FAQs for Clinical Courses: Practicum, Internship, & Field Experience

The Site Search

Does the Department find my clinical placement site or do I need to find my site?

The Department does not find your clinical site and placement for you. You will be provided with all of the information and details you need to conduct a search for an appropriate clinical site. We will begin talking about this process at your first Residency on campus. You will be provided with email templates, informational sheets, documents to provide to potential sites, a site database, and step by step instructions. Dr. Emerson and Brittany Hall will provide you with support all along the way and are available to answer emails, and schedule calls as needed. In addition, they provide multiple “drop-in” clinical forum Zoom sessions every semester. You will have lots of support during your site search process.

What is the smartest way to search for clinical sites or field placement sites in my area?

After you attend Residency 1 you will begin to receive emails from Dr. Emerson and Brittany Hall that outline all the steps for starting your site search. These emails will include directions for getting started, drafts for emails, as well as basic overview sheets and resources to share with potential sites. You do not need to formally begin your site search before attending Residency 1. 

Each semester during your site search you will be sent an email that includes the Site Search Database. This database includes sites that have hosted our students for a practicum or internship in recent years. It also includes sites that have asked to be included on our list or sites that other students have shared as potential placements. If there are not any sites in your immediate location use the Database as a springboard for ideas on the types of sites you can search for in your area.

Google and network! Search for sites in your area online and use your network to find potential clinical placement sites. You don’t have to use a site that has been used before as long as it can provide you with the appropriate experience. Google terms such as “counseling services” “behavioral health services” in your city/town/county/local area. This should start to bring up lists of potential sites for you to reach out to in your site search.

READ THE DO NOT CONTACT LIST! At the beginning of your site search process you will be sent a list of sites that we do not want you to contact. Sometimes these are sites that have been used before and did not work out for students for a variety of reasons and we have chosen to no longer use them. Some of the sites are listed because the site has let us know they aren’t taking students at the time and will be removed from the list when they are ready for more students. Please be sure you refer to this list during your site search process. You will not be allowed to be placed at any site that is currently on this list. 

Both the Do Not Contact List and the Site Search Database are updated every semester. The updated versions of these documents are sent out each semester to students who are currently in the site search process.

Should I pick my clinical site based on theoretical orientation?

Not necessarily – the goal is to have an experience where you can practice basic skills and learn the basics in the field. You should be familiar with a couple of theories that fit with your style and also be open to the theories that your site focuses on.

How long should I wait before following up with a site if they haven’t responded to me?

It is typically recommended that you wait at least one to two weeks before following up with a site who has not responded to your initial contact. 

After you have sent the first email or completed the first initial call it’s perfectly acceptable to follow up a week later if you haven’t heard back. Just be polite, professional, and gracious. These folks are busy. And while they may want a practicum student or intern it may take a while for them to respond. Sometimes I do a “double tap” and call, if they answer great, but if they don’t I leave a polite voicemail and in the voicemail I let them know I will also follow up by email in case that is easier for them to respond to. Then I send a follow up email. In this process I have tapped them twice (voicemail and email) in a polite manner that doesn’t come across as pushy, demanding, or off-putting.  

It’s always okay to follow up with a polite and professional check in. Just be sure to give an appropriate amount of time between check-ins (e.g., a week).

Be sure you are not coming across as aggressive or pushy in this process as that could lessen your desirability as an intern.

Deadlines for Clinical Placement

Summer – March 1st – If you plan to start a clinical placement in the following summer semester (i.e., May-August) you must have your site secured by March 1st. 

Fall – June 1st – If you plan to start a clinical placement in the following fall semester (i.e., August-December) you must have your site secured by June 1st.

Spring – October 1st – If you plan to start a clinical placement in the following spring semester (i.e., Jan-April) you must have your site secured by October 1st. 

You do not need to have your site agreement finalized by this deadline. You just need to have a formal placement offer that you have accepted. We can continue to finalize the paperwork after the deadline.

