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Pupil Personnel Services Credential
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
UCR Extension information can be found here.
- What are the application deadlines?
- What is a cohort?
- When does the next cohort begin?
- How many classes are required?
- Can I transfer classes into your program?
- How do I register?
- What is the cost of classes?
- What is online learning?
- What is Blackboard and how do I access it?
- Are computers available for student use at UCR Extension?
- Where are the classes offered?
- How long will it take to complete the School Counseling program?
- What are the fieldwork requirements?
- Can I take any classes before I am admitted into the program?
- How do I obtain the required Liability Insurance?
- How do I become a member of the Community Advisory Council?
- When does the new quarter start?
- Do I have to have a teaching credential to become a school counselor?
- How do I order my books?
- Do you have a Master's program available?
- Is UCR Extension accredited?
- What are the professional growth expectations for PPS credential candidates?
What are the application deadlines?
Completed applications are due February 1 or August 1 of each calendar year. Students who will be considered for acceptance will be required to attend an Informational Meeting and will be placed in a cohort group. Specific dates for this required meeting are listed in the schedule of classes.
What is a cohort?
A cohort is comprised of individuals who are pursuing the same credential, and support and reinforce each other. Cohorts are designed to allow a group of students to work together while earning their credential. Cohort groups follow the same curriculum, take courses in sequence with each other, and start and end their program together, if possible. Students who participate in a cohort group tend to succeed at a higher rate than individual students.
When does the next cohort begin?
Our main cohorts start each Spring and each Fall with students completing 388.1 and 388.2. Students with a submitted application may take selected courses until their cohort group begins.
How many classes are required?
The CCTC requires a minimum of 72 quarter units for the PPS credential in School Counseling. The program is divided into 24 courses. Course units range from one half unit to 5 units.
Can I transfer classes into your program?
Up to 16 graduate level quarter units may be transferred into our PPS program. Official transcripts and documentation to verify that prior coursework meets the standards of the UCR Extension course must be submitted for approval. Course syllabi and table of contents from text used in course(s) would meet the documentation requirement. Coursework may only be transferred if it has been completed within the last five years and the institution is accredited from one of the following accrediting agencies:
- The Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges
- The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association
- The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
- The Middle States Association
- The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
- The New England Association
Download our Course Transfer Request Form
How do I register?
Registration information is located on our Web site under Enroll Now. It is important that you enroll in classes early so that you can order your books in enough time. Required texts are listed with course information. Instructors do expect that you have your required textbooks on the first class session. Please e-mail pps@ucx.ucr.edu if you have a question about the required textbooks.
All PPS courses are listed in the schedule of classes under the Education category.
What is the cost of classes?
Courses offered this quarter are listed in the Online Catalog. You may check the cost of any class in the catalog. PPS courses are listed in the schedule of classes.
What is online learning?
Online learning uses a Web site to deliver course instruction. A limited number of courses are available entirely online. Students interact with classmates and instructors through discussion boards and virtual classrooms. Students have access 24/7 to course materials, and have the luxury of completing work at times convenient for them. Workload for online courses are comparable to classes held on campus. Course assignments and readings are at the master's level work. Students should access their online site and complete work 3-4 times each week. It is important to keep up with the workload each week, as it is impossible to make up missed online discussions.
Internet access is required for courses that use online learning.
All of the PPS courses use Blackboard as this links to the Technology standard required by the CCTC. Blackboard is also used for courses that are held on campus. All PPS students will complete an online Blackboard tutorial before starting coursework. Additional information regarding online learning.
What is Blackboard and how do I access it?
Blackboard is an online course management system. Your instructors will post syllabi, readings, and assignments, and well as communicate via e-mail, virtual chats or discussion boards. Blackboard runs through the Internet on both PC's and Mac's.
To access Blackboard, you should bookmark the following address: http://iLearn.ucr.edu/.
Once you are enrolled in PPS courses you will receive a username and password to access Blackboard.
Are computers available for student use at UCR Extension?
A computer lab is available for student use on the second floor of our building. UCR Extension students have free access to this lab. Specific hours are posted on the door.
Where are the classes offered?
The UCR Extension Center is located in Riverside. More information.
We have a variety of configurations for courses however, many of the skills required of school counselors must be practiced in a classroom setting:
- On Site - Courses are held onsite. Course information is posted on Blackboard.
- Online - All coursework is completed using Blackboard, via the Internet. A limited number of courses are available entirely online.
- Hybrid - Some coursework is completed on campus and some coursework is completed using Blackboard online.
