Health Psychologist Jobs and Training
Health psychologist jobs apply psychology to physical health, from pain management and tobacco use to adjusting to a chronic disease. APA recognizes clinical health psychology as a specialty, and it says most careers in health psychology require a doctoral degree. This page covers the work, the settings, the route through the doctorate and a license, and the ranked PsyD programs whose own pages name a health emphasis.
By Trevor Rupe, Contributor at Savo Media Group
Health Psychologist Jobs at a Glance
- Most careers require a doctoral degree. APA calls a bachelor's degree the foundation for a career in health psychology and says the doctorate is what most careers ask for.
- The specialty is clinical health psychology. APA has recognized it since 1997, and defines it as the specialty that investigates and implements clinical services to promote health and well-being and to prevent, treat and manage illness and disability.
- Health psychologists work in hospitals, primary care programs, private practices, universities, corporations and government agencies, plus specialty practices such as oncology, pain management, rehabilitation and smoking cessation, according to APA.
- 31 ranked PsyD programs name a health emphasis, track or concentration on their own pages. See the programs.
What Health Psychologist Jobs Involve
Health psychologist jobs rest on APA's definition of the specialty:
“Clinical health psychology is a professionally recognized specialty that investigates and implements clinical services across diverse populations and settings to promote health and well-being and to prevent, treat and manage illness and disability.”
APA, Clinical Health Psychology (last updated May 2022)
Clinical health psychologists have knowledge of how learning, memory, perception, cognition and motivation influence health behaviors and impact physical illness, injury, and disability (APA, problems addressed). Its examples of problem areas are weight management, tobacco use, pain management, psychological adjustment to serious and chronic disease, and appropriateness for and adherence to medical treatment.
Health psychologists are essential in clinical settings, where they conduct clinical interviews and behavioral assessments (APA, what health psychologists do). Health psychologists study the factors that allow people to be healthy, recover from an illness or cope with a chronic condition (APA, health psychology and wellness). APA adds that health psychologists are in demand as part of integrated health care delivery teams, working with other doctors to provide whole-person health care.
Clinical health psychology serves any individual of any age with a disease that could be prevented, treated or rehabilitated through the use of psychological techniques or procedures. The primary focus is on problems that present as physical complaints as opposed to issues that are restricted to emotional or mental health (APA, populations served).
Health Psychologist Jobs and Settings
Health psychologist jobs appear in many settings, according to APA:
“Health psychologists apply their expertise in many settings, including private practices, hospitals and primary care programs, universities, corporations, government agencies and specialty practices, such as oncology, pain management, rehabilitation and smoking cessation.”
APA, Health Psychology Promotes Wellness
BLS describes the working conditions of psychologists in general: most psychologists work full time, but part-time work is common (BLS).
Training for Health Psychologist Jobs
- Doctorate, then license
Most health psychology careers need more than a bachelor’s degree. APA says:
“While a bachelor’s degree is the foundation for a career in health psychology, most careers require a doctoral degree.”
APA, Pursuing a Career in Health Psychology
The career path for someone with a master’s degree often includes positions such as a research assistant or behavior specialist. Typically, they work under the supervision of a licensed psychologist. Those with doctoral degrees have the most options; they are able to work independently and will often supervise research or clinical teams, including those working in the areas of managing weight and preventing obesity, pain management, helping individuals cope with genetic diseases, preventing re-hospitalization of patients and planning walkable communities to encourage physical activity (APA, the doctoral route).
Training for health psychologist jobs has three parts:
- Earn a bachelor's degree. APA calls it the foundation for a career in health psychology.
- Complete a doctorate in psychology. A doctoral degree is what opens independent work. APA defines a specialty as a defined area of psychological practice that requires advanced knowledge and skills acquired through an organized sequence of education and training (APA, specialties).
