Alabama School Psychologist Continuing Education Requirements
Alabama school psychologists are credentialed through the Alabama State Department of Education with a Professional Educator Certificate in School Psychology. For current Professional Educator Certificate continuation, Alabama provides several options, including 50 clock hours of allowable professional development or 3 semester hours of allowable college coursework.
Alabama School Psychologist Requirements at a Glance
50 Clock Hours of Professional Development
Alabama's current continuation guidance for a Professional Educator Certificate provides a professional-development option requiring 50 clock hours of allowable professional development.
The professional development must be completed during the valid period of the certificate being continued.
Allowable hours must be properly documented before the continuation application is submitted.
Alternative: 3 Semester Hours of College Credit
Alabama also allows a Professional Educator Certificate holder to meet continuation requirements with 3 semester hours of allowable credit.
The coursework must satisfy ALSDE's allowable-credit rules and be documented on an official transcript.
College Credit Route
3 semester hours of allowable coursework
documented on an official transcript
Alabama Professional Educator Certificate Continuation Options
When Must Alabama Renewal Activities Be Completed?
Alabama requires continuation requirements to be completed during the valid period of the certificate and by the expiration date shown on the certificate.
Alabama does not continue a certificate before the calendar year in which it expires.
For current certificates, the continuation application is generally submitted during the calendar year in which the certificate expires, according to the application window established by ALSDE.
How Professional Development Is Documented
Alabama currently recognizes two primary documentation methods for professional development hours used for certificate continuation.
PowerSchool Professional Learning
Allowable hours may be recorded in the educator's PowerSchool Professional Learning account.
The Alabama Educator Certification Section can verify these hours electronically.
Supplement VPD
Professional development completed outside the PowerSchool system may be documented on Alabama Supplement VPD by an approved provider.
Which Professional Development Providers Can Alabama Accept?
Alabama identifies specific categories of approved providers that may verify allowable professional development for certificate continuation.
Current Alabama guidance includes:
- State or local public schools;
- Church-related or parochial schools;
- Alabama State Department of Education initiatives;
- A State Department of Education;
- A professional education association;
- An appropriately accredited college or university;
- Qualifying Alabama nonpublic/private schools;
- Qualifying Alabama charter schools; and
- Certain appropriately accredited or state-approved schools outside Alabama.
Do NASP-Approved Courses Count in Alabama?
Alabama includes a professional education association among the categories of approved professional development providers for certificate continuation.
NASP is a national professional education association for school psychologists. Therefore, professional development offered through a NASP-approved provider may be relevant to Alabama's approved-provider pathway when the activity itself is allowable and the required Alabama documentation is completed.
Child & School Psychology CE
Child & School Psychology CE is a NASP Approved Provider, Provider #1152.
Qualifying courses may be used toward applicable NCSP continuing professional development requirements.
Alabama also permits professional development verified by an approved provider category that includes professional education associations.
A school psychologist planning to apply one of our courses directly toward Alabama Professional Educator Certificate continuation should ensure that the course is allowable for renewal and that it is documented in the format required by ALSDE, such as PowerSchool Professional Learning or Supplement VPD.
NASP Approval vs. Alabama Certificate Renewal
NASP Approved Provider status and Alabama certificate continuation are related but not identical systems.
Relevant Professional Development for Alabama School Psychologists
Professional development used for certificate continuation should support educational advancement and professional competence.
Relevant school psychology topics may include:
- Psychoeducational assessment
- Academic intervention
- Behavior assessment and intervention
- Special education law
- Section 504
- School psychology ethics
- Data-based decision making
- School mental and behavioral health
- Consultation and collaboration
- Trauma-informed practice
- Family-school collaboration
- Culturally responsive practice
- Evidence-based intervention
- Schoolwide prevention and support systems
NCSP Is an Alabama Initial Certification Pathway
Alabama has a specific National School Psychologist approach for applicants seeking an Alabama School Psychologist Professional Educator Certificate.
Alabama requires verification of a valid Nationally Certified School Psychologist credential as part of this certification pathway.
Applicants must also meet applicable Alabama requirements, including degree, testing, background, and other certification requirements.
National School Psychologist Approach
A valid NCSP can be used as the school-psychology credential basis for obtaining an Alabama School Psychologist Professional Educator Certificate when the applicant also satisfies Alabama's additional certification requirements.
Does a Current NCSP Automatically Renew the Alabama Certificate?
Alabama clearly recognizes the NCSP as an initial certification pathway.
However, the current Professional Educator Certificate continuation guidance separately lists its continuation options, such as 50 professional development hours and 3 semester hours of coursework.
The national-certification continuation option listed in the general renewal document refers to National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) certification, which is different from the NCSP.
Can Online Continuing Education Count in Alabama?
Online professional development may qualify when the provider and activity satisfy Alabama's professional-development requirements and the hours are properly documented.
The important issue is not simply whether a course is delivered online. The educator should ensure that:
- The provider fits an ALSDE-approved provider category;
- The content is allowable professional development;
- The number of clock hours is documented;
- Completion occurred during the valid certificate period; and
- The activity is recorded through PowerSchool Professional Learning or appropriately verified through Supplement VPD when required.
Background Clearance
Alabama also requires appropriate criminal-history background clearance for educator certification transactions.
Applicants for initial certification, additional certification, and certificate renewal who do not already have acceptable Alabama State Bureau of Investigation and FBI clearance through the Educator Certification Section may need to complete fingerprint-based background review.
Alabama School Psychologist Renewal Summary
Online Continuing Education for Alabama School Psychologists
Child & School Psychology CE provides self-paced online professional development designed specifically for school psychologists and related professionals.
Courses address assessment, intervention, behavior, ethics, special education law, Section 504, student mental health, data-based decision making, and evidence-based school psychology practice.
We are a NASP Approved Provider, Provider #1152. Qualifying courses may be used toward applicable NCSP continuing professional development requirements.
Relevant courses may also be eligible for Alabama certificate continuation when they satisfy ALSDE's allowable professional development and approved-provider documentation requirements.
View Online CE CoursesAlso Maintaining Your NCSP?
Alabama recognizes a valid NCSP as an initial certification pathway for the School Psychologist Professional Educator Certificate. NCSP renewal itself has separate NASP continuing professional development requirements.
Some professional development may support both credentials when it independently satisfies Alabama's continuation requirements and NASP's NCSP requirements.
View NCSP CPD RequirementsOfficial Alabama Resources
Certification and professional development requirements may change. School psychologists should verify current requirements with the Alabama State Department of Education before submitting a certificate continuation application.
- Alabama State Department of Education – Certificate Renewal
- Alabama State Department of Education – Other Certification Approaches
- Alabama State Department of Education – National School Psychologist Approach
- Alabama State Department of Education – Professional Learning
Requirements reviewed September 2026. This page is provided for informational purposes and is not a substitute for current guidance from the Alabama State Department of Education.