6 free templates, general, clinical, pediatric, forensic, psychometrist, and private-practice, with the FLSA learned-professional classification, licensure, and salary guidance generic templates skip. Download as DOCX.
A neuropsychologist job description is high-stakes and credential-heavy, and most templates online are thin duty lists that skip the three things that actually matter when you hire one: the salary range, the FLSA classification, and the licensure requirements. Get those right and the posting attracts qualified, licensed clinicians instead of a pile of mismatched applications. This role is an exempt learned professional, it requires a doctorate and a state license, and, with one nuance worth knowing, it must be paid on a proper salary basis.
At FirstHR, we build for small employers, and while most neuropsychologists work in large hospitals and academic centers, a real and growing minority work in solo or small group practices that hire without any HR support. The six templates below, a general version plus clinical, pediatric, forensic, psychometrist, and private-practice, are ready to use, each with the FLSA, licensure, and salary guidance generic templates leave out.
A neuropsychologist evaluates and diagnoses brain-based conditions through cognitive testing. The role is an exempt learned professional requiring a doctorate, fellowship, and state license, and, unlike a physician, must be paid on a proper salary or fee basis. Federal data puts the governing category median at $117,580. The supporting psychometrist role, by contrast, is usually non-exempt. Six templates, downloadable as DOCX.
What a Neuropsychologist Does
A neuropsychologist evaluates, diagnoses, and helps treat patients with brain-based conditions affecting cognition, behavior, and emotion. The core of the work is neuropsychological assessment: administering and interpreting standardized tests of memory, attention, language, and executive function, diagnosing conditions, and writing detailed reports with recommendations.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not break out neuropsychologists separately; they fall under the broader psychologists occupation, with O*NET listing neuropsychologists (19-3039.02) under psychologists, all other. The role requires a doctorate, supervised fellowship training, and a state license, and is found in hospitals, academic medical centers, rehabilitation facilities, and private practices.
Neuropsychologist Responsibilities
Neuropsychologist responsibilities cluster into four areas: assessment and testing, diagnosis and reporting, collaboration and care, and supervision and compliance. A strong job description picks the specific responsibilities from each area that match the role and population, rather than listing every possible task.
Assessment and testing
Select and administer test batteries
Score and interpret cognitive data
Assess validity and effort
Diagnosis and reporting
Diagnose brain-based and cognitive disorders
Write clear, defensible reports
Provide patient and family feedback
Collaboration and care
Consult with referring providers
Contribute to treatment planning
Coordinate with medical and school teams
Supervision and compliance
Supervise psychometrists and trainees
Maintain records per HIPAA
Keep licensure and certification current
The emphasis shifts by variant: a pediatric role weights school collaboration, a forensic role weights validity testing and defensible reports, and a private-practice role weights caseload throughput. For a structured way to scope the role, the guide to defining job responsibilities walks through the process.
Role Variations and Disambiguation
Several related roles share the neuropsychology setting, but they differ in population, training, and, importantly, in pay classification. Choose the one that matches the work before you pick a template.
Role
Population / focus
Credential
FLSA
Clinical neuropsychologist
Adults, hospital or clinic
Doctorate + fellowship + license
Exempt
Pediatric neuropsychologist
Children and adolescents
Doctorate + fellowship + license
Exempt
Forensic neuropsychologist
Legal and disability
Doctorate + license, forensic training
Exempt (or 1099)
Psychometrist
Testing support, supervised
Bachelor's degree
Usually non-exempt
Psychologist (general)
Broader practice
Doctorate + license
Exempt
The Psychometrist Is Not a Neuropsychologist
A psychometrist administers and scores tests under a neuropsychologist's supervision, without diagnosing or interpreting independently. That makes the psychometrist usually non-exempt and owed overtime, while the neuropsychologist is exempt and salaried. If you need testing throughput rather than a diagnosing clinician, post the psychometrist role, and classify it correctly.
Which Template Should You Use?
Pick the template by the role and patient population. The structure is the same across all six, but each emphasizes the duties, credentials, and classification that fit a specific kind of neuropsychology role. Use this guide to choose the closest fit, then adjust.
