PhD in Educational Psychology?

[lacrossegal]

Please don't judge me for asking what might be a really dumb question. I am a special education teacher with a BA in psychology, MS in special education, and am working on my 6th year degree (CAGS) in school administration.
The Ph.D. program I am looking into (at UCONN) offers a degree in educational psychology with a choice of several concentrations. I am looking into the gifted & talented track. Anyway, would I be able to practice as a licensed psychologist? I do want to counsel people with perfectionism issues, eating disorders, etc. Would I be able to do that with a Ph.D. in educational psychology?

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[schoolpsy21]

Only school, clinical, and counseling psychology Ph.D programs allow you to practice as a licensed psychologist. Thus, if you want to be eligible for licensure, you shouldn't do the UConn educational psych Ph.D. However, UConn has a Ph.D. in school psychology that would allow you to be eligible for licensure!

 

[Doctor-S]

Agree with @schoolpsy21.

I looked up the UConn website for the program specifically identified in your post. It does not lead to licensure. Instead, and as noted by @schoolpsy21 , you must complete an acceptable clinical psychology, or a counseling psychology, or a school psychology graduate program (PhD or PsyD), followed by an internship/supervised hours, etc. to be eligible for licensure.

For detailed information about licensure in connection with the UConn "School Psychology" graduate program, go to:

http://schoolpsych.education.uconn.edu/student-admissions-outcomes-and-other-data/

Thank you.

 

[lacrossegal]

Thank you, I continued researching after I posted and it looks like I can get my Ph.D. in school psychology, which would be under the educational psychology umbrella. I was confused!
I think this might be the way for me to go as opposed to a clinical psychology program.

 

[ClinicalABA]

Just be aware that in many jurisdictions school psychologists are licensed at the masters level. This can result in relatively lower, masters level salaries that may not justify the cost of doctoral level education. Jobs are generally within school districts, often with non- negotiable rates set forth in collective bargaining agreements. Last school job I looked at offered 59k at doctoral level for a 10 month position.