title: Education, training, and practice among nordic neuropsychologists. Results from a professional practices survey.
abstract: To investigate sociodemographic characteristics, clinical and academic training, work setting and salary, clinical activities, and salary and job satisfaction among practicing neuropsychologists in four Nordic countries.
  
  
  
  890 neuropsychologists from Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden participated in an internet-based survey between December 2013 and June 2015.
  
  
  
  Three-fourths (76%) of the participants were women, with a mean age of 47 years (range 24-79). In the total sample, 11% earned a PhD and 42% were approved as specialists in neuropsychology (equivalent to board certification in the U.S.). Approximately 72% worked full-time, and only 1% were unemployed. Of the participants, 66% worked in a hospital setting, and 93% had conducted neuropsychological assessments during the last year. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, learning disability, and intellectual disability were the most common conditions seen by neuropsychologists. A mean income of 53,277 Euros was found. Neuropsychologists expressed greater job satisfaction than income satisfaction. Significant differences were found between the Nordic countries. Finnish neuropsychologists were younger and worked more hours every week. Fewer Swedish neuropsychologists had obtained specialist approval and fewer worked full-time in neuropsychology positions. Danish and Norwegian neuropsychologists earned more money than their Nordic colleagues.
  
  
  
  This is the first professional practice survey of Nordic neuropsychologists to provide information about sociodemographic characteristics and work setting factors. Despite the well-established guidelines for academic and clinical education, there are relevant differences between the Nordic countries. The results of the study offer guidance for refining the development of organized and highly functioning neuropsychological specialty practices in Nordic countries.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Neurology , National Study of Young Brain Injury Survivors, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital , Copenhagen , Denmark.
authors.forename: A
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-5598-6116
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Norup
authors.affiliation: b Division of Mental Health & Addiction , Vestfold Hospital Trust , Tønsberg , Norway.|c Department of Psychology , University of Oslo , Oslo , Norway.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Egeland
authors.affiliation: c Department of Psychology , University of Oslo , Oslo , Norway.|d Research Department , Sunnaas Rehabilitation Hospital , Nesoddtangen , Norway.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Løvstad
authors.affiliation: e Clinical Neurosciences, Unit of Neuropsychology' , University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital , Helsinki , Finland.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nybo
authors.affiliation: f Department of Psychology , Linnaeus University , Växjö , Sweden.
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Persson
authors.affiliation: g BioCruces Health Research Institute, Cruces University Hospital , Barakaldo , Spain.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rivera
authors.affiliation: c Department of Psychology , University of Oslo , Oslo , Norway.|d Research Department , Sunnaas Rehabilitation Hospital , Nesoddtangen , Norway.
authors.forename: A-K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Schanke
authors.affiliation: d Research Department , Sunnaas Rehabilitation Hospital , Nesoddtangen , Norway.|h Faculty of Medicine , Institute of Health and Society, Research Centre for Habilitation and Rehabilitation Models and Services (CHARM), University of Oslo , Oslo , Norway.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sigurdardottir
authors.affiliation: g BioCruces Health Research Institute, Cruces University Hospital , Barakaldo , Spain.|i IKERBASQUE , Basque Foundation for Science , Bilbao , Spain.
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Arango-Lasprilla
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002568:Certification; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009484:Neuropsychology / Q000191:economics / Q000193:education; D011364:Professional Practice / Q000191:economics; D012456:Salaries and Fringe Benefits; D012537:Scandinavian and Nordic Countries; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014478:Unemployment; D017132:Workplace; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Psychologist; academic education; culture; neuropsychological practice; neuropsychology; professional practice