Criminal psychology and the broader field of forensic psychology both gained popularity with crime shows like Criminal Minds.
These professionals dig deep into the minds of criminals to understand them. This information can be used to catch other criminals and prevent crime.
Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about the profession of criminal psychology, including the job duties of a criminal psychologist and what is required to go into this career field.
What Is a Criminal Psychologist?
A criminal psychologist is a psychologist who studies the motivations and psychology of criminals. They use this information to create criminal profiles and apprehend criminals.
Criminal psychology is similar to forensic psychology. Forensic psychology is the application of psychology to the law and criminal investigations.
While both are involved in criminal investigations, criminal psychologists focus more on the thought processes and behaviors of criminals, while forensic psychologists have a broader area of focus.
The job duties of a criminal psychologist may include:
- assessing whether someone who is accused of a crime is fit to stand trial
- assessing whether someone who has been convicted of a crime is fit for parole
- counseling offenders who have been convicted of a crime
- creating psychological profiles of subjects
- determining if a witness can be considered reliable in court
- providing expert testimony in court
- studying the behaviors and thoughts of criminals
- working with victims of crime
A psychological profile is a breakdown of what an offender's background, motives, and psychological mindset may be.
Criminal psychologists create psychological profiles to help law enforcement narrow down suspects and to determine what the best way to question a suspect may be.
There are a few different settings that a criminal psychologist may find themselves in. These include:
- colleges and universities
- correctional facilities
- courtrooms
- government offices
- law enforcement offices
- mental health centers
- private practice clinics
To become a criminal psychologist, you'll need education, experience, and licensure. We've broken down all the steps below.
Education Requirements for Criminal Psychologists
In most cases, criminal psychologists need to hold a doctorate degree. This can be a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in psychology or a Doctorate in Psychology (PsyD).
To earn this degree, you'll need to go through several years of higher education.
Bachelor's Degree
To start your path toward a doctoral degree, you'll first need to earn a bachelor's degree. This is a four-year undergraduate degree.
Those who plan to go into criminal psychology will want to look getting a degree in criminology or psychology.
While criminal psychology and forensic psychology bachelor's degrees are available, not many schools offer them. General psychology undergraduate degrees will usually work just fine.
Master's Degree
Master's degrees are graduate-level degrees. They can take between one and three years to complete, but about two years is average.
Master's degrees aren't a requirement for most doctoral programs in psychology. However, there are some cases in which you may want to pursue a master's degree.
First, if you've already earned your bachelor's degree but it's in another field, earning a master's degree in psychology offers you a pathway to a doctorate in psychology.
Additionally, earning a master's degree can potentially cut down on the number of years you spend in your graduate program.
Doctoral Degree
A doctoral degree is the most advanced degree you can earn. If you want to practice as a criminal psychologist, you'll need to earn a doctoral degree.
There are two types of doctorates that a psychologist can hold: a Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) degree and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in psychology.
PsyD degrees are for those who want to go into clinical practice and work directly with patients. They usually take four to six years and include a clinical practicum element.
PhDs are for students who want to focus more on research. These can take five to seven years, and at the end, you'll produce a dissertation on a research topic of your choosing.
Often, criminal psychologists hold PsyD degrees since a large part of their job is assessing people accused of crimes, convicted criminals, witnesses, and victims.
You can find accredited psychology programs through the American Psychological Association's Commission on Accreditation.
Experience Requirements for Criminal Psychologists
License requirements vary by state, but most states require you to undergo a few years of supervised professional experience before you can earn your license.
This experience typically must be earned after graduation, although some states may allow you to put some of the clinical experience you had in grad school towards this requirement.
The amount of experience you'll need will depend on your state, so check your state's requirements.
Licensure Requirements for Criminal Psychologists
Psychologists are licensed at the state level, and based on your state, you will have specific requirements you need to meet before you can become licensed.
All states require psychologists to pass the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP). This test is produced by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB).
This is a two-part test. Part one covers your knowledge of psychology, while part two covers your psychology skills.
Depending on your state, you may also need to pass a state exam. There may be other requirements, like passing a background check, as well.
Check with your state board to find out what is required for licensure. You can find a full list of requirements and board contact information at apaservices.org.
Certification for Criminal Psychologists
While psychology certification isn't mandatory, it proves that you have the knowledge and skills to be an effective psychologist.
The American Board of Professional Psychology offers certification in multiple fields of psychology.
While there is no specific certification for criminal psychology, there is a more general one for forensic psychology.
Become a Criminal Psychologist
Criminal psychologists have a fascinating job. With the information above, you can determine if this is the right career path for you.
