Department of Psychology at Illinois State University

Important Deadlines

Specialist trainees are responsible for reviewing and following the current Specialist Policies and Procedures and the Forms Manual. See the Specialist Program's Forms and Manual website to download the forms that are identified in the Specialist Policies and Procedures. The yearly designations are offered as a suggested guide; specific dates are required deadlines.

First Year

  • Before the start of the fall semester, complete a physical examination and a criminal background check that may require fingerprinting; submit the results to the program coordinator
  • By August 15, submit the signed assistantship offer letter and the completed Graduate Health Insurance Certification form to the Graduate Programs Office
  • By August 31, complete and submit the Professional Liability Insurance Data Sheet and Professional Practice Health Insurance Certification form for each fieldwork/practicum course to the Graduate Programs Office
  • By September 15, complete and submit the Applied Research Experience in School Psychology form to the program coordinator (if you selected the research option instead of completing a master's thesis)
  • By October 31, complete the Illinois Ethics Online Training (mandatory for graduate assistants)
  • By January 15, submit the signed assistantship offer letter and the completed Graduate Health Insurance Certification form to the Graduate Programs Office
  • By January 31, complete and submit the Professional Liability Insurance Data Sheet and Professional Practice Health Insurance Certification form for each fieldwork/practicum course to the Graduate Programs Office
  • By April 1, complete and submit the online graduate assistantship application for next year
  • By April 15, complete and submit the Specialist Program Annual Feedback form to the program coordinator
  • During the spring semester,register for the Graduate Research Symposium and present a poster reflecting your research results (if you selected the research option instead of completing a master's thesis)

Second Year

  • By August 15, submit the signed assistantship offer letter and the completed Health Insurance Certification form to the Graduate Programs Office
  • By August 31, complete and submit the Professional Liability Insurance Data Sheet and the Professional Practice Health Insurance Certification form for each practicum course to the Graduate Programs Office
  • By October 31, complete the Illinois Ethics Online Training (mandatory for graduate assistants)
  • By January 15, submit the signed assistantship offer letter and the completed Health Insurance Certification form to the Graduate Programs Office
  • By January 31, complete and submit the Professional Liability Insurance Data Sheet and the Professional Practice Health Insurance Certification form for each practicum course to the Graduate Programs Office
  • By January 31, complete and submit the Illinois State Board of Education’s Notification of School Service Personnel Intern Eligibility Status form to the program coordinator
  • By February 15 or sooner, obtain approval of your thesis proposal from your Thesis Committee (if you selected the master's thesis option instead of applied research)
  • By April 15, complete and submit the Specialist Program Annual Feedback form to the program coordinator
  • By the end of the spring semester, complete and submit the Graduate School's Degree Audit form to the program coordinator

Third Year (internship)

  • By August 31, complete and submit the Professional Liability Insurance Data Sheet and Professional Practice Health Insurance Certification form for the internship to the Graduate Programs Office
  • By September 15, complete and submit the Specialist Internship Agreement and the Specialist Internship Plan and Evaluation to the university internship supervisor
  • Before the end of the fall semester, complete the Intent to File for Certification form, which is available on the College of Education’s Teacher Education website
  • Before the end of the fall semester, complete the online Illinois State Board of Education Basic skills and Content Area Tests in School Psychology
  • By December 15, update and submit the Specialist Internship Plan and Evaluation to the university internship supervisor
  • By April 15, complete and submit the Specialist Program Annual Feedback form to the program coordinator
  • By May 1, update and submit the Specialist Internship Plan and Evaluation to the university internship supervisor
  • During the summer semester, apply for graduation