Yes, the NCSP can be put on inactive status for up to 6 years; however, 10 CPD hours must be completed each year the credential is on inactive status, one credit of which must be in ethics. Status can be converted to active status at any time during the six year period. There is a one time fee and the inactive status must be converted back to active status at the end of six year or the NCSP will be expired.

Access a list of NASP-approved programs to determine this. You can also see the years the programs became approved. NASP approval status can also be viewed on the School Psychology Program Information page.

Graduates of NASP-Approved school psychology graduate programs qualify for the NCSP credential when applying within 10 years of completing the program (effective January, 2016). Applicants must complete and submit the application and register for and complete the Praxis School Psychologist Exam administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS). The current passing score is 147.  When registering for the exam, list NASP as a score recipient by using the code “1549.” If you do not list NASP as a score recipient when you take the exam, an additional fee will be charged by ETS to have the score sent to NASP. 

Effective January 1, 2016, those applying for the NCSP as a graduate of a NASP-approved school psychology program must submit their application within 10 years of completing the program. If you submit your applicant 10 years or later from your graduate date, you will need to apply as a graduate of a non-NASP-approved program.

Contact the current program director of the graduate program, as your program should have the necessary information on file. Also, most universities and colleges keep copies of past university bulletins or catalogs on file in their libraries. Check with your university to see what documentation you can retrieve. The applicant can also contact other graduates of the program.  

If all syllabi cannot be located up to half of the coursework can be documented on Content Verification  Forms ( CVF) . Details needed will be projects, course content and texts used.   If a syllabus from a year close to the applicant's year  is used, the  current program director must submit a letter attesting to the equivalence of the  course work.

No, you must use the application for graduates of non-NASP-approved programs. The application process is based on the status of the program at the time of your graduation. 

• If you graduated no more than 18 months prior to the effective date of the NASP approval, please obtain a letter from the program director stating that the program you completed was substantially similar to the one currently offered. If there were any differences, the letter must also state how you made up these differences. You may submit this letter with your other application materials.
• If you graduated more than 18 months before approval, you must follow the steps listed for graduates of non-approved programs.

Yes; however, you must provide documentation that your graduate program was an organized graduate preparation program in school psychology. Include a copy of the page(s) from the graduate school catalog in effect when you graduated that describes your program as school psychology with your application. If the transcript does not indicate a school psychology program degree, applicants must have a certificate of advanced graduate study or a specialization in School Psychology noted on the transcript.  

Your university program director should have the necessary material on file to verify your internship supervision. Ask your program director to write a letter explaining the situation and include it with your application. Your program director may sign for your supervisor on the necessary forms. If your program director no longer works at the institution, please have the current program director review your materials and verify your internship.

If you are currently working in a school setting, it is suggested that the individual contact the program director, preferably of a NASP-approved program, enroll in an internship seminar at the university and have a credentialed school psychologist supervise you in your district. The internship must be documented on an institutional transcript and the university must provide supervision. The internship must be consistent with the Standards for the Graduate Preparation of School Psychologists that are in effect as of the date your application is received by the NASP office.  

Persons completing their school psychology preparation outside the US generally are not eligible for the NCSP unless they can prove how their degree program and supervised experiences align with the NASP Standards.

Yes, it is necessary to apply separately for the NCSP credential. Holding a state credential is not equivalent to or interchangeable with the national credential offered by NASP. 

No, you are not required to hold your state license prior to applying for the NCSP.

The "grandparenting" option was available only when the NCSP was instituted. It required the completion of the application and the national exam by December 31, 1988. If you did not apply during this period, you must apply under the standards in place at the time of your application.

No, please submit only official sealed transcripts from your school psychology graduate program. You do not need to submit your undergraduate transcripts.

You can check the status of your certification and if your Praxis scores are on file by logging in to the website and clicking “Manage Your Account.”  You can also contact us at cert@naspweb.org, (866) 331-NASP or (301) 657-0210. 

NASP-Approved Programs
Applications from graduates of NASP-Approved programs typically take about 4 weeks to process. It may take up to 8 weeks during the summer due to the volume of applications. 

