School psychology is still a relatively young profession. The National Association of School Psychology (NASP) was established and formally recognized as a doctoral specialty by the American Psychological Association (APA) in 1968. In 2002, U.S. News and World Report named school psychology one of the top ten "hot professions.“ Many school psychologists in the field are retiring, creating a demand for qualified school psychologists. Indian School Psychology Association was established in 2009.

1. By
Col Mukteshwar Prasad(Retd)
What Is School Psychology?:

2. Introduction
 A school psychologist is a type of psychologist that works within
the educational system to help children with emotional, social
and academic issues.
 The goal of school psychology is to collaborate with parents,
teachers, and students to promote a healthy learning
environment that focuses on the needs of children.
 School psychology is still a relatively young profession.
 The National Association of School Psychology (NASP) was
established and formally recognized as a doctoral specialty by
the American Psychological Association (APA) in 1968.
 In 2002, U.S. News and World Report named school psychology
one of the top ten "hot professions.“
 Many school psychologists in the field are retiring, creating a
demand for qualified school psychologists.
 Indian School Psychology Association was established in 2009.

3. What Do School Psychologists Do?:
 School psychologists work with individual students and groups of students
to deal with behavioral problems, academic difficulties, disabilities and
other issues.
 They also work with teachers and parents to develop techniques to deal
with home and classroom behavior.
 Other tasks include training students, parents and teachers about how to
manage crisis situations and substance abuse problems.
 According to the National Association of School Psychology (NASP), there
are five major areas where school psychologists provide services:
(1) consultation,
(2) evaluation,
(3) intervention,
(4) prevention,
(5) research and planning.
 School psychologists also act as educators by helping others understand
more about child development, behavioral problems and behavior
management techniques.

4. What Do School Psychologists Do?:
While most work in elementary and
secondary schools, there are a number
of different areas where school
psychologists might find employment.
 Private clinics, hospitals, state
agencies, and universities are possible
sectors of employment.
Some school psychologists also go into
private practice and serve as
consultants, especially those with a
doctoral degree in school psychology.

5. How Much Do School Psychologists Typically
Earn?:
According to the Occupational Outlook
Handbook published by the U.S.
Department of Labor, the average
salary for a psychologist working in an
elementary or secondary school is
$58,360.
 Reschly and Wilson (1995) found that
the average salary for a school
psychologist in a faculty position was
$57,000.
The average salary for a practicing
school psychologist with a doctoral

6. What Type of Degree Do School Psychologists
Need?(Peculiar to USA):
 Two or three years of graduate school is the minimum level of training
required by most states.
 However, each state has different requirements for school psychologists.
 Eighteen states now require national certification, in which students
complete an internship in school psychology.
 Before you choose a school psychology graduate program, be sure to
check the specific licensing requirements in your state.
 What Are the Pros and Cons of a Career in School Psychology?:
 Benefits of a Career in School Psychology
 School psychologists are able to help students succeed.
 Since most school psychologist work in elementary to secondary school
settings, they enjoy a predictable schedule.
 School psychologists are able to collaborate with a variety of community
members, including counselors, teachers, parents, and students.
 Downsides of a Career in School Psychology
 Difficulties with students or parents can lead to high stress levels.
 Work-related stress and frustration can lead to burnout.
 School psychologists often face hectic schedules and an overload of clients.

7. What Are the Pros and Cons of a Career in School
Psychology?:
 Benefits of a Career in School Psychology
 School psychologists are able to help students
succeed.
 Since most school psychologist work in
elementary to secondary school settings, they
enjoy a predictable schedule.
 School psychologists are able to collaborate
with a variety of community members, including
counselors, teachers, parents, and students.
 Downsides of a Career in School
Psychology
 Difficulties with students or parents can lead to
high stress levels.
 Work-related stress and frustration can lead to
burnout.

8. INDIAN SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY
ASSOCIATION(InSPA)
 Introduction
 India is a multi cultural and multilingual developing country in the Asian
subcontinent.
 It has multifaceted schooling systems which cater to the needs of the
children.
 In India, the schools run by the state governments, both in urban and
rural areas differ in many respects from the private English-medium
schools that draw children by and large from economically prosperous
families.
 The Indian setting today is characterized by the existence of schools of
various standards, which may be distinguished on the basis of a number
of indicators, including teaching methods, physical infrastructural
facilities, and policies of administration.
 The children of these schools need proper psychological guidance to
learn and acquire skills and abilities.
 School Psychologists alone can provide the necessary professional
guidance to the children in schools.
 At present Indian schools are badly in need of such professional school
psychologists to create an ambiance to teach and learn so as to provide

9. INDIAN SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY
ASSOCIATION(InSPA)
 Introduction
 In India, academic psychology is predominantly dominated by the Western
concepts and principles.
 The psychology graduates mostly get training on educational and
clinical psychology.
 School Psychology is a new area to study and research based on
International models.
 The competency requires both knowledge and skills in a particular
domain.

10. Launch of Indian School psychology
association
 To provide a platform to get these inputs in School Psychology, a six
member team of psychologists met under the guidance of the renowned
psychologist Prof. B. Mukhopadhyay and evolved the Indian School
Psychology Association.
 The national level association is expected to take an initiative at the
policy making levels of the State and Central governments to introduce
School Psychology as a subject in the curriculum and to appoint at least
one trained school psychologist in each school by creating the post of
school psychologists all over the country to develop school education
more effective.
 There is a pertinent need for school psychologists to propagate the basic
concepts of School Psychology and to impart proper training on the
basis of the guidelines issued by the International School Psychology
Association, USA and the National Association of School Psychologists,
USA.
 To initiate the process the association has been started in Puducherry
on 15th August, 2009.
 Registered Office: No.17, 14th Street, Krishna Nagar, Puducherry - 605

11. Launch of Indian School psychology
association
 Character:
The Indian School Psychology Association shall be a voluntary non-profit
educational service society. All its income shall be applied solely for the
promotion of its aim and objectives and no part of it shall be distributed to
any of its members.
 Aim and Objectives:
The primary aim of the association is to develop and promote School
Psychology, Human Values-based education and training to meet the
needs of society and particularly to elevate the poor from poverty through
school education. To realise the aim, the following are the objectives:
 To promote the use of sound psychological principles within the context
of education, internationally.
 To promote communication among professionals who are committed to
the improvement of the mental health of children in schools.
 To encourage the training and employment of school psychologists in
India.
 To promote the psychological rights of all children throughout the
country.

12. Launch of Indian School psychology
association
 To condemn any discrimination of a racial, religious or sexual nature and
recommend its members conduct their professional life consistent with
this principle.
 To mobilise human resources and other resources to utilise them
effectively to realise the aim.
 To establish education, training and counselling centres/units to promote
social and economic development of the community through education.
 To establish and promote high quality School Psychology Programmes
and Centres to meet the needs of specific groups, particularly the
children and teachers.
 To establish education, training and counselling centres at schools,
colleges and universities to promote School Psychology.
 To organise local, regional, national, and international seminars,
conferences, exhibitions, lecture meetings, workshops and training
programmes.
 The Inspa is an affiliating association of the International School
Psychology Association, USA and Indian Academy of Applied
Psychology, India.