Apply for NCSP Certification
To qualify for national certification, a school psychologist must meet NASP's established credentialing standards. Graduates of NASP-approved and NASP-accredited graduate programs benefit from a streamlined application process. Applicants will complete the appropriate application (NASP-Approved/Accredited or Non-NASP-Approved/Accredited) based on the NASP-approval/accreditation status of their programs at the time of graduation. Individuals who successfully meet NASP's Standards for the Credentialing of School Psychologists may identify themselves as a Nationally Certified School Psychologist or NCSP. Please review the National School Psychology Certification System Procedures Manual for more details on the application and renewal process.
Graduates of NASP-Approved/Accredited School Psychology Programs
For graduates of NASP-Approved/Accredited programs, you must ensure you meet all of the NCSP eligibility requirements and all required documentation is submitted via the online application. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and can take up to 8 weeks to process based on the volume of current applications and the time of year.
Graduates of Non-Approved/Accredited School Psychology Programs
For graduates of programs without NASP Approval/Accreditation, the NCSP application will be open twice per year: February through May 1 and September through November 1. This process requires a problems-solving report and demonstrating competency in the 10 domains of practice. The review process takes approximately 3 to 4 months.