What is Educational Psychology?

Today’s school systems are increasingly complex. While teachers do their best to provide students with a comprehensive education, not every child learns the same way. But making an individualized lesson plan for each student would be an overwhelming, time-consuming task for teachers.

That is where educational psychologists come in.

Educational psychologists have the expertise to recognize learning disabilities and enhance learning environments so students are set up to succeed and reach their full potential.

If you are considering a career in Educational Psychology, you are in the right place. But what is educational psychology, exactly? This guide contains everything you need to know about the field and the PsyD in Educational Psychology offered at Alliant University.

Key Takeaways

• Educational psychology involves studying how people learn, with the goal of improving the process and outcomes.
• The career is dynamic and varied, with job opportunities in K-12 schools, universities, government agencies, clinics, and more.
• To become an educational psychologist, you must obtain at least a master’s degree and be licensed by your state.

Defining Educational Psychology

Educational psychology is the scientific study of human learning. Educational psychologists research a wide range of topics relating to the learning process, such as cognition, memory, motivation, and intelligence, within educational settings.

Even though learning is a lifelong process, most educational psychologists focus on school-aged children. These professionals study how children learn, absorb, and retain information in an educational environment. They often look beyond the classroom to consider a child’s home life, social life, and stage of development, as well as individual differences that might affect their progress.

As a discipline, educational psychology is overseen by the American Psychological Association (APA), which sets rigorous standards for practicing psychologists. For this reason, many educational psychologists complete an APA-accredited psychology program. They then use their findings to improve educational environments through effective teaching strategies.

Subjects of Interest

 Broadly speaking, educational psychologists are interested in the following topics:

• Teaching and testing methods
• Classroom environments
• Gifted learners
• Learning disabilities
• Academic outcomes
• Social impacts on motivation and learning
• Behavioral problems that may impact learning

What is the Goal of Educational Psychology?

For educational psychologists, the overarching goal is simple: To enhance the effectiveness of a learning institution and support its students.

Educational psychologists gain a deep understanding of psychological principles and child development through an EdS in School Psychology or another related program. They use this knowledge to determine the success rate of a school’s educational programs, then work to improve learning outcomes for students of various backgrounds and individual learning abilities.

What Is the Difference Between a School Counselor and an Educational Psychologist?

When you have an educational psychology degree, many career paths become available, including the role of a school counselor or an educational psychologist. While the goals of these two professions overlap, their roles are quite different in practice.

School Counselor

School counselors work directly with students through counseling sessions and organized school programs. While they support students academically and advocate for positive change in the learning environment, they also focus on students’ emotional and social well-being. They are well-versed in counseling psychology.

Their scope of duties is broad, but they tend to work closely with students each day.

Educational Psychologist

Rather than supporting students with emotional guidance and advice, educational psychologists examine schools on a macro level. Their job is to observe, analyze, and improve academic systems.

Educational psychologists use their leadership skills and insights to modify the school’s teaching, testing methods, and classroom management policies so students can succeed. This often involves the integration of educational technology to modernize the curriculum.

Both roles aim to support the student population. Children who struggle academically can benefit from the work of school counselors and educational psychologists, just in different ways. So, schools often employ both types of professionals to optimize student success.

What Do Educational Psychologists Do?

Schools hire educational psychologists to observe and analyze their learning environments. After conducting assessments, educational psychologists guide teachers and administrators on how to enhance learning outcomes or address learning disabilities. They may also explore how students can acquire new skills through interactive platforms.

Below are some of the specific functions of an educational psychologist.

Research

If an educational psychologist has a doctorate, they are qualified to conduct educational research. To grow the available body of information, these trained professionals study learning and related topics. For example, they might research dyslexia, ADHD, or gifted learners. They use this research to develop new learning methods and teaching tactics for schools.

Educational Evaluation

Some schools hire educational psychologists to analyze their teaching methods and to test their students’ comprehension of the material. Thanks to their expertise, educational psychologists may be able to pinpoint areas that need improvement. They will then help teachers and administrators implement these changes.

