A health psychologist studies the effect of psychological matters on one's health and applies his knowledge to treating patients, teaching, or conducting research. To pursue a career in this field, you will need at least a bachelor's degree, preferably in psychology, though many employers prefer those with graduate degrees in health psychology or related majors. Additionally, depending on your jurisdiction, you may need to obtain a license if you want to work as a psychologist.
In many cases, you will need at least a bachelor's degree to go into health psychology. The typical undergraduate major for a person who wants to go into this field is psychology, but many people go on to earn graduate degrees. This is due to the fact that there are some entry-level jobs in the field of psychology you can land with a bachelor's degree, but the job opportunities generally prove more plentiful if you earn a higher credential instead. You may, for example, enroll in a health psychology master's degree program after earning a bachelor's degree and commit about two years to the study of behaviors, thought processes, and social interactions that affect health. Some of the topics you study in this type of program may include those such as laws that affect health care, rehabilitation techniques, and the evaluation of relationships between a person's emotions and his mental and physical health status.
While it is not necessarily required to enter the field of health psychology, earning a doctoral degree can open doors for career opportunities you might not have with a lower-level credential. To earn this type of degree, you will typically need to make a commitment to several years of study and research as well as complete a thesis. Some of the topics you may study in a doctoral degree program for this field are likely to include behavioral medicine, social psychology, and fundamentals of health. You might also study addictions and stress as part of a doctoral-level health psychology program.
If you want to work in the health psychology field as a psychologist, most jurisdictions will require you to complete a licensing application process. This usually involves providing proof of your education, completing forms, and passing an examination. In some jurisdictions, you may also need to obtain experience with patients under the supervision of a licensed psychologist to secure your own licensing and begin practicing in this field.
