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Exam Overview
The Praxis School Psychologist (5403) exam measures the knowledge and skills an entry-level school psychologist needs to serve students, families and schools. It is developed and delivered by Educational Testing Service (ETS) and is based on the NASP Practice Model. Many states use it for school psychologist certification or licensure, and NASP requires it for the Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP) credential.
Exam at a Glance
| Exam Component | Details |
|---|---|
| Test Name | Praxis School Psychologist (5403) |
| Administered By | Educational Testing Service (ETS), Praxis program |
| Purpose | School psychologist certification or licensure in many states, and the exam requirement for the NASP Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP) credential |
| Basis | The NASP Model for Comprehensive and Integrated School Psychological Services (NASP Practice Model); assumes supervised practicum or internship experience |
| Format | Selected-response questions; most have one correct answer, and some may ask you to select more than one answer or use another interactive format |
| Number of Questions | 125 (some may be unscored pilot questions) |
| Time | 2 hours 5 minutes (125 minutes) |
| Score Scale | Scaled scores from 100 to 200 |
| Passing Score | Set by each state (and by NASP for the NCSP); check the ETS Passing Scores by State page and nasponline.org |
| Delivery | Computer delivered at a test center or at home with online proctoring |
| Test Fee | $156 |
| Retakes | You may retake the test after 28 days |
Content Categories
The exam is organized into four content categories. The share of questions in each category comes from the ETS Study Companion for test 5403:
| Content Category | What It Covers | Approx. Questions | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| I. Professional Practices that Permeate All Aspects of Service Delivery | Data-based decision making (problem identification, assessment and problem analysis, measurement theory, special populations); consultation and collaboration | 40 | 32% |
| II. Direct and Indirect Services for Children, Families, and Schools (Student-Level Services) | Academic interventions and instructional support; mental and behavioral health services, interventions and psychopathology | 28 | 23% |
| III. Direct and Indirect Services for Children, Families, and Schools (Systems-Level Services) | Schoolwide practices and MTSS; safe and supportive schools (prevention, crisis, threat assessment, climate); family-school collaboration | 25 | 20% |
| IV. Foundations of School Psychological Service Delivery | Equitable practices for diverse students; research, evidence-based practice and program evaluation; legal, ethical and professional practice | 32 | 25% |
The two practice tests in this guide follow the same weighting: 32, 23, 20 and 25 questions per category in each 100-question test.
Time
You have 125 minutes for 125 questions, or about 1 minute per question. Many questions describe a referral, a score report or a team decision, so practice reading scenarios at a steady pace.
Scoring
Your raw score (the number of scored questions answered correctly) is converted to a scaled score from 100 to 200. There is no penalty for wrong answers, so answer every question. Each state sets its own passing score, and NASP sets the score required for the NCSP; check the current requirement where you plan to apply.
Registration and Delivery
Register through your Praxis account at praxis.ets.org. The test is offered at test centers and at home with online proctoring. Before you register, confirm that your state accepts test 5403 for the credential you are seeking.
Why the Exam Matters
- Certification: Many states require a passing score for school psychologist certification or licensure.
- NCSP: A passing score is part of the requirements for the Nationally Certified School Psychologist credential.
- Professional readiness: The exam samples the full range of school psychological services: assessment and data-based decision making, consultation, academic and mental health interventions, systems-level prevention and crisis services, family-school collaboration, equity, research, and legal and ethical practice.
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