In 1991, the OSPA Executive Board voted to establish an award -- the Ohio School Psychologist of the Year Award -- to recognize one school psychologist each year who provides outstanding service delivery within the practitioner realm. The candidate must be a current OSPA member and the award is designed to reflect current practice.

It is required that at least seventy-five percent of a candidate's time be spent providing school psychological services to students, teachers, and parents, typically in a school setting.

Nominations are made by the Executive Boards of the OSPA Regional Associations. Each Regional Association may submit one nomination per year to the OSPA Awards Committee, which is comprised of the OSPA Elected Officers, the Awards Committee Chair(s) and members, and one Representative from each Regional.

The recipient of the Ohio School Psychologist of the Year Award then becomes Ohio's nominee for the National School Psychologist of the Year Award, presented by NASP at its Annual Convention.