Pupil Personnel Services Credential: School Social Work and Child Welfare and Attendance Specialization (Code 803)

The California Commission on Teacher Credentialing issues the Pupil Personnel Services Credential (PPSC). The School of Social Work, in collaboration with the College of Education, offers the combined School Social Work and Child Welfare and Attendance Specializations of the PPS Credential within the context of the Master of Social Work (MSW) degree. The PPS Credential in School Social Work and Child Welfare and Attendance authorizes the holder to be employed in the State of California as a School Social Worker and/or a Child Welfare and Attendance Specialist. The credential covers pre-kindergarten through 12th grade in public and other schools requiring the credential.

Requirements for the Pupil Personnel Services Credential (PPSC)

• Successful completion of all of the requirements for the 60 unit Master of Social Work (MSW) degree within the Child and Family Wellbeing concentration
• Completion of S W 665 - School Social Work  as one of the required electives within the 60 unit MSW Program, taken either prior to or concurrently with a school social work field placement
• Successful completion of four required School Social Work PPSC seminars covering specialized topics
• Demonstrated knowledge in the following areas of pupil personnel services, as defined in the Commission on Teacher Credentialing Standards: techniques for facilitating individual growth and development to achieve academic success; socio-cultural influences that affect pupils in a school setting; problem prevention and early intervention; consultation services; learning theory and psychological education; coordination and development of services; legal enablements and constraints; referral and utilization of services; human assessment as direct services to pupils; social  interventions; consultation coordination and development of services; referral, utilization, involvement and use of community resources; social research and services based on research; code of professional ethics; attendance laws and the rights of minors; and skills using attendance laws  and assessment skills
• Successful completion of 600 clock hours of field practice in the second year of field education, demonstrating all of the required skills and knowledge areas, in an approved PPSC site, under the supervision of an experienced MSW level practitioner who holds a PPS Credential in school  social work and child welfare attendance. Supervised hours of field practice will include at least 100 hours in each of two settings (elementary, middle and/or high school), offer experience in service delivery with populations representing ethnic diversity, and cover both school social work and child welfare and attendance competencies and standards.
• Completion of required application and forms from California Commission on Teacher Credentialing, including fingerprints, and a Certificate of Clearance • Completion of required health screenings
• Pass three sections of the C-BEST Examination or provide proof that Basic Skills Requirement has been met.
• Certification of program completion and demonstrated competence by the PPSC Program Coordinator in the School of Social Work