School Psychology vs. Neuropsychology

[ac139]

Hi all,

I am looking into a clinical psych masters program with the option of specializing in either School psychology or Neuropsychology. The School psychology option would qualify me to become a licensed specialist in school psychology (LSSP), while the neuropsychology route would qualify me to become a licensed psychological associate (LPA), much like a psychological examiner/assistant in other states, plus award a certificate acknowledging the neuropsych specialization.

My plan was to pursue the neuropsych route because of my neuroscience background in undergrad, become an LPA, and work for a neuropsychologist in private practice or an agency somewhere.

However, I am doubting this decision because in Texas, it seems that the LPA is much less recognized than the LPC (licensed professional counselor), MSW, LMFT, etc. (at least from what I've seen in job searches and google searches). I am also concerned about salary and the potential to advance if I obtain the LPA instead of the LSSP. It seems like LPA's don't get paid as much as LSSP's, or LPC's (though I'm not sure about this), but I wonder if the neuropsych specialty would give me an edge and provide better-paying opportunities. I have been researching School Psychology and though I would prefer to work with neuropsychological issues rather than school/learning/behavioral issues, I like the fact that school psych's work with kids, do a lot of assessment and apparently often do consultation and intervention as well.

Can anyone provide some insight about my situation? Especially if you are familiar with the LPA in Texas or similar licenses in other states, I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks in advance!!!

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[PickMePickMe]

This sounds like a question that actually might get more feedback in the Clinical board than here. Have you thought about moving it there instead?

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

MOD NOTE: You'll probably get more responses in this forum, so I moved your thread. -t4c

 

[FadedC]

I would do school psychology. At present, you can't be a neuropsychologist with a masters degree, but you can be a school psychologist with a masters degree.

Well if you want to officially be a school psychologist you (at least in all the states I'm aware of) need a specialist degree rather then a masters degree. A specialists degree is 60 credits plus a one year internship.

However this is all made more confusing by the fact that some programs call their specialist degree a masters degree. They still requrie 60 credits plus internship however, unlike a traditional masters program that only requires 30. So in that respect, technically you can be a school psychologist with a masters degree as long your masters degree is really a specialist degree.

Or to put it in simple terms, you can call yourself a school psychologist after a 3 year, 60 credit program school psychology program, but not after anything less (again unless there are states with looser standards that I'm unaware of).