Also called: Operational Psychologist, Assessment & Selection Psychologist
Helps decide who makes it into elite military units like the Green Berets by studying how candidates think and cope under extreme stress.
Candidates have been awake for most of three days in the woods. You review their personality tests, watch how they lead a team carrying logs, and interview each one about how he handled failure. Your report helps a board choose who joins, and later you coach operators on stress and recovery.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Doctorate (PhD), about 9 years after high school. PhD or PsyD in clinical or counseling psychology, often as a military officer.
Ways in: 4-year college, Graduate school, Military. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Counseling Psychology.
Growing about average. Small, steady demand from special operations commands.
Low risk for 10 years. AI helps score tests; watching candidates under stress and making judgment calls about them stay human.
Classes: AP Psychology, AP Statistics, Sports or JROTC.
Official data: O*NET occupation 19-3039.
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