If you are considering a career in the mental health profession, school psychology could be an option for you.

What is school psychology? School psychologists are mental health professionals who use their unique skills to help children succeed in the school environment.¹ They support students’ mental health, help them develop healthy behaviors, and support their overall academic performance.

School psychologists are highly trained to support students in all of these areas. In this guide, we will explore what that training looks like, a few of the skills needed to excel in this line of work, and more.

Explore School Psychology Programs

What is School Psychology?

A school psychologist is a mental health professional who works in any number of educational environments:²

• K – 12 public schools
• Preschools and early education centers
• Private and charter schools
• School district offices and other school leadership centers
• Juvenile justice programs
• Community-based facilities
• Inpatient mental health treatment centers

Some school psychologists may also work with school-aged children in private practice.

School psychologists support a variety of goals in their workplaces:

• Fostering community-wide morale – A school psychologist can use individual outreach or group opportunities to support school-wide positivity.
• Supporting individual students – School psychologists help students work through mental health, behavioral, or academic challenges.
• Bolstering partnerships – School psychologists can facilitate improved relationships between school staff and the community, parents, families, and other stakeholders.

What is the difference between a school psychologist vs. clinical psychologist? Though both professions work in the mental health field, they differ primarily in the settings they work in and their focus areas. School psychologists are more involved in the educational environment, specifically working with children in K-12 schools, whereas clinical psychologists often treat a broader range of patients, including adults, in various settings.

But this is just the tip of the iceberg. Below, we dive into these responsibilities in more detail.

Key Responsibilities of a School Psychologist

Day-to-day, school psychologists primarily work on tasks like:³

• Assessment – School psychologists use structured tests and other approaches to assess students’ mental health and get a feel for the challenges they are facing. These assessments may result in formal actions like official behavioral or learning plans.
• Intervention – After a school psychologist has assessed a student, they can work on an action plan that will support the student’s needs. Regular counseling sessions, mentoring with administrators, or special behavior arrangements with the faculty are a few examples.
• Consultation with educators and parents – While school psychologists spend the bulk of their time working with students, they also interface with students’ teachers, parents, and (if applicable) healthcare professionals.

These key functions are not entirely different from those of a private practice psychologist; however, school psychologists mainly work with school-age children, and most work on-campus in the educational environment.

School Psychologists’ Role in Student Development

These mental health professionals also work to support young learners in different areas of personal development:

• Emotional – School can be emotionally challenging for students. They build complex relationships with their peers, take on role models and mentors, and undergo significant life changes. A lot happens to students during this stage of life—school psychologists help them navigate their changing emotions in this context.
• Social – For many students, the school environment is one of their few social outlets. But students can struggle to make friends, overcome bullying, and find their social footing. Fortunately, school psychologists can provide tips and support.
• Academic – Of course, the key focus of the educational experience is academic growth. When circumstances, personal attributes, or conflicts get in the way of the learning process, school psychologists can step in. They help students align their priorities, overcome challenges, and accomplish their learning benchmarks.

Education and Training for School Psychologists

To become a school psychologist, prospective mental health professionals must:⁴

• Obtain a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field
• Pursue a graduate degree in the psychology or education fields
• Complete an internship while logging supervised work hours
• Sit for a state licensing exam

Many aspiring school psychologists ask, “Do school psychologists need a PhD?” While a PhD is not strictly required to become a school psychologist, advanced degrees (such as a specialist-level degree or a PsyD) are commonly pursued.

Online School Psychology Programs

Accredited online degree programs offer some of the most popular educational routes for aspiring school psychologists.

That’s because online school psychology programs offer options at a variety of levels:

• Certificate programs and credentials – For professionals who have already earned graduate degrees, accredited online programs offer credentialing opportunities via short-term curricula.
• Master’s degrees – Master’s programs in school psychology or education give prospective professionals a chance to explore their niche and learn key career skills.
• Doctoral programs – For students looking to expand their career opportunities, switch careers, or advance their knowledge, online doctoral programs offer a convenient way to continue graduate-level education.

Online school psychology programs are flexible and accessible—they are perfect for people who are already working in their field or who want to switch careers.

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Licensing and Certification Requirements

While state requirements for school psychologist licensure vary, most states require that would-be psychologists:⁵

• Complete a graduate program – While not all states require master’s degrees, this is the case in most jurisdictions. In addition, some states are more lenient than others related to the course of study you choose; while some states allow students to sit for the licensure exam with a master’s in education, others require degrees specifically related to mental health.
• Log internship hours – Most states require students to earn approximately 1,200 hours of supervised internship experience before they’re eligible to sit for the licensure exam. Your educational program can help connect you with internship opportunities.
• Complete examination – In most cases, you will need to complete and pass an exam to receive a license to practice school psychology.

