PPSC Credentials

Overview

Pupil Personnel Services Credential

(PPSC)

Graduates of our PPSC programs will qualify to be credentialed as school social workers by the state of California. This PPSC is only valid in California. The PPSC is obtained in School Social Work with an option of attaining a secondary credential in Child Welfare and Attendance.  All SJSU PPSC Program and California on Teacher Credentialing standards must  be met to earn the credential. 

There are two ways the Pupil Personnel Services Credential (PPSC) is offered at SJSU's School of Social Work, through the On-Campus Program or through the Post-Master’s Program (PM-PPSC). 

(1) On-Campus PPSC Credential

Eligibility

Persons admitted to the PPSC program must have a minimum of a baccalaureate degree in any field from a regionally accredited college or university.

Requirements

  • Attend the PPSC Informational Session in late Fall.
  • Complete and submit the PPSC Declaration. This is the written documentation of the student’s Notice of Intent to pursue a PPSC.
  • Completion of Certificate of Clearance prior to beginning the field experience in a public school district.
  • Completion of California Basic Educational Skills Test (CBEST) - Alternate options for meeting Basic Skills Requirement (BSR) besides CBEST, visit Options for meeting BSR    
  • Candidates will complete a minimum of 1000 hours of field experience including at least 450 or 600 (with Child Welfare and Attendance - CWA) field hours working in an approved school district.
  • Candidates must successfully complete the necessary field experience to meet the CTC PPSC Standards and Competencies, and successfully pass the field courses by receiving a "Credit" grade based on evaluated field placement performance. Students are evaluated by their internship field instructors upon completion of their field hours (SJSU PPSC Evaluation Rev.August.2022 for Dissemination (1).pdf).
  • Candidates must successfully complete all required 60 semester units of the Master in Social Work (MSW) degree coursework, maintain a 3.0 minimum grade point average, and earn an MSW degree.
  • Complete all the PPSC required courses - see section below.  
  • Provide all required documentation to the PPSC On Campus Coordinator to receive the Program Contract - Exit Review Form.
  • File for the Credential with the SJSU Credential Services Office, Sweeney Hall 445 in the Lurie College of Education and pay the filing fee. This office will issue the recommendation to earn the PPSC in School Social Worker (SSW), and if the student also pursues it, the Child Welfare and Attendance (CWA). 
    https://www.sjsu.edu/education/academics/credentials/index.php

PPSC Required Courses

In addition to all required MSW courses (MSW Handbook (Rev. Feb. 2022).docx), outlined on page 17, students must take in their final year of placement SW 272 Social Work in Educational Settings, SW 263 Social Work and the Law, and the PPSC 2nd Year Field Practicum courses, SW 232 1st semester Field Class, and SW 233 2nd semester Field Class. 

PPSC Manual-On Campus-2.docx (1).pdf

(2) Post-Master PPSC Credential (PM-PPSC)

Program Eligibility

Program Requirements

  • Completion of Certificate of Clearance  prior to beginning the field experience in a public school district.
  • The PM-PPSC curriculum model includes two 10-week courses, offered either consecutively or concurrently and additional field units and internship in an approved PPSC program school setting.
  • Completion of 450 or 600 (with CWA) field hours working in an approved school district. Please note that SJSU School of Social Work requires that PPSC candidates be placed in a public school district, which includes public charter school supported by a public school district. SJSU PM-PPSC candidates are not permitted to gain hours through an external provider agency, i.e. a non-profit agency, non-public schools (NPS), local county programs, etc. The California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) stipulates the role of a school social worker with clearly defined standards and domains to qualify for a PPSC that are fulfilled in the public school district environment. 
  • Completion the learning activities required to meet the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing standards https://www.ctc.ca.gov/docs/default-source/educator-prep/standards/pps-school-social-work-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=6 in the areas of School Social Work and (if applicable) Child Welfare and Attendance.

How to Apply

 

Please refer to the following documents:

a) Post-Masters PPSC Application Process
b) Post-Masters PPSC Application Form
c) Post-Masters PPSC Application Checklist
d) Post-Masters PPSC Field Evaluation Form
e) Post-Masters PPSC Program Manual
 f) Post-Masters PPSC FAQ

The curriculum model includes two 10-week courses, offered either consecutively or concurrently, and additional field units and internship in an approved PPSC program school setting. All other PPSC Program and state CTC requirements must also be met.

Upcoming application deadlines are the following. Please note that applications will not be reviewed until after the deadline closes.

- Fall Semester 2025: deadline July 11th

- Spring Semester 2026: deadline October 17th

- Please stay in touch for updated application deadlines for future sessions

For questions specific to the Post-Masters PPSC Program, please send an email to: socialwork-post-masters@sjsu.edu.