Definition: School psychologists study the mind, thought processes, and behaviors of school aged children and young adults. School psychologists typically hold at least a masters degree from an accredited training program with supervised internships and must pass a professional examination to obtain certification. School psychologists who are full time employees of public schools are typically certified by a state's department of education. School psychologists in private practice typically have doctoral degrees or work under psychologists with doctoral degrees and are licensed or certified by state boards of psychology. School psychologists' roles may vary from school to school, but most are trained to provide:
- diagnostic assessments;
- counseling for children and their families;
- evaluation of programs;
- behavior intervention; and
- crisis intervention and counseling.
Examples:
School psychologists administer assessments including intelligence tests, educational assessment, behavioral evaluation, adaptive behavior scales, and more.
