Become a School Psychologist in Illinois: Earn Your NASP-Approved Ed.S.

NLU's NASP-approved Ed.S. in School Psychology prepares you for the Illinois (ISBE) school psychologist endorsement and national NCSP certification, through in-person study at our Wheeling campus and field placement in area schools that starts your first year, taught by faculty who are practicing school psychologists.

  • NASP-Approved Program
  • Dual Credential: ISBE Endorsement plus NCSP Eligibility
  • Faculty Who Are Practicing School Psychologists
  • Field Placement in Schools Starting Year One

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Why Choose NLU for School Psychology?

In-Person at Wheeling
Hands-on training at our Wheeling, IL campus

A practitioner-focused program taught in person by faculty who are current or recently retired school psychologists.

Two Credentials
ISBE endorsement plus NCSP eligibility

Graduate eligible for the Illinois school psychologist endorsement and national certification through one NASP-approved degree.

Field From Year One
9 SH practicum plus a full-year internship

You are in a school one day a week from your first year, building to a full-school-year, partially paid internship.

$94,310
Median, psychology occupations (BLS, May 2024)

Illinois has a documented shortage of school psychologists, so graduates enter a market that needs them.

NASP-Approved
Built on the 10 NASP practice domains

The curriculum aligns directly to the national standards that define what school psychologists need to know and do.

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Program at a Glance

How long?
67 SH
Ed.S. with 9 SH practicum and a full-year internship
What credentials?
2 Credentials
ISBE school psychologist endorsement plus NCSP eligibility
What salary?
$94,310
Median, psychology occupations (BLS, May 2024)
What demand?
6% Growth
Faster than average, about 12,900 openings a year (BLS)

What You'll Learn

  • Conduct cognitive, academic, and social-emotional assessments
  • Design and evaluate academic and behavioral interventions
  • Use data within a multi-tiered system of supports (MTSS)
  • Consult and collaborate with teachers, families, and systems
  • Apply ethical, legal, and professional standards in schools
  • Prepare for the Illinois (ISBE) school psychologist endorsement and NCSP certification

Full Course List

Assessment
Tests and measurement, cognitive assessment, educational assessment, and social-emotional and behavioral assessment for school-based practice.
Intervention
Methods of research-based instruction and tiered intervention, plus social-emotional, behavioral, and mental health interventions in schools.
Data-Based Decisions
Using data within a multi-tiered system of supports to identify needs and measure progress.
Consultation
Models and strategies for consulting and collaborating with teachers, families, and systems.
Foundations
The ethical standards, legal requirements, and professional foundations of school psychology practice.
Equity
Partnering across families, schools, and communities and serving diverse student populations.
Applied Behavior
Functional, evidence-based behavioral assessment and intervention in school settings.
Field Experience
Supervised practicum building to a full-time school psychology internship in the final year.

Next start: August 24, 2026 — seats filling fast.

Admissions Requirements

  • Bachelor's or master's degree from a regionally accredited institution
  • Personal statement describing your interest in school psychology
  • Two signed letters of recommendation addressing your capacity for graduate work
  • Professional resume describing relevant background and experience
  • Faculty review
Request Info

Currently, I am an independent school psychologist who contracts myself to other school districts so they can remain compliant by completing monolingual evaluations despite the critical shortage of school psychologists in the state. My courses at NLU helped me with my profession, particularly with Applied Behavior Analysis and filling this need. Continuing my education has allowed me to apply direct services with at-risk populations, and interacting with students has been a profound experience.

Damien Antwine Ed.S. in School Psychology, Class of 2021
Learn From Practicing School Psychologists

Your faculty are current or recently retired school psychologists, so coursework is drawn from real cases and current district practice, not just theory.

Two Credentials, One Degree

Completing the program makes you eligible for the Illinois (ISBE) school psychologist endorsement and the national NCSP certification. You must also pass the ISBE Content Area Test (237).

Field Placement Starts Year One

One day a week of supervised practicum in your first year builds to a full-school-year, partially paid internship in your final year.

Where Will Your Ed.S. Take You?

$94,310
Median, psychology occupations (BLS, May 2024)
School Psychologist (PK-12)
Behavioral Specialist
MTSS or Intervention Coordinator
Assessment Specialist
Crisis and Mental Health Support
Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP)

Illinois faces a documented shortage of school psychologists, so NLU graduates do not just earn a degree, they enter a market that actively needs them. School psychologists assess learning and behavioral needs, design interventions, and support student mental health within a multi-tiered system of supports. NLU’s Ed.S. prepares you for the Illinois (ISBE) school psychologist endorsement and eligibility as a Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP).

Psychology occupations carry a median salary of $94,310 (BLS, May 2024), and the field is projected to grow 6 percent through 2034 with roughly 12,900 openings a year. Many Illinois school districts pay school psychologists on enhanced salary schedules, and the dual credential makes you employable across the state.

Get Started Now

How to Apply in 3 Simple Steps

  1. Request Information

    Submit the form above. An NLU enrollment advisor will reach out within one business day to answer your questions about the Illinois school psychology pathway and the in-person Wheeling campus format.

  2. Talk to an Advisor

    Your advisor will walk you through admission requirements, the practicum and full-year internship structure, the field placement schedule, and how the program leads to ISBE endorsement and NCSP eligibility.

  3. Apply and Start Classes

    Submit your application at nl.edu with official transcripts, a personal statement, and two academic letters of recommendation. Next start: August 24, 2026.

Get Started

Take the Next Step

No commitment required. An NLU advisor will reach out within one business day to answer your questions and guide your next move.

Take the First Step
  • NASP-Approved Program
  • Dual Credential: ISBE Endorsement plus NCSP Eligibility
  • Faculty Who Are Practicing School Psychologists
  • Field Placement in Schools Starting Year One

*Salary and outlook: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Psychologists (SOC 19-3030), May 2024.

**Program format, credit hours, and Illinois endorsement pathway: National Louis University Ed.S. in School Psychology (Illinois) program page and SmartCatalog, School Psychology Ed.S. Illinois (nl.smartcatalogiq.com, current catalog).

***The Illinois school psychologist endorsement is granted by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) and requires passing the School Psychologist Content Area Test (237); national certification (NCSP) is granted by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP).