1. Achieve Your Baccalaureate Degree (or Higher)
This means you will need to graduate from a regionally-accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree, which typically takes about four years.
2. Enroll in a Graduate Program
Once you have your baccalaureate degree, you will need to enroll in a graduate program that culminates in a Pupil Personnel Services, School Counseling Specialization credential. This program must be offered by a CCTC-accredited institution of higher learning and will require a minimum of 48 semester units.
Click here to see schools in California that have been approved by the CTC to provide school counseling credentials.
3. Complete a Basic Skills Requirement
This is typically achieved by passing the California Basic Educational Skills Test (CBEST). More information on this requirement can be found here.
4. Complete the LiveScan Fingerprint Process
Once enrolled in a graduate program, your school will typically help you with this step. This is a mandatory step to ensure the safety of the students you will be working with.
5. Successfully Complete a Practicum with School-Aged Children
Practicum hours are time you spend in a school, under the supervision of a credentialed school counselor, providing services to students. These hours are non-paid and will not start until you reach a certain point in your program. Your school will direct you more when it's time to enroll in a Fieldwork class.
6. Be Formally Recommended for a PPS Credential
At the completion of your program, your university will formally recommend you for a PPS credential to the CTC.
For more information, please follow this link.
