2026 How to Get a PPS Credential in California: Requirements for School Counselors

by Imed Bouchrika, Phd

Co-Founder and Chief Data Scientist

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What can I expect from a PPS Credential in California?

The Pupil Personnel Services (PPS) credential is the fundamental professional license required for specialized student support roles within California's public school system. Issued by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC), this authorization is essential for professionals who provide direct services to students and families in grades Pre-K through 12.

The PPS credential includes several distinct specializations, such as School Counseling, School Psychology, and School Social Work, each requiring a specific master’s degree and a rigorous, state-approved preparation program that integrates both academic coursework and extensive, supervised fieldwork. The primary goal of the PPS credential is to ensure all practitioners possess the competencies necessary to remove barriers to learning and promote the academic and socio-emotional success of all students in California.

Where can I work with a PPS credential in California?

The vast majority of PPS Credential holders work directly for Local Educational Agencies (LEAs), which include school districts, County Offices of Education (COEs), and Special Education Local Plan Areas (SELPAs), spanning pre-K through 12th grade.

PPS-credentialed professionals are core members of the school community, providing essential support in all public settings, from small rural schools to large metropolitan districts. While the primary workplace is public education, a PPS credential can also open doors to closely related organizations in the broader youth support sector.

Holders, particularly those with a School Counseling or School Social Work specialization, may work for private schools that seek credentialed staff, non-profit youth development organizations, or community mental health agencies that contract services with school districts.

How much can I make with a PPS credential in California?

Since the PPS credential covers professionals like School Counselors, School Psychologists, and School Social Workers, salaries are diverse.

For example, School Counselors in California earn a median annual salary of approximately $94,320, with the top 10% of earners making upwards of $149,290 annually. Professionals in this field tend to earn more in metropolitan areas, with mean salaries in regions like Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim and San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward often exceeding $83,770 and $91,880, respectively.

Salaries are often determined by the specific role and experience level within a school district's salary schedule. School Psychologists, who also require a PPS credential, typically command higher salaries due to their advanced specialization, with an average salary reported around $79,894 and potential for six-figure earnings.

In contrast, an average for all "PPS" job listings in California shows a broader range, with an average of around $67,744 and the majority of salaries falling between $42,900 and $83,400. These figures reflect a strong earning potential for professionals dedicated to student support services, particularly for those with experience and in high-cost-of-living areas.

What is the PPS Credential in California?

The Pupil Personnel Services (PPS) Credential is the mandatory certification issued by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC) that authorizes an individual to work in a specialized support role within California public schools (Pre-K to 12).

The PPS Credential is not a single authorization but encompasses four main specializations:

• School Counseling: To develop, implement, and evaluate a comprehensive school counseling and guidance program.
• School Social Work: To assess home, school, personal, and community factors affecting a student's learning and provide intervention strategies.
• School Psychology: To conduct psycho-educational assessments, provide psychological counseling, and coordinate intervention strategies.
• Child Welfare and Attendance (CWA): An additional authorization, usually obtained after one of the other PPS specializations, which focuses on student attendance, welfare, and related legal matters.

How to Secure Your Clear PPS Credential

A Clear PPS Credential is the highest-level, fully recognized professional credential issued in California by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC) that authorizes individuals to provide specialized support services in public schools.

It is the second and final stage of the credentialing process, signifying that the holder has met all educational, professional preparation, and induction requirements.  The "clear" status distinguishes it from the Preliminary PPS Credential, which is the initial, temporary credential.

To earn the Clear PPS Credential and continue practicing, you will typically need to complete additional California-specific requirements within the five-year period, which often include:

• Meeting the California Basic Educational Skills Test (CBEST) requirement.
• Completing specific California Law and Ethics coursework.
• Completing the California Reading Requirement.

Based on the CCTC database, 2,815 new Pupil Personnel Services (PPS) Credentials were issued during the 2023-24 period.

Clear Credential Through National Board Certification

Individuals who hold a National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) Certificate in the equivalent area, specifically the Early Childhood to Young Adulthood – School Counseling certificate for a School Counseling specialization, may apply directly to the CCTC for a clear PPS Credential. This certification can be used to clear a preliminary PPS credential and may also exempt the applicant from the Basic Skills Requirement.

The progression from preliminary to clear credentials mirrors pathways in other advanced professions. For example, comparing LISW vs LICSW shows a similar structure—where social workers advance from initial licensure (LISW) to a clinical, independently licensed level (LICSW) after supervised experience and additional requirements.

What is the process for getting a PPS Credential in California?

The process for obtaining a PPS Credential in California involves completing a professional preparation program and meeting specific requirements set by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC). The PPS Credential authorizes specializations in School Counseling, School Social Work, School Psychology, and Child Welfare and Attendance (CWA).

