What is the difference between attending a Specialist vs. Doctoral training program?
Nearly all states certify school psychologists who have completed a 60 graduate semester specialist-level program in school psychology, including a 1200-hour internship. A few states will only grant the title “school psychologist” to those with a doctoral degree, and will have some other title for those with a specialist-level degree, such as “school psychological service provider” or “school psychology specialist.” Be sure to check certification requirements in the areas where you want to work. You can find links to state certification requirements on our website at www.nasponline.org/certification/state_info_list.aspx. For detailed information on different degrees in school psychology, see A Career in School Psychology: Selecting a Master’s, Specialist, or Doctoral Degree Program That Meets Your Needs.