Neuropsychologist (General)
The default version
Evaluate, diagnose, and help treat brain-based conditions: assessment, interpretation, reports, and feedback. The starting point for most neuropsychologist roles.
Clinical Neuropsychologist
Adult hospital / clinic
Adult assessment in a hospital or clinic: memory, attention, and executive function, diagnosing dementia, TBI, and stroke, alongside neurology and psychiatry teams.
Pediatric Neuropsychologist
Children and adolescents
Evaluates children and teens for ADHD, autism, learning, and developmental disorders, working with families and schools as well as medical teams.
Forensic Neuropsychologist
Legal and disability
Independent and forensic evaluations: validity testing, defensible reports, and testimony. Often a staff role or a 1099 contractor engagement.
Psychometrist (Testing Support)
Non-doctoral, supervised
Administers and scores tests under a neuropsychologist's supervision, without diagnosing. The common entry role, and usually non-exempt.
Private Practice Neuropsychologist
Solo or small group
For a solo or small group practice: a steady testing caseload, autonomy, and a role in how the practice grows. Handles the W-2 versus 1099 question.
Match the Template to the Role
A standard clinician hire: the General version. Adult hospital or clinic work: Clinical. Children and adolescents: Pediatric. Legal and disability evaluations: Forensic. Testing support under supervision: Psychometrist (usually non-exempt). A solo or small group practice: Private Practice. When in doubt, start with the General version and adjust the population and setting.
Download all six as a single Word document or copy individual templates. Each follows the same structure: organization and job summary, key responsibilities, qualifications, an FLSA and licensure note, compensation, and how to apply, with an equal opportunity statement. Fill in the brackets and post.
Download All 6 Job Description Templates
General, clinical, pediatric, forensic, psychometrist, and private-practice. All in one DOCX.
Template 1: Neuropsychologist (General)
The default version: evaluate, diagnose, and help treat brain-based conditions through assessment, interpretation, reports, and feedback. The starting point for most neuropsychologist roles.
Neuropsychologist Job Description (General)
NEUROPSYCHOLOGIST JOB DESCRIPTION (GENERAL)
Organization: __ ([City, State])
Reports to: __ (Clinical Director / Department Chair)
FLSA status: Exempt (salaried learned professional; see note)
Salary range: $_____ to $_____ per year
ABOUT [ORGANIZATION NAME]
[One or two sentences about your hospital, clinic, or practice, the patient
population, and the team the neuropsychologist will join.]
JOB SUMMARY
[Organization Name] is hiring a licensed Neuropsychologist to evaluate, diagnose,
and help treat patients with brain-based conditions affecting cognition,
behavior, and emotion. You will conduct neuropsychological assessments, interpret
test data, write reports, give feedback to patients and referring providers, and
contribute to treatment planning. This role requires a doctorate, supervised
training, and state licensure as a psychologist.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
•Conduct neuropsychological evaluations and select test batteries
•Score, interpret, and integrate cognitive and behavioral data
•Diagnose brain-based and cognitive disorders
•Write clear reports and provide feedback to patients and referrers
•Contribute to treatment planning and recommendations
•Supervise psychometrists and trainees where applicable
•Maintain records per HIPAA and clinical standards
•Stay current with assessment methods and licensure requirements
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
•Doctorate (PhD or PsyD) in clinical psychology or neuropsychology
•APA-accredited internship and supervised neuropsychology training
•Active state license to practice psychology (or license-eligible)
•Strong assessment, diagnostic, and report-writing skills
•Board certification (ABPP-CN / ABCN) preferred or in progress
FLSA AND LICENSURE NOTE (read before posting)
A licensed neuropsychologist is an exempt learned professional under the FLSA, so
the role is salaried, not hourly. Psychologists do not get the medical
salary-basis waiver that physicians do, so the role must still be paid on a salary
or fee basis of at least the federal threshold to remain exempt. Verify the
license and any board certification before hire. This is general information, not
legal advice.
