Transferring from Another State

In California, a Pupil Personnel Services Credential, School Counseling Specialization authorizes individuals to practice as a school counselor. Those who have completed (or partially completed) their professional preparation program outside of California must satisfy California requirements before being allowed to practice. Below are the requirements for individuals who wish to obtain a CA PPS credential but your schooling was done outside of California.

This information is taken directly from the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing Pupil Personnel Services Credential for Individuals Prepared Out-of-State leaflet CL606 (8/2016):

1. A baccalaureate degree or higher from a regionally-accredited college or university;
2. Complete a professional preparation program of post-baccalaureate degree study consisting of a minimum of 30 semester units specializing in school counseling, including a supervised field experience with school-age children. Programs accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) meet this requirement.  

• A letter verifying field experience must be on original, official letterhead from the college or university's education department and must accompany the application packet.
• Applicants must verify eligibility for the equivalent credential authorization. A photocopy of the out-of-state credential is acceptable verification of this requirement, as is an eligibility letter from the institution where the program was completed or the state agency responsible for issuing the certificate.
• If the out-of-state program does not fit this pattern, the applicant must contact a California college or university with a Commission-approved school counseling program for an evaluation and formal recommendation

3. Satisfy the Basic Skills Requirement. See CTC leaflet CL-667, entitled 'Basic Skills Requirement' for additional information. Out-of-state prepared applicants who have not satisfied the basic skills requirement may contact their California employer about the possibility of obtaining a One-Year Nonrenewable (OYNR) Credential pending the completion of the basic skills requirement.
4. Completed application (form 41-4), and, if not previously submitted to the Commission, a completed Live Scan receipt (form 41-LS). Out-of-State residents must submit two fingerprint cards (FD-258) in lieu of a Live Scan receipt. If submitting fingerprint cards, current fingerprint processing fees must accompany the application packet.
5. Application processing fee (see Fee Information Leaflet CL-659).