Qualifications

Qualifications

Unsurprisingly, if you want even the smallest sliver of hope of becoming an educational psychologist, you're going to need a degree. What may come as a shock is that you'll probably only need a bachelor's degree (source). Your focus on educational psychology, developmental psychology, or even early childhood education will give you a deep (but not too deep) understanding of the field. 

The most basic of these jobs only requires the most basic level of understanding, so you can get a job right out of your four-year undergraduate program.

However, we know that, while you're many things (snazzy dresser, gifted musician, occasionally awkward runner), basic isn't one of them. The serious EdPychs get serious by getting an advanced degree. 

A master's will give you the tools to get those higher-paying, higher-respected, higher-cleanliness-level positions that you're looking for. A Ph.D will help you even more, and considering 32% of school psychologists can be called "Doctor" whatever, it can only help your job-seeking odds (source).

Also, if you don't already habla Espanol, do yourself and many of your students a huge favor by learning at least some Spanish. It'll help you to establish a deeper connection with a kid who may speak a great deal of it at home, and with their parents who may speak nothing else―and connecting is kind of your thing.