ALABAMA SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST CERTIFICATION EXAM
STUDY GUIDE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 100% CORRECT!
Updated Actual Final Exam Practice Questions & Detailed Rationales (2026–2027)
Table of Contents
Subtopic 1: Alabama Special Education Law & Legal Foundations (Questions 1–7)
Subtopic 2: Data-Based Decision Making & Psychoeducational (Questions 8–14)
Assessment
Subtopic 3: Consultation, Collaboration, & School-Wide Systems (Questions 15–20)
Subtopic 4: Academic & Learning Interventions (Questions 21–26)
Subtopic 5: Behavior, Mental Health, & Crisis Intervention (Questions 27–33)
Subtopic 6: Culturally & Linguistically Responsive Practice (Questions 34–39)
Subtopic 7: Research, Statistics, & Program Evaluation (Questions 40–45)
,Subtopic 8: Subtopic 8: Professional Ethics, Roles, & Professional (Questions 46–52)
Practice
Subtopic 1: Alabama Special Education Law & Legal Foundations
Question 1
Under the Alabama Administrative Code (AAC Rule 290-8-9-.02), once a parent signs a
written consent form for an initial special education evaluation, what is the maximum
timeline the public agency has to conduct and complete the initial evaluation?
● A. 30 calendar days
● B. 45 school days
● C. 60 calendar days
● D. 90 calendar days
Correct Answer: C. 60 calendar days
Rationale: AAC Rule 290-8-9-.02(1)(b) explicitly states that the public agency has sixty
(60) calendar days from the date the agency receives signed parental consent for initial
evaluation to conduct and complete the evaluation. Once the evaluation is complete, the
agency has thirty (30) calendar days to convene the eligibility committee and determine
special education eligibility.
Question 2
According to Alabama special education rules, which of the following evaluations MUST
be conducted first for any student suspected of having a disability prior to proceeding
with comprehensive psychological and academic testing?
● A. Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA)
● B. Vision and hearing screenings
● C. Adaptive behavior rating scale
● D. Standardized cognitive assessment
Correct Answer: B. Vision and hearing screenings
, Rationale: AAC Rule 290-8-9-.03 specifies that vision and hearing screenings
(traditional or functional) must be the first evaluations conducted for all children
suspected of having a disability, unless otherwise indicated. Uncorrected sensory
impairments can invalidate cognitive and academic assessment results.
Question 3
An IEP Team in an Alabama school district meets to determine special education
eligibility for a 3rd-grade student suspected of having a Specific Learning Disability
(SLD). Under state rules, which factor precludes the team from finding the student
eligible under IDEA?
● A. The student exhibits a pattern of strengths and weaknesses across cognitive
tests.
● B. The student's primary learning difficulty is driven by a lack of appropriate
instruction in reading.
● C. The student has been enrolled in three different schools during the past
academic year.
● D. The parent refused psychological counseling services outside of school.
Correct Answer: B. The student's primary learning difficulty is driven by a lack of
appropriate instruction in reading.
Rationale: Under both IDEA and AAC Rule 290-8-9-.04(1)(e), a child must not be
determined to be a child with a disability if the determinant factor is a lack of appropriate
instruction in reading (including essential components of reading instruction like
phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension), lack of
instruction in math, or limited English proficiency.
Question 4
In Alabama, how frequently must a reevaluation be conducted for a student currently
receiving special education services, unless the parent and the public agency agree in
writing that a reevaluation is unnecessary?
● A. Every 12 months
● B. Every 24 months
● C. At least once every 3 years
● D. At least once every 5 years
Correct Answer: C. At least once every 3 years
STUDY GUIDE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 100% CORRECT!
Updated Actual Final Exam Practice Questions & Detailed Rationales (2026–2027)
Table of Contents
Subtopic 1: Alabama Special Education Law & Legal Foundations (Questions 1–7)
Subtopic 2: Data-Based Decision Making & Psychoeducational (Questions 8–14)
Assessment
Subtopic 3: Consultation, Collaboration, & School-Wide Systems (Questions 15–20)
Subtopic 4: Academic & Learning Interventions (Questions 21–26)
Subtopic 5: Behavior, Mental Health, & Crisis Intervention (Questions 27–33)
Subtopic 6: Culturally & Linguistically Responsive Practice (Questions 34–39)
Subtopic 7: Research, Statistics, & Program Evaluation (Questions 40–45)
,Subtopic 8: Subtopic 8: Professional Ethics, Roles, & Professional (Questions 46–52)
Practice
Subtopic 1: Alabama Special Education Law & Legal Foundations
Question 1
Under the Alabama Administrative Code (AAC Rule 290-8-9-.02), once a parent signs a
written consent form for an initial special education evaluation, what is the maximum
timeline the public agency has to conduct and complete the initial evaluation?
● A. 30 calendar days
● B. 45 school days
● C. 60 calendar days
● D. 90 calendar days
Correct Answer: C. 60 calendar days
Rationale: AAC Rule 290-8-9-.02(1)(b) explicitly states that the public agency has sixty
(60) calendar days from the date the agency receives signed parental consent for initial
evaluation to conduct and complete the evaluation. Once the evaluation is complete, the
agency has thirty (30) calendar days to convene the eligibility committee and determine
special education eligibility.
Question 2
According to Alabama special education rules, which of the following evaluations MUST
be conducted first for any student suspected of having a disability prior to proceeding
with comprehensive psychological and academic testing?
● A. Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA)
● B. Vision and hearing screenings
● C. Adaptive behavior rating scale
● D. Standardized cognitive assessment
Correct Answer: B. Vision and hearing screenings
, Rationale: AAC Rule 290-8-9-.03 specifies that vision and hearing screenings
(traditional or functional) must be the first evaluations conducted for all children
suspected of having a disability, unless otherwise indicated. Uncorrected sensory
impairments can invalidate cognitive and academic assessment results.
Question 3
An IEP Team in an Alabama school district meets to determine special education
eligibility for a 3rd-grade student suspected of having a Specific Learning Disability
(SLD). Under state rules, which factor precludes the team from finding the student
eligible under IDEA?
● A. The student exhibits a pattern of strengths and weaknesses across cognitive
tests.
● B. The student's primary learning difficulty is driven by a lack of appropriate
instruction in reading.
● C. The student has been enrolled in three different schools during the past
academic year.
● D. The parent refused psychological counseling services outside of school.
Correct Answer: B. The student's primary learning difficulty is driven by a lack of
appropriate instruction in reading.
Rationale: Under both IDEA and AAC Rule 290-8-9-.04(1)(e), a child must not be
determined to be a child with a disability if the determinant factor is a lack of appropriate
instruction in reading (including essential components of reading instruction like
phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension), lack of
instruction in math, or limited English proficiency.
Question 4
In Alabama, how frequently must a reevaluation be conducted for a student currently
receiving special education services, unless the parent and the public agency agree in
writing that a reevaluation is unnecessary?
● A. Every 12 months
● B. Every 24 months
● C. At least once every 3 years
● D. At least once every 5 years
Correct Answer: C. At least once every 3 years
