Essay Sample about Neuropsychologist Career
“Nearly one in six of the world’s population suffer from neurological disorders…with some 6.8 million dying of the maladies each year” (“Nearly 1 in 6 of world's population suffer from neurological disorders – UN report”). Many people become unaware of neurological issues and will remain untreated which can lead to a more severe problem. Neurological disorders can range from mental and behavioral illnesses to physical sickness with signs and symptoms. When the patient is experiencing difficulty with cognitive processes, they will then be referred to a neuropsychologist. A neuropsychologist serves as a psychologist who is able to give their patients scientific reasoning of why they may feel the way they do by conducting neurological (brain) tests. Neuropsychologists can give a sort of closure and reassurance to their patient from a doctoral standpoint.
Becoming a neuropsychologist has not always been as recognized as it is now. “Mental health in neuropsychology seemed to be uncharted territory in 2007” (“The importance of neuropsychology in mental health | APS”). Neuropsychology was not seen as important compared to other physical neurological conditions. There weren’t many signs showing illness, and mental illness was not taken seriously. The first neuropsychologists that began their career in Australia stated, “We needed to develop our role identities and explain how we fit into the hospital processes.” The importance of a neuropsychologist was not always widespread because of the lack of having to become a doctor for the career.
Also, schooling and training are essential for a neuropsychologist. This career requires a complex understanding of psychology and neurology. To diagnose and treat patients, neuropsychologists have to examine cognitive behaviors that can be difficult to identify. To ensure proper learning, people who want to become a neuropsychologist should be prepared for 10-13 years of schooling. The educational requirements for this career are extensive such as a bachelor’s degree in psychology, biology, or pre-medicine, an encouraged master’s degree in neuropsychology, and a doctorate in neuropsychology. As for training and licensing, future neuropsychologists will need to defend an approved dissertation, complete a doctoral fellowship, and lastly, pass the EPPP. During the doctoral fellowship, they also have to complete a certain amount of supervised clinical hours.
Due to the abundance of brain injuries and increasing cases of neurological disorders, the career of neuropsychology is expected to become more popular as time progresses. The demand for neuropsychologists is “Expecting 6,130 new jobs filled by 2029” (Novotney). Not only is there a high demand for neuropsychologists, but “Vacancies for this career have increased by 117.13 percent nationwide in that time, with an average growth of 7.32 percent per year” (Novotney). Although this is predicted, many jobs may go to people with a master’s degree in psychology rather than doctoral degrees. There is much competition in this field of work, so the career demand and availability may vary. A big competitor is counselors whose careers are similar, but neuropsychology is more based upon the study of the brain rather than emotional evaluations.
With the help of neuropsychologists, society is hoping that the number of people affected by neurological disorders will decrease. Over time more people will become neuropsychologists, and the field will advance. This means that further research will help to improve the career, new treatment plans, and the people the job is aimed to help. Not only are there many brain illnesses present today, but not much is known about them. The job of a neuropsychologist is important because there is so much more to be discovered on neurological illnesses, and lives to be saved.