Instructional Design

Educational psychologists are also trained to develop new teaching and testing methods, including lesson plans, exams, textbooks, and more. They construct these tools with students’ learning capabilities in mind.

For instance, an educational psychologist might create a new type of test that is better suited to children with learning disabilities. They may also explore how new technologies, such as electronic games, can enhance the learning experience.

One-on-One Sessions

To assist specific students with behavioral, emotional, or learning-related concerns, educational psychologists may examine them in one-on-one sessions. Based on their observations and with support from the child’s teachers and parents, they can develop a formal plan to help the student improve and succeed academically.

A Day in the Life of an Educational Psychologist

For educational psychologists, every day is different. Painting a picture of the “typical day” is almost impossible.

That said, most educational psychologists deal with similar tasks throughout the day. Below is a sample schedule:

• The morning: Educational psychologists may begin their workday with assessments and observations. A classroom visit might be followed by a one-on-one student interview or testing. Before lunch, the psychologist may review the data they collected.

• The afternoon: The rest of the workday might be full of meetings with teachers, parents, and administrators. Based on the content of these meetings, the educational psychologist might arrange time to tweak the programs they are developing or write reports on some of their students.

• The evening: In addition to some well-needed downtime, educational psychologists may spend their evenings researching topics that interest them or furthering their professional development. Activities might include reading case studies or attending webinars.

All in all, the average day in the life of an educational psychologist is busy and rewarding. Every day will test the skills learned in an Educational Psychology program.

What Skills Do Educational Psychologists Need?

To lead a successful career in the field of educational psychology, you must have important capabilities and qualities, including:

• Critical thinking
• Problem-solving
• Data analysis skills
• Research abilities
• Technological know-how
• Interpersonal skills
• A sound code of ethics

Many of these skills are taught in Educational Psychology programs. Once you master these competencies, you will be well-suited for a career in educational psychology.

Where Do Educational Psychologists Work?

Where might that career take you? Educational psychologists are employed in various workplaces throughout the public and private sectors, including:

• Schools and districts: In K-12 settings, educational psychologists help teachers and administrators tackle challenges with young learners. In particular, they work to develop Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) that outline a student’s specific needs.
• Higher education and research: In universities, educational psychologists may teach and design programs, train faculty, or conduct research in labs to develop new evidence-based teaching methods.
• Private practice and consulting: Many educational psychologists work in clinics—either in their own practices or as part of a healthcare facility—to provide out-of-school support to schools or families. Other professionals are hired by education technology firms to develop products or facilitate corporate training.
• Non-traditional settings: Some professionals collaborate with community organizations to promote literacy or local development. Other professionals are hired by education technology firms to develop products or facilitate corporate training programs.

Whether working with a government agency or a clinic, educational psychologists are vital parts of these collaborative environments. Many positions are also flexible, with the possibility for full-time or part-time hours.

How to Become an Educational Psychologist

If you want to become an educational psychologist, you must first complete a series of education and licensure requirements.^[1] Here is a step-by-step explainer on how to begin a career in educational psychology.

Step 1: Earn Your Bachelor’s Degree

First and foremost, you will need a bachelor’s degree to build your educational foundation. While any bachelor’s degree will suffice, it is beneficial to study psychology, education, or another related field. This way, when you proceed to the following steps and enter a master’s or PsyD program, you will possess the relevant knowledge.

A bachelor’s degree typically requires four years of full-time study, though some students may take more or less time.

Step 2: Obtain Your Master’s Degree in School Psychology

Once you have completed your undergraduate degree, you will need to earn a master’s degree in school psychology to be qualified for most jobs. In a master’s program, you will learn fundamental information about:

• Theories of learning
• Counseling methods
• Child and adolescent psychology
• Developmental psychology
• Behavioral psychology
• Cognitive psychology
• Special education
• Learning assessment
• Research and evaluation
• Ethics

With an understanding of these topics, you will be able to observe school settings and analyze their successes and opportunities.

A master’s program typically takes two to three years.

