Pupil Personnel Services Credential for School SW

What is the PPSC-SW?
This is the credential that MSW social workers must have if they wish to be employed by a school district as a school social worker. (Note: this credential does not qualify you to be employed as a school counselor or a school psychologist.)

What are the requirements for the PPSC-SW?

CBEST (required before starting the credential)
MSW
Certificate of Clearance from CASE office plus liability insurance for Field Placement
Four classes in the Department of Educational Psychology and Counseling (Note: these classes are offered in sequence starting in the fall quarter of each academic year.)

ECLG 619 Appraisal Procedures in Counseling
ECLG 632 Advanced Psychological Foundations of Education
ECLG 650 Applied Career Counseling
ECLG 654 Legal and Ethical Issues in Counseling

One Elective in Social Work:
SW 637 School Social Work

450 hours of field placement supervised by a credentialed supervisor (*SW 608 D, E, and F)

Final Comprehensive Exam - SW 999

*Current students can do the field component concurrently with the MSW Concentration Year Field Placement in a school setting. Alumni who did not complete field hours with a credentialed supervisor must complete 450 hours in addition to any field hours they already have completed.

	Who is eligible to apply?
	The credential is open to students currently enrolled in the MSW at CSUSB, who follow a concurrent model, and alumni of the MSW program at CSUSB who follow a sequential model.
	How do I apply?
	Concurrent Model If you are currently in the MSW program, you need to talk to your advisor during the fall quarter of your Foundation year about your interest in the PPSC-SW. After talking to your advisor, you must schedule a meeting with the coordinator of the PPSC-SW. At this meeting you will discuss: Personal commitment to school social work Skills, knowledge and values needed to be a school social worker Academic requirements to be a school social worker Field requirements to be a school social worker Clearance from the CASE office Practical feasibility of completing the PPSC-SW If you are assessed as an appropriate candidate to begin the credential, you will develop an "individual program of work" form that incorporates the sequence of required PPSC-SW courses with the MSW curriculum. This plan will be placed in your file. (Note: You cannot start any classes in the credential until you have passed the CBEST. Also, you cannot start the PPSC-SW if you have probationary status in the MSW program.) Sequential Model If you are an alumni of the MSW program at CSUSB, you enter the PPSC-SW by enrolling in the code 803 (the PPSC-SW only enrollment code). Once you have enrolled, you will be contacted by the coordinator of the PPSC-SW and invited to an interview as described above for the concurrent model. In preparation for this interview you will write a personal statement of commitment to school social work for review at the interview. If you are assessed as an appropriate candidate to begin the credential, you will develop an "individual program of work" form. This plan will be placed in your file. (Note: You cannot start any classes in the credential until you have passed the CBEST.)
	What do I do about field placement? Concurrent Model In the winter quarter of your foundation year when you meet with the Director of Field Education to identify the Advanced year field placement, you identify yourself as a PPSC-SW candidate so that you can be placed in a school setting for your hours supervised by a credentialed field instructor. Sequential Model Once you have been assessed as an appropriate candidate for the PPSC-SW, you should immediately schedule a meeting with the Director of Field Education to be placed in a field setting for your hours supervised by a credentialed field instructor.
	How do I finish the credential? Concurrent Model During the winter quarter of the Advanced year of the MSW when you complete your Advancement to Candidacy forms, you will also need to go to the Credential Assistance to Students in Education (CASE) office in CH-123 to apply for your credential. If you apply for your credential and then go on probation in the MSW program, you will lose some or all of the fees you have paid and you will have to re-apply and pay the fees again. Make sure you are ready to apply for the credential. At this time you will need to identify the quarter during which you intend to take the comprehensive exam. Once the comprehensive exam is successfully completed, you have fulfilled all requirements for the credential. Sequential Model When you have completed 50% of your field placement hours, and have two more classes to complete, you will need to contact the CASE office in CH-123 and apply for the credential. At this time you will need to identify the quarter during which you intend to take the comprehensive exam. Once the comprehensive exam is successfully completed you have fulfilled all requirements for the credential.
	Is there any other paperwork I need to do?
	All Credentials on campus are administered by the Credential Assistance to Student in Education (CASE) office in CH-123. If you are thinking about doing the PPSC-SW, go to their office and pick up the required paperwork.
	Can I do the PPSC-SW if I am a Title IV-E stipend student?
	No.
	Are there any costs associated with the Credential?
	Yes. There are fees charged by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing, the CSUSB and the agency performing the Certificate of Clearance procedures. The total cost is approximately $150.
	How long does it take to process the credential?
	Approximately six weeks.
	Who do I contact for advising on the PPSC-SW?
	Please contact Dr. Teresa Morris, Department of Social Work, SB-423 or by phone at 909-537-5501.

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Pupil Personnel Services Credential for School Social Work (PPSC-SW)
	Both the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC) and the national Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) have accredited the PPSC-SW (Pupil Personnel Services Credential-Social Work) at CSUSB.