COMPENSATION AND HOW TO APPLY
Salary range: $_____ to $_____ per year [+ benefits]
To apply, send your CV and cover letter to __.
[Organization Name] is an equal opportunity employer.
Template 2: Clinical Neuropsychologist
Adult assessment in a hospital or clinic: memory, attention, and executive function, diagnosing dementia, TBI, and stroke, alongside neurology and psychiatry teams.
Clinical Neuropsychologist Job Description
CLINICAL NEUROPSYCHOLOGIST JOB DESCRIPTION
Organization: __ ([City, State])
Reports to: Clinical Director / Neurology or Psychiatry Chair
Employment type: [ ] Full-time [ ] Part-time
FLSA status: Exempt (salaried learned professional; see note)
Salary range: $_____ to $_____ per year
JOB SUMMARY
[Organization Name] is hiring a Clinical Neuropsychologist to provide
neuropsychological assessment and consultation for adult patients with
neurological, psychiatric, and medical conditions. You will evaluate memory,
attention, language, and executive function, diagnose cognitive disorders, and
partner with neurology, psychiatry, and rehabilitation teams on care. This is a
hospital or clinic-based role for a licensed, fellowship-trained clinician.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
•Conduct adult neuropsychological evaluations and consultations
•Assess memory, attention, language, and executive function
•Diagnose dementia, TBI, stroke, and other cognitive disorders
•Integrate medical, imaging, and history into formulations
•Write reports and consult with referring physicians
•Provide patient and family feedback sessions
•Supervise psychometrists, residents, or postdoctoral fellows
•Document per HIPAA and clinical standards
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
•Doctorate (PhD or PsyD) in clinical psychology
•Two-year postdoctoral fellowship in clinical neuropsychology
•Active state psychology license
•Board certification (ABPP-CN / ABCN) preferred
•Experience with adult clinical populations
FLSA AND LICENSURE NOTE (read before posting)
This is an exempt, salaried learned-professional role. Psychologists are excluded
from the physician salary-basis waiver, so the clinician must still be paid on a
salary or fee basis at or above the federal threshold to stay exempt. Verify the
license and fellowship before hire. This is general information, not legal advice.
COMPENSATION AND HOW TO APPLY
Salary range: $_____ to $_____ per year [+ benefits]
To apply, send your CV to __.
[Organization Name] is an equal opportunity employer.
Still Using Spreadsheets for Onboarding?
Automate documents, training assignments, task management, and track onboarding progress in real time.
Evaluates children and adolescents for ADHD, autism, learning, and developmental disorders, working with families and schools as well as medical teams.
Pediatric Neuropsychologist Job Description
PEDIATRIC NEUROPSYCHOLOGIST JOB DESCRIPTION
Organization: __ ([City, State])
Reports to: Clinical Director / Pediatric Department Chair
Employment type: [ ] Full-time [ ] Part-time
FLSA status: Exempt (salaried learned professional; see note)
Salary range: $_____ to $_____ per year
JOB SUMMARY
[Organization Name] is hiring a Pediatric Neuropsychologist to evaluate children
and adolescents with developmental, neurological, and learning conditions. You
will assess cognition, learning, attention, and behavior, diagnose conditions
such as ADHD, autism, and learning disorders, and partner with families, schools,
and medical teams. This role requires specialized training in pediatric
neuropsychology and state licensure.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
•Conduct pediatric and adolescent neuropsychological evaluations
•Assess cognition, learning, attention, and behavior
•Diagnose ADHD, autism, learning, and developmental disorders
•Write reports and recommendations for families and schools
•Provide feedback sessions to families
•Coordinate with pediatric medical and educational teams
•Supervise psychometrists and trainees where applicable
•Document per HIPAA and clinical standards
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
•Doctorate (PhD or PsyD) in clinical psychology
•Postdoctoral fellowship in pediatric neuropsychology
•Active state psychology license
•Board certification (ABPP-CN / ABCN) preferred
•Experience with pediatric populations and school collaboration
FLSA AND LICENSURE NOTE (read before posting)
This is an exempt, salaried learned-professional role. Psychologists do not
receive the physician salary-basis waiver, so the clinician must be paid on a
salary or fee basis at or above the federal threshold to remain exempt. Verify
license and fellowship before hire. This is general information, not legal advice.
