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Becoming an Educational Psychologist: Kickstart a Successful Career

Education is the basic right for every human being. But everyone doesn’t learn in the same way. While one child gets a grasp of learning right away, some children struggle to adjust to school. Educational psychologists work with children, parents, and teachers to ensure healthy learning. Therefore, becoming an educational psychologist is engaging with the learning system of people.

If you have interest in becoming an education psychologist, you are in the right place. This article will give a bird’s eye view of the career of an educational psychologist.  So you will look at everything you need to be in order to become an educational psychologist.

Table of Contents

What is Educational Psychology?

Educational psychology is a study and research-related branch of modern psychology. Mainly because it deals with how a human learns and stores knowledge. Thus, it focuses on the learning process of a human being. For becoming an educational psychologist you need to have a wholesome idea of all the areas of Educational psychology.

Furthermore, this is a study of how different factors contribute to human learning. That’s why it also covers the emotional, social and cognitive process of a human. All of which contribute to learning.

Role of educational psychologist

Moreover, educational psychology focuses on understanding a human. They then identify the strength and weaknesses. Hence, this field of study and career plays a great role in academic settings like school and classroom. Educational psychology covers a wide range of topics. Such as:

The focus of educational psychology is on children and adolescents. But as more people are continuing education, the field also focuses on adult learning.

History

You can find a trace of education psychology in  Sir Francis Galton’s work. The work on association and sensory activity. Also, it is in Stanley Hall’s book The Contents of Children’s Minds (1883). 

In the field of educational psychology, Edward Lee Thorndike was the major contributor. He designed a method to test and measure children’s intelligence and their ability to learn. He also published the book itself Educational psychology in 1903. In 1910, he started the Journal of Educational Psychology.

Moreover, areas like cognitive and behavioural psychology is also a part of educational psychology.

What is the Importance of Educational Psychology?

Education has become a complex system. Hence, one school may prefer an interactive learning process. In contrast, another school might follow a strict teacher-oriented classroom. Also, each student behaves and learns differently. Educational psychology, therefore, promotes teaching and learning for every individual. It understands that everyone does not learn in the same way.

Importance of Educational Psychology

For many of us, going to school and achieving educational success is one of the most normal parts of our life. But some people struggle with it. For these people, school and education can be frustrating. In some cases they cause behavioural issues and also lead to illiteracy.

Educational psychology essentially finds the best way to blend in a learning environment. In recent years its major contribution was to help children with learning disabilities. As a result, kids with ADHD, dyslexia, depression, and autism started to get help and learn better. 

Moreover, education psychology looks at the aspect of learning as a whole. It doesn’t stop only inside a classroom. It involves how a person can learn in every situation.

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Take your knowledge to the next level, Get an in-depth understanding of the field of psychology and earn the skills to work in this profession.

What does an Educational Psychologist do?

The educational psychologist (EP) studies the cognitive development of learners. As a result, they analyse our brain, behaviour and the capability to learn. They assist children and the young one in learning. Mainly they help when the child is dealing with: 

An educational psychologist helping a child

For becoming an educational psychologist you need to know their purpose. Therefore, EP applies human development and psychological theory. This is to identify problems and improve emotional and social wellbeing. Firstly, you have to carry out assessments to find the skills and issues of a student. As a result, it enforces a better atmosphere for learning.

Secondly, as an EP, you have to be a researcher, observer, and consultant. You have to do tests and conduct interviews. At the same time, identify the problem of a person. After doing so, you have to give an appropriate solution to overcome the problem. It involves suggesting –

Moreover, you also have to give training on behaviour and stress management. Especially for students who have a learning problem and their parents and teacher. An advanced part of becoming an educational psychologist is doing research. It also includes giving educational solutions and policies.

Thus, various topics that educational psychologists are working on include:

What does an Educational Psychologist Assess?

Becoming an educational psychologist means you have to know lots of test and research techniques. EP work alongside schools, teachers, and specialists to enhance the learning of a child.  So their first task is to identify the needs of the person. As a result, they carry out assessments on the child/person.