Prospective school psychologists can also pursue national certifications like the Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP) credential.⁶

Skills Needed for School Psychology

During your educational programs and internship experience, you will hone the critical skills needed to practice school psychology successfully. A few of these skills include:

Communication

During an average day, school psychologists interact with:

• Students
• School administrators
• Parents and guardians
• Healthcare professionals
• Educators
• Education specialists (like speech pathologists, occupational therapists, and others)

It is hard to overstate the importance of communication skills in the school psychology field. During their training, future professionals must learn to:

• Document interactions with students thoroughly and according to standards
• Communicate in person and digitally with various stakeholders
• Explain psychological concepts to students’ caregivers in layman’s terms
• Reach students on their level of communication and understanding

With practice and experience, these communication skills become second nature for school psychologists.

Problem-Solving

As a school psychologist, you’ll have to help students overcome problems related to their:

• Friendships
• Home lives
• Academic performance
• Performance, behavioral, or emotional challenges

Each student requires a unique approach—a one-of-a-kind problem-solving process that will help them excel (and a few backup plans if the first approach does not work).

Not to mention that school psychologists will encounter career-related challenges outside of their clinical services, like:

• Administrative conflicts
• Scheduling difficulties
• Difficulties getting in touch with parents
• Regulatory updates and changes

An ability to approach problems with creativity and determination is a must for prospective school psychologists.

Empathy

Of course, empathy is a cornerstone of the mental health profession. School psychologists need to be able to empathize with:

• Students – To best understand their needs, school psychologists must put themselves in their students’ shoes.
• Parents – As school psychologists work with students to find solutions, they must empathize with students’ parents and guardians—people who are usually also struggling.
• Teachers – Teachers do not just encounter one student in need of psychological services in each class; they are working to accommodate the needs of multiple students simultaneously, and school psychologists must recognize this.

Learning to identify with everyone in the clinical conversation is a must. In school psychology, empathy and understanding are foundational to positive outcomes.

How School Psychologists Impact Schools

We have touched on how school psychologists impact more than just their students, but let’s explore a few more ways these professionals make an impact school-wide:

• Supporting mental health at scale – When every student in need of support can thrive, entire school cultures can benefit. School psychologists want to improve the lives of individual students and the entire student body.
• Advocating for mental health in policymaking – School psychologists lend their expertise to administrators as they develop policies and procedures. If a school rule has the potential to jeopardize students’ mental health, school psychologists have a responsibility to speak up.
• Contributing to the school atmosphere – Exceptional school psychologists don’t stay hidden in their offices—they make themselves known to the student body. They try to make the school atmosphere more positive and welcoming by saying hello to students in the morning, supporting extracurriculars like sports and the arts, and acting as positive role models for students.

Ultimately, school psychology is a helping profession, and school psychologists have the potential to make an impact school-wide—not just inside the four walls of their offices.

Related Career Paths in Education and Counseling

If you are interested in supporting students’ mental health, emotional wellness, and academic success, you might also be interested in another career path: school counseling.

School counseling and school psychology are similar fields. However, school counselors often also:⁷

• Help students choose courses and extracurricular activities
• Connect students with volunteering and community service opportunities
• Help students assess their career options
• Use data to identify widespread problems in school communities

Like school psychologists, prospective counselors can get an online school counseling degree to facilitate positive student outcomes and help young people flourish.

Become a School Psychologist Today

School psychologists support individual students, administrative teams, and entire student bodies. They use their mental health expertise to foster a positive learning environment where every student can excel.

Interested in a school psychology career? Learn more about accredited online degree options from Alliant International University. We offer credentials in Pupil Personnel Services, master’s degrees in school psychology, doctoral degrees in school psychology, and other degree tracks designed to develop the school psychologists of tomorrow.  

With our flexible online format, you can develop the skills you need to make a positive impact. Request more information about our programs today to get started. 

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Sources

1. “Who Are School Psychologists?” National Association of School Psychologists. 2024. https://www.nasponline.org/about-school-psychology/who-are-school-psych…. Accessed January 16, 2025. 
2. “Who Are School Psychologists?” National Association of School Psychologists. 2024. https://www.nasponline.org/about-school-psychology/who-are-school-psych…. Accessed January 16, 2025. 
3. Caci, Kelly, et. al. “School Psychologists: Breaking Down Barriers to Learning.” Child Mind Institute. December 11, 2024. https://childmind.org/article/school-psychologists-breaking-down-barrie…. Accessed January 16, 2025. 
4. Tobin, James. “Becoming a School Psychologist: Career Guide.” Psychology.org. May 7, 2024. https://www.psychology.org/careers/school-psychologist/. Accessed January 16, 2025. 
5. Tobin, James. “Becoming a School Psychologist: Career Guide.” Psychology.org. May 7, 2024. https://www.psychology.org/careers/school-psychologist/. Accessed January 16, 2025. 
6. “National Certification.” National Association of School Psychologists. 2024. https://www.nasponline.org/standards-and-certification/national-certifi…. Accessed January 16, 2025. 
7. “The Role of the School Counselor.” American School Counselor Association. 2023. https://www.schoolcounselor.org/getmedia/ee8b2e1b-d021-4575-982c-c84402…. Accessed January 16, 2025.