School Psychologist: Degree, Pay and Outlook

BLS describes the work this way:

“School psychologists study strategies to address educational, behavioral, or developmental problems that impact students’ learning. They may design and implement performance plans, evaluate performance, and counsel students and families. They may consult with teachers, administrators, and other educators.”

BLS OOH, Psychologists: What Psychologists Do, types of psychologists

APA has recognized school psychology as a specialty since 1998, and describes it like this:

“School Psychology, a general practice of Health Service Psychology, is concerned with children, youth, families, and the schooling process.”

APA, School Psychology (last updated May 2022)

NASP lists the duties as identifying and addressing learning and behavior challenges, supporting positive mental health and social-emotional growth, using data to improve schools' teaching and learning strategies, strengthening family-school partnerships, promoting equity and inclusion in education, and providing crisis prevention and response services (NASP).

NASP says most school psychologists work in public K–12 schools, and many also serve in early childhood programs and preschools, private and charter schools, school district offices, colleges and universities, mental health centers, hospitals, community agencies and private practice (NASP). It adds that in most cases state education agency credentials limit the scope of practice to the school setting, PK-12, which generally includes contractual work and private schools (NASP).

BLS's wage survey shows the same concentration. These five industries employ the most school psychologists:

A doctorate is optional for a school psychologist; most states ask for a specialist-level degree. NASP says:

“Most states require a minimum of a specialist-level degree in school psychology (i.e., minimum of 60 graduate semester hours, including a full-time internship year). No state requires a doctoral degree to practice as a school psychologist.”

NASP, State Credentialing FAQs

The specialist-level degree is considered the entry-level degree in school psychology. No state or territory requires more than a specialist-level degree (NASP). The steps, in order:

1. Earn a bachelor's degree. BLS says applicants to graduate-level psychology programs typically have a bachelor's degree in a field such as psychology, education, or social science (BLS).
2. Complete a school psychology program. Most programs include at least three years of graduate study and a 1,200-hour internship, with 600 hours completed in a school setting (NASP). School psychologists typically need at least a master’s degree in school psychology. Other degrees for school psychologists include education specialist (Ed.S.) and doctoral (Ph.D. or Psy.D.) degrees (BLS).
3. Earn the state credential. To practice in the United States, school psychologists must be state certified or licensed. In most states, the State Education Agency (SEA) credentials school psychologists for practice in the schools, with the exceptions of Texas and Hawaii (NASP).
4. Pass the required exam. Approximately half of state school psychology credentials, as well as the NCSP credential, require a passing score on the Praxis #5403 (NASP).
5. Consider the national certificate. Many also earn NASP’s Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP) credential, which recognizes advanced professional preparation and competence. This is a non-practice credential, meaning that it does not, in itself, permit you to practice school psychology in any state (NASP).

Degree Levels Compared

NASP's overview of the three degree levels in school psychology gives these credit hours and times to graduation (NASP, April 2017):

• Master’s level: less than 60 graduate semester hours; typically around 36 hours. Time to graduation: typically requires 2 years of full time study at the graduate level.
• Specialist level: a minimum of 60 graduate semester hours (or 90 quarter hours). Time to graduation: typically requires a minimum of 3 years of full-time study at the graduate level, including internship.
• Doctoral level: a minimum of 90 graduate semester hours. Time to graduation: typically 5 to 6 years of full-time study at the graduate level, including internship.

A doctorate is a choice here, not the gate. NASP's overview says the doctoral degree opens more doors:

“The doctoral degree allows for a broader range of career options in schools, private or independent practice, clinics, hospitals, or research/academia. Individuals with a doctoral degree may experience greater eligibility for various credentials.”

NASP, Overview of Differences Among Degrees in School Psychology (April 2017), Career Options row, doctoral-level

The independent-practice point matters most. In most states, the State Education Agency (SEA) school psychology credentials do not permit private/independent practice. Some school psychologists may qualify for different certification or licensure, however, through the psychology board or other related credentialing agencies in the state that permit private/independent practice (NASP). A PsyD is a degree, and a psychology board license is a separate step with its own exams, covered in the licensure guide.

Readers who choose the doctorate can start from the PsyD programs accredited in school psychology, where 19 ranked programs hold APA accreditation in school psychology, alone or in a combined area.

BLS publishes pay for school psychologists as their own occupation, School Psychologists (SOC 19-3034).

The bands are percentiles of the wage distribution, not years of experience.

Median Pay for School Psychologists in the Five Largest States

“Employment of school psychologists is projected to continue to grow because of an increased awareness of the connection between mental health and learning. These workers also will likely be needed to help students whose educational, behavioral, or developmental issues affect the ability to learn. Projected declines over the decade in the school-age demographic and student enrollment may limit demand for school psychologists in elementary and secondary schools.”

BLS OOH, Psychologists: Job Outlook, Employment

For psychologists as a whole BLS projects 6 percent growth from 2025 to 2035. The job counts above come from BLS Employment Projections, which include self-employed workers, and run slightly differently from the wage and salary count in the pay section.

A school psychologist can enter the job without a doctorate, and readers who want one have 19 of the 117 ranked programs to compare. Each holds APA accreditation in school psychology or a combined area that includes it. See the ranking of school psychology PsyD programs or the APA-accredited PsyD programs ranked nationally. The methodology page explains the score that orders them.