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School Social Worker Credentials

The role of a Michigan School Social Worker can be fulfilled by individuals who hold any of the following credentials:

  • Preliminary School Social Worker Certificate (PSSWC)
  • Professional School Social Worker Certificate (PSWC) 
  • School Social Worker Permit (SSWP)
  • School Social Worker Full Approval*

All applicants seeking a credential must apply on the Michigan Online Educator Certification System (MOECS) for a review to determine certificate eligibility.

*A School Social Worker Approval issued prior to 2014 and not visible in MOECS can be located in the Approval Legacy Report.

Roles and Responsibilities of School Social Workers

In accordance with the Michigan Department of Education (MDE), Office of Special Education (OSE) Michigan Administrative Rules for Special Education (MARSE) regulations, the Administrative Rules for School Social Workers R 340.1001-1016, (2024) MDE issues School Social Worker credentials. Individuals required to hold School Social Worker credentials have multifaceted, complex roles servicing K-12 pupils. As noted in R 340.1002 public school employees hired to fulfill the role of a School Social Worker are trained to provide services to students with disabilities whose Individual Education Program (IEPs) and Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSPs) require social work services.

Credentialed School Social Workers provide individual and group counseling to students and their families in need of assistance utilizing an ecological framework addressing variations in development and learning, as well as reciprocal influences of home, school, and community. School social workers often develop treatment or action plans for a specific student.

Educators who hold a Michigan School Social Worker credential are eligible to be hired to fulfill the role and responsibilities of a School Social Worker.