Different Career Pathways for Psychology

by Falak Maan

Unlock the diverse world of psychology career paths beyond clinical practice! Explore various disciplines, from neuropsychology to sports and exercise psychology, with guidance from the Australian Psychological Society (APS). Get ready to meet cross-disciplinary experts at MUPA's upcoming Industry Expo, where you can gain valuable insights and chart your unique psychology career journey. Your options are abundant, and the Expo is your gateway to exploring them. Don't miss this opportunity to shape your psychology adventure!

We’re all interested in Psychology for a variety of reasons but rarely do we know the specific job roles, how to get there and alternative pathways available. Yes, a Clinical Psychologist assesses, diagnoses and treats mental health conditions, but is that all you can do in Psychology? No! As a Psychology student, you have the potential to work in big organisations, support elite athletes to break world records, use your love of music to heal patients and much more.

So which fields of Psychology are there? The Australian Psychological Society (APS) provides a great resource for better understanding the variety of disciplines. These include: 

  • Clinical Neuropsychologists

  • Education and Development Psychologists

  • Forensic Psychologists

  • Organisational Psychologists

  • Sports and Exercise Psychologists

  • Music Psychologists 

  • And more!

While Universities rarely take the time to describe and demonstrate the various roles available in these disciplines, we strongly encourage you to do your own research, talk to professionals in these fields and find what resonates for you. To make this easier, MUPA has its Industry Expo coming up, where cross-disciplinary experts will be attending. This is a great opportunity to ask insightful questions that can inform and change your future career.

More specifically, how can you become a practitioner in each of these fields? The APS provides a great visual guide for how to get your general Psychology registration here. Essentially, a minimum of 6 years of training is required but the structure for completion can vary. While these resources give a great overview of general registration pathways, what if you wanted to do something different? To explore the requirements for the other options mentioned above, here is another fantastic APS resource that gives advice from psychologists working in each of those fields.

To summarise, you have many options. Don’t feel pressured to either be a clinical psychologist or an academic. Take this freedom and explore as many different options as possible. Read through the resources provided, take inspiration and plan your career journey from there. If you feel overwhelmed by the options and aren’t sure where to start, head over to our Industry Expo for in-person advice from experts in each of the various Psychology disciplines. Don’t stress, the options and time to decide are on your side, can’t wait to see you at the Expo!

For more information on the Industry Expo and other fantastic events, head over to our socials, give them a follow and let the opportunities flow your way!