How to become An Educational Psychologist

• School Psychologist

What do Educational Psychologists do?

An Educational Psychologist would typically need to:

• Offer integral support to families, educational institutions, and learning centers worldwide by providing crucial information for developing successful learning methods and materials
• Assess children's learning and emotional needs using psychological tests and theories; design, develop and implement therapeutic procedures, behavior management programs, and projects that support their education and wellbeing
• Incorporate behavioral psychology, developmental psychology, and cognitive psychology into their work to fully understand best practices in the field
• Take into account the unique needs of the educational institution and its students, including gifted learners and those with learning disabilities
• Suggest, develop, and use appropriate strategies to promote the social, emotional, and behavioral development of children and young people
• Formulate and apply interventions that focus on using knowledge, skills, and expertise to support local and national initiatives and raise educational standards
• Collaborate with multi-agency teams on the best approaches and provisions to support the education of children and young people
• Advise, persuade, support, negotiate with, and provide training to parents, teachers, and learning support staff
• Conduct active research; write reports making recommendations on viable options; advise and make recommendations on educational policies

Educational Psychologists work in diverse environments ranging from the purely academic to the strictly consultative. Enthusiasm for research might lead them to schools, universities, government agencies, or research institutions. Educational psychology teachers may work in colleges and universities, the military, museums, libraries, and health care organizations.

Educational Psychologists who consult with businesses might have their own private offices or work directly in the company's setting. Those who provide clinical services might have their private practices or work in a group practice.

They may work directly with a client (assessing progress, giving counseling) or indirectly (through their work with parents, teachers, and other professionals). Educational Psychologists work from a central office, usually the local education authority premises, and travel to conduct their testing and assessment duties in schools, community centers, and students’ homes.

Conservative attire shows a level of professionalism that is important in a counseling setup. Clients feel most comfortable with health professionals who are dressed in business casual, traditional clothing.

Educational Psychologists tend to put in around 40 to 50 hours per week, Monday to Friday. Their schedule can be flexible but may include a few long evenings and weekends involving solo evaluations of patients and discussions with immediate family members. 

Finding a new job might seem challenging. Educational Psychologists can boost their job search by asking their network for referrals, contacting companies directly, using job search platforms, going to job fairs, leveraging social media, and inquiring at staffing agencies.

Educational Psychologists are generally employed by:

• Local Education Authorities
• Educational Institutions
• Educational Software Companies
• Educational Tool Manufacturers
• Social Services Departments
• Hospitals
• Outpatient Care Centers
• Child Psychiatric Units
• Paediatric Assessment Units
• Independent Schools
• Voluntary Organizations

Professional associations and organizations like the American Psychological Association are crucial for Educational Psychologists interested in pursuing professional development or connecting with like-minded professionals in their industry or occupation. Membership in one or more adds value to your resume while bolstering your credentials and qualifications.

• An extreme amount of work-related stress
• Frequent work-related conflicts with teachers, administrators, and other education professionals
• Increase in stress levels due to conflict and disagreement with parents and family members of the patient
• Patients who may be extremely difficult to work with
• Frustration and loss of morale because of patients who do not want to be helped
• Disappointment and despair in the wake of little or no progress with specific clients
• Longer work hours due to constant interruptions, especially in a K-12 setting

Students should ensure their internship and practicum experiences are in sync with their degrees and their career goals.

Reach out to experienced practitioners to gain additional insight into the profession and mold a broad interest into a workable hypothesis. Individuals with experience as a teacher, graduate assistant, tutor, speech or language therapist, or social worker and a degree in psychology with a concentration in educational psychology will have a leg up on the competition in getting a job as an Educational Psychologist.

Schools typically want to see aspiring psychologists pursue an internship while completing their degree and not waiting until after graduation. Course providers will look at how you have applied your knowledge of psychology, what you learned from your experience, and how it is relevant to an Educational Psychologist’s role. Experiencing the practical side of educational psychology at the right internship may lead to a job in your specialty after you finish school, in addition to a reasonable chance at bolstering your resume and networking.

Students find internship and practicum opportunities through their school career center, alumni networks, job boards and fairs, and recruiting events. Internships may last anywhere between six months to two years and comprise supervised work with clients. Internship and practicum sites include schools, educational services, hospitals, clinics, and government agencies.

Some internships come with a salary. Some may include indirect supervision where the supervisor does not join the intern/client interaction but will answer questions and review the intern’s recommendations for treatment or therapy. Take note that internships completed as part of a program’s curriculum earn you credits, but postgraduate or postdoctoral internships will not do so.

Students who undertake an on-site practicum sit in on sessions between licensed psychologists and their clients. A follow-up session with their supervisors would include airing their observations and seeking pertinent clarification. As they become more knowledgeable, their supervisors may assign them tasks to complete. A practicum will earn you academic credits but no money. Its duration may also depend on the program it is associated with.

