Apply for the Pupil Personnel Services Credential
This page is intended for students pursuing credentials in the Pupil Personnel Services School Counseling or School Psychology programs. Please allow for at least 14 days for the Credentials Office to review your credential file. Only after candidates have completed all credential requirements and received approvals from the Credentials Office and their program will the Credentials Office submit credential recommendations to the CTC. The entire credential process can take up to 4–6 weeks. Requirements may vary, please plan accordingly. Please note the differences in process for the Internship and Clear Credentials.
- Notify your program’s Placement Coordinator or Program Director.
- The Placement Coordinator or Program Director will notify the Credentials Office to initiate the credentialing process.
- Check your SMC and external emails for messages from the Credentials Office.
Which credential are you applying for?
Internship Credential
Internship Credentials are issued to students who are offered employment as a school psychologist while they are still currently enrolled in their PPS-School Counseling or School Psychology program. To apply for your Internship Credential, please begin by contacting your program and reviewing the following requirements.
Clear Credential
Clear Credentials are issued to students who have completed all credential requirements, including coursework, fieldwork components, assessments, and exams. To apply for your PPS-School Psychology Clear Credential, please begin by contacting your program and reviewing the following steps.
Please find more information about credential requirements listed below.
An Internship Agreement is a document that is signed by the student, their employer, Placement Coordinator and/or Program Director. Contact your program’s Placement Coordinator or Program Director to request for this document.
The Basic Skills Requirement (BSR) verifies basic skills proficiency in the areas of Reading, Writing, and Mathematics before a credential, certificate, or permit will be issued. There are several options for candidates to satisfy this requirement including exams, qualifying coursework, and a combination of exams and coursework.
To indicate which option will be used to fulfill BSR, please complete the BSR Evaluation Form. This form is for enrolled students in the Teacher Preparation, School Counseling, and School Psychology programs at the Kalmanovitz School of Education (KSOE). Candidates must provide official exam score reports and official transcripts for qualifying coursework.
For more information on the CTC’s BSR guidelines, please visit BSR (CL-667).
Meet the BSR by Exam
Individuals may satisfy the Basic Skills Requirement by one of the following exams:
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Pass the CBEST
To pass the CBEST, one must obtain a minimum scaled score of 41 in each of the three sections—reading, writing, and mathematics. However, a score as low as 37 on an individual section is acceptable if the total scaled score is at least 123. For more information including exam fees and dates visit the CTC-Exam website.
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Pass the CSET: Multiple Subjects Plus Writing Skills Examination
Passage of the CSET: Multiple Subjects Examination (subtests #101, 214, & 225) plus the CSET: Writing Skills examination (test #142) can be used to meet the basic skills requirement. For more information including exam fees and dates visit the CTC-Exam website.
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Pass the CSU Early Assessment Program or the CSU Placement Examinations
Receive passing scores on the California State University (CSU) Early Assessment Program (EAP), English and Mathematics sections. Or, receive passing scores on the CSU Placement Examinations (English Placement Test [EPT] and Entry Level Mathematics [ELM]). See Appendix Table 1 for passing scores.
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Achieve Qualifying Score on the SAT or ACT
For SAT exams taken after March 2016 a minimum score of 570 in Mathematics and a minimum score of 560 in Evidence- Based Reading and Writing are required. See Appendix Table 3 for passing scores from exams taken prior to March 2016.
For the ACT, achieve a score of 22 or higher on the English exam and a score of 23 or higher on the Mathematics exam.
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College Board Advanced Placement (AP) Examinations
Achieve a score of 3 or higher on the College Board AP Exams. Acceptable exams include: AP English Language and Composition, AP English Literature and Composition, AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC, and AP Statistics.
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Pass a Basic Skills Examination from Another State
The Out-of-State Basic Skills Exams Chart provides guidance for examinations from other states that may be accepted for use toward meeting California's basic skills requirement. This chart is only a guide and is subject to change.
Meet the BSR by Coursework
Individuals may satisfy the Basic Skills Requirement by verification of qualifying coursework. Courses must be from a regionally-accredited college or university for credit, passed with a grade of B or better (B-, Passing, and Credit are acceptable), be AA/AS or BA/BS/BFA degree applicable, and be at least 3 semester units or 4 quarter units.
Coursework including professional development, continuing education units or in-service training or workshops does not qualify.
Qualifying coursework includes the following:
For reading proficiency: a course in critical thinking, literature, philosophy, reading, rhetoric, or textual analysis.
For writing proficiency: a course in composition, English, rhetoric, written communication, or writing.
For mathematics proficiency: a course in algebra, geometry, mathematics, quantitative reasoning, or statistics.
A course that does not fall within the indicated areas may still qualify with an additional letter of explanation. The letter must be from the registrar or the department chair that oversees the Mathematics or English department, as applicable. The letter must state that a course passed by the applicant covered reading, writing, or mathematics. Such a letter could also attest that a single course sufficiently indicates proficiency in reading and writing combined.
Meet the BSR by Coursework and Exam
Individuals may satisfy the Basic Skills Requirement by a combination of exam scores and verification of qualifying coursework. The qualifying coursework must meet the requirements as described above. A qualifying exam score can be used from all available options except out-of-state exams. The Guidance Chart for Mixing BSR Options can be used when determining acceptable combinations.
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The CTC Credential Record requirement may be fulfilled by providing proof of holding any of the following valid CTC documents. Students may upload a screenshot of their CTC account showing their name, document number, and valid dates or receipts for any of these items to fulfill the CTC Credential Record requirement:
- CTC Certificate of Clearance
- 30-Day Substitute Permit
- Children’s Center Permit
- Activity Supervisor Clearance Certificate
- Variable Term Waiver
- CTC Credential
To apply for the CTC Certificate of Clearance, please watch the video provided at the bottom of the CTC's Online Application Information webpage. For locations that provide Live-Scan fingerprinting services, please visit the DOJ's Live Scans webpage.
Current students must complete the KSOE Commencement Registration & Credential/Degree Audit Form in the beginning months of their last term in order to proceed with the credentialing process. This form is completed by all KSOE students pursuing a credential and/or degree, regardless of whether or not they are participating in the commencement ceremony.
For former students who did not apply for their credential at the end of their program, please contact the Credentials Office at credential@stmarys-ca.edu to initiate the credentialing process. In your message, please include your name, student ID, program, and date of program completion.