School Psychologist Degree

A school psychologist degree enables professionals to treat the mental health of students. Most school psychologists treat middle or high school students, although some are treating younger students. As a relatively young field of study, school psychologists must be prepared to adapt and be flexible in their career and workplace.

A professional looking to become a school psychologist should be an excellent listener. They should be able to remember many names and faces easily. Similar to other medical professionals, a school psychologist needs to be able to separate their professional life from their personal life. They may hear or see disturbing things from students at times. They cannot allow it to affect how well they treat students. A school psychologist must be able to treat every student equally without bias. They must be able to keep their work completely confidential as well.

The state requirements for a school psychologist degree can vary widely. Most states require that professionals have a specialist degree or a state-approved equivalent. At minimum, the requirements for a school psychologist typically are:

• 2 to 3 years of graduate school (at least 60 credit hours)
• 1 year internship
• Licensing by a state agency

National certification is an emerging requirement. As of 2009, at least 18 states required that school psychologists receive certification from a national agency. The requirements for national certification were typically fulfilled by the 1 year internship if it met certain conditions.

School psychology curriculum covers both education and psychology subjects. Some possible courses include:

• Child development
• Child psychology
• Clinical psychology
• Developmental psychology
• Psychology

After graduation, school psychologists will need to apply for some sort of credential or license in most states. Without this, they will not be able to practice. Some states also require the passing of an ethics examination. At least 31 states allow school psychologists to use the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) standard in place of a state license.

The NASP has created the Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP) certification. It is a nationally-recognized certification. Receiving the NCSP certification allows school psychologists to move between states that accept the NCSP without retaking examinations to practice. The NCSP requires that school psychologists have:

60 credit hours in school psychology coursework
1,200 hours in an approved internship (600 hours of the internship must be done in a school)
Passing the National School Psychology Examination

With 31 states recognizing the NCSP certification, school psychologists who are working as consultants or who move frequently should apply for it. Otherwise they will need to retake an examination to practice every time they move into a different state.