Arkansas School Psychologist Continuing Education Requirements
Arkansas school psychologists are licensed through the Arkansas Department of Education's educator licensure system. Standard educator licenses are valid for five years, and licensed educators generally complete ongoing professional development each year.
Arkansas School Psychologist Requirements at a Glance
36 Hours of Professional Development Annually
Arkansas states that licensed educators must obtain a minimum of 36 hours of professional development each year.
These hours include professional development required by Arkansas law or State Board of Education rule.
For educators employed by Arkansas public schools, school districts are responsible for monitoring and verifying completion of the required professional development.
Required Arkansas Professional Development Trainings
Arkansas currently identifies four professional development trainings that licensed educators must complete once during each five-year licensure cycle.
Professional Development for Arkansas School Psychologists
Beyond Arkansas's required training topics, professional development should support the educator's professional role and growth. 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 health
- Suicide prevention
- Bullying prevention
- Trauma-informed practice
- Consultation and collaboration
- Family-school collaboration
- Evidence-based school psychology practice
Arkansas Professional Development Provider Approval
Arkansas maintains its own approval process for organizations offering professional development credit to Arkansas K–12 educators.
Providers offering professional learning statewide or to educators from multiple Arkansas school districts must generally be approved by the Arkansas Department of Education at least 30 days before the program is offered for Arkansas professional development credit.
Do NASP-Approved Courses Count in Arkansas?
NASP-approved courses are directly relevant to professional school psychology practice and may be used toward applicable NCSP renewal requirements.
Arkansas, however, maintains a separate professional-development provider approval system for state educator professional development. NASP Approved Provider status alone should therefore not be represented as automatic Arkansas PD approval.
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.
Arkansas school psychologists wishing to use an individual course toward state educator professional development should verify that the course satisfies current Arkansas Department of Education professional development requirements.
Professional Development Documentation
Arkansas uses the AELS educator licensure system for license renewal. Educators who continuously work in Arkansas public schools and complete their required professional development generally have their completed PD reflected in the renewal application.
Educators whose professional development is not already reflected in the system may need to submit verification or certificates.
- Course or activity title
- Professional development provider
- Date of completion
- Number of professional development hours
- Certificate or verification of completion
- Administrator verification when applicable
Additional Renewal Requirements
Professional development is only one part of Arkansas educator-license renewal.
Arkansas also requires updated Arkansas State Police, FBI, and Child Maltreatment background checks as part of renewal of a standard educator license.
Can Online Continuing Education Count in Arkansas?
Arkansas offers online professional development through Arkansas IDEAS and also permits professional development through approved providers and programs.
Outside online courses may potentially be used when they satisfy Arkansas's professional-development rules and provider/program approval requirements.
School psychologists should verify acceptance before relying on an outside course for state educator-license renewal.
Online Continuing Education for Arkansas School Psychologists
Child & School Psychology CE provides self-paced online professional development designed specifically for school psychologists and related professionals.
Courses address ethics, legal issues, assessment, behavior, intervention, student mental health, data-based decision making, and evidence-based school psychology practice.
We are a NASP Approved Provider, Provider #1152. Review individual course descriptions for the number of hours, CPD type, learning objectives, and approval information.
View Online CE CoursesAlso Maintaining Your NCSP?
Arkansas educator-license professional development and NCSP renewal requirements are separate. School psychologists maintaining both credentials should make sure professional development activities satisfy the requirements applicable to each credential.
View NCSP CPD RequirementsOfficial Arkansas Resources
Licensure and professional development requirements can change. School psychologists should verify current requirements with the Arkansas Department of Education before submitting a renewal application.
- Arkansas DESE – Renewing a License
- Arkansas DESE – Professional Development
- Arkansas DESE – Professional Development for Licensure Renewal
- Arkansas DESE – Approved Professional Development Providers
Requirements reviewed September 2026. This page is provided for informational purposes and is not a substitute for current guidance from the Arkansas Department of Education.