Occasional Schizophrenia?

I have a boyfriend who has experienced symptoms of schizophrenia off and on since he was a child. I can't be sure about the past but since we've been dating I've noticed the pattern.

He sees little things like lights and shadows on the daily basis -- he knows these aren't there. These don't bother him.
He has difficulty explaining his thoughts and feelings always. But no "word salad" until symptoms get unbearable -- during his psychotic break.
About twice a month he'll hear voices talking to him, narrating his actions etc etc.
On a weekly basis he'll get severely paranoid. He handles this well though, I must say.
And about three times a year he'll have a psychotic break where he's mentally and physically not in this realm. This is when it gets the most severe. These severe episodes usually last for about a week although his symptoms usually happen at night. The typical ridged, "frozen", movements. Not being able to hear or understand me, crying... etc. When I say he's not in the realm, I say this to you with zero exaggeration.

Long story short, does it count as schizophrenia if his symptoms come and go? And how often do your symptoms appear?

Yes, schizophrenia can be episodic.

This does sound like it could be Schizophrenia. I used to have symptoms every night, too. Doe she sleep at night? Does he get enough sleep? Lack of sleep could be a big cause of this. Is he on any medication? If he takes his medication at night, it could be the medication wearing off. Mine does that, my Geodon that I take at 9am (I work overnight) starts to wear off shortly after 8am, and I sometimes get psychotic (hallucinations and delusions)

The best thing you could do for him is to get him to a psychiatrist, or even a family doctor. There are tests that family doctors can help him with to see if maybe he should go to a psychiatrist, or if it's something else entirely.