School social work is one of the fastest-growing areas of social work practice.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics:
Employment of child, family, and school social workers is projected to grow 8 percent from 2024 to 2034. Child and family social workers will be needed to work with families to strengthen parenting skills, prevent child abuse, and identify alternative homes for children who are unable to live with their biological families.
School social workers work with teachers, parents, and school administrators to develop plans and strategies to improve students’ academic performance and social development. They help students with problems such as aggressive behavior or bullying. Additionally, school social workers meet with families to discuss issues such as access to special education resources or frequent student absences. (Occupational Outlook Handbook-Social Workers, August 2025).
To meet this growing demand, UC Berkeley Social Welfare offers a fully accredited curriculum in school social work practice, leading to eligibility for a recommendation for the Pupil Personnel Services Credential ("PPSC") with a specialization in School Social Work ("PPS/SSW"), which is issued by the State of California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC). The PPS School Social Work credential is typically a requirement for employment as a school social worker in California K-12 public schools.
UC Berkeley's PPSC program educates master’s-level social workers to assist public schools in achieving their educational and developmental missions. We aim to provide students with the knowledge, skills, and values necessary to be effective public school social workers. Students electing the school social work credentialing program option learn skills to understand and address problems faced by school children and their families. Academic and practica education experiences focus on serving structurally marginalized and minoritized pupils and their families in a respectful, informed, and self-reflective manner.
Our graduates understand the services available to vulnerable children and their families through the community's primary public service systems, as well as general and special education. We emphasize collaborative and interdisciplinary modes of practice that include direct service with school children, their parents and caretakers; collaboration with teachers, administrators, and other support personnel; linkage and advocacy with other resource providers; program evaluation; and participation in interdisciplinary educational teams.
PPSC Student Handbook
Review our UC Berkeley MSW PPSC Student Handbook for information regarding program requirements and instructions, frequently asked questions (FAQs), and a student checklist.
More questions?
Contact swppsc@berkeley.edu. Review the UC Berkeley MSW PPSC/SSW Program Checklist.