Child Psychology

Child Psychology Certificate

If you’re currently working with children in education or the social or health services industries, or you'd like to refine your knowledge of childhood development for personal use, our online Child Psychology Certificate Program can help enhance your skills. Through flexible online courses, you'll cover the principles of psychology and gain a more specific understanding of the psychological makeup of children and adolescents. 

  • Our Child Psychology Certificate is geared toward those who currently work in a related field and want to enhance their skills, students who want to supplement their current psychology coursework, or those looking to build the skills to better understand the children they may live or work with. 
  • Child psychology courses cover foundational knowledge in the stages of growth and development for children 12 years old and younger, including patterns of growth and the impact of biology and behavior. 
  • Graduates can choose to further their education and may transfer program assignments to our Early Childhood Education Associate Degree.
  • Our online programs are flexible enough for you to finish them at a pace that works for you, based on how much time you can dedicate to your coursework each week.
Accredited
Online
Self Paced

Save up to $130 Ends 11/13/2024

Cost of Program

$569

$699 Save $130

or

$50/month, Start for as low as $39

1-800-275-4410 (9AM - 9PM ET)

child care professional with student's drawing.

What You Will Learn

  1. How to develop effective personal communication skills in the use and selection of words, gestures, tone of voice, facial expressions, listening skills, and physical appearance.
  2. How to identify patterns of growth, change, and responsibility that occur in a person’s life from conception through adolescence, including those of genetics, developmental psychology, the physical environment, and social and cultural influences.
  3. How to recognize psychological disorders and available treatments.
  4. How to recognize the anxiety and mood disorders that affect children in adolescence, in particular obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), social phobias, panic disorders, depression, and stress disorders.
Full Program Goal & Outcomes

Child Psychology Career Outcomes


The online Child Psychology Certificate is designed to offer students a better understanding of children in their care or supplement current, relevant work experience and education in childcare. The completion of this certificate program alone does not qualify a student for a job in psychology and students who complete this program are not qualified to function as child psychologists and cannot market themselves as mental health professionals. However, this certificate can prepare graduates for other roles working with children or be supplemental with further training.

State Licensing Requirements

Licensing and/or certification requirements for jobs in certain fields are not the same in every state and may include educational, testing, and/or experiential requirements beyond those offered by your Penn Foster Program. You should contact the state professional licensing board or similar regulatory body in the state(s) where you plan to work to determine their requirements before enrolling in your program. See the State Licensing page for contact information for state licensing/regulatory boards and certain industry licensing information.

Child Psychology Course Curriculum

  • 4 courses
  • 18 exams
  • 40.8 Continuing Education Units (CEUs)


Estimated completion time:

  • Fast track = 6 months
  • Average time = 11 months

With Penn Foster, you can learn at whatever pace works best for you. Some learners will be more comfortable moving faster, and dedicating more time, and the fast track estimate will apply to them. The average track will apply to most learners who can dedicate a few hours per week to completing their coursework. The estimated completion times are based on completion times for learners enrolled in this program from May 2021 - April 2022, excluding withdrawals.

In our online child psychology course curriculum, you'll learn the foundational concepts of psychology including the impact behavior and environment can have on growth and development. Your child psychology courses include:


  • Child Development
  • Essentials of Psychology
  • Child Psychology
  • Abnormal Child Psychology

Show Full Curriculum

Child Psychology Student Success Stories

Penn Foster’s Child Psychology Certificate can help prepare you to better understand the children in your care, whether for personal use or use in a current job. Learn more about Penn Foster graduates' experiences and how Penn Foster worked for them. 
View Student Success Stories
quote icon

Melanie S.

Penn Foster Graduate, 2023

“I enjoyed being able to finish the course at my own pace and the lower price of tuition.”

Looking for training in early childhood education for your workers?

Penn Foster currently works with hundreds of leading employers to meet their unique organizational needs.
Learn More

Child Psychology Certificate Tuition

Take the first steps toward enhancing your knowledge with our online Child Psychology Certificate Program. Simply choose from one of our low-cost customized payment plans below and get started today! 

Option 1: Pay in full

Save up to $130 Ends 11/13/2024

Cost of Program1

$569

$699 Save $130

  • Best price. Best value.
  • Pay the full cost today
  • No monthly payments
Enroll Now

Option 2: Monthly Auto Pay Plan

Cost of Program1

$699

  • Pay $50 per month
  • Start for $39 down
  • All major credit and debit cards accepted
Enroll Now

California residents please click here for Required California Disclosures.

Need more info or ready to enroll?

Looking for more information on transfer credits, military benefits, or our refund policy? Find this information and more about tuition and enrollment here.

Tuition & Payment Options

We're here to help. Call 1-800-275-4410 (9AM - 9PM ET)

Request Info

Our Proven Educational Learning Model

Empowering students to reach their professional goals

Flexible

  • Start anytime
  • No exam due dates
  • Self-paced

Interactive

  • Digital study guides
  • Self-check quizzes
  • Simulations and videos

Connected

  • 24/7 access to online resources
  • Online student community
  • Dedicated Learner Center

Supportive

  • Expert faculty
  • Robust learning resources
  • Dedicated student services

Related Programs

Child Psychology Program FAQ

What can you do with an accredited certificate in child psychology?

Earning a certificate in child psychology alone doesn't qualify you to become a child counselor or therapist. However, it can help you better enhance your professional skills if you already work with children or even provide you with an understanding of psychology that can be beneficial in your personal life. 

What qualifications do you need to be a child psychologist?

To become a child psychologist, you must first earn a bachelor's degree. Generally, those pursuing this career will major in psychology or a related field. After graduating, you'll then need to pursue a graduate-level degree. A master's or doctoral degree (PhD) in child psychology is typically required to work in the field. To work in your own practice, you will usually be required by licensing regulations to hold a doctorate. Many of these programs require students to complete a supervised internship before earning their degree. Finally, you need to become licensed in your state and become board certified by the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP).

Is there a demand for child psychologists?

As more people recognize the importance of mental health and well-being, especially in early childhood and adolescence, the need for child psychologists can be expected to grow. Psychologists aren't just needed to help parents and children navigate psychological disorders; they can help children better understand the world around them and build appropriate, effective methods of dealing with stress and anxiety.

What is the difference between a child psychologist and a child psychiatrist?

While psychologists and psychiatrists have similar functions, there are some differences in what they do. Child psychologists focus on helping children build life skills that can help them navigate trauma, stress, and their emotions. Child psychiatrists do the same, but may also incorporate medication into the plan. This means psychiatrists must earn a medical degree and have advanced knowledge of pharmacology. Psychologists, on the other hand, do need to earn a graduate-level degree or doctorate but do not have to earn a medical degree.