School Social Worker Certificate Program

Applicants to Bryn Mawr's School Social Work Certificate Program must either be:

• Students enrolled in Bryn Mawr’s Master of Social Service (MSS) degree program; or
• Students enrolled in a MSW degree program; or
• Bryn Mawr MSS alumnae/i; or
• Post-masters who have completed a master’s program in social work (or related field) at Bryn Mawr or another institution.

Bryn Mawr College MSS Students and Alumnae/i:

1. Interview
2. MSS Student SSWC Application
3. Declaration of Intent
4. Field Placement in School System
   • Field placement (2 semesters) in school system in advanced year
5. Clearances

Non-Matriculated MSW and/or Post-Masters Students:

1. Interview
2. Non-Matriculated Student SSWC Application
3. Official Transcript
   • Official transcript(s) must be sent to the Certifying Officer
     • via email to: swprodev@brynmawr.edu or
     • mailed (in institution sealed envelope) to: Bryn Mawr College, Attention: Certifying Officer, 300 Airdale Rd., Bryn Mawr. PA 19010
4. Declaration of Intent
5. Field Placement in School System
6. Clearances

INTERVIEW with SSW Certifying Officer

• Applicants are to arrange an interview with Peggy Robinson, SSWC Certifying Officer
  • Phone: 610-520-2614
  • Email: probinson@brynmawr.edu
  • Department Email: swprodev@brynmawr.edu
• Interview can be done either by phone, Zoom or in-person

APPLICATION

• MSS Student/Alumnae/i SSWC Application (LINK)
• Non-Matriculated Student SSWC Application (LINK)
  • Because some of the information on the SSWC application is similar to your resume, it is recommended you have your resume in-hand before you start the application.

DECLARATION OF INTENT (LINK)

• ALL students must complete the Declaration of Intent form prior to starting in the program. By signing the Declaration of Intent you are indicating your understanding of the requirements associated with the School Social Work Certificate program.​​​​

FIELD PLACEMENT

• All MSS students must provide detailed school-based field placement information on their application 
  • Placement information should include School Name, Field Supervisor Name and Contact Information, Field Liaison Name and Contact Information 
• Non-matriculated (post-master's or currently enrolled MSW) student's field placement must be in a school system with tasks and responsibilities aligned with PDE School Social Work. The following detailed information on field placement must be provided:
  • School Name
  • Supervisor Name (must hold a LSW and ideally hold the School Social Work Certification)
  • Supervisor Contact Information
  • Task/Responsibilities List and/or Learning Agreement
• NOTE: College Counseling Center field placements are not approved as a school-based field practicum. 

CLEARANCES: 

NOTE: The following clearances are usually required by PA schools. These clearances are not to be sent to the Center's office. 

PA Criminal History Request Form (SP4-164)
PA Child Abuse History Clearance (CY-113)
Federal Criminal Background Check

Graduate Level Courses: (NOTE: Current MSS Students incorporate the required SSWC courses and field practicum within their MSS program.) 

• B571D Education Law for School Social Workers: Master's course pertaining to Constitutional law as well as Pennsylvania school law
  • Fall term | 2024 | Thursday evenings | 5:10 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. | via Zoom | Seven week (1/2 unit)
     
• B570D Public Education Issues in School Social Work Practice: Master's course pertaining to the integration of the practice of social work within the unique context of the public educational system in Pennsylvania
  • Fall term | 2024 | Thursday evenings | 5:10 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. | via Zoom | Seven week (1/2 unit)
     
• B572 Clinical Social Work Practice in Primary and Secondary Schools: Master's course is the core course for the School Social Work Certificate program. It presents advanced knowledge and skills essential to providing effective school social work interventions. Students will learn to identify, select, and apply evidence-based prevention and intervention methods for use with individuals, groups, families, school personnel, and communities to enhance student learning, personal development, and school success. 
  • Spring term | 2025 | Wednesday evenings | 6 p.m. - 8:20 p.m. | via Zoom | Fifteen week (1 unit)
     
• Elective (graduate level) pertaining to treatment of children and adolescents: Master's level course (1 unit = 4 credit hours). The elective must incorporate significant content pertaining to the treatment of children and adolescents within the context of individual, family or group work. 
  • Examples of approved BMC GSSWSR courses are: 
    • Assessment/Psychopathology (1 unit)
    • Family Therapy: Theory and Practice (1 unit)
    • Group Treatment (1 unit)
    • Clinical SW Practice w/ Children and Adolescents (1 unit)
    • Social Work Trauma and the Arts (1 unit)
    • Trauma Informed Social Work with Children and Adolescents (1 unit)
    • Trauma Informed Social Work (1 unit)
       
• Cultural Awareness Course:
  • Bryn Mawr College GSSWSR students satisfy this requirement within the MSS program by taking B595 Power Privilege and Oppression course.
  • Current MSW or post-master's graduates: The School Social Work Certificate program assumes that MSW graduates of CSWE accredited institutions have satisfied the cultural awareness requirement set forth in their degree programs. Transcript required to validate.
    • Note: Post-master's SSWC students who need to satisfy this course requirement, can either
      • Enroll in Bryn Mawr's B595 Power, Privilege and Oppression course; 
      • Request transfer credit consideration for a course they feel is equivalent (syllabus required for consideration); or
      • Discuss other alternatives with the Certifying Officer of the SSW Program.

Integrative Seminar:

• B577 Integrative Seminar ​​is a non-credit supervisory seminar for SSWC students. Through didactic instruction and case presentation and review, the seminars focus on the individual student’s integration of social work practice into the unique context of the public education system in Pennsylvania. 
  • Sessions (12) are scheduled on specific Thursday evenings during the fall and spring terms immediately following the Thursday evening SSWC required master's classes.
  • Transfer credit for this requirement will not be considered.

