Pupil Services Credential (School Counseling and School Psychology)

The Master of Science in Counseling (School Counseling Option) and the Pupil Personnel Services School Counseling Credential Programs (PPS/SC) are earned concurrently.

The Pupil Personnel Services School Counseling Credential is required by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) for persons employed by public schools as school counselors.

Students entering the CSULB Pupil Personnel Services School Counseling Credential Program need to earn a Master of Science in Counseling (School Counseling Option) concurrently with the credential. Thus, applicants to the Pupil Personnel Services School Counseling Credential Program who lack a Master’s Degree in Counseling must concurrently apply to the Master of Science in Counseling (School Counseling Option) Program to be considered.

Courses required for the Pupil Personnel Services School Counseling Credential are the same courses that are required for the Master of Science in Counseling (School Counseling Option). Thus, students seeking the Pupil Personnel Services School Counseling Credential are required to take all coursework required for the Master of Science in Counseling (School Counseling Option).

Prerequisites

Baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university with some coursework in the social sciences, behavioral sciences, or related fields.
Minimum 2.85 overall grade point average in last degree (not credential or certificate) earned from an accredited institution of higher education. Applicants whose overall GPA is less than 2.85 but meet the University minimum GPA requirement and who present compelling evidence of academic and professional potential either through recent academic performance and/or experiential background, may be considered for admission at the discretion of the program admission committee.
International applicants have additional university application requirements including meeting the English language proficiency requirement. Please visit The Center for International Education (CIE) website at www.csulb.edu/cie for more information.

Application Requirements

Applicants seeking the Pupil Personnel Services School Counseling Credential Program must concurrently apply to the Master of Science in Counseling (School Counseling Option) Program to be considered. Please see Counseling, School Counseling Option, M.S. for application requirements.

Requirements for the Clear Credential - Specialization in School Counseling

Complete the Master of Science in Counseling (School Counseling Option).
Successful completion of a culminating experience (i.e., comprehensive exam or thesis).
Passing score on the California Basic Education Skills Test (CBEST) or have satisfied the Basic Skills Requirement (BSR).
Certification of program completion by the faculty is required. The faculty may require students to complete additional course work, fieldwork, or demonstrate specific competencies before recommendation to the CTC for the PPS School Counseling credential.