How to Become an Educational Psychologist: A Step-By-Step Guide
- You need to complete a master’s or doctoral degree to become an educational psychologist.
- Common job titles in educational psychology include instructional designer, learning specialist, and research analyst.
- Educational psychology professionals earn average salaries between $65,000-$85,000.
Educational psychologists study ways to enhance human learning and development. While school psychologists address students’ mental health and emotional challenges, educational psychologists focus on improving learning processes and systems in institutional settings. They apply their theories and practices to children, adolescents, and adults.
This guide explores step by step how to become an educational psychologist, including education and training requirements.
Steps to Become an Educational Psychologist
A career in educational psychology requires a blend of academic learning, research expertise, and practical experience, such as internships. Typically, you’ll need to follow these steps:
- Complete an Accredited Bachelor’s Degree Program
- Identify Your Preferred Career Track
- Consider an Accredited Master’s Degree
- Consider an Accredited Doctoral Degree
- Consider Professional Certifications or Association Memberships
- Apply for Jobs and Gain Experience
Step 1: Complete an Accredited Bachelor’s Degree Program
A college student’s first degree is often a bachelor’s degree. Undergraduates can save money by completing an associate degree they can transfer to a bachelor’s program. First-year baccalaureate students complete about 120 credits in four years.
A bachelor’s degree in psychology is a popular major for those who want to pursue educational psychology. However, only a limited number of schools offer undergraduate degrees specifically in educational psychology. Other majors to consider include education, human development, cognitive science, or applied statistics.
Step 2: Identify Your Preferred Career Track
Educational psychology is a subfield of psychology and spans research, policy, adult education, instructional design, and program evaluation. Your desired focus area will help determine what degree to pursue.
Roles such as instructional designer, learning specialist, or associate researcher may only need a master’s degree, while senior education researchers, assessment developers, and consultants or program evaluators may require a doctoral degree.
Interested in working directly with students in a clinical capacity?
Consider a career in school psychology instead.
Step 3: Consider an Accredited Master’s Degree
A master’s in educational psychology leads to an MA, MS, or M.Ed. Some students may pursue a master’s in general psychology with a focus on educational psychology or a related area. On average, students typically complete 30-36 credits in 1-2 years. Many institutions offer online programs for those who need flexibility.
Some master’s in educational psychology feature concentrations or certificates in:
- Gifted and talented education
- Applied behavior analysis
- Neuropsychology
- Program evaluation
- Customizable specializations
Students culminate a master’s in educational psychology with a comprehensive exam or research thesis. Choosing an accredited master’s program ensures program quality. This is important for state licensure and acceptance to a doctoral program.
Step 4: Consider an Accredited Doctoral Degree
An educational psychology doctorate may refer to a doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.), doctor of psychology (Psy.D.), or doctor of education (Ed.D.) degree. The right option for you depends on your career goals. Ph.D. graduates are well-suited for research-intensive careers; Psy.D. graduates excel in applied, practice-oriented careers; and Ed.D. graduates often pursue administration careers at educational institutions.
While a doctoral degree is not explicitly required for a career in educational psychology, a terminal degree may help enhance your career options and salary potential. Doctoral degrees typically take between 3-7 years to complete, including coursework, applied experiences or internships, and culminating projects, such as a dissertation.
Step 5: Consider Professional Certifications or Association Memberships
Professional organizations offer certifications that validate your expertise. These credentials can enhance your skills and marketability in specializations such as instructional design and education technology. You may want to consider pursuing certification as an instructional design professional, certified education technology leader, or associate professional in talent development.
Membership in professional organizations such as the American Psychological Association (APA) gives you access to job boards, networking opportunities, publications, and other benefits. Popular organizations for educational psychology professionals include Division 15 of the APA, the National Council on Measurement in Education, and the American Educational Research Association (AERA).
Step 6: Apply for Jobs and Gain Experience
Now that you’re ready to enter the job market. A good place to start is the AERA job board, which provides job listings and other resources for those pursuing an educational research career.
Those in educational technology or instructional design can explore job opportunities on job hubs such as Instructional Design Central job board, Edtech.com, and the Association for Talent Development job bank.
Major job boards like Indeed.com and LinkedIn also list numerous job opportunities. As you search, keep in mind that few opportunities offer the job title “educational psychologist,” but instead use terms like educational researcher, instructional designer, learning specialist, policy analyst, and educational consultant.
Educational Psychologist Salary and Job Outlook
According to Payscale, professionals working in some of the most popular educational psychology fields, including research analysis and instructional design, earn between $65,000 and $85,000, depending on their specialization.
| Job Title | Average Annual Salary (2025) |
|---|---|
| Research Analyst | $65,360 |
| Learning Specialist | $65,900 |
| Policy Analyst | $67,140 |
| Instructional Designer | $71,690 |
| Curriculum Developer | $74,610 |
| Training & Development Manager | $85,240 |
Common Work Settings
Educational psychology professionals work in many different industries and workplaces, reflecting the multiple focus areas in this psychology subfield. Typical employers include K-12 school districts, colleges and universities, research institutions, nonprofit organizations and think tanks, educational technology companies, and government agencies.
Many jobs in educational psychology follow a standard Monday-Friday schedule, with work conducted in an office environment. Educational psychology professionals employed by schools and universities may receive certain holidays and breaks as designated by the academic calendar.
Hybrid and remote work is possible, particularly in the fields of education technology, adult education, and corporate training, which often emphasize e-learning in their business models.
Expert Insight
According to APA Division 15, the work of educational psychology professionals “bridges research and practice, contributing to both the theoretical knowledge base and the practical application of psychological principles in education.”
Choosing to become an educational psychologist means you could play an instrumental role in areas such as:
- Developing evidence-based curricula and instructional strategies
- Improving the integration of technology in the classroom
- Informing and improving educational policy and funding
- Addressing inequities in educational outcomes
- Developing new learning technologies for K-12, college, and adult learners
- Supporting talent development and training in corporate environments
If you have an interest in questions about how we process new ideas, what influences our ability to develop skills, or how new technologies impact learning, a career in educational psychology may be right for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Becoming an educational psychologist requires about 6-10 years, depending on the level of education you decide to pursue. Many educational psychology careers are available with a master’s degree, while others prefer candidates with a doctoral degree.