Non-Approved Programs
Applications from graduates of non-NASP-approved programs are reviewed twice annually and can take several months to complete. The application deadlines are:

• Summer Review: May 1
  
• Winter Review: November 1
  

The NCSP Board meets twice yearly (typically August and January) to review applications from graduates of non-NASP-approved programs. Once a decision has been made regarding your application, you will receive a written letter from the NASP office that may (if applicable) include feedback from reviewers.

After your application has been approved, you will receive a congratulatory email within 24 hours. The email will provide a link where you may download an NCSP Certificate and Certification Card.

For an additional fee, NASP offers a variety of frames that arrive with your NCSP certificate professionally matted and embossed with the official NCSP seal. 

The nature of NASP’s standards focus on school-based practice, though ultimately the applicant must demonstrate meeting the standards and the indicators within the rubric. Individuals working in various settings may benefit from becoming familiar with the rubrics and tailoring or developing opportunities to demonstrate those skills. Often, a single compelling artifact can help meet a domain, so the applicant does not need to demonstrate that they are engaging in those tasks on a daily basis.

PREPaRE training on its own demonstrates knowledge, though we are looking for application of the skills taught within PREPaRE more directly. Consider how you can demonstrate that evidence of skill (e.g., improving a system’s policies, directly responding to a crisis). Applicants could possibly submit evidence of a training that also demonstrates impact of the training, though this would likely be secondary to direct application of that knowledge in real-life settings.

Generally, traditional psychoeducational reports do not support an application other than under Domain 1. Psychoeducational reports typically focus on eligibility and recommend strategies or interventions, yet do not include information on actual implementation and evaluation of outcomes. A report that includes those pieces would improve the quality of the artifact. The rubrics include examples and nonexamples of possible artifacts for each domain. We do not provide actual samples (e.g., an exemplar problem-solving report), however.

You can open an application, save, and complete the application at another time. You do not need to complete the application in one sitting.

It closes to new applications on May 1st until the next cycle. You can continue to work on an existing application at any time.

For any eligibility requirement, if it is not completed by the time of submission, your application will not be considered. This goes for internship, obtaining the formal degree on an official transcript, and the Praxis exam. If these eligibility criteria are not met by the application deadline, you must wait until the next application window.

No. You would still need to submit a portfolio for skill application. Teaching in a program reflects knowledge, yet does not demonstrate skill in application or implementation.

Yes, though applicants should explain how that single artifact meets each of the indicators or domains that you identify. For example, if you pass your problem-solving report, you could use that as evidence of skill in several different domains, though the candidate should describe how that report supports other skills across the domains when completing the Domain Response Matrix.

You may require signatures from people that are unavailable for one reason or another. In those cases, we ask you to demonstrate or clarify in writing a good faith effort or documentation of what happened and why you can’t get those signatures. Typically, if the internship supervisor is no longer available, we allow someone from the university program to sign off on both lines. Just add a little narrative or quick note explaining the situation. Similarly, if the program is closed, we’ve allowed someone from the department that can verify records or someone from the registrar’s office – anyone from the university. Even if you do not plan to apply right away, get signatures on forms anyway and you’ll have them.

When you apply, we screen applications for eligibility. If anything is missing, we will reach out. Please note that the NCSP office gets hundreds of applications each month. Phone calls slow the process. It also usually takes some time for various documents to get to us and then for the NCSP office to process and enter the information. So, patience is important. You can email cert@NASPweb.org if you need to confirm.

Once you start the application, all necessary forms can be found under the Official Documents tab. You must use our forms. We will not accept different forms from different agencies or programs.

Ideally, the candidate can demonstrate positive impact. If an intervention did have a positive impact, the candidate can provide evidence of what steps were taken to modify the intervention or resolve the inadequate outcomes. And then continue collecting data. The NCSP Board would look favorably upon a candidate that demonstrates a data-driven process that can adapt interventions using a data-driven approach.

No firm limits exist for the age of an artifact, though the board review will consider if some or most artifacts are extremely dated. Importantly, all artifacts must clearly demonstrate a candidate’s skills in the current standards at the time of application.

Your NCSP certification renewal date is available by logging in to the website and clicking “Manage Your Account” (located at the top right of the page). You have the option of renewing at the end of your three-year period OR you can renew any time upon completing 75 hours of continuing professional development (CPD) credits. Beginning September 1, 2017, NCSP renewal will only be available online. Paper forms will not be accepted after this date.

