Neuropsychologists

Apply theories and principles of neuropsychology to evaluate and diagnose disorders of higher cerebral functioning, often in research and medical settings. Study the human brain and the effect of physiological states on human cognition and behavior. May formulate and administer programs of treatment.

Most important skills

Reading Comprehension
Active Listening
Writing
Speaking
Critical Thinking
Judgment and Decision Making
Social Perceptiveness
Complex Problem Solving

Key knowledge

Psychology
Therapy and Counseling
English Language
Education and Training
Customer and Personal Service
Medicine and Dentistry
Sociology and Anthropology
Biology

What the work involves

Conduct neuropsychological evaluations such as assessments of intelligence, academic ability, attention, concentration, sensorimotor function, language, learning, and memory.
Conduct research on neuropsychological disorders.
Consult with other professionals about patients' neurological conditions.
Design or implement rehabilitation plans for patients with cognitive dysfunction.
Diagnose and treat conditions involving injury to the central nervous system, such as cerebrovascular accidents, neoplasms, infectious or inflammatory diseases, degenerative diseases, head traumas, demyelinating diseases, and various forms of dementing illnesses.
Diagnose and treat conditions such as chemical dependency, alcohol dependency, Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) dementia, and environmental toxin exposure.
Diagnose and treat pediatric populations for conditions such as learning disabilities with developmental or organic bases.
Educate and supervise practicum students, psychology interns, or hospital staff.

Strongest interest areas (O*NET): Investigative, Social, Conventional.

Qualifications and licensing

Most common education: Post-Doctoral Training (84% of respondents)
Related experience: Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years (36%)
On-the-job training: None or short demonstration (20%)
Preparation level: O*NET job zone 5: Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
Licensing: Not yet verified. Check your state licensing board.

Check before planning

Licensing for Neuropsychologists is not yet verified for any state: check the state licensing board before planning.
Projection education uses SOC 19-3039 (detailed_parent); it may describe a broader group.

Limits

Distributions show what current workers or occupational experts report, not legal minimums.
Requirements vary by employer and state; time to qualify is not estimated.

Source: O*NET 31.0 Database (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0); BLS Employment Projections · dataset 2026.10.8 · method e3-qualification-1.0.0

Work environment

How the typical conditions of this occupation compare with 911 occupations in O*NET (very low = the lowest fifth).

Levels are relative. Most occupations involve a lot of contact with people, for example, so “very low” can still mean regular contact; the last column shows what workers actually reported.

Rankings compare typical U.S. occupation-level work conditions; individual jobs and employers vary. Data: O*NET 31.0 Work Context and BLS wages (May 2025).
Condition	Level	Compared with other occupations	Most common answer (O*NET survey)
Contact with others	Very low	Lower on contact with others than 80% of occupations compared	56% of surveyed respondents chose “Contact with others most of the time”
Dealing with the public	Moderate	Higher on dealing with the public than 51% of occupations compared	32% of surveyed respondents chose “Fairly important”
Teamwork	Very low	Lower on teamwork than 95% of occupations compared	32% of surveyed respondents chose “Very important”
Freedom to make decisions	Very high	Higher on freedom to make decisions than 92% of occupations compared	76% of surveyed respondents chose “A lot of freedom”
Time pressure	Moderate	Higher on time pressure than 55% of occupations compared	48% of surveyed respondents chose “Once a week or more but not every day”
Conflict situations	Moderate	Lower on conflict situations than 55% of occupations compared	48% of surveyed respondents chose “Once a month or more but not every week”
Dealing with unpleasant or angry people	Moderate	Higher on dealing with unpleasant or angry people than 54% of occupations compared	48% of surveyed respondents chose “Once a month or more but not every week”
Consequence of error	Low	Lower on consequence of error than 77% of occupations compared	36% of surveyed respondents chose “Fairly serious”

Work-pressure profile

Time pressure: moderate
Conflict situations: moderate
Dealing with unpleasant or angry people: moderate
Consequence of error: low

Each part is shown on its own. There is no combined stress score, and conditions vary by employer and role.

Full answer distributions