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Educational Psychologist

Educational psychologists work with students, parents, educators and mental health services to develop supportive environments for students with difficulties that impact on their learning and well-being.

 

Tasks & duties

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Educational psychologists may do some or all of the following:

  • work to create better learning conditions for students with special needs
  • help young people overcome barriers to learning
  • work with students, parents and schools or early childhood centres to develop intervention plans
  • recommend and help plan individual, educational and behavioural programmes
  • assess and evaluate the effectiveness of individual educational programmes for young people
  • keep up-to-date records of the progress and development of learners in their care
  • connect with agencies concerned with young people to provide systems of care

 

Skills & knowledge

Educational psychologists need to have:

  • skill evaluating and analysing situations to identify factors that influence behaviour in children
  • knowledge of the research on which educational and psychological practices are based, such as child development and human behaviour
  • knowledge of school and early childhood education systems
  • observational and listening skills
  • counselling skills
  • communication skills
  • an understanding of different cultures and lifestyles
  • research skills
  • decision-making skills
  • writing skills

 

Entry Requirements

A recognised postgraduate qualification in psychology or educational psychology is needed to become an educational psychologist. A one-year, post-Masters university qualification in educational psychology or two years of supervised work in a field as approved by the New Zealand Psychologists' Board is also necessary.

 

Secondary Education

A tertiary entrance qualification is required to enter further training. Useful subjects include English and maths with statistics.

 

Training on the job

Educational psychologists need to keep up to date with methods of teaching and learning, individual intervention, guidance, assessment, programme preparation and new technologies. Workshops and ongoing training programmes are available through professional societies, such as the New Zealand Psychological Society.

The amount of on the job training varies. Those working as independent consultants pay for their own training and workshops, while those employed by the Ministry of Education may receive financial assistance for ongoing training and professional development.

 

Registration

Registration with the New Zealand Psychologists' Board is necessary to practice as a registered educational psychologist.

 

Useful Experience

Previous experience in teaching, social work, education, behaviour support, or vocational guidance counselling is helpful. Volunteer work or experience working with children and their families is also useful.

 

 For more information, please refer to Career Services.

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