Idaho School Psychologist Continuing Education Requirements
Idaho school psychologists are credentialed as Pupil Service Staff through the Idaho Department of Education. A five-year renewable School Psychologist certificate generally requires six professional development credits for renewal. Idaho also provides an important alternative: the renewal-credit requirement may be waived for a school psychologist who holds a current Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP) credential.
Idaho School Psychologist Requirements at a Glance
Six Professional Development Credits Every Five Years
Idaho requires certificated personnel, including Pupil Service Staff, to complete professional development during the validity period of the certificate.
For a five-year renewable School Psychologist certificate, the standard requirement is 6 professional development semester credits.
The activities must relate to the applicant's endorsement area, professional practice, or pedagogy and must be completed during the validity period of the certificate being renewed.
How the Six Credits Can Be Earned
Transcripted College or University Credit
At least 3 of the 6 credits must be earned through an accredited college or university.
Both graduate and undergraduate credits may be accepted for renewal when they meet Idaho's content requirements.
These credits must appear on a college or university transcript.
Inservice or CEU Credit
Up to 3 credits may be earned through qualifying Idaho district, charter school, or private-school inservice activities or continuing education units.
Idaho uses the conversion: 15 contact hours = 1 semester renewal credit.
How Many Contact Hours Can Be Used?
Because Idaho allows up to three renewal credits from qualifying inservice activity and uses a conversion of 15 contact hours per semester credit, a maximum of:
45 Contact Hours = 3 Renewal Credits
Those 45 hours can cover up to half of the six-credit renewal requirement when properly documented through Idaho's approved inservice process.
The remaining three credits must still be transcripted through an accredited college or university unless the school psychologist qualifies for another renewal option such as the NCSP waiver.
Current NCSP Can Waive Idaho's School Psychologist Renewal Credits
Idaho's school psychologist rules provide a particularly useful option for nationally certified school psychologists.
The six-credit renewal requirement may be waived when the applicant holds a current and valid National Certification for School Psychologists (NCSP) issued through the National Association of School Psychologists.
Idaho Pupil Service Staff Renewal Rule
School psychologists fall within Idaho's Pupil Service Staff certification category.
Idaho states that Pupil Service Staff must either:
- Complete the standard six-credit professional development renewal requirement; or
- Provide a current occupational license issued by the appropriate Idaho state licensing board, when such a license applies to the pupil-service profession.
For school psychologists specifically, Idaho's School Psychologist endorsement rule separately recognizes the current NCSP as a basis for waiving the professional development credit requirement.
What Professional Development Can Count?
Idaho requires renewal credit to relate to the educator's content area, endorsement area, professional practice, or pedagogy.
For a school psychologist, appropriate professional development 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
- Evidence-based interventions
- Professional practice and supervision
- Other school-psychology-related professional learning
Important Idaho Inservice Documentation Rule
Idaho does not simply treat every outside continuing education certificate as a renewal credit.
If professional development does not result in semester or quarter credit appearing on a college transcript, Idaho states that the activity can be accepted toward renewal only when it is appropriately documented through an Idaho In-Service form and signed by an Idaho school official.
Do NASP-Approved Courses Count in Idaho?
NASP-approved professional development is directly applicable to NCSP renewal.
For Idaho state certificate renewal, however, there are two different ways NASP-approved professional development may matter:
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.
This is particularly relevant in Idaho because a school psychologist who maintains a current NCSP may qualify for a waiver of the state's six-credit School Psychologist renewal requirement.
A school psychologist who instead wants to apply an individual course directly as Idaho inservice credit should follow Idaho's inservice approval and verification requirements.
Idaho School Psychologist Certification Pathways
Idaho offers a three-year Interim Pupil Service Staff certificate and a five-year renewable certificate for school psychologists.
Three-Year Interim Certificate
Idaho requires an official transcript showing a master's degree in psychology and verification of enrollment in a school psychologist certification program.
Five-Year Renewable Certificate
A candidate may qualify with a master's degree or higher in school psychology and an institutional recommendation verifying completion of a state-approved school psychologist program, including the required school psychology practicum/internship.
NCSP Is Also an Initial Certification Pathway
Idaho expressly recognizes a current NCSP certificate as an alternative pathway for the five-year renewable School Psychologist credential.
Idaho also recognizes a current out-of-state School Psychologist certificate as another pathway.
Five-Year Renewable School Psychologist Certificate
Idaho accepts one of the following qualifying routes:
- Idaho-approved school psychologist preparation with institutional recommendation;
- Current NCSP certification; or
- Current qualifying out-of-state School Psychologist certification.
Idaho Dyslexia Training
Idaho notes that some educators may have an additional dyslexia training requirement associated with certificate renewal.
Applicability depends on the educator and credential, so school psychologists should review the current Idaho Department of Education dyslexia-training guidance when preparing for renewal.
When Must Renewal Credits Be Earned?
Professional development used to renew a current Idaho certificate must be completed during the validity period of the certificate being renewed.
Idaho does not grant an extension simply because an educator has not completed the six-credit requirement by the expiration date.
If a certificate expires, the educator may need to use Idaho's reinstatement process rather than the standard renewal process.
Can Online Continuing Education Count in Idaho?
Online professional development can be useful for Idaho school psychologists, but how it counts depends on the renewal pathway.
Idaho School Psychologist Renewal Options Compared
Online Continuing Education for Idaho 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.
Idaho is particularly relevant for NCSP holders because a current NCSP may waive the state's six-credit School Psychologist renewal requirement.
View Online CE CoursesMaintaining Your NCSP?
Idaho expressly recognizes the NCSP both as a pathway to the five-year renewable School Psychologist credential and as a possible waiver of the state's professional development renewal-credit requirement.
School psychologists using this pathway should keep the NCSP current by meeting NASP's applicable continuing professional development requirements.
View NCSP CPD RequirementsOfficial Idaho Resources
Certification and professional development rules may change. School psychologists should verify current requirements with the Idaho Department of Education before submitting a renewal application.
- Idaho Department of Education – Renewal of an Idaho Certificate
- Idaho Department of Education – Pupil Service Staff Certificates
- Idaho Department of Education
Requirements reviewed September 2026. This page is provided for informational purposes and is not a substitute for current guidance from the Idaho Department of Education.