School Psychology (Professional Diploma)
The Professional Diploma in School Psychology prepares candidates as professional school psychologists to work in schools and other child service settings. The program requires foundation and core courses to develop candidates’ knowledge, skills, and values, allowing them to optimize the learning and mental health of a diverse range of students ages 3-21. The program is built around a set of structured practical experiences and an externship, promoting advanced competencies in assessment, intervention, prevention and other core domains of school psychology.
The Professional Diploma in School Psychology follows the training and practice standards of the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP), which is the primary professional development organization for school psychologists. The School Psychology program has provisional accreditation from the National Association of School Psychologists. The program is a 68-credit professional training program, which will lead to certification as a school psychologist in NJ and to national certification as a school psychologist (the NCSP). Students will take a qualifying exam after they complete the first year of the program, and upon passing the exam and maintaining satisfactory academic standing, will be awarded the MA in Educational Psychology. Students will then complete the “Professional Courses” and a 1200 hour externship to earn their professional diploma in school psychology. Upon completion of the 1200 hour externship, candidates are eligible for certification as a school psychologist in the State of New Jersey and for the NCSP
Application Deadline
Fall: February 7
No spring admission
Admission Requirements
In addition to the University’s admission requirements:
- Baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university
- Cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 (lower GPAs will be considered based on strength of overall application)
- Official transcripts from all institutions attended
- Personal Statement
- Three letters of recommendation
- Departmental Interview
- Professional Resume/CVP
- Departmental Interview required
- Official TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo score reports
Prerequisite courses:
- Theories of Personality
- Abnormal Psychology
- Test and Measurements (or equivalent)
- Experimental Psychology (or equivalent)
Accreditation
The School Psychology Professional Diploma Program at Kean has been accredited by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) since 1999. We currently have provisional accreditation from NASP. The status of provisional approval indicates that the program attains a number of core standards of training and is continuing to revise training policies and/or procedures to fully meet the NASP Practice Model.
Licensure
Licenses/certifications in school psychology are issued by each state, with each having its own specific requirements with respect to coursework, practica, and internship that are required. The Professional DIploma in School Psychology also enables its candidates to obtain the national certification in school psychology (NCSP), which is recognized, accepted, or acknowledged by 33 states as meeting or partially meeting requirements for the state's school psychologist credential. For a description of which states recognize the NCSP, applicants/candidates can go to: https://www.nasponline.org/standards-and-certification/national-certification/why-become-an-ncsp#:~:text=Currently%2C%2033%20states%20explicitly%20acknowledge,requirements%20for%20the%20state%20credential.
Although the state of NJ does not require the Praxis Exam in School Psychology for its school psychologist credential, the Professional Diploma does require its candidates to take and pass this exam prior to graduation.
Contact Us
Professional Diploma Program Director
Adrienne Garro, Ph.D.
agarro@kean.edu