Becoming a licensed school psychologist in Kansas involves several steps, including meeting educational requirements, gaining experience, and passing assessments. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you navigate the process.
Initial Specialist Licensure
To obtain an initial school specialist license in Kansas, you need to submit the following to the state board:
- An official transcript verifying the granting of a graduate degree.
- Verification from an accredited institution of completion of a graduate-level school specialist program.
- Verification of at least one year of recent experience or at least eight semester hours of recent credit.
- Verification of a minimum 3.25 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale in graduate school specialist program coursework.
- Verification of successful completion of a state board-approved school specialist assessment.
- An application for an initial school specialist license.
- The licensure fee.
Professional License
For a professional school specialist license, you must provide:
- Verification of successful completion of the school specialist performance assessment while employed in an accredited school and holding an initial school specialist license.
- Verification of at least one year of recent experience or at least eight semester hours of recent credit.
- An application for a professional school specialist license.
- The licensure fee.
In Kansas, school psychology programs issue a degree before the internship. Interns with an EdS degree qualify for the initial license, whereas completion of the internship is required for the professional license.
Work Authorization Permit
Professionals with a Master’s degree in a related area (including at least 15 hours of school psychology coursework) and a license from a regulatory entity like KSDE or BSRB may be eligible for a work authorization. This also applies to school psychology practicum students. A work authorization allows you to be employed as a school psychologist and be reimbursable without a license, provided you are in good standing in a Kansas school psychology program that leads to the Ed.S. and an initial license.
Continuing Education Requirements
To renew your license every five years, you must meet one of the following criteria:
- 6 semester hours of additional recent college credit from a regionally accredited college or university within the 6-year period prior to application for renewal.
- Completion of 120 additional Kansas inservice or professional development hours.
- Verification of three years of accredited experience during the most recent 5-year Kansas credential and within the 6-year period prior to the application for renewal (this type of experience renewal may be used only twice in your career).
NASP-approved continuing professional development hours are accepted towards renewal.
Scope of Practice
School psychologists with the SEA credential can work in:
- Public schools (K-12)
- Early childhood and pre-K settings
- Private and charter schools
- College and university settings
The SEA credential does not allow for private practice outside the schools. To practice outside of schools, you must apply through the Kansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board.
It’s important to note that Kansas does not offer licensure waivers for school psychologists. If you do not meet the requirements for a regular school psychologist license, you may be eligible for a provisional license if you meet specific criteria, including holding a currently valid professional license and having completed more than 50% of an approved school psychology program.
For more information, please follow this link.