- Earn the state license. In most states, practicing psychology or using the title of “psychologist” requires licensure (BLS). In most states, the independent practice of psychology requires a doctoral degree and a state license (APA, independent practice). A PsyD is a degree, and the license comes from the state board. The licensure guide and the EPPP guide cover the steps and the exam.
PsyD Programs With a Health Emphasis
Anyone aiming at health psychologist jobs can start from the ranked PsyD programs that name a health emphasis, track or concentration on their own pages. They appear in national rank order, the first 10 of 31. The rank is the program's place in the national ranking of APA-accredited PsyD programs, ordered by a score the methodology page explains.
| Rank | Program | Health emphasis | Location | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank 7 | Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, program card in the rankings | Health Psychology | Piscataway, NJ | 73.5 |
| Rank 10 | Florida Institute of Technology, program card in the rankings | Integrated Behavioral Health | Melbourne, FL | 72.8 |
| Rank 11 | Yeshiva University, program card in the rankings | Clinical Health Psychology | Bronx, NY | 71.9 |
| Rank 12 | George Fox University, program card in the rankings | Primary Care Psychology Track | Newberg, OR | 70.2 |
| Rank 13 | The Wright Institute, program card in the rankings | Health Psychology Focus Area | Berkeley, CA | 70.0 |
| Rank 14 | La Salle University, program card in the rankings | Clinical Health Psychology | Philadelphia, PA | 69.8 |
| Rank 15 | Xavier University, program card in the rankings | Health Care Psychology (HCP) | Cincinnati, OH | 69.2 |
| Rank 16 | University of Indianapolis, program card in the rankings | Health Psychology & Behavioral Medicine | Indianapolis, IN | 68.1 |
| Rank 17 | Pacific University, Oregon, program card in the rankings | Health Psychology Emphasis | Hillsboro, OR | 67.9 |
| Rank 20 | Loma Linda University, program card in the rankings | Health psychology | Loma Linda, CA | 66.3 |
Questions About Health Psychologist Jobs
What Does a Health Psychologist Do?
Clinical health psychology is a professionally recognized specialty that investigates and implements clinical services across diverse populations and settings to promote health and well-being and to prevent, treat and manage illness and disability. APA adds that health psychologists study the factors that allow people to be healthy, recover from an illness or cope with a chronic condition.
Do Health Psychologists Need a Doctorate?
For most careers, yes. While a bachelor’s degree is the foundation for a career in health psychology, most careers require a doctoral degree. Master's-level roles, such as research assistant or behavior specialist, typically work under the supervision of a licensed psychologist, according to APA.
What Problems Do Health Psychologists Work On?
APA's examples are weight management, tobacco use, pain management, psychological adjustment to serious and chronic disease, and appropriateness for and adherence to medical treatment.
Where Do Health Psychologists Work?
Health psychologists apply their expertise in many settings, including private practices, hospitals and primary care programs, universities, corporations, government agencies and specialty practices, such as oncology, pain management, rehabilitation and smoking cessation.
Can a PsyD Lead to Health Psychologist Jobs?
A doctorate is the base APA describes, and 31 ranked PsyD programs name a health emphasis, track or concentration on their own pages. Each is on APA's list of accredited doctoral programs. A PsyD is a degree, and independent practice also needs a state license, covered in the licensure guide.
Sources for Health Psychologist Jobs
- American Psychological Association, Commission on Accreditation, accredited programs directory, retrieved October 12, 2026.
- Each program’s own APA disclosure tables and program pages, tuition, attrition, time to completion and program descriptions, read between October 12, 2026 and October 14, 2026.
- APA, Clinical Health Psychology (last updated May 2022).
- APA, Pursuing a Career in Health Psychology.
- APA, Health Psychology Promotes Wellness.
- APA, Specialties, Subspecialties, and Proficiencies (last updated June 2026).
- BLS OOH, Psychologists.
- APA, A Career in Clinical or Counseling Psychology: Making It Happen.
- Every quotation and figure from these sources was read on October 14, 2026.