School Counselor Education and Credentialing Requirements

Aspiring school counselors planning to practice in California must obtain a Pupil Personnel Services Credential (PPS Credential). To do this, they need to complete the following educational requirements and steps toward certification.

1. Enroll in a School Counseling Master's Program
   
   All school counselors in the state of California must have earned a bachelor's degree followed by a graduate degree specializing in school counseling. Your graduate program must be Commission on Teacher Credentialing-approved, consist of at least 48 semester units and include an in-school practicum experience.
   

2. Obtain Recommendation for a Credential
   Once you are enrolled in a school counseling master's program, you must receive formal recommendation from the university or college offering the master's program in which you are enrolled. The school you are attending will submit this recommendation online to the Commission on Teacher Credentialing.
   

3. Complete the Basic Skills Requirement
   The Basic Skills Requirement verifies an aspiring school counselor's proficiency in subject knowledge and the skills necessary to practice in California schools. The Basic Skills Requirement can be satisfied by passing the California Basic Educational Skills Test (CBEST), the California Subject Examinations for Teachers (CSET): Multiple Subjects examinations, or by a combination of other standardized test scores or tests from another state.
   
   Depending on the college or university, you may need to complete this requirement before being admitted into a program or before beginning a practicum. USC Rossier requires all applicants to pass the Basic Skills Requirement exams by the enrollment deadline.
   

4. Apply for the PPS Credential
   After completing the previous steps, a candidate may apply for the Pupil Personnel Services Credential. Earning this credential is necessary to becoming a licensed school counselor who can practice in California. By earning this credential, you will be authorized to:
   

   • Develop, plan, implement and evaluate a school counseling and guidance program that includes academic, career, personal and social development.

   • Advocate for the academic achievement and social development of all students.

   • Provide schoolwide prevention and intervention strategies and counseling services.

   • Provide consultation, training and staff development to teachers and parents regarding students' needs.

   • Supervise a district-approved advisory program as described in California Education Code, Section 49600.

5. Begin the School Counseling Job Search
   Once licensed as a school counselor in California, graduates may look for jobs at schools in their areas or throughout the state. They can leverage their graduate school's alumni, academic community or practicum mentors for leads on openings or insights to certain positions or schools.

Universities that offer programs in Child Psychology or Psychology.

• Pepperdine University

• Saint Mary's College of California

• UC San Diego

• Northcentral University

• Cal Poly Pomona offers a Master's Degree in Psychology

• Cal State LA M.A in Psychology

• UCLA