School Psychologist
School Psychologists are similar to Licensed Educational Psychologists. They are typically employees of a public school system and often come from a teaching or education background. School psychologists work with students and teachers to improve the learning and social environment for students, focusing on exceptional students (students with learning disabilities, attention deficit disorders, gifted students, etc.). They provide assessments for students suspected of having learning disabilties, and are certified to diagnose learning disabilities.School Psychologists share the term "psychologist" with other psychologists, but the background, training, and career of a School Psychologist is very different from that of a Licensed Psychologist or a Licensed Clinical Psychologist.
From the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics: A specialist degree is required in most States for an individual to work as a school psychologist, although a few States still credential school psychologists with master's degrees. A specialist (Ed.S.) degree in school psychology requires a minimum of 3 years of full-time graduate study (at least 60 graduate semester hours) and a 1-year internship. Because their professional practice addresses educational and mental health components of students' development, school psychologists' training includes coursework in both education and psychology.
In general, School Psychologists are only certified to provide assessment and educational counseling services in schools. They are not licensed to provide clinical services or therapy services to the public at large. To provide counseling and therapy services would require licensing as a Licensed Psychologist or as a Licensed Clinical Psychologist.