Choosing the right Professional

Official documentation of a disability is required to determine eligibility for accommodations on campus. It is the individual's responsibility to disclose and document the disability and to request accommodations. The DSO is not involved in the assessment / evaluation process and does not give out the names of area professionals who could perform the necessary assessment / evaluation. How then, do I find a professional in my area of disability? Follow a link:

Autism Spectrum Disorder | Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder | Learning Disability | Physical Condition | Psychological Condition

As you go through the process of choosing the right professional that will best serve your needs, trying to first decipher the confusing array of academic degrees, licenses, and certifications used in the psychology profession can seem daunting, to say the least. You may come across literally dozens of designations, such as Ph.D., M.D., Psy.D.Some will be "licensed", some "certified", and others will be "registered." Quite understandably, many people are confused about what all of these initials and titles mean. Academic degrees include:

M.D., Psychiatrist - Doctor of Medicine
Psychiatrists are medical doctors who undergo four years of clinical residency in psychiatry after receiving their medical degree and become trained in the biology, medical aspects, assessment, and diagnostic treatment of the full range of psychological disorders. As M.D.'s, psychiatrists can prescribe medications.

Ph.D., Doctor of Philosophy degree in Psychology
A Ph.D. in clinical or counseling psychology qualifies the professional to become a researcher as well as a practitioner. Psychologists with a Ph.D. will frequently work in an academic setting and/or a clinical practice. Ph.D.'s are trained in psychological assessment and diagnostic treatment of the full range of psychological disorders.

Psy.D., Doctor of Psychology
Psychologists with a Psy.D. degree are prepared to be clinical practitioners and interpreters of research. Similar to Ph.D.'s, psychologists with a Psy.D. are trained in assessment, and diagnostic treatment of the full range of psychological disorders. However, the practices of therapists with a Psy.D. tend to place an emphasis on fieldwork and clinical experience rather than research.

Ed.D., Doctor of Education
Professionals with Ed.D.'s have a thorough background in education, child development and learning disabilities, education policy, and general psychology. Therapists with this degree are particularly focused on developmental and educational assessment, educational planning, and treatment of development issues.

Wisdom, empathy, compassion and character are all attributes you'll want your professional to have, but they aren't enough. Knowledge and good professional training are essential. You will want a professional who has acquired all of the following:

Intensive academic study in the field of psychology.
Relevant experience in differential diagnosis and the full range of psychiatric disorders.
Direct, intensive, supervised clinical experience with adolescent and adult ADHD/LD population.
Professional board certification or registration or licensure.

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Autism Spectrum Disorder
An individual with an autism spectrum disorder must provide documentation from a licensed, qualified professional who has comprehensive training and relevant experience needed to diagnose this condition. A licensed diagnostician, such as a psychiatrist, clinical psychologist, or neuropsychologist, must submit documentation for Autism Spectrum Disorders.

See: Division TEACCH at UNC-Chapel Hill

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Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (Commonly referred to as ADD)
Professionals conducting assessments, rendering diagnoses, and making recommendations for students with ADHD must have comprehensive training and relevant experience in differential diagnosis of ADHD and direct experience with the adolescent or adult ADHD population. Qualified professionals may include: psychologists, neuro-psychologists, psychiatrists, and other relevantly trained medical doctors as determined by the DSO. Documentation for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder must be submitted by a licensed professional, such as a clinical psychologist, neuropsychologist, psychiatrist, or another relevantly trained medical doctor who has undergone comprehensive training and has relevant experience in differential diagnosis and the full range of psychiatric disorders.

See: NCPA Referral Service | NC Psychiatric Association Referrals

For campus resources see: School Psychology at North Carolina State University

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Learning Disability
Professionals conducting assessments, rendering diagnoses, and making recommendations for students with a learning disability must have comprehensive training and relevant experience either with the adolescent or adult population. Qualified professionals include: neuro-psychologists, clinical / educational / school psychologists, and other relevantly trained professionals as determined by the DSO. Documentation for a Learning Disability must be submitted by a licensed professional, such as a clinical psychologist, neuropsychologist, psychiatrist, or another relevantly trained professional who has undergone comprehensive training, has relevant experience in differential diagnosis and the full range of psychiatric disorders, and is licensed to diagnose.

For referral to a psychologist who performs psychoeducational assessments visit the website for the North Carolina Psychological Association.

For verification that a psychologist is licensed by the State of North Carolina to practice psychology visit the website for the North Carolina Psychology Board.

For campus resources see: School Psychology at North Carolina State University.

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Physical Condition
An individual with a physical condition defined as a disability must provide documentation from a licensed professional such as a physician, physical therapist, occupational therapist, ophthalmologist, optometrist, audiologist, or other qualified and relevantly trained professionals as determined by the DSO. Documentation for Physical disabilities must be submitted by a licensed diagnostician, such as a physician, surgeon, physical therapist, occupational therapist, neuropsychologists, speech.

Blindness or Low Vision
A licensed diagnostician, such as an ophthalmologist or optometrist, must submit documentation for Blindness or Low Vision or another relevantly trained medical doctor who has undergone comprehensive training in the assessment of blindness or low vision.

Brain Injury
A licensed diagnostician, such as a physician, neurologist, or neuropsychologist, must submit documentation for Brain Injury or another relevantly trained medical doctor who has undergone comprehensive training in the assessment of brain injury.

Deafness or Hard of Hearing
Documentation for Deafness or Hard of Hearing must be submitted by a licensed diagnostician, such as an audiologist or a relevantly trained medical doctor who has undergone comprehensive training in the assessment of hearing loss.

Orthopedic or Mobility Disabilities
Documentation for Orthopedic or Mobility disabilities must be submitted by a licensed diagnostician, such as a physiatrist, physical therapist, occupational therapist or another relevantly trained medical doctor or other medical provider who has undergone comprehensive training in the assessment of orthopedic and mobility disabilities.

See: NC Medical Board Look Up | NC Ophthalmologists | NC Optometrists | Find an Audiologist

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Psychological Condition
An individual with a disability affecting psychological functioning must provide documentation from a licensed psychologist, psychiatrist, or other qualified and relevantly trained professionals as determined by the DSO.

See: NCPA Referral Service | NC Psychiatric Association Referrals

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