School Psychologist
Education
Diagnose and implement individual or schoolwide interventions or strategies to address educational, behavioral, or developmental issues that adversely impact educational functioning in a school. May address student learning and behavioral problems and counsel students or families. May design and implement performance plans, and evaluate performance. May consult with other school-based personnel.
What you'd do all day
The tasks that matter most in this job, most important first.
- 1Compile and interpret students' test results, along with information from teachers and parents, to diagnose conditions and to help assess eligibility for special services.
- 2Maintain student records, including special education reports, confidential records, records of services provided, and behavioral data.
- 3Report any pertinent information to the proper authorities in cases of child endangerment, neglect, or abuse.
- 4Select, administer, and score psychological tests.
- 5Interpret test results and prepare psychological reports for teachers, administrators, and parents.
- 6Assess an individual child's needs, limitations, and potential, using observation, review of school records, and consultation with parents and school personnel.
- 7Develop individualized educational plans in collaboration with teachers and other staff members.
- 8Counsel children and families to help solve conflicts and problems in learning and adjustment.
- 9Collect and analyze data to evaluate the effectiveness of academic programs and other services, such as behavioral management systems.
- 10Provide consultation to parents, teachers, administrators, and others on topics such as learning styles and behavior modification techniques.
- 11Collaborate with other educational professionals to develop teaching strategies and school programs.
- 12Promote an understanding of child development and its relationship to learning and behavior.
- 13Design classes and programs to meet the needs of special students.
- 14Attend workshops, seminars, or professional meetings to remain informed of new developments in school psychology.
- 15Refer students and their families to appropriate community agencies for medical, vocational, or social services.
- 16Serve as a resource to help families and schools deal with crises, such as separation and loss.
- 17Initiate and direct efforts to foster tolerance, understanding, and appreciation of diversity in school communities.
- 18Provide educational programs on topics such as classroom management, teaching strategies, or parenting skills.
- 19Conduct research to generate new knowledge that can be used to address learning and behavior issues.
Also known as
What this job is called on JobStreet, LinkedIn and in job ads. Search these too.
- Psychologist
- Psychometrist
- Autism Consultant
- Behavioral Analyst
- Child Psychologist
- Behavior Specialist
- Child Psychometrist
- Learning Consultant
- School Psychologist
- School Psychologists
How far is this from you?
Roughly how much preparation this job usually takes. In Malaysia your UPU route and the programme's syarat still decide entry, so treat this as a guide, not a gate.
1
Entry straight after SPM
2
SPM + sijil / short TVET course
3
Diploma / TVET (sijil–diploma)
4
Degree (ijazah sarjana muda)
Typical entry
Postgrad (sarjana / PhD) or professional route
Subjects that matter here
The SPM subjects worth your effort for this career, with the reason for each.
What you'd need to know
The subject areas this job leans on most, and the SPM subjects that build them.
- Psychology98%
- Therapy and Counseling90%
BiologySports Science
- Education and Training89%
- Sociology and Anthropology85%
- Customer and Personal Service81%
- Administrative81%
Business
Tools you'd use
Software and equipment that show up in this job, worth learning early.
What the work feels like
Day-to-day working conditions, so you can tell whether the job suits how you like to work.
- Face-to-face discussionsEvery day
- Contact with other peopleContact most of the time
- Leading or coordinating othersHigh
- Handling conflict situationsRarely
- Indoors, air-conditionedEvery day
- Outdoors, in all weatherAlmost never
- Noisy environmentOften
- Time spent sittingMost of the time
AI and demand for this job
A few real, dated data points — not a single score. AI making some tasks faster usually means a job changes, not that it disappears.
Share of everyday tasks today's AI can already help with (2023)
This estimate is from 2023 — already out of date, since AI moves fast. Treat it as a rough, aging starting point, not the current picture.
Pay in Malaysia
We don't have a sourced Malaysian salary range for this job yet, and we'd rather show nothing than a number we can't stand behind.
Where to check:
- JobStreet and Hiredly job ads for this title
- DOSM Salaries & Wages Survey
- SSPA scheme tables, if you're aiming for a government post
Check what you may qualify for
Enter your SPM grades and see which routes and programmes you may qualify for. An estimate to plan with, not an offer.
How to get here
Post-SPM pathways with programmes in this career's fields. Tap one to see real programmes and entry requirements.
Related careers
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About this information
This describes what the job involves. Pay, demand and entry routes differ in Malaysia, so check the Pathways and Programmes pages for local requirements.
O*NET occupation: School Psychologists
Job responsibilities, knowledge areas and work context from O*NET 30.3, US Department of Labor, used under CC BY 4.0. onetcenter.org