Rise to the Challenge as a School Psychologist

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What School Psychologists Do

Sometimes schoolkids need more support than they can get from their school counselor. That’s where school psychologists come in.

School psychologists work with students at all levels, from elementary school to college. They are advocates for students’ well-being, and are a valuable resource for their educational and personal development.

They help students work through issues such as bullying, disabilities, low self-esteem, poor academic performance, social anxiety, problems with authority, or problems at home.

School psychologists may do one-on-one therapy with students, or work in groups with family members or peers to understand and overcome psychological problems.

school psychologist job description

Skills You Need

Learn which personality traits and professional skills you’ll need to be a successful school psychologist.

You should have…

Motivational skills
Good communication skills
Goal-setting skills
Clear boundaries
High ethical standards

How to Become a School Psychologist

Most states require that their school psychologists hold a master’s degree in psychology, school psychology or counseling, or a specialist degree (EdS) in school psychology. They’re also expected to complete a supervised internship and pass the National School Psychology Examination. Licensing and certification guidelines for school psychologists vary by state. Make sure to check the guidelines in your state before you start your studies.

Earn a Bachelor’s Degree

First, earn an undergraduate degree with a psychology major. However, this is just the first step because you’ll also need a graduate degree.

Earn a Master’s Degree

A master’s degree in psychology or an EdD is the next step. Here you’ll deepen your knowledge, and get theoretical and hands-on experience.

Finish Supervised Work Experience

School psychologists need to do a practicum and a supervised internship, and in some states, have a year or two of work experience in schools.

Pass the Appropriate Exams

Some states require school psychologists to take the Praxis II for school psychologists, and sometimes a state jurisprudence exam.

No matter if you choose an on-campus or online education program—and there are quite a few accredited online schools that offer master’s degrees in school psychology—if you want to take advantage of federal financial aid resources for your online courses, you should make sure to choose a school and program that are accredited.

You can also advance to more scientific roles with a doctorate. These practitioners use assessment and consultation in order to help children of all ages and from all cultural, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds. There are generally two approaches to choose from: the science/scholar path, which focuses on research, measurement, and statistics; and the practitioner, who uses evidence-based assessment and intervention principles.

Salary and Job Growth

School psychologists may earn a good salary. But salaries may vary based on location, years of experience, setting, and other factors says U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 2023 data. Here’s how they compare to other psychologists’ median annual salaries.