COMPENSATION AND HOW TO APPLY
Salary range: $_____ to $_____ per year [+ benefits]
To apply, send your CV to __.
[Organization Name] is an equal opportunity employer.
Template 4: Forensic Neuropsychologist
Independent and forensic evaluations: validity testing, defensible reports, and testimony. Often a staff role or a 1099 contractor engagement.
Administers and scores tests under a neuropsychologist's supervision, without diagnosing. The common entry role into the field, and usually non-exempt.
Psychometrist Job Description (Testing Support)
PSYCHOMETRIST JOB DESCRIPTION (TESTING SUPPORT)
Organization: __ ([City, State])
Reports to: Supervising Neuropsychologist
Employment type: [ ] Full-time [ ] Part-time
FLSA status: Often NON-EXEMPT; confirm by actual duties (see note)
Pay range: $_____ to $_____ per [year / hour]
JOB SUMMARY
[Organization Name] is hiring a Psychometrist to administer and score
neuropsychological tests under the supervision of a licensed neuropsychologist.
You will prepare materials, administer standardized test batteries, score
results, and maintain test data and records. This is a support role that does not
diagnose or interpret independently; it is the common entry point into the
neuropsychology field.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
•Administer standardized neuropsychological tests
•Score tests accurately and prepare data for the neuropsychologist
•Prepare and maintain test materials and inventory
•Build rapport and manage patient flow during testing
•Maintain test security and confidentiality
•Record and organize data per protocol
•Schedule and coordinate testing appointments
•Follow HIPAA and clinical procedures
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
•Bachelor's degree in psychology or related field
•Coursework or training in psychological testing a plus
•Detail-oriented, organized, and personable
•Able to follow standardized protocols precisely
•Comfortable working with diverse patient populations
FLSA NOTE (read before posting)
A psychometrist who administers and scores tests under supervision, without
independently diagnosing or interpreting, is typically NON-EXEMPT and owed
overtime. Do not assume the role is exempt just because it is clinical. Classify
by actual duties and default to non-exempt for a testing-support role. This is
general information, not legal advice.
COMPENSATION AND HOW TO APPLY
Pay range: $_____ to $_____ per [year / hour]
To apply, send your resume to __.
[Organization Name] is an equal opportunity employer.
Template 6: Private Practice Neuropsychologist
For a solo or small group practice: a steady testing caseload, autonomy, and a role in how the practice grows. Handles the W-2 versus 1099 question.
Private Practice Neuropsychologist Job Description
PRIVATE PRACTICE NEUROPSYCHOLOGIST JOB DESCRIPTION
FLSA status: Exempt if W-2 staff; confirm contractor status separately
Compensation: $_____ salary or [fee-for-service / percentage] split
ABOUT THE PRACTICE
We are a [solo / small group] neuropsychology practice in [city] serving [adult /
pediatric / mixed] patients. We are hiring a licensed Neuropsychologist to join a
small team, carry a testing caseload, and help us serve a growing waitlist.
Right for a clinician who wants autonomy, a manageable caseload, and a say in how
the practice grows.
WHAT YOU WILL DO
•Conduct neuropsychological evaluations and write reports
•Carry a steady testing caseload and manage the waitlist
•Provide patient and family feedback
•Supervise a psychometrist where applicable
•Coordinate with referring providers
•Help shape practice workflows and growth
•Maintain records per HIPAA
•Keep licensure and certification current
WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR
•Doctorate (PhD or PsyD) in clinical psychology
•Neuropsychology fellowship or substantial training
•Active state psychology license
•Self-directed, organized, and a good fit for a small team
•Board certification (ABPP-CN / ABCN) preferred or in progress
FLSA AND CLASSIFICATION NOTE (read before posting)
A W-2 staff neuropsychologist is an exempt, salaried learned professional, and
psychologists are excluded from the physician salary-basis waiver, so pay on a
salary or fee basis at or above the federal threshold. If you engage a clinician
as a 1099 contractor instead, apply the correct independent-contractor test;
misclassifying a staff role as a contractor is a common small-practice mistake.
