Growing up is not easy. All
children and adolescents face problems from time to time. They may have
fears about starting school, manage their time poorly, fall behind in
schoolwork, or consider dropping out of school. They may be upset about
family events such as divorce or death, experience anxiety or depression,
think about suicide, experiment with drugs or alcohol, or worry about
their sexuality. School psychologists are there to help parents, educators,
and community members understand and address these concerns. School
psychologists are well prepared to do this because they: understand
how schools work and how children learn, provide easily accessible and
cost-effective mental health services to children, and promote positive
mental health and a safe and effective learning environment.
School psychologists have
specialized training in both psychology and education. They use their
training and skills to team with educators, parents, and other mental
health professionals to ensure that every child learns in a safe, healthy,
and supportive environment. School psychologists understand school systems,
effective teaching, and successful learning. Today’s children
face more challenges than ever before. School psychologists can provide
solutions for tomorrow’s problems through thoughtful and positive
actions today.
The training requirements
to become a school psychologist are a minimum of 60 graduate semester
hours, completed across two years of coursework, and a yearlong internship.
This training emphasizes preparation in mental health, child development,
school organization, learning, behavior, and motivation. To work as
a school psychologist, one must be certified and/or licensed by the
state in which services are provided. A school psychologist also may
be certified by the National School Psychology Certification Board (NSPCB)
and become a Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP).
While an undergraduate degree
in psychology is not necessary for graduate study in school psychology,
most graduate programs recommend individuals have at least fifteen hours
of psychology coursework. Classes that are often recommended are child
psychology, adolescent psychology, exceptional child, psychology of
abnormal behavior, social psychology, statistics, learning, cognitive
psychology, and educational psychology.
What is a School Psychologist?
Frequently Asked Questions about School Psychology
Selecting
a School Psychology Graduate Program
NASP-Approved School Psychology Graduate Programs
Tips
for Graduate Study in School Psychology