Finding a placement by these deadlines guarantees that you a slot in a practicum or internship course section.

What happens if I miss the site placement deadline?

Keep working on finding a site placement. Finding a placement by the deadline guarantees you a slot in a section of the course. However, some sections may not be full at the deadline and still have a couple of open slots available. If there are still open slots in a section (12 students can be in an internship section, and 6 can be in a practicum section) we will continue to fill up the section with whoever gets a placement. At that point the “slots” in the course are on a first come first serve basis. 

At this point you need to talk to your potential placement sites about starting EITHER during your planned semester or the following semester just in case the available extra slots fill up. 

If you know you will not be able to get a placement for the original planned start date you need to reach out to Tim Silva to adjust your schedule and course sequence.

Please keep in mind that some sites require paperwork that is very time consuming and cannot be completed quickly. If a site has an external site agreement they need us to use there will be a point at which we can’t complete that paperwork in time for you to begin at a site the following semester. 

Site Requirements

Is it okay to do my practicum or internship at a site where I would only be able to do co-counseling?

No. Co-counseling is welcome, especially in the beginning; however, you must also be given the opportunity to individually counsel clients in order to develop your counseling skills and be evaluated properly. For co-counseling to count as direct time you must be doing at least 40% of the facilitating. Otherwise it would be observation of someone else’s work and that would be indirect time.

Is it okay to do my practicum or internship at a site where I would only be able to do group counseling?

No, you must be able to individually counsel in addition to group counseling. You need the experience of individual counseling to develop your skills and be evaluated properly. If you have concerns or questions about the ratio or individual counseling vs. group counseling hours you would get at a site please reach out to Dr. Emerson for consultation.

Is it okay to be at a site without any fully licensed providers?

No, you must have a site supervisor who meets the qualifications and requirements listed above. You cannot complete your practicum or internship at a site without a site supervisor who meets the CACREP requirements.

How much group experience is needed for practicum and internship?

Group counseling experience hours: CACREP Section 4.E states “ In addition to the development of individual counseling skills, during either the practicum or internship, students must lead or co-lead a counseling or psychoeducational group.” 

If you do not get experience leading or co-leading a group in practicum you must get it during internship.

You should aim for a minimum of 5 hours of group experience.

Can I complete my clinical field experience at the same place where I have received my own counseling or where a family member has received counseling?

No. This would create a dual relationship that has the potential to be unethical. You cannot be at a site where either you or a first degree relative have received counseling services. A first degree relative includes a partner/spouse, parent, child, sibling.

What if my site only offers group counseling and no individual counseling?

You must be able to get experience doing individual counseling during internship. If a site does only group counseling and does not offer you any opportunity for individual counseling experience it will not be an appropriate site for internship. If you are interested in a site that only does group counseling please reach out to Dr. Emerson or Brittany Hall to see if you can create a plan with your site that will allow you to do some individual work as well.

Can I do home visits with clients/students?

No, not alone. Students are not allowed to go to clients/students homes alone. You can go with someone at your site who does this and participate but you cannot go alone. If you are looking at a site that mainly does home visits it may not be able to accommodate you for practicum or internship for this reason.

Can I see clients or students on site if no one else is on site?

No, students cannot be on site seeing clients face to face alone.  Your primary supervisor or an appropriate licensed secondary/backup supervisor must be on site for you to see clients or students in person.

Choosing a Site

When do I have to have my site secured and confirmed in order to be able to begin my clinical course on time?

The site needs to be confirmed and all paperwork and agreements completed one week before the semester begins. If you do not have a site secured by this time you may have to change your course sequence and delay taking the clinical course.

Can I use my place of employment as a practicum and/or internship site?

Sometimes this can work, but not every time. Please check with Dr. Emerson – it must be reviewed and approved by her. If you want to discuss this as a possibility please email Dr. Emerson to set up a time for a phone call to discuss the details.

Can I hold multiple positions at a clinical site (e.g., counselor intern and IT employee)?

