Northern Illinois University
Department of Psychology
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Receive free training to become a school psychologist.

School psychologists make a positive, lasting difference in students’ lives. U.S. News ranks school psychologists No. 3 in Best Social Service Jobs, No. 18 in Best STEM Jobs and No. 40 in 100 Best Jobs. Right now, there’s a shortage of school psychologists in northern Illinois. We’re helping meet this need by providing free school psychologist training to educators from high-need districts.

Our new program is designed around your working life as an educator. You’ll pay nothing for tuition and fees, and you’ll receive a laptop and stipend for materials and conference travel. If selected to participate, you’ll take courses, participate in a practicum and complete an internship. After just three years, you’ll be able to get your school psychologist license.

The first group of eight participants began the program in summer 2023. Additional cohorts will start in summer 2024 and summer 2025.

Eligibility

District partners and NIU faculty will select students for the program. In order to be eligible, you must:

• Have a bachelor's degree and Professional Educator License
• Work in one of these districts: DeKalb, Harlem, Belvidere, Sterling or a district in the Northwest Special Education Cooperative (applicants from other high-need districts may be considered)
• Agree to work as a school psychologist in your district for five years after program completion
• For a full explanation of commitments to the program, please see PESP-NI Scholar Commitments. 

Program Outline

You’ll take two classes each summer and two or three classes each semester. Classes take place online and are mostly synchronous (taking place at a set time) on evenings or weekends, or during the summer. There are some required asynchronous activities and materials. You will be required to come to NIU’s DeKalb campus a few times during the program, but advance notice will be provided. Explore an outline of the typical course plan.

In your second year in the program, you’ll complete a school psychology practicum one day a week in the fall and spring semesters. You’ll have support from your district, and the grant will cover the cost of your substitute.

In your third year, you’ll complete a full-time school psychology internship in the fall and spring semesters. Your district and the grant will cover your typical educator salary during the internship.

Program Outcome

At the program completion, you will earn the Specialist in School Psychology degree (an advanced graduate degree that is beyond a master’s) and Professional Educator License, with a school psychologist endorsement in Illinois.

Apply if you are an educator working in one of the partner districts. Applications for next summer’s cohort are due January 15.

Interested in the program but don’t work in a partner district? Add your information to a list should additional candidates be considered.

Applying to the Program

If you are an educator working in one of the partner districts, please select the appropriate link below to apply. Applications for next summer’s cohort are due January 15.

• Belvidere PESP-NI Application
• DeKalb PESP-NI Application
• Harlem PESP-NI Application
• NWSE PESP-NI Application
• Sterling PESP-NI Application

Interested in the program but don’t work in a partner district? Add your information to a list should additional candidates be considered.

Please contact Molly McDade mmcdade@niu.edu with any additional questions.

This program is supported with a five year grant from the U.S. Department of Education, #S184X220145. Cohorts beginning in Summers 2023, 2024, and 2025 will be supported on the grant.