This is general information, not legal advice.
COMPENSATION AND HOW TO APPLY
Compensation: $_____ salary or [fee-for-service / percentage] split
To apply, send your CV to __.
[Practice Name] is an equal opportunity employer.
FLSA, Licensure, and Pay Transparency
This is the part the generic templates skip, and for a neuropsychologist it is where the real value sits: the role is an exempt learned professional, but with a pay-basis nuance specific to psychologists, plus licensure and pay-transparency requirements. Here is what to get right.
A neuropsychologist is an exempt learned professional
Classification is the part generic templates skip, and for a neuropsychologist it is clear. A licensed neuropsychologist is an exempt learned professional under the FLSA, because the primary duty is work requiring advanced knowledge in a field of science, psychology, that is customarily acquired by a prolonged course of specialized intellectual instruction, a doctorate plus supervised internship and a two-year fellowship. The work is predominantly intellectual and requires consistent discretion and judgment, which is exactly what the learned-professional exemption describes. That means the role is salaried, not hourly, and overtime tracking does not apply to the clinician. The duties test is met unambiguously, and the pay easily clears the salary threshold, so the only thing to get right is paying on a proper salary or fee basis, covered in the next panel. This is general information, not legal advice.
Psychologists do not get the physician salary-basis waiver
Here is the nuance almost every template misses, and it matters. Physicians and a few other licensed medical practitioners are exempt without having to be paid on a salary basis at all, under the practice-of-medicine rule. Psychologists are explicitly excluded from that waiver: the regulation lists psychologists and psychometrists among the professions that service the medical field but do not get the medical salary-basis exception. So a neuropsychologist is still exempt as a learned professional, but unlike a physician, the clinician must actually be paid on a salary or fee basis at or above the federal threshold to keep that exempt status. You cannot treat a neuropsychologist like a physician for pay-structure purposes. Pay them a true salary or a proper fee basis, and the exemption holds. This is general information, not legal advice.
Licensure and board certification are the real gatekeepers
Beyond classification, the credentials are what make a neuropsychologist hire valid, and they belong in the posting. Practicing as a psychologist requires a doctorate and an active state license in nearly every state, and using the title psychologist without a license is itself a violation. Specialty competence in neuropsychology is signaled by fellowship training following the field's standards and, at the top, by board certification through the American Board of Professional Psychology in Clinical Neuropsychology or the American Board of Clinical Neuropsychology. State the license as a hard requirement or condition of hire, name fellowship training, and treat board certification as preferred or in progress. Verify the license and certification before the start date rather than after. This is general information, not legal advice.
Pay-transparency laws increasingly require a salary range
Because a neuropsychologist commands a high salary, the range matters to candidates, and a growing number of states now require you to publish it. States with pay-range-in-posting rules include California, Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Vermont, and Washington, with more taking effect, and several have low employee thresholds that catch even a small private practice, for example four or more employees in New York and five or more in Vermont. For a doctoral role with a wide pay band, a defensible, data-anchored range also helps you compete for a scarce specialist. Check your state's rule and post a realistic salary range, including how any productivity or fee-for-service component works. This is general information, not legal advice.
Exempt Learned Professional, but No Physician Waiver
A licensed neuropsychologist is an exempt learned professional, but the regulation that lets physicians be exempt without a salary basis explicitly excludes psychologists. So a neuropsychologist must still be paid on a salary or fee basis of at least $684 a week to keep exempt status, which their pay easily clears.
For the underlying rules, the exempt versus non-exempt guide and the Fair Labor Standards Act overview explain the learned-professional exemption and the salary basis. The practical rule: pay the neuropsychologist a true salary, classify the psychometrist as non-exempt, require the license, and post a range where your state requires one.
