School Psychology Licensure Preparation Program

The School Psychology Licensure Preparation Program is designed for men and women who desire graduate study and preparation for the school psychology profession who already hold a master's or doctoral degree in a mental health field (e.g., counseling, social work, marriage and family therapy, psychology and/or psychiatry).

Approved by Oregon Teacher Standards and Practices Commission (TSPC) and accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE)

Graduates will:

• Demonstrate and articulate an identity as a professional school psychologist including foundations, models, methods, public policy, ethical, professional and legal standards
• Demonstrate the knowledge and skills to collect data in a variety of areas for service and evaluate outcomes with cultural competence and relevance to age birth to 21 years.
• Demonstrate knowledge, methods, and application of behavioral, mental health, collaborative and other consultation models
• Demonstrate personal awareness, theoretical knowledge, and clinical skills needed to provide multi-culturally sensitive prevention, intervention, collaboration, and consultation
• Effectively consult and collaborate with parents and guardians, teachers, administrators, and other school and community members
• Demonstrate reflective and ethical decision making grounded in the knowledge of relevant legal and ethical codes as well as in an examination of personal values
• Effectively work with information sources and technology to advocate for all students, and to evaluate and improve the quality of services
• Apply relevant research, statistics and evaluation methods in the practice of school psychology
• Demonstrate the College of Education Conceptual Framework to Think Critically, Transform Practice, and Promote Justice  
• Articulate how personal faith informs one’s identity and practice as a professional school psychologist

• Master's or doctoral degree in the mental health field from a regionally accredited institution. A cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or above is required. 
• Completed Application Form at   apply.georgefox.edu
• Résumé of work and/or volunteer experience
• Written admission statement addressing the question provided in the Application Form
• One academic reference form and one professional reference form
• An official transcript from each college or university attended
• Group interview with the Admissions Committee. An invitation will be extended to those meeting initial program criteria.

Additional requirements for international students are  online here. 

Transcripts of previous graduate work and supporting documentation will be evaluated by the GDC faculty committee to verify completion of the following prerequisite courses:

*Applicants for the School Psychology Licensure Preparation Program may petition the Oregon Teacher Standards and Practices Commission (TSPC) if they are dissatisfied with a denied waiver request.

Transfer of up to 5 semester hours credit beyond the required prerequisite coursework is allowed toward the School Psychology Licensure Preparation Program from accredited graduate schools (transfer credit is not allowed toward internship requirements). Students must have earned a grade of B or better for a course to be considered for transfer. In addition, only courses taken elsewhere within 10 years of the date of matriculation to the School Psychology Licensure Preparation Program will be considered for transfer. Transferability of credits earned at this institution and transferred to another is at the discretion of the receiving institution. Consult the registrar's office for information on eligibility of transfer credit.

Of the 18 semester hours required for the School Psychology Licensure Preparation Program, a minimum of 13 hours must be taken in resident study at George Fox University. All work leading to the certificate must be completed within 5 years from the time of matriculation. Extension of this limit requires the approval of the Graduate Department of Counseling (GDC) Faculty. However, only one such extension may be considered due to special circumstances, such as ill health. Reinstatement to the program after withdrawal requires Admissions Committee action and may subject the student to additional requirements for the program. A leave of absence is valid for up to one year after which the student must re-apply to the program.

The School Psychology Licensure Preparation Program is generally 2-4 years in length with 18 hours of course work required as a minimum for graduation. Of those hours, 12 are in core counseling and school psychology coursework and 6 internship hours.

Each student must complete a minimum of 20 clock hours of personal counseling/therapy as part of the School Psychology Licensure Preparation Program program. Additionally, an ongoing review process serves as a way to assess the student's fit for the program; fit for the profession; emotional, psychological, and intellectual ability; as well as maturity level for functioning safely as a mental health professional. GDC faculty will review students each fall and spring semester. For more specific information, please refer to the student handbook.

In order to complete the School Psychology Licensure Preparation Program students must:

• Satisfactorily complete a minimum of 18 semester hours (beyond the stated prerequisite coursework) with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above
• Achieve no grade lower than a B in all courses. If a grade of a B- or lower is received in a required course, that course must be retaken (for more specific information, please refer to the student handbook).
• Complete a minimum of 20 one-hour sessions of personal therapy—individual, couples, and/or group (no more than 10 sessions may be in group therapy)—with a licensed therapist
• Complete a minimum of 1,200 supervised hours in internship setting(s)
• Successfully complete the Clinical Portfolio (reading fees are assessed during the final semester of clinical internship), in which the student articulates his/her current understanding of school psychology and applies the same through an analysis of his/her school psychology skills, an evaluation of his/her strengths, and a three-year professional development plan