Certifications & licensure

Once you have earned the PhD in Educational Psychology with a concentration either in School Psychology or Counseling Psychology, you are eligible for licensure as a psychologist in Arizona after:

• passing the National Professional Psychology exam
• completing 1,500 hours of post-doctoral supervised psychological experience

For more information, visit the Arizona Board of Psychologist Examiners.

You are eligible to be licensed as a professional counselor by the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners by completing:

• at least a 60-hour master’s program with an emphasis in counseling
• two years of supervised post-master’s experience
• the National Counselor Exam

Students who are graduates from the MA Counseling program are currently eligible for this license.

For more information, visit the Board of Behavioral Health Examiners.

By completing the EdS in School Psychology (72 hours, including an academic year internship), you will be eligible for State Certification by the Arizona Department of Education.

If you have completed the coursework and the internship requirements of the PhD in Educational Psychology-School Psychology, you are also eligible for this certification.

For more information on obtaining the school psychologists state certification in Arizona, visit the Arizona Department of Education.

If you complete a master’s degree in counseling with a practicum/internship in a school setting in a state approved program, you are eligible for this certification.

If you are a graduate from the MEd Counseling / School Counseling program, you are also eligible for this certification.

Find more information on obtaining the Guidance Counselor state certification in the state of Arizona.

The National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) created the National School Psychology Certification System (NSPCS) for the purpose of credentialing school psychologists who meet a nationally recognized standard.

The administration of the NSPCS is vested under the authority of the National School Psychology Certification Board (NSPCB).

If you complete the Educational Specialist program in School Psychology or the Doctoral Emphasis in School Psychology—both of which are NASP approved programs—you are eligible to apply for this certification.

Requirements include:

• completion of a program that is officially titled “School Psychology”
• 60 graduate semester hours (exclusive of internship) in school psychology
• a 1,200-hour internship in school psychology of which 600 hours must be completed in a school setting
• a passing score of 165 on the School Psychologist Praxis II examination of administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS)

For more information, visit the NASP Certification website.

You are eligible for this certification if you:

• complete a graduate degree in counseling or closely related field, from a regionally accredited program
• meet specific curricular criteria
• pass the National Counselor Exam

Since the MA Counseling and MEd Counseling / School Counseling programs are also nationally accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), you are eligible for this certification immediately upon graduating, provided you have passed the NCC exam.

If you’re in the 48-hour MEd Counseling / Student Affairs program, you are also eligible for this certification after passing the exam and completing two years of full-time post-master’s supervised experience.

Even though the NCC credential is not necessary for independent (private) practice and is not a replacement for the legislated state credentials such as the Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), those who hold the NCC credential can demonstrate that they have met national standards developed by the profession.

For more information, visit the National Board for Certified Counselors.