The general steps and requirements for an individual prepared in California are as follows:

1. Prerequisites and Clearance

• Baccalaureate Degree: Hold a bachelor's degree or higher from a regionally accredited college or university.
• Basic Skills Requirement (BSR): The baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution should satisfy the Basic Skills Requirement. Previously, this was met by passing the CBEST or other approved options.
• Certificate of Clearance: Complete the Live Scan fingerprint process and obtain a CCTC-issued Certificate of Clearance. This must be active during your fieldwork.

2. Complete an Approved Professional Program

The core of the process is completing a post-baccalaureate professional preparation program for your chosen specialization at a California college or university with a CCTC-approved PPS program. These programs include a combination of coursework and supervised field experience.  You can even find fastest online master's in school counseling programs to begin your journey. The School Counseling specialization accounted for the largest single share, making up 43.5% of all new PPS Credentials issued in 2023-24.

3. Obtain University Recommendation and Apply

Once you successfully complete the professional preparation program, the final steps are coordinated through your university:

• Formal Recommendation: Your university will submit a formal online recommendation to the CTC for your PPS Credential and specialization.
• CTC Application & Fee: You will receive an email notification from the CCTC indicating that your application has been submitted and is awaiting payment of the application processing fee.
• Credential Issuance: After the fee is paid and the process is complete, the CCTC will issue your PPS Credential with the specialization online.

For Individuals Prepared Out-of-State

If you completed your PPS preparation program outside of California, you can apply directly to the CCTC by mail. Prepare the following documents:

• A completed application (Form 41-4).
• Proof of completing a comparable post-baccalaureate program (units vary by specialization).
• Transcripts showing completion of a supervised field experience with school-aged children.
• A copy of your comparable out-of-state credential or an official letter from your university verifying program completion and eligibility.
• A completed Live Scan receipt or two fingerprint cards (FD-258) if you are an out-of-state resident.
• The appropriate application processing fee.

The following chart illustrates the distribution of new PPS Credentials issued by the CCTC across the various specializations during the 2023-24 academic year. A significant majority of these new professionals are entering the school system through the School Counseling specialization.

Is the PPS Credential required to be a school counselor in a California public school?

Yes, the PPS Credential with a specialization in School Counseling is required to be a school counselor in a California public school setting. This requirement is mandated by the CCTC, which is the state agency responsible for licensing and regulating all personnel who work in certificated positions within public education.  For a broader look at your options, you may want to explore careers in counseling.

The PPS Credential ensures that an individual has completed a CCTC-approved, post-baccalaureate program, typically a master's degree, that includes the specific academic coursework, supervised fieldwork, and professional competencies necessary to provide comprehensive counseling, guidance, and student support services across the academic, career, and personal/social domains for students in grades Pre-K through 12. Without this credential, a person is not legally authorized to be assigned the duties of a school counselor in California's public education system.

The reason for this mandatory certification is to guarantee a consistent standard of professional expertise and to protect students. The PPS Credential serves as a professional license, confirming that the counselor is trained in areas essential to the public school environment, such as student advocacy, legal and ethical mandates specific to minors in education, crisis intervention, and the operation of a data-driven school counseling program.  To learn more about what this role entails, see the full list of school counselor responsibilities.

What the PPS Credential Authorizes a School Counselor to Do

The specific duties authorized by the PPS School Counseling specialization include:

How is the PPS Credential different from a LPCC or a general teaching credential in California?

The PPS Credential in School Counseling, the Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) license, and a general Teaching Credential are fundamentally distinct in their governing body, scope of practice, and required work setting in California.  If you are exploring various options, you might want to look at top educational counseling masters programs online.

PPS Credential (School Counseling)

• Focus and Scope: The training is holistic, designed around the comprehensive school counseling model, emphasizing collaboration with teachers, administrators, and parents to support student achievement.
• Regulatory Body: It is issued by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC), which regulates all certificated positions within the public school system. based on the CCTC report, there was an 11.9% decrease in the total number of new PPS Credentials issued in 2023-24 compared to the previous year.
• Required Setting: It is the required authorization for being a school counselor in a California public school. It does not authorize the private practice of psychotherapy outside of a school district's employment.

Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC)

• Focus and Scope: The LPCC is a clinical mental health license that authorizes an individual to diagnose, treat, and provide psychotherapy for mental and emotional disorders. The training is focused on clinical practice, including extensive post-graduate supervised clinical hours (3,000 hours minimum) and passing a clinical exam. Its primary domain is mental health treatment.
• Regulatory Body: It is issued by the Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS), the state agency that regulates clinical mental health professionals (e.g., Marriage and Family Therapists and Clinical Social Workers).
• Required Setting: It primarily authorizes work in private practice, clinics, hospitals, and community mental health agencies.

