Summary
Psychologists (KeSCO 2634) supports outcomes in the Social Sciences, Creative & Media sector by applying job-specific knowledge, standards, and tools to deliver quality services or outputs. Duties and complexity vary by employer, work setting, and seniority level, but the occupation generally requires reliability, competence, and continuous learning.
Minimum entry
Diploma or Bachelor’s degree
Future outlook
Future trends such as digital transformation, automation, climate resilience, and changing consumer needs are shaping most occupations. Workers who continuously upskill (digital literacy, quality standards, safety, customer service, and modern tools) are more resilient and competitive.
Sectors
Social Sciences, Creative & MediaProfessional ServicesPublic SectorPrivate SectorNGO/DevelopmentSpecialised Practice
Description
Psychologists (KeSCO 2634) supports outcomes in the Social Sciences, Creative & Media sector by applying job-specific knowledge, standards, and tools to deliver quality services or outputs. Duties and complexity vary by employer, work setting, and seniority level, but the occupation generally requires reliability, competence, and continuous learning.
Employment prospects
Prospects depend on national and county demand, sector investment, policy priorities, and supply of trained workers. Job seekers improve prospects by gaining practical experience, building a portfolio or track record, earning relevant certifications, and being flexible on location and sub-sector.
Tasks
- Plan and prioritise daily work activities to meet targets and deadlines
- Follow workplace procedures, standards, and relevant regulations
- Carry out core job duties accurately and safely
- Use job tools/equipment/software correctly and maintain them appropriately
- Communicate progress, issues, and requirements with supervisors and colleagues
- Serve clients/customers professionally and resolve routine queries
- Document work completed, maintain records, and submit routine reports
- Identify errors, risks, or service gaps and propose improvements
- Work as part of a team and coordinate tasks across units
- Maintain confidentiality and ethical conduct where required
- Comply with occupational safety and health (OSH) guidelines
- Participate in training, mentoring, or continuous improvement activities
Skills
Communication (verbal and written) | Teamwork and collaboration | Problem-solving and critical thinking | Time management and prioritisation | Attention to detail and accuracy | Customer service orientation | Integrity and ethical conduct | Adaptability and continuous learning | Decision-making and judgement | Documentation and record-keeping | Digital literacy (basic) | Safety awareness and compliance mindset
Core skills
- Communication (verbal and written)
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Problem-solving and critical thinking
- Time management and prioritisation
- Attention to detail and accuracy
- Customer service orientation
- Integrity and ethical conduct
- Adaptability and continuous learning
- Decision-making and judgement
- Documentation and record-keeping
- Digital literacy (basic)
- Safety awareness and compliance mindset
Technical skills
- Use of hand and power tools safely
- Installation, maintenance, and repair procedures
- Reading drawings/specifications and measurements
- Troubleshooting and fault diagnosis
- Quality control and workmanship standards
- Equipment handling and preventive maintenance
- Workplace safety and PPE usage
- Basic electrical/mechanical principles (as relevant)
- Material handling and storage
- Site readiness and task planning
- Compliance with standards and inspections
Transferable skills
- Leadership and supervision (as one progresses)
- Negotiation and stakeholder management
- Conflict resolution
- Presentation and public speaking
- Creativity and innovation
- Emotional intelligence
- Planning and organisation
- Resilience and stress management
- Service mindset and empathy
- Networking and relationship building
- Analytical thinking
- Professionalism and work discipline
Certifications
- Trade test / competency certification (where applicable)
- Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) certification (strongly recommended)
- Equipment-specific operator certification (where applicable)
- First Aid certification (recommended in many workplaces)
Education
Specialised degree in the relevant discipline | Graduate internship/attachments where applicable | Professional registration/licensing where regulated | Experience-based progression into senior/specialist roles
Pathways
- Specialised degree in the relevant discipline
- Graduate internship/attachments where applicable
- Professional registration/licensing where regulated
- Experience-based progression into senior/specialist roles
Relevant courses
- Diploma/Certificate in Electrical/Electronics Engineering
- Diploma/Certificate in Mechanical Engineering
- Civil/Construction Technology
- Welding and Fabrication
- Plumbing and Pipefitting
- Refrigeration and Air Conditioning
- Automotive Mechanics
- Plant/Machine Operation
- Occupational Safety and Health (OSH)
- CAD/Draughting basics
Institutions
- Universities (accredited public and private universities offering relevant programmes)
- National Polytechnics and TVET institutions (diploma, certificate, artisan programmes)
- Technical Training Institutes and Vocational Centres
- Professional Colleges and Accredited Training Academies
- Sector Training Authorities and Recognised Centres of Excellence
- Employer-based Academies and Apprenticeship Programmes
- Online Learning Platforms (supplementary; verify recognition for regulated fields)
- Industry Associations and Professional Bodies (short courses/CPD)
Minimum requirements
- Minimum education: Diploma or Bachelor’s degree
- Basic literacy and numeracy (reading, writing, and basic calculations)
- Good conduct, reliability, and professional behaviour
- Ability to follow instructions, procedures, and workplace rules
- Basic digital literacy where the role uses computers/phones
- Physical/medical fitness where the role is physically demanding or safety-sensitive
- Regulatory registration/licensing where required (profession-dependent)
- Background checks/clearance for sensitive roles where applicable
Work context
Workplace policies | Team collaboration | Quality standards | Professional environment | Standards compliance | Reporting
Where they work
- Public sector institutions, private companies, NGOs and community-based organisations depending on the sector.
