School Psychologist vs. School Counselor: What’s the Difference?

Schools do more than educate. They also provide students with resources to help them navigate some of life’s greatest challenges – from academic, social, and career development to personal and emotional growth. 

Two of the most powerful resources for students are school psychologists and school counselors. Both provide support to students who are struggling against obstacles that affect their well-being or academic performance. However, while school psychologists vs. school counselors share some overlapping roles, there are also important distinctions in terms of their tasks, education, and training requirements. For example, California school psychologists are required to hold a qualifying Master’s degree, although this requirement does not apply to educational counselors as of 2024.  

Table of Contents

• Defining the Roles
• Key Differences Between School Psychologists vs School Counselors
• Common Skills and Competencies
• Career Opportunities and Outlook
• Overlap and Collaboration Between the Roles
• Accredited Online Degree Programs

So, which path is best for you, and how should you prepare? 

In this guide to educational counseling and school psychology, we’ll explain what school psychologists and counselors do, compare their educational requirements, and highlight some essential skills for each profession. We’ll also take a look at some salary data and job growth projections, which are based on the latest updates from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Defining the Roles

Before we dive into the differences between the two, let’s begin by clearly defining the roles of a school psychologist compared to a school counselor within the PK-12 education system.

What is a School Psychologist? 

A school psychologist is a licensed mental health professional whose chief role is to support the psychological and emotional well-being of students. Some of their usual tasks — which we’ll return to in more depth later in this guide — include conducting psychological assessments of students, developing interventions, and providing therapy to address learning and behavioral issues.

School psychologists work closely with teachers, parents, and school administrators, such as superintendents, to create inclusive, effective learning environments that address students’ needs and help them to thrive. While school counselors generally serve the entire student population, school psychologists serve individual students who need ongoing support with specific issues like grief, trauma, depression, anxiety, or bullying.

What is a School Counselor? 

A school counselor is a professional trained to provide students with personalized guidance and support in various areas, including academics, career development, and social development. 

For example, they may help students explore potential career paths, cope with social challenges like peer pressure, learn strategies for overcoming academic difficulties, and ultimately, achieve personal growth. In addition to providing individual guidance, they may also offer group workshops or other resources that teach students strategies for managing their time, achieving their goals, boosting their self-esteem, and dealing with challenges in a positive way. 

In contrast to school psychologists, who serve limited numbers of students, school counselors generally work with entire student populations. Another important contrast is that, unlike psychologists, counselors do not diagnose students or provide therapy services. 

Key Differences Between School Psychologists vs School Counselors

Although their job titles might sound similar, there are significant differences between school counselors and school psychologists. Not only do they each perform different tasks, they’re also required to meet different education and training requirements. 

Read on to learn more about the key distinctions between educational counselors and school psychologists, including their scope of practice, typical work environments, essential skills required, recent salary data, and job growth projections for the coming decade. 

Scope of Practice 

• School Psychologist — A school psychologist’s scope of practice is more specific than that of a school counselor. They focus on conducting psychological assessments, diagnosing learning disabilities, and providing interventions for behavioral and emotional issues. They often conduct evaluations for special education services and work on crisis intervention teams.

• School Counselor — A school counselor focuses broadly on the full spectrum of students’ well-being, including academic advising, career guidance, social development, and emotional development. They assist students with course selection, college and career planning, and personal challenges, such as peer relationships and stress management.

Work Settings

• School Psychologist — According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the vast majority of school psychologists work in elementary and secondary schools (over 53,000), with much smaller numbers employed by educational support services (3,650) or colleges and universities (1,330). Of all US states, California has the highest employment level for school psychologists (11,150), followed distantly by New York (7,280) and Texas (6,180). 

• School Counselor — BLS data indicates that most school counselors — about 39% — work for “local elementary and secondary schools,” followed by “state and local junior colleges, colleges, universities, and professional schools” (24%), and “private junior colleges, colleges, universities, and professional schools” (14%). Smaller numbers — 6% and 5%, respectively — work for private elementary schools or “other private educational services.”   

Tasks and Responsibilities

• School Psychologist — Typical responsibilities include conducting psychological assessments, developing individualized education programs (IEPs), and providing ongoing mental health counseling.

• School Counselor — Counselors’ main responsibilities generally include academic advising, career counseling, coordinating college applications, and leading workshops on topics like bullying prevention and healthy techniques for stress management.

Educational and Training Requirements

• School Psychologist: The entry-level degree for school psychologists is a master’s degree; however, California regulations also allow individuals to pursue advanced education to further their expertise. Two relevant options are:

• Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (PhD-PSY) – This program is offered nationally, is 100% online, and does not lead to licensure. It focuses on advanced psychological principles without requiring in-person training.
• Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) – This is an APA-accredited program, offered in-person and available only in California. It provides rigorous training in psychology, education, and child development, as well as supervised clinical experience necessary for licensure. For the PsyD, you will complete at least 3,000 hours of supervised clinical experience, a requirement to obtain and maintain licensure in California.