Skills and Requirements
Neuropsychologist requirements are credential-heavy by nature, centered on the doctorate, fellowship, and license, with board certification as a strong plus. Scale the specifics to the variant and population.
Requirement
What to look for
Education
Doctorate (PhD or PsyD) in clinical psychology or neuropsychology
Training
APA-accredited internship and neuropsychology fellowship
License
Active state psychology license (or license-eligible)
Certification
ABPP-CN / ABCN board certification preferred or in progress
Skills
Assessment, diagnosis, interpretation, and report-writing
Population
Experience with the adult, pediatric, or forensic population you serve
Keep every requirement job-related and neutral, since the EEOC prohibits job advertisements that show a preference based on a protected characteristic, and the SHRM guide covers the standard sections of a job description.
Neuropsychologist Pay
Neuropsychologist pay is well into six figures and varies by setting, subspecialty, board certification, and region. Anchor to the federal occupation as a baseline, then adjust for your market and any productivity component.
Governing Category Median $117,580 (BLS)
The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not isolate neuropsychologists; they fall under psychologists, all other, which had a median annual wage of $117,580 in May 2024 (25th percentile $73,820, 75th percentile $145,200, 90th over $163,570). That category holds the highest median of all psychology subgroups. The broader psychologists group had a median of $94,310.
Psychologist employment overall is projected to grow about 6 percent through 2034, faster than average, with roughly 12,900 openings a year, and demand for cognitive and developmental testing specifically is rising, leaving many practices with long waitlists. Pay runs higher for board-certified clinicians, in private practice with a full caseload, and in government settings like the VA. Because the federal category blends in higher-paid forensic and research psychologists, treat it as a baseline and benchmark to neuropsychologist-specific market data for your setting, then post a range where your state requires one. This is general information, not legal advice.
Hiring for a Private Practice
Most neuropsychologists work in large institutions, but solo and small group practices hire too, and they do it without HR support. The owner writes the posting, verifies the license, and onboards the clinician, often while carrying their own caseload. Here is what that reality means for the posting.
Most neuropsychologists work in big institutions, but private practices hire too
The bulk of neuropsychology jobs sit inside large institutions: academic medical centers, hospitals, rehabilitation and psychiatric facilities, VA and DoD systems, and children's hospitals, each with their own HR and recruiting machinery. But a real and growing minority of clinicians work in solo or small group private practices, often clinician-owned, serving long waitlists for cognitive and developmental testing. Those small practices hire neuropsychologists and psychometrists with none of the institutional support, where the owner is also the recruiter, the onboarder, and the compliance officer. The templates here, especially the private-practice and psychometrist versions, are written for that small-practice reality: ready to fill in, honest about classification, and built around how a small specialty practice actually hires.
The classification and pay-structure mistakes are specific to this role
Two errors trip up small practices on these hires. First, the psychometrist: because the testing-support role is clinical, owners sometimes assume it is exempt and salary it with no overtime, but a psychometrist who administers and scores under supervision without diagnosing is usually non-exempt and owed overtime. Second, the pay structure for the neuropsychologist: psychologists are exempt learned professionals but, unlike physicians, do not get the medical salary-basis waiver, so a clinician brought on as staff must be paid on a real salary or fee basis, and a clinician engaged as a 1099 contractor must genuinely meet the contractor test. The templates here build the per-role FLSA and classification notes in, so a small practice starts from a posting that handles both correctly.
Onboarding a doctoral clinician is credential-heavy and worth getting right
A neuropsychologist hire is licensure-sensitive and document-heavy, so a clean onboarding protects both the clinician and the practice. After the offer, the work is consistent: a signed offer with the correct exempt classification and pay basis, license and board-certification verification, malpractice and credentialing paperwork, signed HIPAA and confidentiality acknowledgments, and a structured first-week plan. FirstHR fits this for a small practice: e-signature for the offer and policy acknowledgments, an AI onboarding wizard to turn the role into an onboarding workflow, training modules with documented completion for HIPAA and practice policies, task workflows for license and credential verification, and document management for the CV, license, certifications, and signed forms. To be clear about scope, FirstHR is an onboarding and HR platform, not a credentialing, EHR, or billing system, so pair it with those; it does not run payroll or administer benefits. Applicant tracking is coming soon.
