23 Aug School Counselors vs Educational Psychologists
School Counselors vs Educational Psychologists
When it comes to understanding the differences between school counselors and educational psychologists, it’s important for parents to recognize how critical proper testing is in identifying their child’s unique learning needs. School counselors often focus on providing general support, helping students navigate academic pressures and social challenges. While they play an essential role in overall student welfare, their training and responsibilities are not focused on diagnosing specific learning disorders, such as dyslexia, ADHD, or auditory processing disorders.
In contrast, educational psychologists are highly specialized in assessing cognitive abilities and learning challenges through comprehensive psychoeducational testing. This testing goes far beyond the general assessments offered by schools, diving deep into how a child processes information, their memory capabilities, attention span, and much more. Educational psychologists use detailed tools like the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-V) and Comprehensive Test of Phonological Processing (CTOPP-2) to identify areas where your child may be struggling and to provide actionable recommendations.
One of the key differences is in the depth and scope of the evaluation. School counselors might observe behavioral patterns or suggest interventions based on academic performance, but they lack the specific training to conduct the full-scale assessments that educational psychologists are equipped to handle.
For instance, if your child is misdiagnosed with a behavioral issue rather than ADHD, or if their reading struggles are mistaken for a lack of effort rather than dyslexia, they may not receive the accommodations and support they need.
Educational psychologists are also trained to spot co-occurring conditions. For example, many children with dyslexia may also struggle with attention issues, and it’s not uncommon for both to be present. A comprehensive evaluation conducted by an educational psychologist can help clarify these issues, providing a clear path for intervention
Training and Focus
While school counselors are essential for supporting general well-being, they cannot replace the detailed diagnostic work of an educational psychologist. If you believe your child may have a learning difficulty, seeking a full evaluation is crucial to unlocking the right support for their academic and emotional success.
When considering the roles of school counselors vs educational psychologists, understanding the difference in their training, licensing, and areas of expertise is crucial for parents seeking answers about their child’s potential learning difficulties.
School counselors hold a master’s degree in counseling or a related field, which involves training in areas like academic guidance, social-emotional development, and career counseling. Their focus is on supporting the overall well-being of students within the school environment, providing advice on academic paths, helping resolve personal issues, and assisting with social integration. They play a vital role in student welfare but are not trained to diagnose or treat specific learning disorders.
Educational psychologists go through much more extensive training, usually getting a PhD or PsyD in psychology with a focus on child development, learning theories, and psychoeducational assessment. Their training covers neuropsychology, learning disorders, cognitive development, and the use of specialized testing tools like the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-V), Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Achievement, and Cognitive Abilities Profile (CAP).
These tools are designed to measure cognitive strengths and weaknesses, which are often the key to understanding complex learning challenges such as dyslexia, ADHD, and auditory processing disorder
Key Differences of School Counselors vs Educational Psychologists
- Training: Educational psychologists hold a PhD or PsyD
- Licensing: Educational psychologists require national certifications and specialized licensure
- Focus: Counselors focus on support and Ed-Psychs in cognitive and learning assessments
- Assessments: Psychologists conduct cognitive evaluations; school counselors cannot
- Intervention: Educational psychologists focus on tailored interventions
- Diagnostic Tools: Educational psychologists use tools like WISC-V and CTOPP-2
- Populations Served: Educational Psychologists work with special educational needs
- Collaboration: Ed Psychologists collaborate with teachers & parents on learning plans
- Extra Exam Time: Educational psychologists help unlock extra time in exams
Licensing and Regulation
School counselors are typically licensed at the state level and are required to complete a master’s degree and a practicum experience in a school setting. They must also pass state-specific exams and complete continuing education to maintain licensure. While they are skilled in addressing general school-related challenges, they do not receive the specialized training required to administer cognitive assessments for learning disabilities.
Educational psychologists must complete a more rigorous educational path. After earning their doctoral degrees, they must complete supervised clinical experiences, often spanning several years. This is followed by passing comprehensive exams, including the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP), to earn licensure. Many educational psychologists are also certified by national or international bodies, such as:
- American Psychological Association (APA) in the USA,
- British Psychological Society (BPS) in the UK,
- Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) in Canada,
- Australian Psychological Society (APS) in Australia.
These certifications ensure that educational psychologists are fully equipped to provide in-depth assessments and evidence-based interventions for students with learning difficulties. Unlike school counselors, educational psychologists are trained in administering and interpreting a wide range of diagnostic tools that give insight into the cognitive and behavioral processes affecting a child’s learning.
Education Testing
One of the biggest differences with school counselors vs educational psychologists is in their ability to conduct proper testing. School counselors may recommend screenings or observe behavioral patterns in a child, but they are not qualified to conduct detailed cognitive assessments. This often leads to misdiagnoses or missed diagnoses, with children being labeled as lazy, unmotivated, or inattentive when they may have an underlying learning difficulty that requires a specialized intervention.
Educational psychologists provide comprehensive psychoeducational evaluations that assess areas such as memory, attention, processing speed, and problem-solving abilities. These evaluations identify hidden learning difficulties so the Psychologist can create Individual Learning Plans (ILPs) outlining the specific accommodations and interventions needed to help the child succeed academically.
For example, a child struggling with reading might not just be slow or distracted; they may have dyslexia, a condition that affects how they process language. Without a proper diagnosis from an educational psychologist, they may not receive the tailored instruction or accommodations (such as extra time on tests) that could help them succeed.
Alexander Bentley-Sutherland is the CEO of Global Education Testing, the leading provider of Learning Development Testing tailored specifically for the International and Private School community worldwide.