What does a school psychologist do?
School psychologists have to be up to dealing with nearly any psychological or behavioral issue a student might be facing. They lend their expertise to school staff members to give a better understanding of students’ behavior, as well as to parents to help maintain a supportive home environment. They may work from an office at district headquarters or on a school campus where they have been assigned. Some travel between campuses to work with different school populations and kids aged 5–18. A school psychologist may be the first point of contact between a troubled child and mental health care, or act as a casual support for children with relatively minor needs. On occasion, school psychologists may testify in court or write reports within the scope of their expertise and clinical scope.
School psychologist skills and qualifications
School psychologists need to have a wide range of skills to succeed at the job. Though responsibilities vary between districts, most school psychologists need to have:
- Compassion for the needs of children, including those with disturbed behavior and a history of trauma or other challenges
- Organizational skills suitable for keeping records, which may be used as legal documents or for other official purposes
- Skill at communicating with colleagues, district employees, families and children of all ages
- The ability to travel, sometimes on short notice, to various campuses throughout the district, and to respond to emergencies outside of normal school hours
School psychologist experience requirements
Most school psychologists act somewhat independently and must be able to manage their time effectively and make executive decisions about the care they provide. Because of this, most schools look for at least some experience working as a clinical psychologist, though this is not absolutely necessary in all cases. A fully qualified school psychologist will have obtained credentials through a process that includes gaining some clinical experience under the supervision of a more experienced mentor.
School psychologist education and training requirements
A school psychologist career requires either a Ph.D. in clinical psychology, a master’s degree or an Ed.S. degree from a regionally accredited university. Along with the minimum education requirements, candidates have to earn state certification or licensure. Many school districts either require or strongly prefer candidates who holdcertification as a national certified school psychologist (NCSP) from the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP).
School psychologists are expected to maintain state licensure for as long as they’re working. Depending on the state, this may come with annual retraining or recertification requirements. in some states the recertification period is two years.
School psychologist salary expectations
According to Indeed Salaries, the average salary for a school psychologist is $50,736 a year. This median salary varies significantly between states and individual districts. It can also vary according to the training and experience of the individual applying for the job.
School psychologist salary expectations
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Common salary:
54.15 HOURLY -
Typical salaries range from
15.65 -200.00 HOURLY - Find more information on Indeed Salaries
*Indeed data –
Job description samples for similar positions
If a school psychologist is not exactly the position you need to hire for, have a look at some related occupations that might be a better fit for your school:
School psychologist job description FAQs
What is the difference between a school psychologist and a counselor?
School counselors provide basic services to students, while school psychologists may be called upon for more comprehensive and in-depth care, including practitioner-level services for mental and emotional health.
What is the difference between educational psychology and school psychology?
While educational and school psychologists often have similar education and training, the jobs they do are different. While school psychologists provide hands-on care for students in something like a clinical setting, the work of educational psychologists leans much more toward the academic or research side of the field.
Can school psychologists diagnose kids?
As licensed mental health professionals, most school psychologists have the credentials needed to make an expert diagnosis of various mental and emotional health conditions. The exact scope of practice for school psychologists is defined in state law.
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