Maintaining your Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP) credential isn’t just a formality—it’s a commitment to ongoing professional excellence, ethical practice, and skill development. The National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) has clear Continuing Professional Development (CPD) expectations built into the renewal cycle to ensure certificants grow in ways that align with the highest standards in school psychology.
🔁 Renewal Cycle Basics
The NCSP credential is valid for 36 months (3 years). To renew it and remain in good standing, you must meet specific CPD requirements within that cycle.
📊 Core CPD Requirements
📌 1. Complete a Minimum of 75 CPD Hours
To renew your NCSP credential, you must complete at least 75 hours of continuing professional development during your 3-year renewal cycle. These activities are designed to strengthen your competence, professional judgment, and effectiveness in school psychology practice.
📍 Documentation matters: You must keep records of all CPD activities, including certificates, transcripts, and official verification, because NASP audits a portion of renewals.
📚 Required CPD Categories
NASP doesn’t just want hours completed—some topics are required because they support ethical, inclusive, and legally sound practice:
🧠 2. At Least 10 Hours from NASP- or APA-Approved Providers
You must earn at least 10 of your 75 hours from professional development offered by:
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NASP-approved providers
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APA-approved sponsors of continuing education
This ensures that a portion of your training meets rigorous standards in content and delivery.
⚖️ 3. Ethics & Legal Regulation – 3 Hours
Among your 75 hours, at least 3 hours must focus on ethical practice and/or legal regulation relevant to school psychology. This requirement makes sure you stay current with professional standards and legal frameworks that affect everyday decision-making in schools and other settings.
🌍 4. Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI/Social Justice) – 3 Hours
Entering July 1, 2024, NASP added a new renewal requirement: 3 CPD hours focused on equity, diversity, inclusion, and social justice (EDI). These hours count toward the total 75 and reflect the profession’s commitment to culturally responsive and equitable practice.
📈 5. First-Time Renewal Mentorship Requirement
If you’re renewing your NCSP for the first time, there’s an extra step: document at least one academic year of professional support or mentorship. This mentorship should come from an experienced, credentialed psychologist and supports your ongoing professional growth.
🧠 What Counts Toward CPD?
NASP is flexible about how you earn your hours—as long as activities enhance your practice and relate to school psychology. Examples include:
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Workshops and conferences
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Online courses and webinars
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Graduate coursework
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Presenting or teaching professional sessions
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Program development, research, or leadership activities
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Self-study (with limits on informal hours)
Self-Study Notes
To encourage independent learning:
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You may claim up to 40 hours from formal self-study.
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Up to 20 hours can be from informal self-study (e.g., structured reading or curated learning).
🛠️ Track and Document Everything
Plan ahead! Keeping organized records throughout your renewal cycle helps ensure that:
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You meet specific topic requirements (ethics, EDI, approved providers)
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You’re ready in case of a NASP audit
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Renewals go smoothly and on time
📅 Final Tips
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Start early. Spread your CPD activities across the 3-year cycle instead of rushing at the end.
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Mix learning formats. Live workshops, online webinars, and coursework all count.
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Align with your goals. Choose CPDs that support your growth areas—just make sure they relate to school psychology practice and meet NASP’s guidelines.
Maintaining your NCSP credential keeps you connected to best practices and evolving professional standards. With the right planning and documentation, meeting your CPD requirements can be both manageable and deeply enriching for your career in school psychology.