If you renew prior to the month in which your renewal is due, your certification will expire 3 years later on the last day of the month in which you renew. By renewing early, you can apply future CPD activities toward your next renewal cycle. Keep in mind that you can only claim CPD obtained within 36 months of your renewal application. 

You have up to 3 years to renew your NCSP credential after it has expired by renewing online and paying the appropriate renewal and late fees. If your NCSP is not renewed during the 3-year period following expiration you must reapply for the NCSP and meet current standards.

Keep in mind that if your NCSP has expired, you are unable to identify yourself in any manner (e.g., in reports or business cards) as holding the NCSP credential.

Renewal fees are $99 every three years for NASP members and $199 for nonmembers. Late fees apply and increase on a graduated basis over time.

Late fee schedule:

Months Since Exp. Date	Member	Nonmember
>1 and ≤ 6	$16	$33
>6 and ≤ 12	$33	$66
>12 and ≤ 18	$49	$99
>18 and ≤ 24	$66	$132
>24 and ≤ 30	$82	$165
>30 and ≤ 36	$99	$199

NASP members save $100 on their renewal fees and even more on late fees. Consider joining NASP today.

NCSPs are required to maintain proper documentation of their CPD activities but are not required to submit documentation of CPD credits unless their applications are selected for an audit. Approximately 10% of renewing NCSPs are randomly selected for documentation audits and are notified in writing. This notification may be sent at any time after the individual renews his or her NCSP credential. It is recommended that applicants maintain documentation for the duration of their 3-year cycles.

An individual selected for audit has 60 calendar days from the date of the notice to submit documentation verifying that they have met all CPD requirements. The NCSP credential will be considered expired if the individual fails to respond within the 60-day time limit.

Once the documentation of credits has been received and processed, the applicant will be notified of the audit results. If it is determined that the documentation has any deficiencies, the applicant will be given 60 calendar days to correct this deficiency. Any deficiency not corrected within the 60-day period will result in the immediate expiration of the NCSP credential.

Documentation submitted for an audit will not be returned. Copies of the documentation are acceptable; please do not submit your originals.

Questions? Contact the NASP Certification department.

You do not need to be a NASP member to qualify for or maintain the NCSP designation, although membership in your professional association signifies your commitment to professional standards of practice. Maintaining membership in your professional association is an important obligation for a career professional.

Join NASP today to save money, earn CPD credits and gain a professional advantage

The majority of states recognize the NCSP. You can view a list and other reasons to become an NCSP.

Your member or account number, a 6-digit number, is the number associated with your account with NASP. If you are a NASP member you can find this number on your NASP membership card and the Communiqué or School Psychology Review mailing labels.

Your certification number, a 5-digit number, is located on your certification renewal forms.

You can access your NCSP card and certificate or request an e-mail verifying your NCSP status from the NASP website. You also may request a new certification renewal confirmation letter by contacting us at cert@naspweb.org, (866) 331-NASP, (310) 657-0270, or NASP, Certification Department, 4340 East West Highway, Suite 402, Bethesda, MD 20814

NASP does not have or maintain a CPD bank. The burden is on the individual to maintain supporting documentation so they have it in one place and readily available when it is time for their renewal.

Briefly, 75 hours of CPD activities are required every 3 years. Additional requirements include the need for 10 of the 75 CPDs required for renewal to be from NASP- or APA-approved providers, and 3 hours of CPD regarding ethical practice and/or the legal regulation of school psychology during each 3-year renewal period. Beginning in July 2024, submissions for NCSP renewal will also need to include 3 hours in equity, diversity, and inclusion. If your renewal is due between now and June 2024, you will renew as usual and then the following renewal period will need to demonstrate you have met this new requirement. We encourage all those with an NCSP to begin planning to meet this requirement as soon as possible.

See NASP's CPD Guidelines for more detailed information.

NCSPs are required to meet a 3-hour requirement in legal regulation or ethical practice. Additionally, beginning in July 2024, submissions for NCSP renewal will also need to include 3 hours in equity, diversity, and inclusion. Aside from that, school psychologists are not required to engage in professional development in specific content areas.