While an LPCC can work in a school setting, they are typically limited to performing clinical, mental health-related functions, and they still may need the PPS Credential to be formally hired and function as a general school counselor in a public school district. Many graduate programs now offer combined PPS/LPCC tracks for maximum flexibility.

General Teaching Credential

• Focus and Scope: A general teaching credential authorizes an individual to instruct students in a specific subject area or in a self-contained classroom. The training focuses on pedagogy, subject matter mastery, curriculum development, classroom management, and student assessment.
• Regulatory Body: Like the PPS Credential, it is issued by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC).
• Required Setting: It is the required authorization for a teacher to be the teacher of record in a California public school classroom. It does not permit the holder to perform the functions of a school counselor, school psychologist, or other specialized pupil personnel services without the corresponding PPS specialization.

What specific prerequisite coursework is needed to apply for a PPS Credential-School Counseling program in California?

The specific prerequisite coursework required before applying to a PPS Credential-School Counseling program in California varies significantly. While a master's degree and the completion of the PPS program's core graduate curriculum are the main requirements for the credential itself, some universities have mandatory undergraduate-level courses you must complete prior to admission or beginning graduate coursework.

Common Prerequisite Courses

The prerequisite coursework for California's PPS Credential school counseling programs typically focuses on building a foundation in psychology and statistics, though requirements vary by institution. For example, Fresno Pacific University commonly requires courses like Child Growth and Development, General Psychology, and Introduction to Statistics, which may be waived for applicants holding a psychology bachelor's degree from a qualifying institution.

In contrast, Cal State East Bay mandates Introduction to Statistics, with additional psychology courses like Developmental Psychology and Psychopathology necessary only for those pursuing the Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) option. 

Some universities, however, state that they do not require specific undergraduate prerequisites and accept applicants from any undergraduate major: Cal State Long Beach, for instance, explicitly states their program does not have prerequisite courses, and any undergraduate degree is eligible to apply.

General Requirements for All Programs

Regardless of specific course requirements, all California PPS School Counseling programs will require the following general qualifications for admission:

• Baccalaureate Degree: A bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution. The major is often flexible, though psychology, education, and social work are common preparation areas.
• Minimum GPA: Generally a minimum GPA (often 3.0 in the last 60 units of coursework).
• Basic Skills Requirement (BSR): Proof of meeting the California Basic Skills Requirement, which can often be satisfied by holding a bachelor's degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution (effective June 29, 2024), or by passing the CBEST.

Many applicants use this period to explore broader academic goals, weighing options like a master of arts vs master of fine arts, since universities evaluate both degree type and research or practice orientation when determining program readiness.

What are the additional units required for the CWA authorization in California?

The required coursework to add the Child Welfare and Attendance (CWA) authorization to an existing California PPS credential is a minimum of 9 semester units of post-baccalaureate study. This authorization can be added to a PPS credential in School Counseling, School Social Work, or School Psychology.

In addition to the 9 units of coursework, the program must include a supervised field experience. The California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC) specifies this field experience must be a minimum of 150 clock hours focused on CWA performance expectations, with at least 90 hours logged in a school setting in direct contact with pupils.

Important Context on the CWA Authorization:

• Prerequisite: You must already hold a valid California PPS credential (or be issued one concurrently) in School Counseling, School Psychology, or School Social Work.
• Program Changes: Recent changes to CCTC program standards mean the CWA authorization is now often embedded within the requirements for new PPS credentials.
• Add- On: The 9-unit, stand-alone "added authorization" programs are typically designed for those who obtained their PPS credential prior to the new standards and did not have CWA included.

Program specialization in this area has parallels to distinctions in other applied fields—such as MPH vs MSPH salary, where differences in academic focus (practice vs research) can influence both preparation and compensation outcomes in related career tracks.

Can I get a PPS Credential without a master’s degree in counseling?

Generally, to obtain a PPS Credential in School Counseling in California, you must complete an approved graduate program, and most of these programs result in both the PPS Credential and a master's degree. In California, most universities that offer the PPS Credential in School Counseling structure their programs as a combined master's degree and PPS Credential.

However, there is an exception for the master's degree requirement at some institutions:

• Credential-Only Option Exists: Some universities offer a specific PPS Credential-only track that follows almost the exact same coursework as the master's program but is designed not to confer the master's degree itself.
• Minimum Unit Requirement: The state requirement set by the CCTC for the PPS Credential in School Counseling is to complete post-baccalaureate degree study consisting of a minimum of 48 semester units in a Commission-approved professional preparation program, along with a supervised practicum.

