Educational psychologist
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An educational psychologist is a
Specific facts
Specific functions
There are four specific functions that are the essence of educational psychology. These are evaluation, psychological counseling, communitarian interventions, and referral to other professionals.
A second function, very relevant too, is psychological counseling.
A third function is based on communitarian interventions, with three main facets: corrective, preventative, and optimizing interventions.[12][13][14][15] If disruptive behavior occurs in particular moments and contexts, then a corrective intervention is required. If the aim is school violence reduction, then tertiary preventive intervention programs are needed. If an early diagnosis of learning difficulties is carried out, then psychologist has undertaken secondary prevention. If the aim is to use psycho-educational programs to prevent future school failure, then a primary preventative intervention program is put into practice. The complement to all of these interventions is constituted by a series of optimizing activities, meant for the academic, professional, social, family, and personal improvement of all agents in an educational community, especially learners.
A fourth function, or specific activity, is a referral of those with dysfunctions to other professionals, following a previous diagnostic evaluation, with the aim to coordinate future treatment implementation. This coordination will take place with parents, teachers, and other professionals, promoting collaboration among all educational agents in order to get the fastest and best case resolution. This second triangle represents the essential components of school psychology, for some European researchers or division 16 of APA.
Academic requirements
Recently a specific Doctoral degree (Masters in Scotland) is generally required for the professional preparation of educational psychologists in the UK. In this Doctorate in Educational Psychology, it is essential the main course which prepares educational psychologists for carrying out a diagnostic and psycho-educational assessment, psychological counseling to the educational communities, and all types of communitarian interventions (corrective, preventive and optimizing). Trainees also develop external professional practices (where the specific coordination, evaluation, counseling, and intervention functions will be put into practice) on placement in local authorities, as well as a final thesis. Equally, there are a series of theoretical areas that, due to their relevancy in the teaching/learning contexts, should be included, such as: classroom diversity, drug-dependency prevention, developmental disorders, learning difficulties, new technologies applied to educational contexts, and data analysis and interpretation. In sum, taking into account all of this, perhaps educational psychologists will be able to meet adequately the demands found in different educational institutions.
The following qualifications are required: an undergraduate degree in psychology (or approved postgraduate conversion course which confers the BPS Graduate Basis for Registration) and a BPS accredited Doctorate in Educational Psychology (3 years), or, for Scotland only, an accredited master's degree in Educational Psychology. Whilst teaching experience is relevant, it is no longer an entry requirement. At least one year's full-time experience working with children in educational, childcare, or community settings is required, and for some courses, this may be two years' experience.
To use the term Educational Psychologist in the UK, one will need to be registered with the Health Care Professionals Council (HCPC), which involves completing a course (Doctorate or Masters) approved by the HCPC.[16]
In the United States
In the most basic sense of standards for education requirements in the United States, an educational psychologist needs a bachelor's degree, followed by a master's degree, and commonly finishing with a PhD or a PsyD in Educational Psychology.[17] Specifically in California, an educational psychologist candidate (commonly referred to as a LEP or Licensed Educational Psychologist) must have a minimum of a master's degree in psychology or a related field in educational psychology. This degree must be coupled with a minimum of three years of experience, including two years as a credential school psychologist and one year of supervised professional experience in an accredited school psychology program. After completing these requirements, a candidate will then take an LEP examination to determine if the applicant will be approved.[18][19] These requirements are widely accepted by the Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) and are considered the common standard.[20] States may have varying standards, but the aforementioned standards are a commonality when working in a school setting. Another route that can be followed is in the research field. It involves many of the same standards without the direct link of being in a school setting.[17] Those with a research setting are typically employed through a university and do research based on their own and others' findings. They may also teach at the university in their respective field.[21]
Handbooks, application forms, and board reviews can be found at various websites:
- http://apadiv15.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Division15Bylaws2012.pdf
- http://www.bbs.ca.gov/pdf/forms/lep/lepapp.pdf
- http://www.caspwebcasts.org/new/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=325&Itemid=140
Job availability/outlook and salary
The average salary of an educational psychologist is variable dependent on where the psychologist depends on practicing. In a school setting, the professional can expect to make around $68,000 a year; however, these professionals are commonly
Job outlook in the field of educational psychology is considered in good condition. By national estimates (US) growth in the field ranges from 11 to 15% between 2006 and 2022.[24] A report released in 2006 the rate of growth was listed as 15% from 2006 to 2016,[22] and a separate report released put the growth percentage at a modest 11% from 2012 to 2022. Considering most job outlook growth percentages of the time, educational psychologists had the highest in the psychology field and was also considered the highest amongst all occupations at the time of its release in 2006.[22]
See also
- Child development
- Competency evaluation
- Counseling psychology
- Developmental psychology
- Educational evaluation
- E learning
- Evidence-based education
- Learning curve
- Learning difficulties (disambiguation)
- Learning styles
- Learning theory (disambiguation)
- Learning theory (education)
- Performance evaluation
- Program evaluation
- Psychological testing
- School counselor
- Special education
References
- ^ Cameron, R. J. (2006). Educational psychology: The distinctive contribution. Educational Psychology in Practice, 22, 289-304.
- ISBN 978-0-932955-71-5.
- ISBN 978-1-4129-2669-0.
- ISBN 978-0-415-80461-5.
- ISBN 978-0-471-38406-9.
- ^ Wittrock, M. C. (1992). «An empowering conception of educational psychology». Educational Psychologist, 27, 129-141.
- ISBN 978-0-8058-3682-0.
- ISBN 0-674-22457-4.
- ISBN 978-84-7491-943-1.
- ^ Watkins, M. W., Crosby, E. G., & Pearson, J. L. (2001). Role of the school psychologist: Perceptions of school staff. School Psychology International, 22, 64-73.
- ISBN 978-0-8058-5336-0.
- ^ Burns, M. K., Codding, R. S., Boice, C. H., & Lukito, G. (2010). Meta-analysis of acquisition and fluency math interventions with instructional and frustration level skills: Evidence for a skill-by-treatment interaction. School Psychology Review, 39, 69-83.
- ^ Fuchs, L. S., & Fuchs, D. (1986). Linking assessment to instructional intervention: An overview. School Psychology Review, 15,318-323.
- ISBN 978-0-521-58573-6.
- ISBN 978-0-12-704150-6.
- ^ "Educational psychologist job profile - Prospects.ac.uk".
- ^ a b c "How To Become an Educational Psychologist - Education Requirements - Salary Data - CareersinPsychology.org".
- ^ Sciences, California Board of Behavioral. "Licensed Educational Psychologist (LEP) Requirements - California Board of Behavioral Sciences".
- ^ "LICENSED EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGIST APPLICATION PACKET" (PDF).
- ^ "Common Questions". Archived from the original on June 10, 2004.
- ^ "Educational Psychology - College of Education and Human Ecology".
- ^ a b c d "Educational Psychology Salary & Growth Potential". 2 April 2021.
- ^ "Educational Psychologist Salary - Indeed.com".
- ^ a b "Educational Psychology: Job Description, Salary and Outlook".
- ^ Household income in the United States#Median inflation-adjusted .28.22real.22.29 household income
External links
- British Psychological Society
- Division 15 of the American Psychological Association
- Division 16 of the American Psychological Association
- Journal of Educational Psychology
- National Association of Principal Educational Psychologists
- National Educational Psychological Service
- Northern Arizona University Educational Psychology program
- Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing