Occupation · SOC 19-3039.02
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.
Median wage
—
Projected growth
—
—
Annual openings
—
per year
Employed (US)
—
Job Zone 5
Typical preparation
Extensive preparation
Stackable credential programs
1,393 mapped
Core skills
Active ListeningReading ComprehensionWritingSpeakingCritical ThinkingJudgment and Decision MakingSocial PerceptivenessComplex Problem Solving
Knowledge areas
PsychologyTherapy and CounselingEnglish LanguageEducation and TrainingMedicine and Dentistry
Technology & tools
Medical softwareData base user interface and query softwareElectronic mail softwareAnalytical or scientific softwareSpreadsheet software
Representative tasks
Conduct neuropsychological evaluations such as assessments of intelligence, academic ability, attentWrite or prepare detailed clinical neuropsychological reports, using data from psychological or neurInterview patients to obtain comprehensive medical histories.
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Standardized neuropsychological test batteries — administer under close clinical supervision in a hospital or outpatient neuropsychology setting.Patient intake interviews — conduct structured formats to gather preliminary medical and developmental histories under attending neuropsychologist guidance.Cognitive screening tools — score and record raw data accurately using established protocols within a supervised clinical practicum.Neuropsychological assessment reports — draft initial sections describing behavioral observations and test results under direct faculty or supervisor review.Diagnostic classification systems such as DSM and ICD — apply foundational criteria to identify candidate diagnoses under structured mentorship in a clinical rotation.Neurobehavioral baseline data — collect and document initial measures for patients with progressive cerebral disease under the direction of a licensed neuropsychologist.Current peer-reviewed literature and professional conference materials — review and summarize to build foundational knowledge of neuropsychological assessment methods.Rating scales and self-report measures — administer and verify completion accuracy during structured evaluations in an inpatient or outpatient clinical environment.Electronic medical records and medical software platforms — enter patient data and retrieve prior clinical notes under supervisory oversight in a credentialed healthcare facility.Psychoeducational information — deliver introductory explanations of testing procedures and results to patients and family members under the guidance of a supervising clinician.
developing
Comprehensive neuropsychological evaluations encompassing intelligence, attention, memory, and sensorimotor function — conduct with reduced oversight across diverse adult referrals in a clinical or rehabilitation setting.Detailed neuropsychological assessment reports — write integrating quantitative test data, self-report measures, behavioral observations, and interview findings for routine case presentations.Patient medical history interviews — perform independently using semi-structured formats to capture neurological, psychiatric, and developmental background across outpatient and inpatient contexts.Cerebrovascular, traumatic brain injury, and neurodegenerative conditions — diagnose and formulate initial treatment recommendations applying established differential diagnosis frameworks in a multidisciplinary care team.Pediatric neuropsychological evaluations for learning disabilities with developmental or organic bases — conduct using age-appropriate test instruments in a school or specialty clinic setting.Neurobehavioral baseline and follow-up assessment schedules — establish and maintain for patients undergoing monitoring of progressive cerebral disease or post-injury recovery in a longitudinal care program.Individual and family counseling sessions — provide psychoeducational support regarding diagnosis, functional implications, and compensatory strategies in a neuropsychology clinic.Professional neuropsychology databases and analytical software — query and utilize to cross-reference normative data and support diagnostic decision-making with routine case complexity.Continuing professional development activities including literature review and peer consultation — engage regularly to maintain current competency in evolving neuropsychological assessment standards.Presentation software and written reports — prepare and deliver case formulations for interdisciplinary team meetings in hospital or rehabilitation environments.
proficient
Complex neuropsychological evaluations involving atypical, comorbid, or diagnostically ambiguous presentations — conduct autonomously across the full assessment scope in tertiary care, research, or forensic settings.Comprehensive neuropsychological reports for medically complex and culturally diverse populations — author integrating multi-source data with nuanced diagnostic reasoning and evidence-based treatment recommendations.Differential diagnosis of demyelinating diseases, neoplasms, infectious encephalopathies, and degenerative dementias — establish independently using neuroimaging correlates, laboratory findings, and behavioral test data in an acute or specialty care environment.Culturally and linguistically adapted neuropsychological assessment protocols — select and apply to minimize bias and optimize diagnostic validity across heterogeneous patient populations in a specialty clinic.Individualized treatment and rehabilitation plans for patients with central nervous system injuries — design and implement collaborating with neurology, psychiatry, and allied health professionals in integrated care teams.Longitudinal neurobehavioral monitoring programs for degenerative and post-surgical populations — design and oversee, interpreting change trajectories to inform clinical decision-making in a specialty neuropsychology practice.Pediatric and adult neuropsychological evaluations for learning, developmental, and acquired conditions — perform across the full diagnostic range, providing detailed recommendations to educational and medical stakeholders.Neuropsychological research methodologies and analytical software — apply to evaluate assessment outcomes and contribute to quality improvement initiatives within a clinical or academic institution.Advanced psychoeducational counseling and cognitive rehabilitation guidance — deliver to patients, families, and caregivers addressing complex emotional and functional adaptation needs in a neurorehabilitation context.Emerging developments in neuropsychological science — critically appraise, synthesize, and translate into updated clinical practice protocols within a hospital, private practice, or academic medical center.
advanced
Organization-wide neuropsychological assessment frameworks and clinical practice standards — develop and implement across a hospital system, academic medical center, or multi-site practice to ensure evidence-based, consistent care.Doctoral interns, postdoctoral fellows, and junior neuropsychologists — supervise, mentor, and evaluate, shaping professional identity and clinical competency development across a training program.Strategic direction for neuropsychology service lines — provide, including resource allocation, program development, and quality benchmarking at the department or health system level.Multidisciplinary clinical and research teams — lead in designing and executing translational neuropsychological research that bridges basic neuroscience findings and applied clinical assessment innovation.Institutional policies governing neuropsychological assessment, patient safety, and ethical practice — author and advocate for at organizational, regulatory, and professional association levels.Grant proposals and research programs in cognitive neuroscience and clinical neuropsychology — design and secure funding for, advancing the field's evidence base through federally or privately sponsored investigations.Continuing education curricula and professional conference programming — develop and present for national or international neuropsychology organizations, disseminating best practices to the broader professional community.Complex forensic, legal, and expert witness neuropsychological assessments — perform and present with highest-level professional authority in judicial, regulatory, or governmental proceedings.Interprofessional collaboration models across neurology, psychiatry, rehabilitation medicine, and education systems — architect and sustain, optimizing integrated care pathways for patients with neurological conditions.Field-level standards for emerging neuropsychological technologies, including digital assessment platforms and neuroimaging integration tools — evaluate, endorse, and guide adoption through professional society task forces or regulatory advisory roles.
Also known as
9 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Adult NeuropsychologistAviation NeuropsychologistBoard Certified NeuropsychologistChild and Adolescent NeuropsychologistForensic NeuropsychologistNeuropsychologistNeuropsychology Medical ConsultantPediatric NeuropsychologistStaff Psychologist