From Hiring to Onboarding
The job description is step one. Once a clinician accepts, the same document becomes the basis for the offer and a credential-heavy onboarding: a neuropsychologist hire is licensure-sensitive and document-heavy, so a clean, documented process protects both the clinician and the practice.
Send the offer
Confirm the role, salary, and exempt classification in writing, paid on a proper salary or fee basis. An offer letter template makes this fast for a doctoral hire.
Verify license and certification
Confirm the active state psychology license and any board certification before the start date, not after.
Run credential onboarding
Malpractice and credentialing paperwork, signed HIPAA and confidentiality acknowledgments, and a first-week plan.
Store the records
Keep the CV, license, certifications, signed offer, and acknowledgments organized for credentialing and audits.
Once your offer is ready, the offer letter template handles the next step, and an onboarding template gives the new clinician a structured start. FirstHR connects the offer, paperwork, e-signatures, HIPAA and policy acknowledgments, and the onboarding workflow in one place so a small practice can run the full process from one system, with the license, certification, and exempt classification recorded from day one. FirstHR is an onboarding and HR platform, not a credentialing, EHR, or billing system, so pair it with those; it does not run payroll or administer benefits, so connect those separately. Applicant tracking is coming soon to FirstHR.
Key Takeaways
Neuropsychologist is a doctoral, licensed role spanning clinical, pediatric, and forensic variants; pick the one that matches your population.
The role is an exempt learned professional and salaried, so overtime tracking does not apply to the clinician.
Unlike physicians, psychologists do not get the medical salary-basis waiver, so the clinician must still be paid on a proper salary or fee basis.
The supporting psychometrist role is different and usually non-exempt; classify it correctly.
Federal data puts the governing category median at $117,580, with neuropsychologist-specific pay commonly above $105,000.
Require a doctorate, fellowship, and state license, with board certification preferred; verify credentials before the start date.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a neuropsychologist do?
A neuropsychologist evaluates, diagnoses, and helps treat patients with brain-based conditions that affect cognition, behavior, and emotion. The core of the work is neuropsychological assessment: selecting and administering standardized test batteries, scoring and interpreting cognitive data on memory, attention, language, and executive function, diagnosing conditions like dementia, traumatic brain injury, stroke, ADHD, or learning disorders, and writing detailed reports with recommendations. Neuropsychologists give feedback to patients and families, consult with referring physicians, contribute to treatment planning, and often supervise psychometrists and trainees. The role requires a doctorate, supervised fellowship training, and a state license to practice psychology. Neuropsychologists work in hospitals, academic medical centers, rehabilitation and psychiatric facilities, VA and DoD systems, and private practices. This is general information, not legal advice.
Is a neuropsychologist exempt or non-exempt under the FLSA?
Exempt. A licensed neuropsychologist is a textbook learned professional under the FLSA: the primary duty is work requiring advanced knowledge in a field of science, psychology, that is customarily acquired by a prolonged course of specialized intellectual instruction, namely a doctorate plus an internship and a two-year fellowship. The work is predominantly intellectual and requires consistent discretion and judgment, so the role is salaried and exempt from overtime. There is one nuance worth knowing: psychologists are explicitly excluded from the physician practice-of-medicine waiver, so unlike a doctor, a neuropsychologist must still be paid on a salary or fee basis at or above the federal threshold to maintain exempt status. They almost always are, and their pay easily clears the threshold. Overtime tracking does not apply to the clinician. This is general information, not legal advice.
How much does a neuropsychologist make?
