Credential in Pupil Personnel Services, School Counseling
Become an Advocate and Guide for Your Students.
PPS Credential Overview
As a school counselor, the difference you make in a child’s life as a school counselor can last a lifetime. The PPS credential in school counseling certification program is designed for students with a master’s degree in the psychology, counseling, or education fields who want to pursue a career as a credentialed California school counselor in K–12 schools. The Pupil Personnel Service program will guide you on how to get the PPS credential for a rewarding career in school counseling and prepare you with the counseling skills you need to help students succeed in school and life.
CTC-Approved Curriculum
Our school counseling program is approved by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC).
Bridging Theory and Practice
Gain real-world experience with our internship credential opportunity. This qualifies you to work in California’s K-12 schools as a school counselor or a school social worker while completing your course requirements, ensuring you’re not just ready but also experienced.
Tailoring Your Path to Success
We understand that our students come from diverse educational and professional backgrounds. We put emphasis on an individualized education plan for you to be a successful pupil personnel worker. Whether you’re a current student, a recent graduate, or a professional with a related degree, we have a flexible option tailored for you.
Preparing You for Real-World Challenges
Our program is designed not just to educate but also to empower. You will display leadership in:
- Data-Based Decision-Making and Accountability
- Consultation and Collaboration
- Effective Instruction and Development of Cognitive/Academic Skills
- Socialization and Development of Life Skills
- Student Diversity in Development and Learning
- School and Systems Organization, Policy Development, and Climate
- Prevention, Crisis Intervention, and Mental Health
- Home/School/Community Collaboration
- School Counseling Practice and Development
- Information Technology
Learn from the Best
Our pupil personnel services department is composed of active professionals in pupil services as well as psychological services. They bring real-world insights into the classroom to fill your learning experience with practical knowledge and current trends in school counseling and student services.
Throughout the PPS credential program you’ll be taught by professors who are working professionals, eager to share their real-world experiences, challenges, and successes in the educational psychology field and professional clinical counseling practice. All educational counseling school personnel are committed to social justice and diversity, which is evident in their activities within the community.
When outside the classroom, you’ll often find your professors working with community organizations and underserved populations, engaging in school social work practice, providing support and services, and putting their efforts towards making positive change. When an expert is needed for commentary on television or radio on the subject of school counseling and social development, you’ll often find one of your professors on the air.
Pupil Personnel Services Credential Information
Online Programs
Alliant has been an early leader in online education, and our teacher credentialing programs are designed with both full-time students and busy, working individuals in mind.
Practical Application
Our practicum, which includes a practicum course completed online and practicum hours completed at a school site, is integral to the school counseling program and provides you with 100 hours of Practicum and 800 hours of Internship.
Hands-on Faculty
Faculty are working professionals in educational counseling and mental health with lived experience, and small class sizes ensure you get focused and individualized attention.
Admissions
Learn About Admissions Program Requirements
Faculty
Get to Know Our Diverse Faculty
Pupil Personnel Services Credential Information
PPS Online Program Learning Outcomes/Goals
The Pupil Personnel Services certificate is a specialized credential that qualifies professionals to work as counselors within the school district. This credential equips individuals with the necessary skills and knowledge to support the students in their academic, career, and personal development.
- Use educational systems, theories, and standards to drive their counseling program as a school psychologist, focusing on campus safety as well the students’ personal, academic, career, and social development.
- Provide direct and indirect services, incorporating counseling theories and career knowledge to support child welfare and attendance to ensure a comprehensive counseling program available to all in the school district.
- Demonstrate leadership qualities by advocating, collaborating, and implementing a comprehensive counseling program through self-evaluation, advisory councils, data collection, action planning, and program management.
- Understand the importance of data-driven counseling programs as an education specialist, employing sampling, methodology, and analysis to report on school profiles and student outcomes, aligning with the ASCA National Model’s emphasis on achieving measurable results.
Pupil Personnel Services Credential Information (Expanded)
The Pupil Personnel Services (PPS) credential is an advanced pathway within counselor education that prepares candidates to work effectively in a school setting while supporting student success across academic, career, and personal domains. Through a focused school counseling specialization, the program emphasizes practical application, ethical standards, and data-informed decision-making aligned with professional expectations.
Students pursuing this counseling degree will engage in coursework that integrates teaching and learning, child development, and counseling frameworks. As part of the program structure, the student must participate in field experiences where licensed professionals supervise their applied training in real-world educational environments. These experiences are designed to ensure candidates complete a minimum number of required hours in diverse school-based settings, including PPS school environments that reflect the scope of modern counseling services.
To enroll in the program, applicants must meet specific admission requirements and must submit all required documentation outlined in the official application instructions. Candidates are eligible to apply if they demonstrate academic readiness, a commitment to social services, and alignment with the program’s professional standards. In order to meet credentialing expectations, each student must complete all academic coursework, practicum, and internship components.
Upon completion of the program, graduates who achieve successful completion of all requirements—including successfully passing evaluations and clinical assessments—may be recommended for the school counseling credential through the appropriate governing body, such as the PPSC. This credential validates their readiness to serve as professional counselors within K–12 systems, equipped to deliver comprehensive, student-centered support programs.
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Frequently Asked Questions
“In my experience with Alliant, it was very clear from the start that there was a commitment to education being the great equalizer. I feel like I got tools through my learning at Alliant that are allowing me to become a better teacher and reach out to everyone in my classrooms.”
Evelyn Serrano | CSOE Alumna