Bilingual Extension for Pupil Personnel Services Advanced Certificate

The program prepares candidates to:

• Recognize and respond to cultural and linguistic differences in educational settings.
• Understand second-language acquisition and its relationship to students’ academic and social-emotional development.
• Use culturally and linguistically appropriate assessment practices.
• Distinguish language-acquisition needs from academic, behavioral, and developmental concerns.
• Develop and implement culturally responsive school-based interventions.
• Provide culturally responsive consultation to educators, administrators, families, and other school professionals.
• Work effectively with linguistically and culturally diverse students and families.
• Apply multicultural counseling theories and practices.
• Advocate for bilingual students and English language learners.
• Understand educational programs and supports available to bilingual and multilingual students.
• Provide appropriate pupil personnel services in students’ native languages.

Bilingual Extension for Pupil Personnel Services: 15 Credits

For a full curriculum listing visit our catalog.

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• 2026 - 2027 Bilingual Extension for Pupil Personnel Services Advanced Certificate

Applicants must:

• Hold a master’s degree in school counseling, school psychology, or school social work from an appropriately accredited or approved institution.
• Hold a current New York State provisional, permanent, initial, or professional certificate in school counseling, school psychology, or school social work.
• Have a graduate GPA of 3.00 or higher. Applicants with a graduate GPA between 2.75 and 2.99 may be considered for provisional admission.
• Be currently employed and actively practicing as a school counselor, school psychologist, or school social worker in a PK–12 setting.

• Work in a professional setting that provides opportunities to engage with bilingual or multilingual students and families and complete at least 50 faculty-supervised field experience hours

   

• Passing the Bilingual Education Assessment (BEA) is required for Mercy University to recommend the student for the Bilingual PPS Extension certification.

   

   

Applicants must submit:

1. A completed Mercy University graduate application.
2. Official transcripts from all graduate institutions attended.
3. Documentation of a completed master’s degree in school counseling, school psychology, or school social work.

4. A copy of the applicant’s current New York State provisional, permanent, initial, or professional pupil personnel services certificate.

    

5. A current résumé documenting relevant professional experience and current employment in an eligible pupil personnel services role.
6. The required professional letter or letters of recommendation.

The program is designed for practicing pupil personnel services professionals. Candidates use the knowledge and skills developed in each course and apply them directly in their current professional practice.

Candidates must complete at least 50 faculty-supervised field experience hours across the required courses. Candidates use their current work with bilingual and multilingual students and families to:

• Connect course content with professional practice;
• Complete required field-based assignments;
• Apply bilingual and culturally responsive approaches;
• Demonstrate the competencies addressed in each course; and
• Receive faculty supervision, guidance, and feedback.

Applicants who are not currently practicing in an eligible pupil personnel services role will not be able to satisfy the program’s embedded field experience requirements.

One letter of recommendation from a principal, school administrator, or appropriate supervisor who is aware of and supports the applicant’s participation in the required Bilingual PPS practicum experience.

• Professional performance;
• Current work as a pupil personnel services professional;
• Experience working with linguistically and culturally diverse students and families;
• Readiness for graduate-level study; and
• Potential to provide bilingual pupil personnel services.

Letters from friends, relatives, or individuals who cannot evaluate the applicant’s professional work will not be accepted.

Passing the Bilingual Education Assessment (BEA) is required for Mercy University to recommend the student for the Bilingual PPS Extension certification.

Applicants with a graduate GPA between 2.75 and 2.99 may be considered for provisional admission. Provisionally admitted candidates must earn grades of B or higher in their first six credits of coursework to continue in the program.

Applicants requesting an exception to another admission requirement may be reviewed individually by the program director in consultation with the department chair and program faculty. Any exception or provisional admission must be documented in the student’s record, including the conditions and timeframe for achieving full admission status.

The current professional-practice requirement cannot ordinarily be waived because candidates must use their existing professional roles to complete the field experience hours embedded in the curriculum.

Candidates must complete at least 50 clock hours of faculty-supervised field experience in a bilingual PK–12 context. The hours are incorporated across the program’s required courses and connect course objectives and assignments to candidates’ current professional work.

Candidates are expected to apply the knowledge and skills developed through their coursework in practice. Field experience activities may address:

• Multicultural and bilingual counseling;
• Culturally and linguistically responsive assessment;
• Prevention and intervention services;
• Consultation with teachers, administrators, families, and other professionals;
• Advocacy for bilingual and multilingual students;
• Family and community engagement;
• Educational planning and student support; and
• Delivery of services in students’ native languages.

Candidates must document their field experience hours and activities in accordance with program requirements. Faculty review the documentation and provide supervision, guidance, and feedback.

Collectively, the minimum 50 field experience hours embedded across the curriculum provide candidates with opportunities to integrate theory and practice and demonstrate competency in providing bilingual pupil personnel services.

Completion Requirements

To complete the advanced certificate, candidates must:

• Successfully complete all 15 credits of required coursework.
• Complete at least 50 faculty-supervised field experience hours in a bilingual PK–12 context.
• Satisfactorily complete all field-based assignments and required documentation.
• Apply knowledge and skills from the coursework within their current professional practice.
• Demonstrate competency in working with bilingual and multilingual PK–12 students.
• Demonstrate the program’s required bilingual and multicultural counseling, assessment, consultation, intervention, and advocacy competencies.
• Remain appropriately certified, employed, and actively practicing in a qualifying pupil personnel services position while completing the program.
• Satisfy all institutional academic and program requirements.

Completion of the academic program does not, by itself, guarantee that New York State will issue the extension. Candidates must apply to the New York State Education Department and satisfy all certification requirements in effect at the time of application.