Practicum Requirements
The practicum is the students’ first opportunity for formal clinical field training. Within the series of practicum courses, students have the opportunity to work within a mental health delivery system with a clinical population under supervision. The practicum is an essential part of clinical training and all students are required to enroll in the practicum experience.
The practicum is a required training experience of at least 500 hours, which takes place during the academic year, often beginning in September and usually concluding in June. The practicum must include at least 150 hours of face-to-face client contact, with appropriate clinical supervision. The practicum is treated as a course, and with practicum seminar carries 3 credit hours per semester and 6 credit hours for the academic year. A practicum may not be done in a student’s place of employment, nor is any student exempt from the program’s practicum requirements.
Students who come to the American School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University | San Francisco Bay Area with prior clinical backgrounds are placed in practicum sites in areas where they have an interest and may not have previous experience.
Practicum Seminar Requirements
All students enrolled in a practicum must also concurrently enroll in a practicum seminar. The seminar meets weekly throughout the academic year and allows students to reflect on various practicum experiences and acquire additional knowledge, skills and attitudes useful in field training. The specific content and emphasis of the seminar varies according to the practicum setting, focus of the enrolled students, and the professional expertise of the faculty member.
Practicum Application Requirements
All students who enter the practicum application process must be in good academic standing, have a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a scale of 4.0, and have completed the academic sequence that allows for the practicum prerequisite courses to be completed prior to the beginning of the practicum. No student may begin a practicum without being in attendance at the American School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University | San Francisco Bay Area for a minimum of two semesters and Session I of the Summer semester.
To be eligible for the master’s practicum, a student must have successfully completed 20 credit hours of coursework, which must include the following:
Practicum and Academic Probation
Students who are placed under probation for any reason may not be allowed to begin a required practicum until they are removed from probation. Students who receive below a “B-” in any course required for practicum will not be allowed to enroll in practicum during the following academic year. If a first-year student is on probation based on progress in fall semester courses, the student may not apply for a practicum during the spring semester. If the student has achieved a GPA of at least 3.0, when the spring grades are available, and has not been placed on probation by the Student Professional Development Committee (SPDC) for any other reason, the student may, at the discretion of the Director of Clinical Training, apply for a practicum. Requests for exceptions to this policy must be provided in writing to the Director of Clinical Training.
If a first-year student who has accepted a practicum is placed on probation after the spring semester, the student may not participate in the practicum, if their GPA is below a 3.0 (after the summer I grades are received). If their GPA is at or above 3.0 after the summer I grades are received, the student may, at the discretion of the Director of Clinical Training, and the agency, begin the practicum. Students on probation for reasons other than a GPA below 3.0 will not be allowed to apply for practicum until they are removed from probation.
Evaluation of Practicum Students
Each semester, supervisor evaluation forms will be sent to the practicum site to evaluate each student’s performance. At the end of the year, the student will be required to evaluate the practicum experience.
The Student Evaluation Form enables supervisors to assess the student’s progress, competence and performance relative to the learning objectives, as well as other factors of importance to the site. These forms are monitored by the Director of Clinical Training to assess progress and possible areas for growth. All evaluations are kept as part of the student’s permanent record. The Director of Clinical Training makes the final determination whether or not the practicum requirements have been met and whether credit will be granted for the experience.
Remediation in Clinical Training
Students who may need remediation in clinical training are referred to the Clinical Training Committee (CTC). The Clinical Training Committee will examine all pertinent information related to the student’s progress. Students may request a meeting with the committee. Likewise, the committee may request a meeting with the student. If information suggests a student may need remediation in clinical training the Director of Clinical Training or CTC may make a referral to the SPDC.
If the review identifies deficits in a student’s clinical progress, the Director of Clinical Training will identify the areas in need of remediation. The Student Professional Development Committee (SPDC), in consultation with the Director of Clinical Training and the student, will develop a remediation plan. The remediation plan is forwarded to the Program Dean. Upon approval, the remediation plan is forwarded to the Director of Clinical Training and the student. The student is bound by the conditions set forth in the remediation plan. The clinical training site may, at its discretion, also require it own remediation plan. In some cases, this plan may be required in lieu of one written by the SDPC.
The remediation plan may require, but is not limited to, personal therapy or consultation, additional training, additional coursework, remedial practicum, or other assignments. Students should refer to Student Professional Development Committee and Student Conduct Committee policies and procedures described under Section Four, Student Rights and Responsibilities. If there are any problems that cannot be corrected through the remediation plan, the student may be referred to the Student Conduct Committee (SCC) .
Conduct on Practicum
Ethical Behavior
Students must adhere to APA Ethical Guidelines and the laws and regulations of the Board of Psychology. If difficulties occur, they should be resolved with the training program staff, if possible. The Director of Clinical Training will be available to evaluate or assist students with ethical dilemmas, if necessary. In the event that unethical behavior is found to occur during training, appropriate action will be taken by the CTC, which may include:
- Referral to the SPDC or SCC
- Removal from practicum
- Other disciplinary or remedial action
Completing Clinical Training Commitments
Students are expected to fulfill the commitments of their training contracts. A student wishing to terminate or take a leave from a practicum before completing the contract must notify the Director of Clinical Training in writing as soon as the need becomes known. The Clinical Training Committee will review the student’s request to determine whether early termination is warranted. In most cases, there must be mutual agreement between all parties (e.g. the agency, the Director of Clinical Training) in order to approve the student’s request. In some cases, the Clinical Training Committee may request the SPDC review the request for early termination. No student should terminate a training agreement without approval from the Director of Clinical Training.
Early termination of a training commitment can have serious implications for the student, the agency, and the school’s relationship with the training site, thus any steps in this direction must be considered carefully and in consultation with the Director of Clinical Training. Students should know that it is usually not possible to begin new practicum experiences once the training year is underway. There is no partial credit granted for clinical training experiences.
Practicum Evaluation
Each semester, supervisor evaluation forms will be sent to the practicum site to evaluate each student’s performance. At the end of the year, the student will be required to evaluate the practicum experience.
The Student Evaluation Form enables supervisors to assess the student’s progress, competence and performance relative to the learning objectives, as well as other factors of importance to the practicum site. These forms are monitored by the Director of Clinical Training to assess progress and possible areas for growth. All evaluations are kept as part of the student’s permanent record. The Director of Clinical Training makes the final determination whether or not the practicum requirements have been met and whether credit will be granted for the experience.
Relationship of Master’s and Doctoral-Level Practicum
The master’s practicum is not equivalent to the practicum in the doctoral degree program. Students who subsequently enroll in the PsyD in Clinical Psychology program at the American School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University | San Francisco Bay Area cannot transfer the master’s practicum experience or practicum seminar for doctoral level credit.
