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Navigating how to get a California School Counselor Certification can be challenging. There is only one pathway to earning the Pupil Personnel Services Credential (PPS Credential), which allows professionals to work in California as school counselors. This pathway is designed for professionals who have not yet obtained the Pupil Personnel Services Credential (PPS Credential) but have completed a Bachelor’s degree. However, it’s not as easy as simply taking a test. Before diving into this certification, there are a few requirements to consider.
To become a school counselor, a baccalaureate degree or higher from a regionally accredited college or university is required. After completing this degree, a post-bachelor’s degree study is necessary. The graduate degree must specialize in school counseling and include a minimum of 48-semester units in a Commission-approved professional preparation program. A practicum with school-aged children is also required.
After completing the educational requirements, future school counselors need to obtain a recommendation from a California college or university with a Commission-approved Pupil Personnel Services program specializing in school counseling. Your college or university submits its recommendation online to the Commission on Teacher Credentialing.
Another requirement to obtain a school counselor certification in California is to complete the basic skills requirement. There are several ways you can satisfy the requirement, including meeting the basic skills requirement through college coursework. This is the easiest and most common method of completing this requirement. You can also satisfy this requirement through a combination of applicable courses and qualifying exams (read more about the specifics of each pathways toward satisfying the Basic Skill Requirement on the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing website).
All applicants must also complete the Live Scan fingerprint process. An application is needed to begin the process. Here is a list of Live Scan locations in California split up by county. According to the website, California residents can expect their Live Scan to process in 3 to 7 days. For non-residents, the days increase to 10 to 12 weeks. A fee is required, but the fee varies and is collected by the Live Scan Operator.
Once everything is in place, you can apply for the Pupil Personnel Services Credential. The credential expires five years after the issue date. However, during the year of its expiration, school counselors can renew the credential.
Address to Submit for Paper Applications:
Commission on Teacher CredentialingFor more information on the application process, you can also contact the Commission on Teacher Credentialing Certification Division directly.
There are fees associated with obtaining licensure. Once the recommendation has been submitted online by your college or university, you’ll get a notification in your email asking for payment. The fee for an initial application is $100.00. If you pay online, a $2.65 service fee is added. Paper applications can also be sent, omitting the service fee. For a breakdown of fees, here is a table.