Home and School Visitor Certificate Program

Applicants to Bryn Mawr’s Home and School Visitor Certificate Program must either be:

• Bryn Mawr’s Master of Social Service (MSS) student/alumnae/i, or
• Individual currently enrolled or recently completed a MSW (or related degree) program at a CSWE accredited institution.

• Current MSS Students (matriculated)
  • Email Certifying Officer of interest and schedule interview meeting.
  • No application required.
• Non-Matriculated Student Application
  • Must complete the Non-Matriculated Student Application
    • The application does not have a save and return option. Because some of the information on the HSV application is similar to that of your resume, it is recommended you have your resume in-hand before before starting the application.
• ​Declaration of Intent
  • ALL applicants accepted into the HSV program must complete the Declaration of Intent form prior to starting in the program.

• Interview with HSV Certifying Officer
  • ​​All applicants are to arrange an interview with Peggy Robinson, HSV Certifying Officer. (probinson@brynmawr.edu)
    • Interview can be done either by phone, Zoom or in-person
      ​​​​
• Official Graduate Transcript
  • Non-matriculated applicants must submit an official graduate transcript at time of application. 
    • Electronic (official / secured) transcripts are to be sent to the attention of: Peggy Robinson, probinson@brynmawr.edu
    • Paper Transcripts (in original sealed envelope) can be mailed to the attention of:
      • Bryn Mawr College, Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research, Center for Professional Development, 300 Airdale Rd., Bryn Mawr, PA 19010

Clearances: 
NOTE: The following clearances are usually required in order to work/intern in a PA school. These clearances are not to be sent 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:

• B571D Education Law for School Social Workers: Master's course pertaining to Constitutional 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: Master's level. 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); and Trauma Informed Social Work (1 unit).
  •  Master's level course | full semester | 1 unit  (4 credit hours)
• 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.

HSV Integrative Seminar:

• B577 HSV Integrative Seminar ​​is a non-credit supervisory seminar for HSV 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 educational system in Pennsylvania. 
  • Sessions (12) are scheduled on specific Wednesday evenings during the fall and spring terms immediately following the Thursday evening HSV-required master's classes. Attendance at a minimum of nine of the 12 sessions is required.
  • Transfer credit for this requirement will not be considered.

School-Based Field Practicum:

• Bryn Mawr College GSSWSR 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-masters HSV students are required to have a supervised field practicum that includes a minimum of 375 hours in a school setting; performing Home and School Visitor responsibilities that entail working with students and their families as well as teachers and other support staff.
  • The post-master's HSV student Field Supervisor should hold a LSW license or similar and preferably a PDE Education Specialist certification.

HSV Workshops: (see workshop webpage for times)

• 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)

Unit to Credit Equivalent:

• One Master's unit = 4 semester hours
• One-Half Master's unit = 2 semester hours
• Professional Development workshops 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. To be considered for transfer credit, courses must have been completed within five years of the transfer credit request and been awarded a grade of B or above, and should demonstrate course content pertaining to accommodations and adaptations for students with disabilities as well as English language learners.

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
• Field Education waiver credit requests must include the Field Instructor/Supervisor Evaluation form. 

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

Application Fee

$25.00: Application Fee

Administrative Fees

$300: students who complete program while enrolling in fewer than two Bryn Mawr graduate level courses
$800: students who complete program while transferring in all graduate level academic requirements

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 SWs  |  graduate course (1/2 master's unit*)  |  $2,710
  • Public Education Issues in School SW  |  graduate course (1/2 master's unit*)  |  $2,710
  • Perspectives in Special Education  |  graduate course (1 master's unit*)  |  $5,420
  • Elective pertaining to treatment of children/adolescents  |  graduate course (1 master's unit*)  |  $5,420
  • HSV Integrative Seminar  |  graduate course (no credit, but required)  |  No Charge
  • HSV Field Instruction |  (1 master's unit*)  |  $5,420
    • Non-matriculated HSV students who arrange their own field education/employment no charge.
      • Also see waiver credit requirements.
• Professional Development Workshops
  • English Language Learners  |  ProDev workshop (CEU credit)  |  $250
  • Psychological Testing for School SWs  |  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 2025-2026 academic year.
• Matriculated MSS student course tuition is as represented above. No additional fees for courses.

Upon completion of Bryn Mawr's HSV program requirements, including posting of BMC grades, acceptance of transfer credits*, and receipt of all pertinent materials pertaining to the student's Bryn Mawr HSV record, the student will receive an official email from Bryn Mawr indicating completion of the HSV program requirements.

The student must apply for official HSV Certification using the PDE Teacher Information Management System (TIMS) website. Once the student completes the online application, the student is to notify the HSV Certifying Officer/Program Coordinator of such so that Bryn Mawr can finalize the process by affirming the student's completion of the preparation program and recommend the student for the certification.

Important:

HSV Certification is not complete or official until the certificate has been issued by PDE.

PDE application system (TIMS) is used to track Home and School Visitor Certification.

Students should familiarize themselves with this system prior to application.

The Home and School Visitor certification falls under the category of Educational Specialist.

Information on the PDE TIMS electronic application process are available on the PDE website. 

The state charges a $200* application fee as part of the certification process. 
The above application fee is set by PDE and current as of 2018.

As with other professional certifications or licenses, the Home and School Visitor Educational Specialist Certification requires continuing education coursework in order to keep the certification active.

The PA Department of Education requires that persons holding Pennsylvania professional educator certification (including the Home and School Visitor Certification) acquire a specific number of Act 48 approved 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 Act 48 FAQ for specifics to your certification)

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