and to be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). The Doctorate courses are 3 years long and are offered at various universities around the country. Clinical psychology courses are funded by Health Education England, and throughout training you would be employed by the NHS. Fees for counselling and forensic courses are around £12-14k per year.

Entry requirements for the doctorate courses are usually: 

• A psychology degree at 2:1 or higher, from a course that has eligibility for Graduate Basis for Charted Membership with the British Psychological Society 
• Relevant experience, which is usually in a clinical or forensic setting, to gain:
  • a good understanding of the role 
  • some direct clinical contact with people applied psychologists might typically work with 
  • a sense of the organisational context in which applied psychology usually operates 

This is often achieved through the role of assistant psychologist, but this is not a requirement. Other roles can also provide very valuable experience. Some courses require two years previous experience. 

• Counselling psychology courses may require previous introductory training in therapeutic/counselling skills or other mental health training