The field of psychology and allied professions is defined and regulated by state laws. These regulate both the practice and the titles associated with practice. This section provides a brief overview of the various credentials, certificates, and licenses in the field.

Only three titles are appropriately associated with the School Psychology Program. Depending on your status with respect to progress in the program and credentials held, one of these terms will be the self-referent of choice.

School Psychologist: The appropriate self-referent for use following the award of the School Psychology Credential. The adjective "school" must always be used because the term psychologist is limited to licensed psychologists.

School Psychology Intern: The appropriate self-referent for use following the award of the School Psychology Internship Credential. The noun should always be "intern" because that is the nature of the credential held. It is inappropriate to call yourself an "intern school psychologist" because the noun is regulated by a different credential.

School Psychology Trainee or School Psychology Student: The appropriate self-referents for use while in Phase I and II of the program. Note that "school psychology" is used as an adjective phrase for the nouns "trainee" or "student." The terms trainee or student must be used during field experiences. The trainee should never use the self-referent "intern" because that term is regulated by the internship credential. Should others in the school community refer to you as an intern, you are ethically bound to correct them.