How many hours do clinical psychologists work?

• Hospitals and Mental Healthcare Facilities

Most hospitals, and some mental healthcare facilities, operate on a 24-hour schedule, seven days a week, and 365 days a year. Clinical psychologists in this working environment might have any given shift around the clock. This includes early mornings and late nights.

It is likely that most hospitals have more clinical psychologists working during the day, and slightly fewer at night and in the early mornings, but those working in hospitals can expect shifts beginning and ending at all times. Clinical psychologists in this environment may work 40 or more hours per week.

This setting might also dictate the need for clinical psychologists to work weekends and some holidays.

• Educational settings

Many educational settings that can employ clinical psychologists operate during traditional business hours, like 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Clinical psychologists in this work environment are most likely to work 40 hours a week.

Those who work part-time likely still work eight-hour shifts, but only work three to four days per week, resulting in the range of 25 to 35 hours per work week.

• Private practices

Clinical psychologists that work in private practices have more flexible work scheduling options. This might result in them choosing to work part-time hours in the range of 25 to 35 per week, the traditional full-time hours of 40 per week, or a schedule of over 40 hours per week.

• Clinical psychologists at schools

Clinical psychologists that work in a school setting generally work traditional hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., or whatever the specific institution's school hours are. These clinical psychologists are known to put in shifts between six and eight hours per day. In some cases though, they might have to work overtime when attending after-school events or meetings.