Sports Psychology

unpaid internship called a practicum gives students specific job experience with an organization, allowing them to apply their learning to real-world work situations. Despite the lack of pay, a practicummay turn into a job opportunity as an intern builds professional relationships and demonstrates their value to a sports team. Internships are so important that a student who does not enter an internship programmay struggle to find a job after graduation. For sports psychologists who are specifically interested in academic research, a post-doctoral fellowship will boost their chances of landing a position at a university. This fellowship typically lasts just one to two years and focuses specifically on research: the fellow will join a laboratory or research institution, assist other researchers with their work, and have their names published on research papers or books. Fellowships are only available to PhD graduates and are similar in nature to the last few years of a PhD program, when a student has completed their coursework and spends most or all of their time conducting research. The last stage of the professional training needed is licensure. Many fields of psychology require a license for professionals, and sports psychology is no different. Sports teams will not hire unlicensed psychologists, just as hospitals will not hire unlicensed doctors. Licenses require examinations, testing students on the fundamentals they have learned regarding psychological care, treatment, and legal standards. In the United States, a psychologist who has completed a PhD program will need to complete the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP). Individual states have their own standards for licensing and certification, including requirements for continuing education to be taken periodically throughout a person’s career. After becoming licensed, a sports psychologist can begin their career.

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Sports Psychology