The American Board of School Psychology (ABSP) is a member board of the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP). The ABPP oversees and authorizes the credentialing activities of fifteen specialty boards. The ABSP is responsible for establishing criteria related to the definition and requirements for education, training, competencies, and the examination, which leads to Board Certification in School Psychology. The ABSP is governed by a Board of Directors who are certified in School Psychology and are representative of the specialty on a national basis.
School psychology is a general practice and health service provider specialty of professional psychology. School psychologists apply the science and practice of psychology to youth, families, learners of all ages, and the schooling process. School psychology practice promotes the protection and fosters the promotion of the educational and personal development of students. The practice of school psychology includes psychological and psycho-educational evaluation, individual/group/family intervention with students and parents, health promotion, consultation with educators and parents, program development and evaluation, and research. School psychologists intervene at the individual and system levels to develop, implement, and evaluate preventive programs. School psychologists practice in public and private schools, clinics and hospitals, forensic settings, universities and in independent practice.
Board certification assures the public and the profession that the School Psychology Specialist has successfully completed the education, training, and experience requirements of the specialty, and through an examination has provided evidence of the competencies required to provide quality services in School Psychology. Specialties, by definition, are advanced levels of practice including doctoral and/or post-doctoral preparation with three or more years of qualifying experience.
