Engineering Psychology is a field that focuses on adapting and improving work environments, equipment and technology to improve human capabilities and behavior. Individuals working in this field are interested in learning about the limitations of human behavior and are involved in making human-machine interactions, workspaces and products more user-friendly.

The demand for Engineering Psychologists is bound to increase as people today are spending more and more time utilizing and interacting with technology. If you want to kick-start a career in this field, then read this article on how to become an Engineering Psychologist in the U.S.

Should I Become an Engineering Psychologist?

If you are interested in learning about how people use and interact with technology, then you should think about pursuing a career in Engineering Psychology.

Psychologists working in the U.S. have to generally meet certain training and licensing requirements. These are mentioned below:

Education Required Education specialist degrees (Ed.S.) or a doctoral degree (Ph.D. /(Psy.D.)
Training Pre- or postdoctoral supervised experience.
Licenses/Certifications Only those individuals can use the title of ‘Psychologist’ who have obtained a state license.
Key Skills/Qualities Psychologists should demonstrate good analytical, problem solving, observational, and interpersonal skills.
Annual Mean Salary (2019) – National $98,230 (Psychologists – All Other)
Job Outlook (2018-28) 14% (Psychologists)

Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics

Career Outlook

The demand for Psychologists is likely to go up by 14% from 2018 to 2028. As a result, there will be a creation of 26,100 jobs in this field. This data has been obtained from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Steps to Become an Engineering Psychologist

Individuals on the path to becoming an Engineering Psychologist are required to go through the following steps:

  1. Obtain a Bachelor’s and a Master’s Degree
  2. The first step is to get admitted to an undergraduate program and major in Psychology. You can apply to a Bachelor of Science (B.S) or a Bachelor of Arts (B.A) program in Psychology. The 4-year course of study will help you learn about different theories and research approaches in Psychology. After completing the Bachelor’s coursework, you can apply to a 2-year long Master’s program (M.A/M.S) in Psychology. The Master’s degree will introduce you to advanced-level courses and will help you gain specialized knowledge in your field.

  1. Obtain a Doctoral Degree (if required)
  2. Some Engineering Psychology positions in the government sector or the academia might require candidates to have a doctoral degree. So, you might want to earn a Ph.D. in Human Factors and Cognitive Psychology or a Ph.D. in Engineering Psychology. These degrees can be completed within four to five years.

  1. Check the Licensing Requirements
  2. After completing the educational degrees, you might want to consult your local authorities about the licensing requirements. Please note that licensing laws for Psychologists vary from state to state and from position to position. Thus, you are advised to visit your state pages for further information.

How Long Does It Take to Become an Engineering Psychologist?

Candidates are required to graduate with a 4-year long Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, and a 2-year long Master’s degree in Psychology. Some positions might require the candidates to possess a Doctoral degree in Psychology, thus you should be prepared to invest another 4 to 5 years in completing the doctoral coursework and thesis requirements. Thus, it usually takes around eleven years to join this field.

What Are the Requirements to Become an Engineering Psychologist?

Engineering Psychologists are required to:

  • Obtain the required educational qualifications (such as a Master’s degree or a Doctoral degree in Psychology).
  • Get licensed by the state board.

How Much Do Engineering Psychologists Earn?

BLS has not published separate employment statistics for the category of Engineering Psychologists. Thus, we have used the category of ‘Psychologists (All Others)’ as our point of reference. Statistics show that the yearly mean salary of this category was $98,230 in 2019.