Step 3: Consider Pursuing a Doctorate

Although a master’s degree is the minimum requirement to become an educational psychologist, you might want to continue your higher education with a PsyD, Doctor of Psychology in Educational Psychology. This advanced program allows you to expand your knowledge and explore specialized topics, such as neuropsychology or multicultural counseling. A PsyD may also lead to different career opportunities.

A doctoral degree generally takes around two years to complete.

Step 4: Acquire the Proper State Licensure

After you have completed your education, it is time to get licensed in your state. Licensure will enable you to practice legally as an educational psychologist.

While the specific licensure requirements vary from state to state, they generally include:

• Earning a master’s degree in school psychology
• Completing a specified amount of supervised professional experience through an accredited school psychology program
• Passing a background check with fingerprinting
• Writing the Licensed Educational Psychologist (LEP) exam^[2]
• Requesting your official LEP license

Once you have accomplished these tasks, you will become a licensed educational psychologist. At this point, you are ready to start applying for jobs in your field.

What Are the Four Career Sectors of Educational Psychology?

Educational psychology graduates are qualified to apply for a vast number of roles. These jobs fall under four main career sectors. Depending on the direction you would like to take your career, you can pursue positions in any of the following categories.

Program Development and Implementation

A core component of educational psychology is developing and implementing new educational programs. These resources help students learn more productively and achieve better test scores. Job titles in this career sector include:

• Program Development Specialist
• Programming Consultant
• Special Programs Consultant

Teacher Training

While an educational psychologist’s primary objective is to support students, many of them achieve this goal by instructing teachers on how to implement programs. This work is especially beneficial for educators who have limited experience, teach children with special needs, or are employed at an understaffed school. Job titles in this career sector include:

• Education Training Specialist
• Programs Implementation Coordinator

Psychometric Assessments

Through psychometric testing, educational psychologists gather valuable data on students to understand how well they are learning. If a school has substandard test scores, it may seek an educational psychologist’s services to boost student performance. Job titles in this career sector include:

• Programs Assessment Specialist
• Student Testing Specialist
• Student Outcomes Analyst

Instructional Design

Educational psychologists can also use their expertise to develop innovative educational materials, such as online courses, specialized exams, games, and state-mandated testing packets. Job titles in this career sector include:

• Educational Design Consultant
• Production Consultant
• Instructional Design Consultant

As an educational psychologist, you can explore each of these sectors during your career or specialize in your preferred area. Each sector is interconnected and important to the overall improvement of an educational organization.

Psychology Internships

Another important part of becoming an educational psychologist is completing an internship, which can take between six months and two years. Internship sites may include schools, hospitals and clinics, government agencies, and educational services.

There are two types of internships:

• Indirect supervision: In indirect supervision, the intern is not accompanied by their supervisor. Instead, the supervisor reviews the intern’s psychological assessments and treatments.
• Direct supervision: In direct supervision, the intern sits with a licensed psychologist and their patients. They meet with their supervisors to review and discuss their observations together. As they progress, the supervisor may hand them tasks to complete.

During their psychology internships, students often earn university credits instead of payment. A reputable university can usually help you find an internship placement.

Earn Your Educational Psychology Degree at Alliant University

Educational psychology is a varied field full of opportunities to support young learners. If you are ready to take the steps to become an educational psychologist, explore the educational opportunities at the California School of Education (CSOE) at Alliant University.

We offer a wide range of master’s programs, including specializations in school psychology. You can pursue a master’s degree or an educational psychology PsyD at one of our California campuses or through a flexible online program.

At our psychology school in California, you will receive the hands-on experience you need to prepare yourself for the industry. Most importantly, our programs are accredited, so your education will meet the standards of academic rigor and practicum experience needed to pursue licensure.

To learn more about the Educational Psychology programs at Alliant University, contact our admissions team today.

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Sources:

^[1] Emeagwali, N. Susan. “How to Become an Educational Psychologist: A Step-By-Step Guide.” Psychology.org, September 29, 2025. https://www.psychology.org/careers/educational-psychologist/.

^[2] “Licensed Educational Psychologist (LEP) Written Examination.” Board of Behavioral Sciences. Accessed April 22, 2026. https://www.bbs.ca.gov/exams/lep.html.

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