Do you enjoy working with children? Are you passionate about education and/or helping others learn? Do you love the field of psychology? If you answered the previous questions with enthusiasm and curiosity, then school psychology may be the field for you! This article dives into what you need to know in order to become a school psychologist.
What is a School Psychologist?
The National Association of School Psychology (NASP) describes school psychologists as, “uniquely qualified members of school teams that support students’ ability to learn and teachers’ ability to teach. They apply expertise in mental health, learning, and behavior, to help children and youth succeed academically, socially, behaviorally, and emotionally.” School psychologists also collaborate with teachers and administrators to ensure students of all ages are receiving services in a safe and nurturing environment.
You may be wondering, “Okay, but what does that look like?” Well, it looks like a lot of things, but the bulk of the role includes providing psycho-educational evaluations, 1:1 intervention assistance for students with academic or behavioral concerns and consulting with teachers, parents, and administrators.
Most school psychologists will tell you, they didn’t grow up with dreams of becoming a school psychologist. To be completely honest, I didn’t know what a school psychologist was until my sophomore year of undergrad; and was instantly turned off when I was told what school psychologists did by a professor of mine. She tried to convince me that I’d love the field, but I assumed school psychology would be boring and too routine for my liking.
I was reintroduced to school psychology 3 years later and learned that my initial assumptions were incorrect. I soon realized a career as a school psychologist could be a good fit for me as it was the perfect combination of all the things I love; kids, psychology and education.
Work Environment of a school psychologist
Some people are turned off by the “school” in school psychology, as was I, because they believe it limits them to working in school settings. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Most school psychologists work in public, K-12 schools however school psychologists can work in early on programs (birth-3), private schools, universities, juvenile detention centers, prisons, hospitals, psychiatric facilities, private clinical practices and in politics. I’ve even met a school psychologist who is a consultant for the forensics team for her local police department.
What you need to become a school psychologist:
1. Passion
You MUST have a passion for working with children and other people. A large majority of a school psych’s job is evaluating students and collaborating with staff and parents. Volunteer at a school, church, boys or girls club, etc. or try babysitting if you’re unsure if you like children and/or want to improve your comfortability in working with them. I worked as a nanny, substitute teacher and behavior technician prior to being a school psychologist. Each of these experiences have been useful on my journey.
2. Verbal & Communication Skills
These skills are crucial in school psychology. As previously stated, school psych’s work with students, parents and staff. Effective communication helps these relationships run a bit more smoothly.
3. Bachelors Degree
Earn a bachelor’s degree in psychology or a related field (i.e., social work). An undergraduate degree in psychology seems to be the norm for most school psychs however school psychologists come from various backgrounds.
4. Advance Degree / Certification
Enroll in a NASP-approved Specialist or Ph.D level program in school psychology. You will earn your Master’s (usually after 1 year) during your program.
5. Field Experience
Complete your School Psychology field experiences: Pre-practicum (100 hours), Practicum (600 hours), Internship (1200). These experiences will allow you to shadow a school psychologist and get a feel for the field. I wasn’t super convinced that school psychology was for me at first, but my pre-practicum experience confirmed I was on the right path. I was blessed to shadow a young, Black school psychologist who was amazing! She gave me the extra boost I needed to believe I belonged in the field and could be of great service to students.
6. Preliminary Certification
Apply for Pre-liminary certification in school psychology in your state of practice. This will give you the option to work and get paid as a school psychologist during your internship year. Some people take unpaid internships and that’s completely fine. I personally believe unpaid internships are unfair. Graduate students are expected to fulfill the role of a school psychologist for 1200 hours. That means we work 5 days a week, during school hours, for 10 months. We should be compensated for our hard work. Lucky, I’m completing my internship year in a district that understands this.
7. Pass the Praxim Exam
Take the Praxis Exam (qualifying exam) and pass with a score of 142 or above.
8. Full Certification Based On Your State
Apply for full certification in school psychology in your state of practice. You can also apply to be a Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP), which will allow you to practice school psychology across the United States.
9. Understand The Importance Of Diversity
Understand that people of color, specifically Black men and women are DESPERATELY NEEDED in school psychology as we only make up for 5%of the profession. It’s pivotal that our students see professionals who look like them with so they can better relate to them.
10. Network
If you decide that school psychology is the field for you, then be sure to connect with other school psychologists and graduate students! It’s super, super important to build a system of other liked-minded individuals within the field, who you can seek advice/mentorship from, vent to and network with. I realized this early on and began to connect with other school psychs via social media. It’s as easy as searching #schoolpsychologist. I guarantee you will find thousands of school psychologists who have a wide variety of interests and experiences!
For more information on the role of a school psychologist and other details about the field, please visit the National Association of School Psychologists website.