School-Based Field Practicum:

• Bryn Mawr College GSSWSR MSS students work with the Field Education Office to secure a school-based field placement. MSS students must satisfy field education hours as outlined in their program.
• Post-master's SSWC student is required to have a supervised field practicum that includes a minimum of 375 hours in a school setting; performing School Social Worker responsibilities that entail working with students and their families as well as teachers and other support staff.
  • The post-master's SSWC student Field Supervisor should hold a LSW license or similar. The PDE School Social Worker Educational Specialist certification is preferable.

SSWC Workshops:

• English Language Learners: The Role of the School Social Worker
  • Saturday, October 5 and November 9, 2024 via Zoom (see program webpage for times)
• Psychological Testing for School Social Workers
  • Saturday, January 18 and February 1, 2025 via Zoom (see program webpage for times)
• Education Law Expanded
  • Saturday, March 1 and March 8, 2025 via Zoom (see program webpage for times)

Bryn Mawr College unit to credit equivalent:

• One Masters unit = 4 semester hours
• 1/2 Masters unit = 2 semester hours
• Professional Development workshop(s) offer continuing education (CE) credit only.

Graduate courses and field experiences will be evaluated on the basis of their content and their reflection of current standards.

Transfer Credit

• Transfer credit criteria:
  • master's level course,
  • must include an official graduate transcript, 
  • must include supporting course syllabus, 
  • completed within five years of the transfer credit request, 
  • been awarded a grade of B or above, 
  • must demonstrate course content pertaining to accommodations and adaptations for students with disabilities as well as English language learners.
• Students requesting transfer credit for a course to be completed through another academic institution must first submit the course syllabus for review and approval prior to enrolling in the course.

Waiver Credit

• Waiver credit may be considered for field practicum experience in one of the following ways:
  • Current MSW student completion through another graduate institution field placement
    • Documents required: Learning Agreement and Field Instructor Evaluation
  • Post-master's student in school-based employment (minimum 375 hours)
    • Documents required: Job Description and Task/Responsibilities List

Note: Life or previous work experience separate from the above guidelines will not be considered for course credit.

Application Fee: $25

Administrative Fees:

• $300: Students who enroll in fewer than two Bryn Mawr graduate level courses while enrolled in the SSWC program.
• $800: Students who transfer in all graduate level academic requirements while enrolled in the SSWC program.

Administrative Fees are assessed at time of completion of academic requirements.

Financial Aid

• Matriculated GSSWSR MSS students use their financial aid award towards course work.
• Financial Aid is not available for non-matriculated students.

Academic Course / Workshop Tuition

• Graduate Courses
  • Education Law for School Social Workers | graduate course | 1/2 semester (2 units) | $2,710
  • Public Education Issues in School Social Work | graduate course | 1/2 semester (2 units) | $2,710
  • Clinical Social Work Practice in Primary and Secondary Schools | graduate course | full semester (4 units) | $5,420
  • Elective pertaining to treatment of children/adolescents | graduate course | full semester (4 units) | $5,420
  • Integrative Seminar | graduate course (no credit but required) | No Charge
  • SSWC Field Education | each semester $5,420
    • GSSWSR MSS Field Instruction Fee: $110
    • Non-matriculated SSWC students who arrange their own field education/employment no charge.
• Professional Development Workshops
  • English Language Learners | ProDev Workshop (CEU credit) | $250
  • Psychological Testing for School Social Workers | ProDev Workshop (CEU credit) | $250
  • Education Law Expanded | ProDev Workshop (CEU credit) | $250

NOTE:

• Course fees are based on Bryn Mawr College 2024-2025 academic year guidelines.
• The above fees are subject to change for the 2025-2026 academic year.
• Matriculated students' graduate course tuition is as represented above. No additional fees for courses.

PDE Requirements for Certification Application:

• Master's degree in social work from an accredited CSWE program or an equivalent foreign qualification recognized by the CSWE Office of Social Work Accreditation (OSWA).
• Completion of an approved school social worker certification program.
• License (LSW or LCSW) through the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors.

Upon completion of all academic program requirements, Bryn Mawr College's Certifying Officer will send an official notification to the SSWC student. This notification will include the PDE School Social Worker Educational Specialist Certification application instructions. It is the student's responsibility to apply for official Certification using the PDE Teacher Information Management System (TIMS) once they meet all PDE requirements for application.

After the student completes their PDE School Social Worker, Educational Specialist Certificate PK-12 application, they are to notify the Bryn Mawr College SSWC Certifying Officer who will then finalize the student's application by affirming the student's completion of the SSWC program.

Please note the following:

• SSW Certification is not official until the student completes PDE application and receives notification from PDE of the certification. 
• PDE (TIMS) system is used to track the School Social Worker Educational Specialist application.
• PA Application Fee: $200
  • Fee is set by PDE and current as of 2024.

As with other professional certifications or licenses, the School Social Worker Educational Specialist Certification requires continuing education in order to keep the certification active.

The PA Department of Education requires that persons holding Pennsylvania professional educator certification (including the School Social Worker or Home and School Visitor Educational Specialist Certification) acquire a specific number of approved Act 48 continuing education credit hours in order to maintain/renew their certifications. All credits/hours must be related to an educator’s certificate type or area of assignment, unless enrolled in an administrative program or approved by the school board. (See PA Board regulations for specifics to your certification) (Act 48 FAQ)

Bryn Mawr's Center for Professional Development program offers many Act 48 continuing education credit opportunities appropriate for those seeking to renew their SSW Certification. Each Professional Development contact hour is the equivalent of one Act 48 credit.