• School Counselor: Becoming a counselor generally requires you to hold a master’s degree, either in educational counseling or a closely related field like adolescent psychology. Programs include coursework in counseling techniques, educational psychology, and career development, along with supervised internships and fieldwork experience components. Earning your master’s degree is just one step of California’s counselor credentialing requirements, which are administered by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC). In addition to earning your master’s degree, you’ll also need to complete a fingerprint scan and obtain a formal recommendation from the faculty of a CTC-approved program. Meeting these requirements will enable you to earn your Pupil Personnel Services (PPS) Credential. 

Common Skills and Competencies 

Whether you intend to become a psychologist or counselor, you’ll need to develop a complex set of hard and soft skills to equip you to perform your duties efficiently, effectively, and ethically. Here are some essential skills to focus on building — and keeping sharp. 

School Psychologist

• Knowledge of best practices for conducting psychological assessments 
• Understand the latest criteria for various diagnoses
• Familiarity with effective behavioral intervention strategies
• Strong communication skills, which are important for successful collaboration with educators, parents, and administrators
• Skills for crisis intervention and mental health counseling, like understanding effective ways to reframe or restructure negative thought patterns 

School Counselor

• Knowledge of methods and best practices for academic advising and career counseling
• Group counseling and workshop facilitation skills, like public speaking, conflict resolution, and time management  
• College and career readiness planning skills, including having developed excellent organizational skills and effective communication with students
• Soft skills to provide social-emotional counseling, including active listening and demonstrating empathy   

Career Opportunities and Outlook 

Get an at-a-glance comparison of school counselors vs. school psychologists, including work environments, earning potential, and job growth forecasts, along with several related career paths you might be interested in exploring. 

School Psychologist 

• Career Paths — School psychologists are the most direct career match for a school psychology degree. However, there are also other career paths that you can explore with this type of educational background, including Behavioral Specialist, Crisis Intervention Specialist, or Special Education Coordinator.
• Work Environment — School psychologists typically work in PK-12 schools, but may also be employed by school districts, educational service agencies, or colleges and universities. Some school psychologists enter into private practice, which requires earning a doctorate degree and completing at least 3,000 supervised experience hours. 
• Earning Potential — According to the BLS, the average salary for a school psychologist is $91,990 per year, while the median is $84,940. The three highest-paying states for school psychologists are Colorado ($111,720 average), California ($109,830), and New Mexico ($106,940). 
• Job Growth Outlook — The BLS projects 10% growth in this field from 2021 to 2031.

School Counselor 

• Career Paths — Other than becoming a PK-12 school counselor, some related careers to explore include College Counselor, Career Advisor, or Student Support Specialist.
• Work Environment — School counselors usually work in settings like K-12 public and private schools, colleges or universities, and career centers. For example, the experienced counselors at National University Career Services help students and alumni connect with opportunities like career fairs, online workshops, and employer information sessions. 
• Earning Potential — According to the BLS, school counselors earn a median salary of $61,710 per year, with the top 10% earning more than $100,000 annually.
• Job Growth Outlook — The BLS projects 4% growth in this field, keeping pace with the national average, over the period from 2023 to 2033.

Overlap and Collaboration Between the Roles 

While a school psychologist vs. school counselor may have different responsibilities, there are also a few ways in which these complementary roles overlap. 

Collaborative Efforts 

School psychologists and school counselors often work collaboratively, with school counselors offering general support for the entire student body, while school psychologists provide specialized services for students with more complex needs. For example, they may work together to identify students who need additional support, develop intervention strategies, and communicate with parents and educators.  

Shared Goals 

Ultimately, school counselors and psychologists share the same long-term goals: promoting students’ well-being, empowering their academic success, and fostering a more positive and inclusive learning climate. By playing complementary roles, school psychologists and counselors ensure that students have a holistic support system. 

When choosing between these paths, think about your strengths and attributes, skills you want to cultivate, what your salary requirements look like, how much education you want to complete, and what age groups you’d most like to serve. Answering these questions thoroughly and honestly can help you better determine a rewarding career path and the studies to help you get there.

Here are a few professional organizations that can serve as helpful resources when you begin applying to programs and seeking out work opportunities: 

• American School Counselor Association (ASCA) 
• American Psychological Association (APA)
• American Counseling Association (ACA) 
• Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (ACES)
• California Association of School Psychologists (CASP)
• National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) 

Accredited Online Degree Programs in Educational Counseling and Psychology

If you’re passionate about helping students overcome their challenges, achieve their goals, and develop positive life skills, consider a career in the field of educational counseling or psychology. Take the first step by earning your degree at National University. 

National University offers flexible online and on-campus programs that fit your busy lifestyle and let you learn at times that are most convenient for you, including nights and weekends. Some of our most popular accredited master’s degree programs include the MS in Educational Counseling with PPS Credential, the MS in School Psychology with PPS Credential, and the MS in Child and Adolescent Developmental Psychology. Our psychology programs are accredited by organizations including the American Psychological Association (APA) and Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), and follow the National Association of School Psychology (NASP) practice model, ensuring that coursework meets rigorous standards within the mental health field. 

With accelerated four-week courses, financial aid packages for qualified students, and the option to complete your program 100% online, National University can help you chart your path to success. Request program information, or apply online today.