That may be possible, but is not guaranteed. As noted above if you want to do your clinical work at your place of employment a phone call with Dr Emerson required for approval.

I have been offered and accepted a clinical placement. What are my next steps? How do I get a site agreement?

First, contact Brittany Hall, Clinical Program Manager Assistant, to let her know you have accepted a placement. She will send you a link to a google form to complete with the site’s contact information.

Be sure to fill out the form in its entirety to make the process go as smoothly as possible. Once you have filled it out, the department will send an agreement out via DocuSign. Typically these are sent within a week of you filling out the Docusign Contracts doc. The Docusign contract will be sent from the email address wfuforms@wfu.edu and it will come to you first to complete your section of the agreement. Once you complete your section and electronically sign the forms it will automatically be sent to your site supervisor(s) to complete and sign as well. After everyone has signed the forms DocuSign will send all parties a completed version of the agreement. 

We prefer to use Docusign, the electronic form of site agreements, but can do hard copy agreements if your site prefers.

Some sites may prefer to use their own agreements or MOUs. If this is the case, contact Brittany Hall and she will guide you through the process.

How quickly will I get to see my own clients?

This depends on your practicum or internship site. Every site is different. Some sites have students see clients almost right away, while others wait until even halfway through the semester. Know yourself and what your comfort level is with seeing clients quickly or easing into it as this is something to keep in mind while searching for a site and during the interview process. You must be able to see clients on your own during practicum and internship.

Should I gain an understanding of the type of work I will be able to do before I commit to a site?

Absolutely! While any clinical experience will be valuable to your growth and development, it is important to learn about what type of work potential sites plan to have you do before committing to a site. Keep in mind the hour requirements for individual counseling, group counseling, etc. for both practicum and internship when learning about the type of work you can do on-site. Information on what to discuss with potential sites can be found here.

Interview Tips

Once I have an interview for an internship – what should I wear? How should I prepare? What kinds of questions will they ask me?

Preparing for the Interview

Know yourself. Be prepared to discuss what lead you to counseling, any past relevant experiences you might have had, your skills, your career goals, your accomplishments

Theories. Be prepared to speak eloquently about one or two theories to which you are drawn (not just person-centered even though it is a great foundation for your theoretical work be knowledgeable about one other theory)

Research the site. Familiarize yourself with the history of the site, the population served, etc, and be prepared to discuss what you hope to gain from the site

Questions you need to ask the site. In order to ensure the site is going to meet the needs of the course and provide you with an appropriate experience make sure you talk to the site about the following interview discussion points:

During the Interview

Arrive 10-15 minutes early

Dress professionally!(opens in a new tab)

Bring information on practicum/internship/field experience(opens in a new tab). This way, you will be prepared to answer any questions your interviewer might have.

Bring a copy of your resume. Make sure it is updated to reflect your coursework and experience in this program. Dr. Emerson will send you a document to help in this process when you begin your site search process or see the link in question 10 below now.

Body language. Make eye contact and maintain it, greet the interviewer with a firm handshake at the beginning and end of the interview, sit up straight, and speak in a confident voice.

Ask questions. To learn more about the organization and to show your interest

Be prepared for common questions including but not limited to:

What are your strengths?

What are your weaknesses?

What draws you to our organization?

What are your long term career goals?

What is your theoretical orientation?

What do you hope to gain from this experience?

What do you do for self-care?

Be enthusiastic!

After the Interview

Follow up. Write a thank you note or email to each person with whom you interviewed.

If offered a position and you decline it, please write to the site and thank them for their time and consideration. Remember you are networking with future employers and colleagues during this process.

My site is asking for a cover letter and a resume. What should I keep in mind?

Refer to this document: Counseling Cover Letter & Resume Tips and the Sample Interview Questions

If you would like some additional help updating your resume, Mary Katherine Newsome, Career Coach for the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences is available for you to bring your drafts for additional feedback via a coaching session or email. You can schedule with Mary Katherine Newsome online.

