Sports Psychologist Jobs & Career Guide 2024
What is a sports psychologist?
A sports psychologist works to help support and develop the psychology of high-level competitive athletes and sportspeople.
Many people may find this surprising. After all, often athletes are very well paid, very well motivated, and incredibly successful! Why would someone living this sort of lifestyle need a psychologist?
The truth is that mental health issues can affect ANYONE, regardless of age, wealth, or any other external or internal factor.
High-level sport is incredibly unforgiving, particularly in a world where criticism and scrutiny are often public and very loud, in online spaces and elsewhere.
Sports psychologists help athletes deal with the stress and mental rigors that high-level sport puts on the psyche.
Education Requirements
The first step in becoming a sports psychologist is to earn a bachelor’s degree in psychology or a related field. It is best to major in psychology, education, or a related field, as this will help you gain the knowledge and skills necessary for pursuing a graduate degree in sports psychology.
In addition to your undergraduate studies, pursuing internships or volunteer experiences in sports psychology is a good idea. These experiences will give you a greater understanding of how to work with athletes and how to support them behaviorally and emotionally. You can find internships with sports teams at the collegiate or professional level.
To become a licensed sports psychologist, you will then need to earn a graduate degree in psychology or a related field. A Master’s degree in sports psychology can be helpful, but a Doctoral degree (Ph.D. or Psy.D.) is typically required. The program should be accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) or the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP).
Certification and Licensing
Once you have completed your education and required number of supervised hours, the next step is to become certified and licensed. To become a sports psychologist, you must first pass the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP).
The EPPP is a nationally administered exam that tests how well you can apply and interpret psychological knowledge. Once you have passed the EPPP, you must obtain a license from your state’s psychology board. Each state may have different licensure requirements, and it is crucial to ensure you meet them.
An optional final step is board certification.
Board certification for sports psychologists is offered by the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP). The certification is known as the Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC) credential.
Continuing Education
To maintain licensure, you must complete continuing education requirements. These requirements vary from state to state but typically include courses, workshops, conferences, and seminars related to sports psychology.
It would be best to stay current on the latest research and technology in the field. Becoming an active member of professional organizations, such as AASP, will help you stay informed and connected with sports psychologists around the country.
Continuing your education after your licensure is essential to provide the best service to athletes and their teams.
By following these steps, you can become a sports psychologist and provide invaluable support to athletes throughout their journey. With the proper education, dedication, and hard work, you can become a successful sports psychologist who makes a difference in children’s lives.
Is sports psychology a good career?
The career outlook for sports psychologists is an interesting one, with a lot of room to specialize, learn and grow, developing as a clinician while also developing contacts and the business side of the profession.
It’s also quite varied, as you can work with athletes in various different sports, at varying levels, assisting with everything from depression, trauma, stress, or PTSD to assisting in building confidence and improving on-field performance.
It’s important to note that while there are similarities, sports psychologist sessions won’t look much like a clinical psychology session, as you will be working with coaches and athletes to deal primarily with stressors and difficulties as they relate to performance, which is an interesting and very specific focus, setting this profession apart from the other niches of psychology.
Latest Sports Psychologist Job Listings
| Position | Company | Location | Posted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Veterinarian – Medical Oncologist | BluePearl | Mesquite, Texas US | 07/23/2024 |
| BluePearl Veterinary Partners in Mesquite, TX is seeking a Veterinarian – Medical Oncology Specialist to work at our state of the art emergency and specialty hospital. Do you have a passion for working with animals and learning new standard methodologies in animal health?Are you a dedicated Veterinarian who takes great pride in providing animals with the best possible care?Do you practice patience with your patients daily?Would your peers describe you … More | |||
| Veterinarian – Internal Medicine | BluePearl | Mesquite, Texas US | 07/23/2024 |
| Are you looking for a change and a chance to practice remarkable medicine? Then look no further than BluePearl East Dallas in Mesquite, Texas. We are looking for board certified or board eligible internists to add to our highly collaborative group of veterinary emergency clinicians. We offer 24 hour emergency care to the community and surrounding areas. Our dedicated group of technicians match our passion for patient outcomes and will assist you in adjusting seamlessly with in our hospital. … More | |||
| Veterinarian – Emergency | BluePearl | Mesquite, Texas US | 07/23/2024 |
| BluePearl East Dallas is seeking a full time ER clinician to join our state-of-the-art emergency hospital. Our ER service has highly qualified, dedicated technicians and advanced diagnostic capabilities (full in-house laboratory, radiographic and ultrasound imaging. Sign on bonus available for full time, experienced clinicians! Are you looking for a change and a chance to practice remarkable medicine? Then look no further than BluePearl East Dallas. We offer … More | |||
| Veterinarian – Urgent Care | BluePearl | Chesapeake, Virginia US | 07/23/2024 |
| Up to $50,000 sign on bonus available for qualified clinicians!Looking for a unique opportunity to blend urgent case acuity with the pace and work-life balance of scheduled appointments? BluePearl Veterinary Specialists in Virginia Beach is seeking an urgent care doctor to join our 2-site locations. We’re creating a community service to provide access to higher-acuity veterinary cases on days, evenings, and occasional weekends. You’ll have the ability to consult with, or refer … More | |||
