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 and/or skills in the following areas of School social Work Pupil Personnel Service as defined by the Commission of Teacher Credentialing Performance Expectations: ethical and professional behavior in schools including familiarity with relevant school laws and regulations; engage in diversity and difference in practice including the use of cultural humility and understanding of culturally-responsive services; promote social justice and equity including the inclusion of historically vulnerable and oppressed groups, recognition of inequity in past and current treatment and need for advocacy for equitable services for all; engage in practice-informed research and research-informed practices in schools; engage in school policy practice; engage with students, families, groups, school, organizations and communities; assess students, families, groups, schools, organizations and communities; intervene collaboratively with students, families, groups, teachers, school staff, organizations and the community;  evaluate interventions with students, families, groups, teachers, school staff, organizations and the community; and, use and ecological perspective to promote healthy growth and development.
• 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 multiple public school levels (preschools, elementary schools, middle schools, high schools, district level and alternative schools), 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