School Psychology vs. Clinical Psychology: What's the Difference?

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Updated June 9, 2025

Psychology is the scientific study of the mind and behavior. If you're interested in pursuing a career in psychology, there is a wide range of specialties to choose from. Two types of psychology to consider are school psychology and clinical psychology, and learning about the differences may help you decide which path is right for you. In this article, we discuss what school psychology is, what clinical psychology is and look at differences between the two.Related: 22 Types of Psychology

What is school psychology?

School psychology combines principles of psychology and education. School psychologists assess and develop plans and education programs for individual students to assist with a variety of concerns. They advise on and treat patients from birth to young adulthood with a broad range of youth and school-related issues, such as:

Behavioral problems
Bullying
Learning disorders
Mental illnesses
Parent-teacher relationships
Peer pressure
Physical disabilities
Social interactions
Student-teacher relationships

School psychologists often serve in a variety of functions or fulfill various duties to help the student. Duties and responsibilities may include:

Assessing patients to determine eligibility for services and programs
Evaluating instruction programs and organizations
Creating prevention and intervention programs to promote patients’ developmental, education and psychological well-being
Crisis intervention
Consulting with teachers, parents, administrators and other healthcare providers
Supervising psychological services
Determining treatment accountability and integrity
Building professional development programs

What is clinical psychology?

Clinical psychology refers to the general practice of psychology at an advanced level. Clinical psychologists use the science of psychology and principles related to the human psyche to assist patients of all ages. However, many clinical psychologists have a designated specialty that determines the type of patients they treat.Clinical psychologists assess, diagnose, treat and help prevent a range of mental disorders and psychological problems, including:

Abnormal behavioral patterns
Chronic disorders
Learning difficulties
Personal problems
Psychiatric problems

Clinical psychologists develop individualized treatment plans for each of their patients. Treatment plans may involve in-patient treatments or other solutions Some states allow clinical psychologists to prescribe medications to their patients. Their overall goal is to achieve adequate intervention and prevention to improve their patients' overall quality of life, including:

Developing individualized treatment plans for patients
Educating families about mental issues and awareness of individual patient needs
Performing research and collecting data to enhance the understanding of clinical psychology
Consulting with a variety of other behavioral and health professionals and organizations about violence, suicide and severe mental distress
Possessing extensive knowledge of mental illness and how to diagnose and treat it
Understanding mental health issues and how they may occur at any age

Differences between school psychology vs. clinical psychology

Here are some differences between practicing school psychology vs. clinical psychology:

Salary

Clinical psychologists often earn more than school psychologists. The national average salary for a school psychologist is $51,493 per year, and the national average salary for a clinical psychologist is $96,076 per year. However, it's important to remember salaries may vary based on factors like experience, geographic location, the organization you work for and the individual positions themselves.

Job outlook

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects employment of all psychologists, including clinical and school psychologists, to increase 8% by 2030, which is about as much as the average for all occupations. However, the BLS projects the employment increase for different reasons. The BLS projects an increase in demand for clinical psychologists as veterans, older individuals and the general population seek care for a variety of concerns. Similarly, the BLS projects an increase in demand for school psychologists as more people discover connections between mental health and success in school for students.

Focus

Clinical psychologists are doctoral-level psychologists who diagnose and treat a range of issues. In some states, only a master’s degree is required. They often have a specialty, and some clinical psychologists become child psychologists to specialize in working with children regarding various concerns. School psychologists are required to be at least specialist-level psychologists who combine their knowledge of education and psychology principles to treat school-related issues in children. They address concerns relating to children, families, parents, school organizations and teachers.Related: 10 Career Paths in Clinical Psychology

Education requirements

Becoming a psychologist involves earning multiple degrees, beginning with a bachelor's degree in a relevant field. School psychologists must also earn a master's degree in a relevant field and often may go on to pursue a doctorate. Clinical psychologists, however, must also earn a doctoral degree in a relevant field.

Training

School psychologists and clinical psychologists complete different training. School psychologists learn about topics like education and special education, and their studies focus less on long-term therapy and psychopathology than other types of psychology do. Training for clinical psychology may vary based on specialties, but it rarely includes topics related to education, special education, school organizations, classroom instruction or classroom management.

Work environment

Clinical psychologists may work in a variety of healthcare settings, such as hospitals, mental health facilities or private clinics. School psychologists, in comparison, primarily work at schools, specifically elementary, middle and high schools. Some school psychologists may also work at clinics or hospitals that specialize in treating school-aged children or treating school-related issues.Related: Where Do Psychologists Work? And Other FAQs About Roles in Psychology

Patients

Depending on their specialty, clinical psychologists may treat patients of any age. Comparatively, school psychologists treat children, particularly those in kindergarten through high school. However, school psychologists often work closely with family members, educators and other adults regarding treatment.

Licenses

Clinical psychologists and school psychologists both must earn licenses from the state where they plan to practice. However, each state has different requirements for each type of psychologist. Clinical psychologists can earn board certification through the American Board of Clinical Psychology (ABCP). School psychologists may seek master-level certification from the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) or doctoral-level certification from the American Psychological Association (APA).Related: How To Become a Child Psychologist

Duties

Clinical psychologists and school psychologists both assess and recommend treatment plans for their patients. Both may also diagnose patients, but this is often more common for clinical psychologists. However, clinical psychologists address a broad range of disorders and concerns for patients of all ages. Conversely, school psychologists focus primarily on addressing behavioral and learning concerns in children.

Medications

Clinical psychologists and school psychologists both develop and recommend treatment plans for their patients. Some states allow clinical psychologists to prescribe medications to their patients. School psychologists typically do not have authority to prescribe medications, however, they can recommend parents speak with medical doctors or other psychologists regarding medication for their children.

Treatment plans

Clinical psychologists and school psychologists both develop treatment plans for their patients, but these treatment plans may involve different approaches. Clinical psychologists may develop treatment plans that include prescriptions, hospitalization or other psychiatric treatments. School psychologists, however, often collaborate with teachers and families to develop behavior-related treatment plans to use during school and at home.

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