- Polycom - The course will be held on campus and students may meet at various sites throughout the state and view the instruction through teleconferencing. Course information is posted on Blackboard. Please note - Polycom sites must be arranged pending student enrollment.
How long will it take to complete the School Counseling program?
That depends on a variety of factors. Typically, two courses are offered each quarter. Field Experience and the Culmination project are completed once coursework is complete.
Cohort groups that prefer to work at an accelerated pace may request additional courses through the Program Coordinator.
Cohorts start either in the Spring or in the Fall and complete 2-3 courses each quarter for approximately 2 years. We do offer a cohort for students who prefer to take 1-2 classes each quarter for 4 years.
It is difficult to predict exactly how long it will take to complete the Field experience hours, as every cohort student has different work hours and schedules.
What are the fieldwork requirements?
The CCTC requires a minimum of 700 hours of practica and field experience for the PPS credential in School Counseling. 100 practica hours are embedded into coursework. The field experience hours will be completed after coursework has been completed. The UCR Extension PPS credential program was approved to include the following:
200 hours of field will be completed with elementary school students
200 hours of field will be completed with middle/junior high school students
200 hours of field will be completed with high school students
Can I take any classes before I am admitted into the program?
The following courses may be completed before admission into the School Counseling credential program.
- Edu. X388.1, Orientation to PPS School Counseling, Child Welfare & Attendance (.5 unit) - Online Course
- Edu. X388.2, Technology for Pupil Personnel Services (1 unit) - Online Course
You may also take two of the following courses before formal admission into the School Counseling credential program.
- Edu. X388.3, Human Growth and Development, Theories of Learning, Part A (3 units) - Online Course
- Edu. X388.4, Human Growth and Development, Intervention Strategies, Part B (3 units) - Online Course
- Edu. X388.5, Personal, Social Interaction Relationships in a Multi-Cultural Society (3 units)
- Edu. X388.6, Methods of Assessment and Evaluation (3 units)
- Edu. X388.7, Legal Mandates and Professional Ethics in Pupil Personnel Services (2 units)
- Edu. X388.9, School Safety and Violence Prevention (2 units)
Formal admission is required before entry into specialization courses, or courses that require practica hours.
How do I obtain the required Liability Insurance?
There are several options for obtaining the school counselor liability insurance. UCR Extension does not endorse any particular company. Listed below, are some of the available options.
How do I become a member of the Community Advisory Council?
The Community Advisory Council (CAC) represents all the credential programs offered through Extension and the Graduate School of Education. Membership in the CAC includes university faculty, K-12 administrators, teachers and students in the programs, and community members. The CAC usually meets twice a year, once in the Fall and once in the Spring. Meetings are usually held in the late afternoon. Contact Ana Maria Toma at pps@ucx.ucr.edu if you would like to participate.
When does the new quarter start?
Fall Quarter begins in September.
Winter Quarter begins in January.
Spring Quarter begins in April.
Summer Quarter begins in June.
Holiday closures are listed at: http://www.extension.ucr.edu/student.html
Is local housing available?
Some students choose to stay in the local area during the ISI. Contact information for some local housing options include:
Do I have to have a teaching credential to become a school counselor?
The CCTC does not require a teaching credential to obtain a PPS-SC credential. However, both UCR Extension and school districts will be interested in your prior experience with youth.
How do I order my books?
Students may obtain textbook information at http://www.extension.ucr.edu/student.html. ALL PPS courses do have required textbooks. Please ensure that you order your textbooks early enough so that you will receive them before classes start. Instructors do expect that you have your required textbooks on the first class session. Many classes have reading requirements to be completed before the first class date. Please e-mail pps@ucx.ucr.edu if you have a question about the required textbooks.
Do you have a Master's program available?
UCR Extension has recently collaborated with La Sierra University to enable students to complete a Master of Arts degree while completing the PPS - SC credential program. Students complete courses at both UCR Extension and at LSU.
Students who are interested in this program do need to apply for admission at both universities – UCR Extension for the PPS School Counseling credential and LSU for the M.A. program. More Information
Download our M.A. Course List
Is UCR Extension accredited?
UCR Extension is fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities. Visit the W.A.S.C. Web site: Web site. UCR Extension is also an Approved Professional Preparation Program through the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. Visit the C.C.T.C. Web site: http://www.ctc.ca.gov/educator-prep/program-accred.html
What are the professional growth expectations for PPS credential candidates?
We expect that all UCR Extension students enrolled in credential courses will participate yearly in School Counseling Professional Conferences and become members of School Counseling Professional Organizations.
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