As a Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP), maintaining your credential means more than just renewing a certificate every three years — it means actively engaging in professional growth that enhances your practice. The Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Guidelines from the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) outline exactly what counts, how much you need, and how to document your professional learning to successfully renew your NCSP.
In this guide, we break down the CPD guidelines into clear sections so you can plan your professional learning efficiently and confidently.
🔁 How Many CPD Hours Do You Need?
To renew your NCSP credential, you must complete 75 CPD hours within every 36-month (3-year) renewal cycle.
A CPD hour equals one contact hour (60 minutes) of structured learning that enhances your skills and knowledge as a practicing school psychologist.
NASP counts hours backward from the month you submit your renewal application — meaning all 75 hours must have been earned during the current renewal period.
📘 NASP’s CPD Crediting Principles
Before claiming CPD credit, you should be able to answer yes to all of the following:
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Did the activity enhance or upgrade my professional skills or knowledge?
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Was it relevant to school psychology practice?
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Did it fit into my professional growth plan?
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Did it go beyond routine job duties?
If so, you can include the activity as part of your CPD plan.
📚 CPD Activity Categories and Limits
NASP organizes CPD into nine categories, each with its own rules for earning credit.
Category A — Workshops & Trainings
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What counts: Live or interactive in-service trainings, seminars, real-time webinars.
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Credit: 1 CPD hour per contact hour.
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Limits: No maximum.
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Docs: Attendance verification or documentation form.
Category B — College/University Coursework
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What counts: Academic credit courses relevant to school psychology.
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Credit: 15 CPD credits per semester hour (e.g., a 3-credit course = 45 CPD).
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Limits: No maximum.
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Docs: Official transcript.
Category C — Preparing/Delivering Training
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What counts: Developing and presenting workshops or professional sessions.
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Credit: 1 per hour (credit only once per prep/presentation).
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Limit: 30 CPD credits.
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Docs: Flyer, syllabus, or documentation form.
Category D — Research & Publications
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What counts: Time spent conducting research or publishing professional work.
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Limits: Up to 25 CPD credits total (e.g., 10 for research projects, 5 for publications).
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Docs: Documentation of work and hours claimed.
Category E — Supervision/Mentorship of Others
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What counts: Mentoring interns or early career professionals.
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Credits: Up to 10 per academic year.
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Limit: 20 CPD credits.
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Docs: Activity documentation form.
Category F — Supervised/Mentored Experience
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What counts: Being supervised for professional growth outside daily job tasks.
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Credit: 1 hour per month (up to 20).
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Docs: Co-signed supervision form.
Category G — Program Planning & Evaluation
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What counts: Planning, implementing, and evaluating new programs or initiatives (not ongoing maintenance).
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Limit: 25 CPD credits.
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Docs: Documentation form.
Category H — Self-Study
Self-study comes in two forms:
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Formal self-study: Structured programs with assessments/certificates.
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Informal self-study: Independent reading, podcasts, reviewing proposals, etc.
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Limit: 40 CPD credits total.
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No more than 20 hours can come from informal self-study.
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Docs: Certificate of completion or activity form listing at least four resources for each informal topic.
Category I — Professional Leadership
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What counts: Serving in leadership roles for school psychology professional groups.
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Credits: Up to 5 CPD credits per role.
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Limit: 10 CPD credits.
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Docs: Documentation of role and participation.
📑 Documentation: What You Need to Keep
NASP does not collect your CPD records with the renewal form, but you must keep documentation in case of audit. Acceptable forms include:
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Certificates of completion
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Activity documentation form
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Official transcripts
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Convention documentation form
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Employer PD transcripts
Documentation should include:
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Participant name
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Title and date of activity
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Provider or sponsor
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Number of CPD hours claimed
📅 CPD Validity and Timing
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CPD credits are only valid during the 36 months before your renewal submission.
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Hours from previous cycles or beyond 36 months cannot be carried forward.
💡 Tips for a Smart CPD Plan
✔ Map your goals: Align CPD activities with NASP Domains of Practice, your growth areas, and job responsibilities.
✔ Mix categories: Spread learning across workshops, coursework, self-study, and leadership roles.
✔ Track from day one: A spreadsheet or CPD log keeps everything organized.
✔ Plan early: Don’t wait until the last year of your cycle — schedule PD throughout the 3 years.
📌 Final Thoughts
NCSP CPD Guidelines empower you to grow professionally while maintaining your credential. By understanding the what, how much, and how to document, you’ll not only renew your NCSP with confidence — you’ll also strategically enhance your effectiveness as a school psychologist.