School psychologists are education professionals and specialists that you can normally find in a school setting, most often in the elementary and secondary levels. Sometimes, the guidance counselor and school psychologist are one and the same, however; some schools maintain a separate school psychologist and guidance counselor. The responsibilities of a school psychologist will typically involve administering standardized psych tests to students, working with parents and teachers to solve student problems whether educational, mental or emotional, and providing guidance to students in terms of behavior and career paths. If you’re interested in a school psychologist career, you’ll need to meet the proper educational and training requirements to work as a mental health professional. Online psychology degree programs are an excellent option for those who want to break into this rewarding field.
Here’s how to become a school psychologist.
- Get a bachelor’s degree in psychology. The first stepping stone in becoming a school psychologist is to get your undergraduate degree in a relevant field. Typically, you will want a program in psychology to start things off, however; some schools offer a bachelor’s degree program in school psychology itself, which is the recommended path to take. Either way, you will need to choose a relevant program in a reputable college or university. Complete the undergraduate coursework of the program since you will be required to proceed to more advanced studies in the field on your way to becoming a school psychologist.
- Get a master’s degree. After earning your bachelor’s degree in psychology or school psychology, your next step is to earn your master’s degree. Again, you will be presented with a few options in terms of master’s programs. You can choose if you want to continue with school psychology, education or plain psychology for your master’s program. Since you are planning to work in a school as a pseudo educator, then a master’s degree in education would be your best bet. However, any of these choices would be great as well. When choosing a school for your master’s degree, make sure that they offer doctoral school psychology programs as well since that will be your next step after this.
- Get your doctorate. As you complete your two or three year master’s degree program, you will be eligible to forge on to a doctorate. Enroll in a doctoral degree in school psychology to top off your academic career and make you an official school psychologist. The credentials you have gained are more than enough. The program will involve completing your practicum and thesis.
- Get licensed. Once you complete your doctoral program, check with your state board on the licensing examination and procedure for your chosen psychology career. A series of examinations called PRAXIS may be a pre-requisite for the license so make sure that you take and pass these.
- Find a job. Once you pass the state boards and become a licensed school psychologist, the next step is for you to find employment. Check with local schools first if they have any vacancies. The Internet is a good resource to check out as well since there will be tons of job sites that cater to the education industry.
Remember to stay abreast on all the latest in school psychology and education to help you optimize the school setting for students. If possible, attend other programs and courses that can further your training in mental health issues. These can even increase school psychologist salaries.