Entering the educational psychology field requires rigorous education. Though all students interested in becoming an Educational Psychologist start with an accredited bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree is the minimum requirement for a career. The course should include regression and correlation, educational research, data analysis, brain research study, advanced research design, and program evaluation.

Most locations mandate a doctoral degree in psychology or counselor education and supervision to practice as an Educational Psychologist or if you aspire to teach or research at the university level. Increasingly competitive entry into an accredited doctorate course requires good grades and significant experience working with children and young people in education, health, social care, youth justice, or childcare. Contact course providers to fully understand the varying entry requirements.

It can take many years and extensive coursework to earn a degree, but that does not include license certifications required after graduation. To become licensed, a prospective Educational Psychologist needs to spend at least a year interning in their specialty. Some locations require the candidates to earn board certification and practice for one or two years before being licensed to practice professionally.

Educational Psychologists can become certified school psychologists by completing a master’s in the field, on-site practical experiences, internship, and an accredited school psychologist examination. Certification from an objective and reputed organization can help you gain professional credibility, stand out in a competitive job market, and become an independent consultant.

Successful certification programs protect public welfare by incorporating a Code of Ethics. Investigating members that practice outside the Code earns trust and respect, which are the most critical elements in securing an Educational Psychologist’s future. All candidates need to undergo a criminal records check.

Performance, experience, and acquisition of professional qualifications drive career progression. Educational Psychologists may move into a senior position or specialize in a niche area such as autism spectrum disorder or dyspraxia.

Fierce job competition means Educational Psychologists who have good analytical skills and experience will have significantly better job prospects.

Continuing professional development (CPD) is the holistic commitment of Educational Psychologists towards enhancing personal skills and proficiency throughout their active careers through work-based learning, a professional activity, formal education, or self-directed learning. There are many CPD courses, seminars, and workshops to help professionals in the field.

CPD allows individuals to upskill continually, regardless of their age, job, or level of knowledge. It prevents practical and academic qualifications from becoming outdated. It enables practicing Educational Psychologists to identify any knowledge gaps and progress to a new specialism while retaining their accredited registration and licensure.

Ongoing development may include post-qualification courses that help develop your knowledge of different theoretical approaches, professional supervision, and lecturing, teaching, or giving presentations. It may comprise mentoring, supervising or assessing trainees, and developing expertise with a particular age group or a specific condition.

Educational Psychologists focused on research can expect support and additional training from the academic institution or from Vitae, a non-profit global leader with over 50 years’ experience in enhancing researchers’ skills. In partnership with governments, funders of research, academies, professional bodies, trusts & foundations, universities, and research institutes, Vitae offers training, resources, events, consultancy, and membership.

What Brings a Child to an Educational Psychologist?

Children with genetic or environmental conditions that lead to learning difficulties need the intervention of the early-year multi-agency assessment team comprising Educational Psychologists among other professionals.

A preschool or school may highlight a child’s additional support needs during play, normal classroom teaching, or the school’s assessment processes. A teacher may raise concerns with the Educational Psychologist and request additional assessment, advice, or support. A child’s parents or carers must grant full consent for any direct work done with a child.

Concerned parents are entitled to ask the proper educational authority for a specific assessment of their child, including one by an Educational Psychologist.

Assessment - A Continuous Process

The assessment of a child’s additional support needs is part of the day-to-day learning and teaching routine. The information gathered contributes to the planning, action, and review strategies meant to support the child.

Conducting Further Investigation

If further investigation is needed, the Educational Psychologist will talk to the child’s parents and current or previous teachers, analyzing the child’s schoolwork and approach to learning, observing the child in the classroom, considering the child’s emotional and social development and behavior, besides talking to the child.

Assessment Without Direct Child Involvement

Educational Psychologists help schools holistically review children’s needs to enable their full integration into the classroom, school, and community life. They advise headteachers and school staff on setting targets for children’s learning plans but are not responsible for drawing up or implementing those plans.

They provide training in skills to support children with specific needs and enhance the learning of all the students. They also assist schools in communicating a child’s needs to parents and in enabling parent involvement.

Educational Psychologists Have a Wide Outreach

Educational Psychologists also work with families with very young children in early years settings and plan for school-leaving students who may be moving on to employment or further education.

Working in Tandem

Educational Psychologists support educational institutions and learning centers globally by providing crucial information for developing successful learning methods and materials.

Have you ever stood in front of a mirror and rehearsed a presentation or meaningful conversation you were about to have? Science proves this is a helpful method of learning and self-analysis.

Educational Psychologists strive to prove that there’s nothing better than investing in children and their education...that the roots of education are bitter, but the fruits are sweet.

Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world.