Licensed Specialists in School Psychology: How to Become One
If you were to ask a group of licensed specialists in school psychology about how they arrived at their current job, there's a good chance you would get several different answers about the paths and steps that each person took.
That said, there are still ways that you can develop a baseline understanding of the preparation that is necessary to become one.
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has gathered data to provide you with insight into the type of education that's commonly required for licensed specialists in school psychology to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of licensed specialists in school psychology expect candidates to have. In the end, this information will help you create an education or professional development plan that aligns with your career aspirations.
Keep reading to learn more about career steps for licensed specialists in school psychology.
What Education & Experience is Needed for Licensed Specialists in School Psychology?
Do licensed specialists in school psychology need a degree? What kind of experience do licensed specialists in school psychology typically need? Thanks to data sourced from Lightcast™ from real job postings, we can get some clarity on those questions, as well as the level of education that is commonly required for licensed specialists in school psychology to secure jobs.
Education Level Required in Job Postings for Licensed Specialists in School Psychology
Jobs Postings for Licensed Specialists in School Psychology By Education
- Master's degree: 13,247 (44%)
- No Education Listed: 11,792 (39%)
- Ph.D. or professional degree: 3,033 (10%)
- Bachelor's degree: 1,616 (5%)
- High School or GED: 371 (1%)
A master's degree is the level of education sought the most by employers of licensed specialists in school psychology. According to job data, a master's degree was required for 44% of positions. In 39% of job listings no education level was listed and in 10% of postings a ph.d. or professional degree was required.
Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Licensed Specialists in School Psychology
Jobs Postings for Licensed Specialists in School Psychology By Experience
- 0-1 Years: 5,817 (63%)
- 2-3 Years: 2,989 (32%)
- 4-6 Years: 366 (4%)
- 7-9 Years: 35 (0%)
- 10+ Years: 74 (1%)
While the amount of required experience will vary based on the responsibility and seniority of the position, an aggregate view of job posting data can help paint a picture of the experience level sought for most job openings for licensed specialists in school psychology. In 63% of job postings for Licensed Specialists in School Psychology, employers were looking for candidates with 0-1 years of experience. In 32% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience, while 4-6 years of experience was sought in 4% of job postings for licensed specialists in school psychology.
What Kind of Degree Do Licensed Specialists in School Psychology Need?
So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for licensed specialists in school psychology, but what type of education or degree will help prepare you for a career in the field?
According to occupational data obtained through Lightcast,™ there are 10 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective licensed specialists in school psychology, and in 2021 a total of 205,506 of those programs were completed at institutions in the United States.
Check out the information below to learn more about the specific programs that should be considered by prospective licensed specialists in school psychology.
Top Degree Programs for Licensed Specialists in School Psychology
Top 5 Degree Programs for Licensed Specialists in School Psychology (2021)
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Psychology, General. | 140,792 |
| Early Childhood Education and Teaching. | 32,693 |
| Counseling Psychology. | 9,248 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods, Other. | 6,141 |
| Applied Behavior Analysis. | 5,428 |
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Psychology, General. | 140,792 |
| Early Childhood Education and Teaching. | 32,693 |
| Counseling Psychology. | 9,248 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods, Other. | 6,141 |
| Applied Behavior Analysis. | 5,428 |
| Behavioral Sciences. | 4,169 |
| School Psychology. | 3,179 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas, Other. | 2,323 |
| Developmental and Child Psychology. | 1,419 |
| Clinical Child Psychology. | 114 |
What Skills Do Licensed Specialists in School Psychology Need?
Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by licensed specialists in school psychology to secure a job?
A good way to understand this is to examine actual job postings for skills commonly sought by employers. Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for licensed specialists in school psychology, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Licensed Specialists in School Psychology
Based on 26,579 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Licensed Specialists in School Psychology
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| School Psychology | 22,421 | 84% |
| Psychology | 14,569 | 55% |
| Individualized Education Programs (IEP) | 8,915 | 34% |
| Special Education | 5,367 | 20% |
| Student Services | 3,913 | 15% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Licensed Specialists in School Psychology
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communications | 3,790 | 14% |
| Positivity | 2,661 | 10% |
| Research | 2,166 | 8% |
| Planning | 1,892 | 7% |
| Teaching | 1,826 | 7% |
Based on 26,579 job postings related to licensed specialists in school psychology, school psychology was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 84% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for psychology, individualized education programs (iep), special education, student services and child advocacy were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communications was the most desired skill found in job postings for licensed specialists in school psychology, followed by positivity, research, planning, teaching and ethical standards and conduct.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| School Psychology | 22,421 | 84% |
| Psychology | 14,569 | 55% |
| Individualized Education Programs (IEP) | 8,915 | 34% |
| Special Education | 5,367 | 20% |
| Student Services | 3,913 | 15% |
| Child Advocacy | 2,626 | 10% |
| Mental Health | 2,428 | 9% |
| Pediatrics | 1,888 | 7% |
| Psychological Evaluations | 1,875 | 7% |
| Intervention Plans | 1,637 | 6% |
| Disabilities | 1,441 | 5% |
| Social Work | 1,215 | 5% |
| Crisis Intervention | 1,114 | 4% |
| Psychotherapy | 983 | 4% |
| Case Management | 963 | 4% |
| Functional Behavior Assessment | 919 | 3% |
| Educational Psychology | 910 | 3% |
| Preschool Education | 842 | 3% |
| Educational Assessment | 736 | 3% |
| Loans | 719 | 3% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communications | 3,790 | 14% |
| Positivity | 2,661 | 10% |
| Research | 2,166 | 8% |
| Planning | 1,892 | 7% |
| Teaching | 1,826 | 7% |
| Ethical Standards And Conduct | 1,672 | 6% |
| Problem Solving | 1,362 | 5% |
| Writing | 1,210 | 5% |
| Management | 1,168 | 4% |
| Leadership | 1,127 | 4% |
| Report Writing | 1,118 | 4% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 1,013 | 4% |
| Advocacy | 978 | 4% |
| Multilingualism | 976 | 4% |
| Consulting | 945 | 4% |
| English Language | 867 | 3% |
| Mentorship | 805 | 3% |
| Coordinating | 792 | 3% |
| Verbal Communication Skills | 673 | 3% |
| Spanish Language | 613 | 2% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information about licensed specialists in school psychology? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for licensed specialists in school psychology.
What do licensed specialists in school psychology do?
How much do licensed specialists in school psychology make?
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