Neuropsychologist pay is well into six figures. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not break out neuropsychologists separately; they fall under psychologists, all other, which had a median annual wage of $117,580 in May 2024, with the 25th percentile at $73,820 and the 75th at $145,200. That category holds the highest median of all psychology subgroups. Neuropsychologist-specific sources agree the pay runs high: aggregator data commonly shows averages above $105,000 to $123,000, and board-certified or private-practice clinicians often earn more, while government settings like the VA also pay competitively. Pay varies by setting, region, subspecialty, board certification, and whether the clinician carries a private caseload. Set your range using current data for the specific role and your market, and post a range where your state requires one. This is general information, not legal advice.
What is the difference between a neuropsychologist and a psychometrist?
They work together but are very different roles. A neuropsychologist is a doctoral-level, licensed clinician who selects test batteries, interprets results, diagnoses, writes reports, and is responsible for the clinical judgment in an evaluation. A psychometrist is a support professional, typically with a bachelor's degree, who administers and scores standardized tests under the neuropsychologist's supervision, without independently diagnosing or interpreting. The psychometrist role is the common entry point into the field. The distinction matters for classification and pay: the neuropsychologist is an exempt salaried learned professional, while the psychometrist, who administers and scores under supervision, is usually non-exempt and owed overtime. A practice hiring for testing capacity should be clear about which role it is posting, since the duties, credentials, and pay structure differ substantially. This is general information, not legal advice.
What are the difference between clinical, pediatric, and forensic neuropsychologists?
They share the same core training and licensure but differ in population and setting. A clinical neuropsychologist typically evaluates adults in a hospital or clinic for conditions like dementia, traumatic brain injury, and stroke, working alongside neurology and psychiatry. A pediatric neuropsychologist evaluates children and adolescents for developmental, learning, and attention conditions such as ADHD, autism, and learning disorders, and collaborates closely with families and schools. A forensic neuropsychologist performs independent evaluations and provides expert opinions and testimony in legal and disability contexts, with a strong emphasis on validity testing and defensible reporting. All three require a doctorate, fellowship training, and state licensure, and all are exempt learned professionals. Choose the variant that matches your patient population and use the matching template. This is general information, not legal advice.
Does a neuropsychologist need a license and board certification?
A license is required; board certification is preferred but not always mandatory. In nearly every state, practicing psychology or using the title psychologist requires a doctorate and an active state license, and using the title without a license is itself a violation, so the license is a hard requirement for the role. Specialty competence in neuropsychology is demonstrated through fellowship training that follows the field's accepted standards, and at the highest level through board certification by the American Board of Professional Psychology in Clinical Neuropsychology or the American Board of Clinical Neuropsychology. Many employers list board certification as preferred or in progress rather than required, especially for early-career hires. State the license as a requirement or condition of hire, name fellowship training, and verify the credentials before the start date. This is general information, not legal advice.
Can a small private practice hire a neuropsychologist?
Yes, and many do, though they are a minority of total demand. Solo and small group neuropsychology practices, often clinician-owned, hire neuropsychologists and psychometrists to serve long waitlists for cognitive and developmental testing. The challenge for a small practice is that the owner handles recruiting, onboarding, and compliance without institutional HR support, and the classification questions are specific: the neuropsychologist is an exempt salaried learned professional who, unlike a physician, must be paid on a proper salary or fee basis, while the psychometrist is usually non-exempt. If the practice engages a clinician as a 1099 contractor rather than a W-2 employee, it must genuinely meet the independent-contractor test. The private-practice and psychometrist templates here are written for exactly this situation, with the classification notes built in. This is general information, not legal advice.
What should a neuropsychologist job description include?
A strong neuropsychologist job description names the specific role and population up front, whether general, clinical adult, pediatric, forensic, or private practice, then includes a short organization summary and a job summary that frames the assessment focus. Group responsibilities into assessment and testing, diagnosis and reporting, collaboration and care, and supervision and compliance. State the required doctorate, fellowship training, and active state license, with board certification preferred or in progress. The most valuable additions that generic templates skip are the FLSA note explaining the exempt learned-professional status and the psychologist salary-basis nuance, a defensible salary range where your state's pay-transparency law requires one, and clear licensure and credential-verification expectations. Close with an equal opportunity statement and clear application instructions. This is general information, not legal advice.