Work setting
Not specified.
Schedule
Full-time commonDaytime hours commonDeadlines possible
Employment type
Formal employment possible
Earnings
Entry level
KES 50,000 – 120,000
Mid level
KES 120,000 – 250,000
Entry-level typical range (illustrative): KES 50,000 – 120,000 | Mid-level typical range (illustrative): KES 120,000 – 250,000 | Senior/experienced typical range (illustrative): KES 250,000+ | Earnings vary by employer (public/private), location, allowances, commissions, overtime, risk factors, and scarcity of skills
How to become one
Complete a degree in the relevant discipline, undertake internships or graduate programmes and meet any professional registration or licensing requirements.
Career progression
- Entry/Intern → Junior Practitioner → Mid-level → Senior Specialist
- Senior Specialist → Team Lead/Principal → Manager/Head of Unit (where applicable)
- Some pathways include consultancy, research, training, or policy roles
Related occupations
- Other occupations within the same KeSCO major group
- Support roles in the same sector/industry
- Supervisory roles related to this occupation’s work area
- Specialist variants of the same occupation (where they exist)
Occupation titles
2634-11 — Psychologist
Psychologist is a professional responsible for conduct scientific studies to study behavior and brain function (neuropsychologist) collect information through observations, interviews, surveys, tests, use their knowledge to increase understanding among individuals and groups work with individuals, couples, and families to help them make desired changes to behaviors identify and diagnose mental, behavioral, or emotional disorders develop and carry out treatment plans.
2634-17 — Psychologist Educational
Psychologist Educational is a professional responsible for helps students to process and overcome their problems assisting students with the development of goals and action plans engaging and counseling teachers, parents, and caregivers about issues researching and implementing intervention programs developing programs to address behavioral issues and learning difficulties assessing and diagnosing students to determine eligibility for special services.
2634-16 — Psychologist organizational
Psychologist organizational is a professional responsible for trains and motivate workforce assess job performance of individuals and their teams improve organizational structure to improve efficiency improve the quality of life for employers and employees ease transitions such as corporate mergers study consumer behavior to help employees understand what customers are looking for.
2634-18 — Psychologist Sports
Psychologist Sports is a professional responsible for develops mental strategies that enable athletes to cope with and overcome setbacks or injuries conducts research on an athlete’s mental, emotional, and physical attributes in order to effectively coach and improve performance levels identifying mental strengths and weaknesses that contribute to or affect an athlete’s performance facilitating counseling and/or workshops that focus on goal setting, visualization, and relaxation enhancing an athlete’s performance through visualization techniques advising and treating athletes with mental health conditions counseling athletes who have endured sports injuries helping athletes to manage on and offfield pressure and anxiety.
2634-12 — Psychologist, clinical
Psychologist, clinical is a professional responsible for making assessments and interpretations based on biopsychosocial evaluations, psychometric tests, interviews, therapy sessions, and neuropsychological assessments formulate and create personalized interventions, treatments, and management plans for clients assessing clients' risk, considering their mental health and social needs maintenance and safe storage of accurate program and client records maintaining confidentiality of clients’ treatment and records proficient with psychological therapies, risk assessment, training, and supervision.
2634-13 — Psychologist, occupational
Psychologist, occupational is a professional responsible for conducting physical and psychological assessments of clients assessing home and work environments of clients and deciding what adjustments are needed developing physical rehabilitation programs to help clients regain lost skills educating caregivers and family members of clients on patient care evaluating results and progress of occupational therapy on clients maintaining professional knowledge and the technical progress in order to provide clients with the best treatment program available evaluating patient condition regarding physical and basic mental health.
2634-14 — Psychologist, social
Psychologist, social is a professional responsible for conduct research studies to investigate topics such as persuasion, social influence, group behavior, interpersonal attraction, and prejudice design and implement interventions to promote positive social change, consult with businesses to improve organizational culture communication, and work with policymakers to develop programs that promote social justice and equality.
2634-15 — Psychotherapist
Psychotherapist is a professional responsible for encourages and reciprocates sustained openness uncovering clients' difficulties across emotional, relational, and behavioral spheres generating comprehensive treatment protocols institutes fair and consistently reinforced boundaries forging trusting connections with reputable inpatient treatment facilities reporting clients' highly dangerous undertakings to the relevant authorities.