Pupil Personnel Services Credential in School Social Work (PPSC)

Current On Campus MSW Program Students and PPSC

To learn about the field requirements, read On Campus PPSC Program. 

Final-year students pursuing the PPSC will  be referred to one district partner for an interview to determine placement. 

The placement process for PPSC final-year interns for the On-Campus Program includes: 

  1. Students visiting school district tables or attending the virtual sessions at the January Field Fairs
  2. Students completing a placement survey
  3. Students ranking their top three school district choices, and sharing one district that students would not want to be placed in. 

The survey includes questions about students’ interests, needs, strengths, and ranking of districts, etc. These responses are taken into consideration when students are referred to a district for an interview. Another factor that is considered in the placement selection process is the yearly number of PPSC final-year interns and the number of districts available for placement. 

Current Online/Hybrid MSW Program Students and PPSC

Online/Hybrid MSW students are not able to complete all required PPSC coursework during their MSW program. Online Hybrid MSW students may opt to complete a Certificate of Clearance and be placed in an approved school site that can count for field hours towards the Post Masters PPSC. Please contact Professor Jodi Barnum (jodi.barnum@sjsu.edu) to learn more about the PPS credential field placement requirements. Online/Hybrid Students then have the option to apply to the Post Masters PPSC Program to take the remaining required PPSC course(s) to fulfill the credential requirements after their MSW graduation.

PPSC Eligible Field Education Sites

Eligibility Requirements for a PPSC Eligible School Site Include: 

  • Must be vetted by the School of Social Work Field  Office and have an Active Practicum Agreement in Place
  • Must be a public school (not a private school or an agency that provides services in schools)
  • Supervision must be provided by Field Instructor who holds an MSW and two years post masters experience
  • Supervision must be provided by a Field Instructor who holds the PPSC in School Social Work
  • If the PPSC final-year intern chooses to pursue the Child Welfare and Attendance (CWA) Credential, the supervision must be provided by a Field
  • Instructor who holds the  the Child Welfare and Attendance (CWA) Credential
  • Placement opportunities for PPSC final-year intern must meet the credential requirements including serving at least two age groups

Note: Not every school or district on the Active Agency List is approved as PPSC eligible. Some are approved as a general MSW internship not leading to a PPSC. It is the student’s responsibility to make sure that they confirm the school site’s eligibility to earn a PPSC credential with the On-Campus PPSC Coordinator, Professor Lissette Moore-Guerra (lissette.moore-guerra@sjsu.edu). 

Eligibility for Child Welfare and Attendance (CWA)

To learn about the field requirements, read CWA Credential. 

Eligibility Requirements for a CWA Eligible School Site Include: 

  • Must be vetted by the School of Social Work Field  Office and have an Active Practicum Agreement in Place
  • Must be a public school (not a private school or an agency that provides services in schools)
  • Supervision must be provided by Field Instructor who holds an MSW and two years post masters experience
  • Supervision must be provided by a Field Instructor who holds the PPSC in School Social Work
  • If the PPSC final-year intern chooses to pursue the Child Welfare and Attendance (CWA) Credential, the supervision must be provided by a Field Instructor who holds the  the Child Welfare and Attendance (CWA) Credential
  • Placement opportunities for PPSC final-year interns must meet the credential requirements including serving at least two age groups

SJSU School of Social Work requires that PPSC Candidates be placed in a public school district, which includes public charter schools supported by a public school district. SJSU 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. 

Note: Not every school site that is eligible for a PPSC also has eligibility for the PPSC final-year intern to earn the CWA designation. It is the student’s responsibility to make sure that they confirm the school site’s eligibility to earn a PPSC credential  and CWA with the On Campus PPSC Coordinator, Professor Lisette Moore-Guerra (lissette.moore-guerra@sjsu.edu).