California Commission on Teacher Credentialing Preconditions
The California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) establishes specific preconditions that all candidates must meet before being recommended for a PPSC-SSW. The Chico State PPSC-SSW program is approved by the CTC and meets all state standards for credential recommendation. Upon completion of all program and CTC requirements, Chico State will verify eligibility and recommend the candidate for the PPSC-SSW credential to the CTC.
Certificate of Clearance
Students must possess a valid Certificate of Clearance from the CTC to count any school-based PPSC-SSW practicum hours. The Certificate of Clearance includes fingerprinting and a background check conducted by the California Department of Justice and the FBI. Learn more here.
Practicum
Qualifying PPSC-SSW hours must:
- Be collected after a Certificate of Clearance is issued.
- Be supervised by a qualified PPSC-SSW with a learning agreement in place.
- Be completed in CA public schools.
- Be completed within 7 years of enrolling in a PPSC program.
The total number of verified practicum hours obtained during an MSW program must be at least 1,000, with a minimum of 450 hours in at least two different school settings, such as:
- Public preschool, elementary, middle, or high school
- Charter school, school district, County Office of Education, or SELPA
Private schools and contracted agencies are not valid sites.
Note: A Certificate of Clearance must be obtained before the hours are accumulated. Hours completed before the Certificate of Clearance cannot be applied toward the PPSC-SSW hour requirements.
Credential
Admission into programs leading to a credential does not guarantee that students will obtain a license or credential. Credentialing requirements are set by agencies not controlled by or affiliated with the CSU, and requirements can change at any time. For example, credentialing requirements may include evidence of the right to work in the United States (e.g., a Social Security number or taxpayer identification number) or successful completion of a criminal background check. Students are responsible for determining whether they can meet credentialing requirements. The CSU will not refund tuition, fees or any associated costs to students who determine, subsequent to admission, that they cannot meet credentialing requirements.
The California State University has not determined whether its programs meet the educational or professional certification requirements of other states. Students enrolled in a California State University program who plan to pursue certification in other states are responsible for determining whether they will meet those states' requirements. This disclosure is made pursuant to 34 CFR §668.43(a)(5)(v)(C).
Additional Information
Please refer to the CTC website for more information about preconditions and standards.