What Is a Child Development Specialist?
So you think you might like to become a child development specialist?
Child development specialists evaluate the physical and psychological development of school-age and younger children, design and implement plans for therapy, and document the child's progress. These experts in child development and education may work in schools, in association with child care facilities, in hospitals, or in public and private clinics. Though they may work with children with a wide variety of needs, they may specialize in working with children who have developmental or physical disabilities, who are neuroatypical, or who have suffered trauma. Read on to learn more about how to become a developmental specialist focusing on children.
Career Requirements
So what are the career requirements for becoming a child development specialist?
Starting with the right education is important. Employers look for someone with at least a bachelor's degree. Some roles require a master's degree. The degree field is applied psychology with a concentration in child advocacy or school psychology.
Optional Child Development Associate or CDA certification is available. School psychologists need to be licensed. The amount of experience required may vary by employer.
Key Skills of Child Development Specialists
Child development specialist jobs require a number of specific skills. Here are just a few things that a child care development specialist can aim to cultivate throughout their career:
- A strong desire to help children
- Ability to face challenges calmly
- Professionalism softened with empathy and sensitivity
- Excellent communication skills
- Ability to liaise with parents, caregivers, and other adults in a child's life
- Ability to adjust one's approach to suit a child's needs
- Understanding of various developmental disabilities and neuroatypical presentations in children
How to Become a Child Development Specialist
Step 1: Earn a Degree in Psychology
Developmental therapist schooling begins at the undergraduate level.If you are interested in a career as a child development specialist, you should begin by pursuing a bachelor's degree in psychology. You will likely not yet be able to obtain a child development specialist degree at this level; a general psychology degree is fine, though if you get the opportunity to focus at all on child psychology, that might be to your advantage. One degree that is often preferred if it is available to you is Applied Psychology with a focus on Child Advocacy. Your studies will include general psychology, learning and motivation, lifelong development, neurology, biology, anatomy, trauma responses, and other studies related to child psychology and development.
Success Tips:
- Participate in an internship or practicum. Aspiring child development specialists who wish to get experience in the field may benefit from taking part in an internship. Some colleges require that education students complete a practicum. Students who complete an internship have the opportunity to observe seasoned, professional teachers employing best practices in the classroom, and this experience may add value to their professional profile when seeking employment after graduation.
- Specialize in applied psychology with concentration in child advocacy. This program focuses specifically on childhood issues, developmental disorders, methods of clinical assessment and treatment, multicultural influences, childhood development from birth to adolescence, juvenile delinquency, the impact of domestic violence, and other coursework may be included.
Step 2: Apply for the Child Development Associate Credential
Some employers may prefer child development specialists to hold the Child Development Associate or CDA credential before working with young children. The CDA credential is a nationally-recognized credential granted by the Council for Professional Recognition to those who demonstrate competency on a core set of professional standards by the necessary educational and work experience requirements. Applicants may choose to work towards a CDA in four different settings: preschools, infant and toddler programs, family child care programs, and home visitor programs. Applicants will have to demonstrate their ability to meet competency standards by passing an exam.
Step 3: Pursue a Master's or PhD
A bachelor's degree may be enough for employment as a child development specialist, but advanced degrees such as a master's or doctorate can qualify you for higher-level positions as you grow in your career. A master's degree is the minimum educational requirement for work as a school counselor in most states. It is at this level that you will likely be able to obtain a specific developmental therapist degree that will qualify you as an infant and toddler developmental specialist.
Child Developmental Specialist Salary & Job Outlook
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for clinical, counseling, and school psychologists was $78,200 as of May, 2019. However, the highest-earning 10% of professionals in this field earned $132,670 in the same time period. The highest-paying industries for this career, based on mean salary, are child day care services ($120,130), home health care services ($105,440), and health practitioner offices ($100,300). The highest-paying states, again according to mean salaries, were reported as Oregon ($112,010), California ($111,750), Washington, D.C. ($106,900), New York ($96,170), and Louisiana ($96,040). The job outlook for psychologists is predicted at 3% growth from 2019 to 2029, which is just slightly slower than average for all jobs in the U.S.
Earn a degree in applied psychology, get certified as a child development associate, and pursue an advanced degree are the steps to follow to make the most of a career as a child development specialist.