| Urgent Care Veterinarian | BluePearl | Mesquite, Texas US | 07/23/2024 |
| BluePearl in East Dallas, Texas is seeking an Urgent Care Veterinarian to work at our state of the art emergency hospital.Do you have a passion for working with animals and learning new standard methodologies in animal health?Are you a dedicated Veterinarian who takes great pride in providing animals with the best possible care?Would your peers describe you as respectful, resilient, and a phenomenal teammate?If you answered yes to these questions, … More | |||
| Emergency Veterinarian | BluePearl | Chesapeake, Virginia US | 07/23/2024 |
| BluePearl Pet Hospital in Chesapeake, VA (Greenbrier) is seeking a full-time or part-time Emergency Veterinarians. We offer a collaborative work environment that provides ample opportunities to work closely with other specialists to provide high quality care to all patients. You will also be working with highly qualified, dedicated technicians and be part of an amazing group of specialists and emergency doctors with many years of experience. BluePearl is proud … More | |||
| Urgent Care Veterinarian | BluePearl | Virginia Beach, Virginia US | 07/23/2024 |
| BluePearl Pet Hospital in the Town Center area of Virginia Beach, VA is hiring Urgent Care Veterinarians. We’re creating a community service to provide access to higher-acuity veterinary cases on days, evenings, and occasional weekends. You’ll have the ability to consult with, or refer to, our surgery/internal medicine teams in addition to the ability to deliver emergency-tilted medical and surgical skills. While surgery/endoscopy/imaging isn’t a requirement, we have … More | |||
| Urgent Care Veterinarian | BluePearl | Chesapeake, Virginia US | 07/23/2024 |
| BluePearl Pet Hospital in Chesapeake, VA (Greenbrier) is hiring Urgent Care Veterinarians. We’re creating a community service to provide access to higher-acuity veterinary cases on days, evenings, and occasional weekends. You’ll have the ability to consult with, or refer to, our surgery/internal medicine teams in addition to the ability to deliver emergency-tilted medical and surgical skills. While surgery/endoscopy/imaging isn’t a requirement, we have advanced training … More | |||
Position BluePearl Veterinary Partners in Mesquite, TX is seeking a Veterinarian – Medical Oncology Specialist to work at our state of the art emergency and specialty hospital. Do you have a passion for working with animals and learning new standard methodologies in animal health?Are you a dedicated Veterinarian who takes great pride in providing animals with the best possible care?Do you practice patience with your patients daily?Would your peers describe you … More Company BluePearl Location Mesquite, Texas US Posted 07/23/2024 | |||
Position Are you looking for a change and a chance to practice remarkable medicine? Then look no further than BluePearl East Dallas in Mesquite, Texas. We are looking for board certified or board eligible internists to add to our highly collaborative group of veterinary emergency clinicians. We offer 24 hour emergency care to the community and surrounding areas. Our dedicated group of technicians match our passion for patient outcomes and will assist you in adjusting seamlessly with in our hospital. … More Company BluePearl Location Mesquite, Texas US Posted 07/23/2024 | |||
Position BluePearl East Dallas is seeking a full time ER clinician to join our state-of-the-art emergency hospital. Our ER service has highly qualified, dedicated technicians and advanced diagnostic capabilities (full in-house laboratory, radiographic and ultrasound imaging. Sign on bonus available for full time, experienced clinicians! Are you looking for a change and a chance to practice remarkable medicine? Then look no further than BluePearl East Dallas. We offer … More Company BluePearl Location Mesquite, Texas US Posted 07/23/2024 | |||
Position Up to $50,000 sign on bonus available for qualified clinicians!Looking for a unique opportunity to blend urgent case acuity with the pace and work-life balance of scheduled appointments? BluePearl Veterinary Specialists in Virginia Beach is seeking an urgent care doctor to join our 2-site locations. We’re creating a community service to provide access to higher-acuity veterinary cases on days, evenings, and occasional weekends. You’ll have the ability to consult with, or refer … More Company BluePearl Location Chesapeake, Virginia US Posted 07/23/2024 | |||
Position BluePearl in East Dallas, Texas is seeking an Urgent Care Veterinarian to work at our state of the art emergency hospital.Do you have a passion for working with animals and learning new standard methodologies in animal health?Are you a dedicated Veterinarian who takes great pride in providing animals with the best possible care?Would your peers describe you as respectful, resilient, and a phenomenal teammate?If you answered yes to these questions, … More Company BluePearl Location Mesquite, Texas US Posted 07/23/2024 | |||
Position BluePearl Pet Hospital in Chesapeake, VA (Greenbrier) is seeking a full-time or part-time Emergency Veterinarians. We offer a collaborative work environment that provides ample opportunities to work closely with other specialists to provide high quality care to all patients. You will also be working with highly qualified, dedicated technicians and be part of an amazing group of specialists and emergency doctors with many years of experience. BluePearl is proud … More Company BluePearl Location Chesapeake, Virginia US Posted 07/23/2024 | |||
Position BluePearl Pet Hospital in the Town Center area of Virginia Beach, VA is hiring Urgent Care Veterinarians. We’re creating a community service to provide access to higher-acuity veterinary cases on days, evenings, and occasional weekends. You’ll have the ability to consult with, or refer to, our surgery/internal medicine teams in addition to the ability to deliver emergency-tilted medical and surgical skills. While surgery/endoscopy/imaging isn’t a requirement, we have … More Company BluePearl Location Virginia Beach, Virginia US Posted 07/23/2024 | |||
Position BluePearl Pet Hospital in Chesapeake, VA (Greenbrier) is hiring Urgent Care Veterinarians. We’re creating a community service to provide access to higher-acuity veterinary cases on days, evenings, and occasional weekends. You’ll have the ability to consult with, or refer to, our surgery/internal medicine teams in addition to the ability to deliver emergency-tilted medical and surgical skills. While surgery/endoscopy/imaging isn’t a requirement, we have advanced training … More Company BluePearl Location Chesapeake, Virginia US Posted 07/23/2024 |