As part of NASP's commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and social justice, the NCSP Board now requires 3 hours of professional development related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (EDI) for NCSP renewal. Applicants are encouraged to develop awareness addressing areas of shortcomings, participate in CPD related to the diversity represented within the districts they serve, and expand their cultural competence through an intersectional lens. NASP recognizes the breadth of topics on EDI and that such encompasses an ever-evolving range of subject matter (e.g., race, ethnicity, religion, socioeconomic status, gender, gender identification, gender expression, sexual orientation, disability status, health condition, language proficiency, and/or immigration status).

This is an ongoing requirement. The requirement must be met for each 3- year renewal of the NCSP, beginning with submissions for NCSP renewal in July 2024. If your renewal is due between now and June 2024, you will renew as usual and then the following renewal period will need to demonstrate you have met this new requirement. We encourage all those with an NCSP to begin planning to meet this requirement as soon as possible.

We will begin monitoring and enforcing this requirement with the renewal process beginning in 2024; giving a full 3-year renewal cycle for individuals to accrue these hours. If your renewal is due between now and June 2024, you will renew as usual and then the following renewal period will need to demonstrate you have met this new requirement. Nevertheless, we encourage all professionals to pursue CPD in EDI on a regular basis.

No. The renewal still requires a total of 75 hours (or more). A minimum of 3 hours will be required in EDI, and a minimum of 3 hours is required in ethics/legal regulation in school psychology. The remaining 69+ hours can be in any topic area relevant to your practice.

NASP does not provide preapproval for content. Please review the CPD Guidelines.

Yes, if the content that is covered meets the definition of EDI.

No. This requirement can be met from any category in the CPD Guidelines.

Yes, content in the NASP OLC that addresses equity, diversity, inclusion, and/or social justice can contribute to meeting this requirement.

Key topics for this area may include social justice; implicit bias; dealing with over/under representation of different cultural, racial, immigration status, sexual orientation, and gender identity in school practices; policies to mitigate bias; microaggressions; and culturally responsive assessment to name a few.

NASP has both a self-assessment tool as well as a personalized Professional Growth Plan template to help tailor your CPD needs.

Yes. You could, for example, a 3-hour workshop on ethical problem-solving around social justice issues in schools, which could meet both the ethical practice/legal regulations requirement and the equity, diversity, and inclusion requirement. Additionally, if that workshop was from a NASP-approved provider, that single activity could contribute to all three criteria.

This requirement is based on the 2010 credentialing standards approved by NASP. Specifically, Standard 6.2 states:
“For initial renewal of the NCSP credential, there should be evidence of having successfully completed a minimum of 1 academic year of professional support from a mentor or supervisor. For professional practice within a school setting, supervision or mentoring shall be provided by a credentialed school psychologist with a minimum of three years of experience. For any portion of the experience that is accumulated in a nonschool setting, supervision or mentoring shall be provided by a psychologist appropriately credentialed for practice in that setting. Supervision and/or mentoring conducted either individually or within a group for a minimum average of 1 hour per week is recommended.” (p. 10).

As the standards officially took effect January 1, 2016, this new requirement affects any individual applying for the NCSP credential after this date.

For professional practice within a school setting, supervision or mentoring shall be provided by a credentialed school psychologist with a minimum of three years of experience. For any portion of the experience that is accumulated in a nonschool setting, supervision or mentoring shall be provided by a psychologist appropriately credentialed for practice in that setting.

No.

The Guidance for Postgraduate Mentorship and Professional Support provides a range of suggestions and recommendations for establishing effective professional support relationships. Note that none of the guidance provided in this document should be construed as requirements toward the renewal of the NCSP.

The mentor or supervisor must have whatever credentials are required for the setting in which the mentorship or supervision occurs. In this case, the mentor or supervisor can be another faculty member or colleague, and a specific credential is not required if such credentials are not required for employment in that setting.

Yes, any new NCSP that applies after January 1, 2016 must meet this requirement.

No. The standard recommends meeting an average of one hour per week, although this is only a suggestion.

No, this only applies for new NCSP candidates that apply on or after January 1, 2016.

The standard does not preclude the use of the web or other technologies to facilitate the professional support.