If you already possess a master's degree in a related field (e.g. clinical counseling, psychology, or social work), you may be able to enter a Post-Master's PPS Credential program. This credential-only pathway allows you to complete any missing coursework and fieldwork required for the PPS Credential without having to earn a second master's degree.

In fact, this distinction resembles many graduate-level comparisons in higher education—such as the difference between thesis and non thesis masters—where the format of study, not the content itself, determines the credential or degree outcome.

The following chart provides a snapshot of the economic landscape for school and career counselors and advisors at the national level.  The national mean wage for counselors in elementary and secondary schools was $76,960 in 2024.

What are the typical costs and tuition fees for a PPS Credential program in California?

The tuition and fees for a PPS Credential program in California vary significantly depending on whether you attend a private or a public university, and if you are pursuing the credential as part of a full master's degree or as a stand-alone certificate.

Master's Degree + PPS Credential (Most Common Route)

Most students pursue the PPS Credential in School Counseling as an integrated part of a Master of Arts (MA) or Master of Science (MS) in Counseling degree, which typically requires 48 to 60 units.

Stand-Alone PPS Credential (Post-Master's)

For individuals who already hold a master's degree in a related field (like psychology or education), some schools offer a shorter, post-master's PPS certificate/credential-only option. Cost per unit for post-master's programs is generally in the $510 to $810 range at the schools that offer this option for social work or counseling. The total cost for a stand-alone certificate is typically lower because the unit requirement is much less (e.g., 6 to 20 units).

How long does it take to complete a master's degree and PPS Credential program?

The typical duration for completing a master's degree combined with a PPS Credential program in California varies significantly depending on your enrollment status and the specific specialization. If you're looking for flexible options, you might explore an school counselor degree online.

The annual mean wage for educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors in California was $85,820 in 2024. If you are keen on pursuing the PPS Credential, securing your master's should be a priority.

Full-Time Program

The most common full-time duration for a combined program is:

• 2 Years (5 Semesters): This is the typical length for most full-time master's in School Counseling (often 60 units) and PPS Credential programs, especially within the California State University (CSU) system. This often includes coursework taken during summer sessions.
• 3 Years: Full-time programs in School Psychology and some School Counseling programs, particularly those with a higher unit requirement or complex fieldwork/internship components, are frequently structured to take three years to complete.

Part-Time Program

Part-time options extend the timeline, allowing for a more flexible schedule:

• 3 to 4 Years: Part-time plans for a combined Master's and PPS Credential usually take 3 to 4 years to complete. For example, some programs that offer a two-year full-time track also offer a three-year part-time sequence. Many universities offer evening and/or online courses for part-time students to accommodate those who are working. If you're looking to speed up your studies, you might consider an accelerated master's in educational counseling online.

How Can I Evaluate the Quality of a PPS Credential Program in California?

When assessing a PPS Credential program, consider key indicators such as program accreditation, faculty expertise, and the integration of supervised field experiences. Look for evidence that the program is aligned with California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) standards and that it provides robust support services. Prospective students should also examine program outcomes, including licensure exam pass rates and post-graduation employment statistics, to gauge real-world effectiveness. Additionally, comparing different programs can help ensure that cost does not compromise quality; for budget-focused options, review the cheapest online counseling degree available in the market.

What are the typical PPS Credential school counselor salaries in California?

The typical salary for a school counselor with a Pupil Personnel Services (PPS) Credential in California is highly variable, but generally falls within a wide range, often surpassing the national average for the profession.

The exact salary for a school counselor in California is determined by several factors, mirroring the structure of teacher and other credentialed staff pay scales:

• Geographic Location (Cost of Living): Salaries are often highest in major metropolitan areas with a high cost of living, such as the Bay Area (Berkeley, San Francisco, San Jose) and parts of Southern California, where average salaries frequently exceed $90,000 to over $110,000.
• Experience Level: School counselor salaries follow a step-and-column schedule. Starting salaries can range from $52,000 to $78,000 depending on the district. Experienced counselors with many years of service can reach the top of the pay scale, often exceeding $100,000 to $120,000 in large districts.
• Education Level: Because a master's degree is required for the PPS Credential, most counselors start on a higher salary column. Further post-graduate units beyond the Master's can lead to even higher pay steps.
• School District: Salaries can vary substantially between districts. A larger, affluent district may offer a higher starting salary and a higher cap than a smaller or rural district. For example, some districts may start counselors in the mid-$70s, while others start in the low-$50s.
• Additional Roles/Stipends: Counselors who take on extra duties—such as Head Counselor, Master Schedule Coordinator, or WASC Coordinator—can earn significant annual stipends, boosting their total compensation.

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