Educational Psychologist comforting a child

Educational Psychology Assessment

Educational Psychology assessments are a series of activities and tests. Firstly, this assessment helps to find the learning style, skills, strength, and area of need of a child. The assessment results are useful to provide treatment. Based on it, EP advises teachers and parents, anyone in direct line with the learning process of a child.

Through this assessment, EP can check a child’s behaviours. They also check concentration, attention, attitude, and other factors that affect learning. These findings can be essential to solving the challenges of education. It helps to create a learning profile for children.

The cognitive assessment will measure various processing areas. For example, 

Moreover, the score in each area will indicate ability in the various areas measured. The psychologist ensures the individual is comfortable with them first. Then they begin the assessment. 

Assessment Tools

EP can measure cognitive abilities by Wechsler Intelligence Scale, Fourth Edition (WISC-IV). WISC-IV gives details about an individual IQ and, mainly, the areas of their strength and need. But the assessment results don’t only depend on the measuring system. It also depends on other attainments and observations the psychologist does.

Learning Profile

A learning profile helps to map out information about a child/young person. Firstly, it contains information about both education and their behaviour. The assessments also give IQ scores that estimate the cognitive ability of a person. This score is helpful to process how a child/person will perform in an education environment.

Furthermore, the learning profile helps to create a better understanding of the child. Such as their approaches to a given task and how they react when they fail or get praised.

Use of IQ assessment 

The IQ score helps to get a detailed knowledge of the child’s/young person’s strengths and needs:

What are the Responsibilities of Educational Psychologists?

Some EPs specialise in the educational development of a specific group. So, they work for a single group just like children, adolescents, or adults. In contrast, others focus on particular learning challenges or disabilities of a learner. An educational psychologist acts as a consultant. 

Responsibilities of Educational Psychologists

For becoming an educational psychologist, you need to be prepared for the responsibilities. These responsibilities can be:

Do you Know What you need for becoming an Educational Psychologist?

Educational Psychologists at work

Becoming an educational psychologist needs years of education, training, skill and experience. It can be a demanding and rigorous process. You have to make it a career goal right from the beginning when you start your higher education. 

  • Firstly, you need to earn four years of Bachelor’s Degree in psychology. This degree gives you the deepest insight into fundamental aspects of psychology.
  • Secondly, there are courses you must have while taking the psychology program. These are educational psychology, developmental psychology, and early childhood education.
  • Thirdly, your next move is to carry on with more advanced education. You must take a Master’s Degree in the psychological field.
  • For England, Wales and Northern Ireland, you must have a PhD in educational psychology.
  • You can also apply for chartered membership in the British Psychological Society. You should do so in the division of Educational and Child Psychology.
  • To be a practising educational psychologist, you need a licence. So you have to register under the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC).
  • If you are interested in becoming an educational psychologist, you can take many courses. You can do CPD accredited courses like Psychology and CBT Bundle Course. This course will help you with your EP journey as well when you are developing your career.

Skills and Qualities

You also need to hone many skills to do research, analyse and make a proper diagnosis. The skills and qualities that will help you in your career growth are:

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Take your knowledge to the next level, Get an in-depth understanding of the field of psychology and earn the skills to work in this profession.
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Take your knowledge to the next level, Get an in-depth understanding of the field of psychology and earn the skills to work in this profession.

How Much does an Educational Psychologist Earn?

The average Educational Psychologist salary in the UK is £41,600 per year. Therefore, this makes the monthly salary around £2,650. Hence, it is 41% more than the average pay scale of the UK. The starting salary can begin from £35,700, and the highest salary can exceed £65,000 per year.

An educational psychologist needs to work from Monday to Friday and 37 hours per week. It may vary due to different events and programs at school or institutions.

Employers

An Educational Psychologist might work in:

We are At the End

Finally, a career as an educational psychologist is full of responsibility. But it is also one of high reputation. It also takes lots of hard work and time for becoming an educational psychologist. Here are some fundamental things you need to know about becoming an educational psychologist. To learn more, join in our 

October 25, 2023
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