How to Become a Criminal Psychologist
Forensic psychology has been in the media spotlight for decades, featuring heavily in popular streaming series and movies. The Hollywood version of what criminal psychologists do typically bears little resemblance to what’s happening in the real world. In reality, criminal psychologists work to better understand the social and psychological factors that contribute to criminal behavior in an effort to reduce recidivism.
If you are interested in criminal psychology, now is a great time to get involved in the profession. Psychology jobs are expected to increase by a healthy 7% between 2023 and 2033, and many of them will be in the criminal psychology field.
What Is Criminal Psychology?
Criminal psychology is the study of behavior and intentions, which means you’ll find specialists in the field performing clinical evaluations of criminal offenders. (Psychologytoday.com). They are also called in to determine whether defendants are fit to stand trial, and to do the hard work of performing evaluations when insanity pleas are submitted.
In the criminal justice system, criminal psychologists try to get to the heart of what it means for a criminal to be rehabilitated, working to evaluate the chances of recidivism during parole reviews. As part of criminal investigations, forensic psychologists may also make educated guesses about potential actions that a criminal may have taken after the crime was committed, points that can be helpful for instigators (Verywellmind.com).
Criminal psychologists also may engage in offender or criminal profiling. The FBI and other federal intelligence and law enforcement agencies rely on profiling to narrow down the pool of suspects, and to assist investigators in developing suspect interview strategies.
Criminal psychologists do not usually accompany law enforcement in the apprehension of suspects or immediately after arrest during initial questioning and investigations. Cases can take months or even years to solve, and the work that criminal psychologists do represents just one piece of a much larger investigative puzzle.
On the other side of the forensic psychologist skill spectrum, you can find them doing the same kind of work as any other psychologist. In prisons and probation programs they provide counseling and perform mental health assessments for people who have engaged in criminal activity.
What Do Criminal Psychologists Do?
A typical day for a criminal psychologist depends mostly on where they work and the types of criminals they work with. Some of their duties may include:
- Apply psychological principles to the criminal justice system
- Assess the offender’s state of mind when the alleged offense occurred
- Assess the chances of the offender reoffending
- Assess whether or not a witness is credible
- Provide expert testimony in court
- Advise law enforcement on criminal psychology principles and mental illness
- Talk to attorneys about mental health matters in the criminal justice system
Where Do Criminal Psychologists Work?
Criminal psychologists often work with police and federal agents to assist in solving crimes. They may develop profiles of kidnappers, murderers, rapists, and other criminals. Some psychologists will work for local, state, or federal government, and others serve as independent consultants and experts witnesses brought in by defense or prosecution teams in criminal trials and even in civil hearings.
On the local level, local law enforcement needs criminal psychologists to work on current and unsolved cases. In the case of a serial criminal, the criminal psychologist will look at how behaviors may offer clues as to what the perpetrator’s next steps might be.
Many criminal psychologists employed or contracted by the FBI may be based in Quantico, Virginia, which is the home of the Behavioral Sciences Unit. The FBI uses criminal psychologists for criminal profiling in many unsolved crimes. Criminal psychologists are also brought in to establish a criminal suspect profile in cases that span multiple states and that fall outside the jurisdiction of any one local or state agency.
Other criminal psychologists work for the National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime, performing in-depth research of past crimes in search for connections to new and unsolved crimes.
What Is the Job Outlook for Criminal Psychologists?
The American Psychological Association reports that “demand for forensic psychologists is outstripping the supply as the legal system thinks up more and more ways to put their expertise to use.” Clinical psychologists also are turning to criminal psychology to diversify their practices further.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports demand for all psychologists will rise by 7% between 2023 and 2033, which is faster than average. Employment opportunities for clinical and counseling psychologists in some the most common settings for criminal psychologists – hospitals, mental health centers, and social service agencies – are expected to be the strongest over this period. Demand for criminal psychologists overall is also projected to increase as more efforts are made to curtail recidivism.
May 2023 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics labor market information for Psychologists is based on national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed March 2025.
Criminal Psychology Degree Requirements
To become any type of psychologist, you must earn a bachelor’s degree in psychology or in a related field, for starters. Then, you must earn at least a master’s degree in criminal psychology, and a doctoral degree will give you the most career and salary options. (BLS.gov).
You can earn your Ph.D. in criminal psychology after taking four to six years of courses and completing an exam and dissertation. Most states require you to obtain licensure as a psychologist to work in practice. It also can be helpful to earn a certification in forensic psychology offered by the American Board of Professional Psychology.
What Do Exams and Licensing Involve?
After you complete your master’s or doctoral program in criminal psychology, you must obtain your license. Most states require you to obtain licensure as a psychologist to work in practice, which is called the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP). A major benefit of this examination is that it is the same no matter where you earned your degree or where you plan to practice.
While the test is the same, note that the requirements for licensure as a criminal psychologist vary by state. Different standards have various requirements for clinical hours during your college degree program. It is vital to go over the requirements of the stand where you intend to practice as you are considering where to earn your degree. Also, some states mandate supervised clinical hours after you graduate from the program.
Do you think you want a career in criminal psychology? Feel free to ask our team any questions you have, and look at the criminal and forensic psychology programs available on our site. This is a great career path, and now is the time to begin!