How to become a school psychologist

1. 1Earn a bachelor's degree in psychology or education

   Time: 4 yearsCost: Varies by collegeSources 4

   Graduate programs in school psychology do not require a specific major, but most admitted students majored in psychology, education, child development or a social science. Take courses in developmental psychology, statistics, abnormal psychology and learning. Experience with children helps your application: tutoring, working as a paraprofessional or behavior technician, summer camp jobs, or volunteering in a classroom. Some programs still ask for GRE scores, so check each one.

2. 2Choose a NASP-approved specialist or doctoral program

   Time: During senior yearCost: Application fees varySources 4, 2

   NASP says more than 200 US universities offer school psychology programs. Look for NASP approval or accreditation: graduates of those programs have the most direct route to the NCSP, and many states build their credential rules around NASP standards. Specialist-level programs lead to an Ed.S., Psy.S. or similar degree. Doctoral programs (Ph.D. or Psy.D.) add research and are needed if you want to teach at a university or hold a state psychology license.

3. 3Complete coursework and practicum

   Time: About 2 yearsCost: Graduate tuitionSources 2, 4

   The NCSP standard calls for at least 60 graduate semester hours (90 quarter hours), with at least 54 of them outside internship credit. Courses cover psychological and educational assessment, academic and behavioral interventions, counseling and consultation, special education law, ethics and work with diverse students. Practicum placements in schools let you give tests and run interventions under supervision before the internship year.

4. 4Finish a 1,200-hour internship

   Time: 1 school yearCost: Often low-paid or unpaidSources 2

   The internship is a full school year of supervised work, at least 1,200 hours, with at least 600 of them in a school setting. Interns carry a real caseload of evaluations, IEP meetings, counseling and consultation under a credentialed school psychologist. Some districts pay interns a stipend; many do not, so plan your finances for this year.

5. 5Pass the Praxis School Psychologist exam

   Time: A few weeks of studyCost: $156Sources 3, 2

   The Praxis School Psychologist (5403) exam from ETS is a computer-delivered test with 125 questions, mostly selected-response and a time limit of 2 hours 5 minutes. It covers data-based decision making, consultation, academic and mental health interventions, school safety, family collaboration and legal and ethical practice. NASP requires a score of 155 for the NCSP; states that use the test set their own passing scores. Scores stay valid for NCSP purposes for 10 years.

6. 6Get your state credential and consider the NCSP

   Time: 1 to 3 monthsCost: State and NCSP feesSources 5, 6, 2

   Apply to your state's education agency for a school psychologist certificate or license; rules on degree, internship and exam differ by state. Many states accept or align with the NCSP, so applying for it soon after graduating can simplify a later move. Graduates of NASP-approved programs keep that faster route only if they apply within 10 years of finishing. Use the CareerOneStop License Finder to see your state's exact requirements.

Programs, tuition and graduates’ earnings

U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard (most recent cohorts, released 2026-10-15). Scorecard groups programs by 4-digit field, so a row can include related programs. Tuition is the median published undergraduate tuition and fees of the colleges offering the program (shown only for undergraduate credentials); debt is the median of programs’ median federal loan debt at completion; earnings are the national median for the field and credential four years after completion.

Requirements differ by state. Check your state’s rules in the CareerOneStop License Finder (U.S. Department of Labor) before you enroll.

Test administration and interpretation

Eligibility for special education often rests on how accurately you give standardized tests and explain what the scores do and do not show.

Clear report writing

Parents, teachers and sometimes lawyers read your evaluation reports, so findings and recommendations must be plain and defensible.

Calm in conflict

IEP meetings can be tense when parents and districts disagree, and you need to keep the discussion focused on the student.

Knowledge of special education law

Evaluations follow federal and state timelines and rules, and missing them can lead to formal complaints.

Rapport with children

A nervous or defiant child will not show what they can do on a test unless they trust the person giving it.

O*NET 31.0 rates these skills as most important for the occupation: reading comprehension, speaking, active listening, writing, critical thinking.

Training cost

$45.7K–$133K

Before financial aid

Time

7 to 9 years after high school

Typical path

Median pay

$95,990

All US jobs: $50,980

Payback once qualified

1.0–2.9 yrs

Pay above the all-jobs median vs. cost

Based on borrowing, not sticker price, because College Scorecard groups school psychology with clinical, counseling and applied psychology. Low: median federal loan debt for master's-level graduates in that field, $45,566, plus the Praxis School Psychologist fee of $156. High: median federal loan debt for doctoral graduates in the same field, $132,586, plus the same $156. Not included: the bachelor's degree, the NCSP application fee, state credential fees and living costs during the unpaid or low-paid internship.

Rough guide only: ignores taxes, aid, interest and earnings given up during training. How we calculate it.

• Psychologist$100,580 median

  Earn a doctorate, complete the supervised hours your state psychology board requires and pass the licensing exam to practice independently.

• School principal$105,870 median

  Some school psychologists move into special education director or principal roles after earning an administrator credential, which in many states requires an education leadership program.

• School counselor$64,330 median

  A school counseling credential usually requires a master's in school counseling; some of your coursework may transfer.

• Marriage and family therapist$66,940 median

  Requires a graduate degree in marriage and family therapy or a related field, post-degree supervised hours and a state license.