Who are LCPS school psychologists?

School psychologists are uniquely qualified members of school teams that support students' ability to learn and teachers' ability to teach. They apply expertise in mental health, learning, and behavior, to help children and youth succeed academically, socially, behaviorally, and emotionally. School psychologists partner with families, teachers, school administrators, and other professionals to create safe, healthy, and supportive learning environments that strengthen connections between home, school, and the community (from National Association of School Psychologists website).  

What services do LCPS school psychologists provide? 

LCPS school psychologists provide a range of services, including preventative services, evaluation, consultation, and direct student services. They assist teams in data collection and analysis, data-based decision making, monitoring student progress in interventions, and making determinations regarding the effectiveness of interventions. School psychologists work in close collaboration with a variety of professionals within LCPS including educational diagnosticians, school counselors, school social workers, student assistance specialists, school staff and administrators, and others. For more information about the types of services LCPS school psychologists provide, click the areas outlined below. 

Education & Credentialing: LCPS school psychologists are highly trained in the fields of psychology and education.  The minimum requirements for training include a specialist-level degree program (at least 60 graduate semester hours) in School Psychology and a year-long supervised internship. Many LCPS school psychologists have earned or are working toward a doctorate. LCPS school psychologists are licensed by the Virginia Department of Education and the Virginia Board of Psychology. Most LCPS school psychologists are also credentialed as Nationally Certified School Psychologists (NCSP).   

Your Child's School Psychologist: School psychologists are members of Unified Mental Health Teams (UMHTs) within each school building. At the secondary level (middle and high school), most schools have a full-time school psychologist. At the elementary level, school psychologists generally support two or three schools. You can find your child's school psychologist by reviewing their school's UMHT web page. A list of UMHTs is available.

Becoming a School Psychologist or Psychologist Intern with LCPS: To apply, please visit the LCPS Department of Human Resources and Talent Development web page.  Additional information regarding LCPS School Psychology Internships for both doctoral and specialist candidates is available here. 

LCPS Psychological Services has two separate internship programs: a doctoral internship in health service psychology for doctoral candidates in school, child clinical, or combined psychology programs and a specialist internship program for specialist candidates in school psychology.