Sport psychologists help athletes with the psychological aspects of sport. They build up confidence and motivation and help athletes to reach their potential. They also help referees and other professionals with the stress and demand of their roles.
Exercise psychologists work with the general public by encouraging them to lead healthier and active lives through sport.
Most psychologists would work in either sport or exercise, but some psychologists work across both areas.
You could be:
The figures below are only a guide. Actual pay rates may vary, depending on:
Starting salaries for sport and exercise psychologists range from around £20,000 to £22,000 a year. With experience this could rise to between £25,000 and £29,000 a year. Senior sport and exercise psychologists could earn much more than this.
Self-employed sport and exercise psychologists working as consultants with top athletes could charge anything up to £1,000 a day for their services.
Workforce Employment Status
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Sport and exercise psychologists work in a range of settings and have a diverse range of clients including athletes, coaches, referees and the public. You could work as a consultant with professional bodies such as the British Olympic Association (TeamGB), national governing bodies of sport and commercial sports performance centres. You could also be working with groups of employees in workplaces, with patients referred by GPs or teaching in a college or university.
Workforce Education Levels (UK)
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Employment
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You need to be:
You need to have:
Courtesy of Ross Cunningham
The following organisations may be able to provide further information.
British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES)
Tel: 0113 8126162
E-mail:
enquiries@bases.org.uk
Website:
http://www.bases.org.uk/
Twitter:
@basesuk
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/basesuk
British Psychological Society
Tel: 0116 254 9568
E-mail:
info@bps.org.uk
Website:
http://www.bps.org.uk
Website (2):
http://careers.bps.org.uk
Twitter:
@BPSOfficial
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/OfficialBPS/
Disclosure Scotland
Tel: 03000 2000 40
E-mail:
info@disclosurescotland.gov.scot
Website:
https://www.mygov.scot/organisations/disclosure-scotland/
Twitter:
@DisclosureScot
Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
Tel: 0300 500 6184
E-mail:
education@hcpc-uk.org
Website:
http://www.hcpc-uk.org/
Twitter:
@The_HCPC
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/hcpcuk
The Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) is the UK-wide regulatory body responsible for setting and maintaining standards of professional training, performance and conduct in the following health care professions: Arts Therapists; Audiologist; Biomedical Scientist; Chiropodist and Podiatrist; Clinical Scientist; Dietician; Dramatherapist; Occupational Therapist; Operating Department Practitioner; Orthoptist; Paramedic; Physiotherapist; Practitioner Psychologist; Prosthetist and Orthotist; Radiographer; Speech and Language Therapist. (The HCPC may regulate other healthcare professions in the future.) The HCPC website contains a register of all approved courses in the above professions.
NHS Scotland Careers
Website:
http://www.careers.nhs.scot
Website (2):
https://jobs.scot.nhs.uk/
Twitter:
@NHSScotCareers
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/NHSScotlandCareers/