How to become a forensic psychologist - UCLan

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What we'll cover

What is a forensic psychologist?
Forensic psychologist responsibilities
What skills do you need?
How much does a forensic psychologist earn?
How to become a forensic psychologist

What is a forensic psychologist?

A forensic psychologist might work with a number of different people and agencies, including criminal offenders, victims and police.

Most forensic psychologists will work with offenders. They will diagnose and treat psychological conditions. Their ultimate is to rehabilitate offenders so that they can safely return to the community.

As a forensic psychologist, you'll be in charge of their treatment plan whilst they're in prison or a secure hospital. This could include group therapy, one-to-one counselling and medication. You'll also train other members of staff on how to handle their behaviour.

You may be called upon as an expert witness in court. You'll explain the diagnosis and how this may have affected their behaviour. This can help the judge to decide on a fair sentence.

You may also be asked to give your recommendations to parole boards. This can determine whether an offender is released or moved to a less secure facility.

You could also work with police to provide offender profiling. This can help them narrow down the sort of person they are looking for in a criminal case.

Forensic psychologist responsibilities

As a forensic psychologist, you may be responsible for:

Diagnosing criminal offenders
Treating offenders with mental health conditions
One-to-one counselling sessions
Group therapy sessions
Prescribing medication
Supporting victims
Giving testimony in court
Advising parole boards
Training members of staff
Liaising with other services
Offender profiling

How much does a forensic psychologist earn?

A forensic psychologist salary will start at £35,000 and can go up £60,000. This is because it is a highly skilled profession which requires years of training. You will also be working in a high-stress environment, with potentially violent or sexual offenders. The salary is higher to account for this.

How to become a forensic psychologist

A forensic psychologist requires years of training. You will need to complete a psychology degree and a master's degree in forensic psychology, followed by two years of supervised practice. Alternatively, you could complete a PHD in forensic psychology.

The first step to become a forensic psychologist, is to complete a degree in psychology. This should be accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) so that you can get onto a masters course.

At the University of Central Lancashire, we have a BSc (Hons) Forensic Psychology degree which is accredited by the BPS. You'll still learn about the core aspects of psychology, as well as topics like violent and sexual offending, eye witness testimony and the impact of crime on society. You'll learn how forensic psychology relates to the criminal justice system. You'll focus on detection, prevention and rehabilitation. You'll also get to hear guest lectures from leading forensic psychologists.

We also have a BSc (Hons) Psychology degree, which is accredited by the BPS. It will introduce you to core aspects of psychology, including memory, behaviour and identity. You'll learn about scientific methods and how to conduct research. In your second year, you can choose a module in forensic psychology. You can also choose to transfer onto our Forensic Psychology degree.
Our MSc Applied Forensic Psychology is accredited by the BPS. This is an application-focused degree. You'll gain the skills to assess, intervene and care for offenders with psychological conditions. You'll also learn about the complicated issues of applying psychology to the legal system.

You will produce a piece of independent research about an area of forensic psychology you are interested in. This could be caring for victims of violent crime, rehabilitation of offenders or likelihood of reoffending.

Where next

We hope this has helped you understand how to become a forensic psychologist. It takes dedication, as you have to complete a degree, a masters degree and two years of supervised practice. However, it can lead to a rewarding career. Take a look at our courses below.

Course
Psychology, BSc (Hons)
If you’re fascinated by the way people act, react and interact, Psychology sheds light on it all – giving you the chance to explore the mechanics of the human condition.
Course
Forensic Psychology, BSc (Hons)
Develop a broad understanding of Psychology relating to Law and the Criminal Justice System, focusing upon areas including detection, prevention and rehabilitation with a Forensic Psychology BSc.
Course
Applied Forensic Psychology, MSc
Our Applied Forensic Psychology, MSc gives you the skills to assess, intervene and care for victims and offenders. It will foster your professional growth, develop your report writing and presentation skills, methodological rigour, research expertise, independent learning and critical thinking.