Supervision/Supervisor Requirements

What are the Site Supervisor Requirements for Counseling track Practicum and Internships? Are there certain qualifications or experiences my site supervisor should have?

1. A site supervisor must have a minimum of a master’s degree in counseling or a closely related field (e.g. marriage and family therapy, social work, psychology) with the equivalent qualifications. 
2. A site supervisor must have active appropriate certifications and/or licenses in the geographic location where the student is placed (e.g., LPC, LCMHC, LCSW, Licensed Psychologist, LMFT, licensed/certified school counselor). These need to be full master’s level clinical licenses and not associate/extern licenses. Per CACREP site supervisors do not need to have the additional supervision credential (e.g., LPCS) to be a practicum or internship site supervisor. Please check with your individual state to determine if your state requires site supervisors to have additional credentials.
3. a minimum of two years post-master’s professional experience relevant to the CACREP specialized practice area in which the student is enrolled; 
4. relevant training for in-person and/or distance counseling supervision, The WFU Department of Counseling provides site supervisors with a Supervision Training Module; 
5. relevant training in the technology utilized for supervision; and
6. Site supervisors and students are expected to have knowledge of the program’s expectations, requirements, and evaluation procedures for students. Site supervisors are also available for consultation on an as-needed basis outside of formal supervision meetings. During the first week on site, the student and his or her site supervisor will complete the Practicum/Internship Learning Agreement Form which includes a time schedule and brief plan of activities. A copy is submitted to the course instructor for approval. 
7. It is the student’s responsibility to check with their state’s regulatory agency to determine if additional state requirements for site supervisors of practicum and/or internship experiences are met. If you have questions about your state’s site supervisor regulations please don’t hesitate to contact your advisor or Dr. Emerson.

Site Supervisors must meet with their practicum students for a minimum of 30 minutes and with internship students for a minimum of 1 hour per week for formal site supervision.

What are the Site Supervisor/Site Mentor Requirements for Human Services Field Experience? Are there certain qualifications or experiences my supervisor should have?

A site mentor must have a minimum of a master’s degree in a human services related field with equivalent qualifications and have a minimum of two years of pertinent professional experience post-master’s degree. Site mentors may contact the Department for resources regarding the mentoring process. 

It is the student’s responsibility to check with their state’s regulatory agency to determine if additional state requirements for site mentors of field experiences are met. 

Site Mentors meet with their field experience students for a minimum of one hour each week to provide feedback and review the students work and behaviors and provide at the field experience site for a minimum of 14 hours per semester. Site mentors are also available for consultation on an as-needed basis outside of formal mentoring meetings.

Site mentors and field experience students are expected to have knowledge of the program’s expectations, requirements, and evaluation procedures for students. 

Do I need to have an LPC as a supervisor if I am on the counseling track?

No, your site supervisor does not have to be a Licensed Counselor. However,  your site supervisor must be a fully licensed clinician in a behavioral health field (e.g., LPC, LCMHC, LCSW, LMFT, Licensed Psychologist). See answer 1 above for more details on supervisor credential requirements.

What should I look for in a site supervisor?

Beyond the qualifications listed above, look for someone you think you can get along with and work closely with professionally. A site supervisor should be interested and invested in your growth as a professional counselor (CMHC or school counseling) or human services professional (for Human Services track students). Someone who is energetic about being a supervisor is a huge plus as well.

Can I do virtual supervision sessions with my site supervisor?

Yes, you can do SOME virtual supervision with your site supervisor. However, the majority (51%) of your supervision must be in person. All virtual supervision must be conducted using an appropriate video conferencing platform. Audio only supervision (e.g., phone calls) is not permitted.

Does my site supervisor have to be an employee of the site?

Yes, your site supervisor must be an employee of the site. You can’t have a supervisor who is volunteering to supervise you but is not a site employee. Your site must have someone who meets the site supervisor requirements listed above.

How available does my site supervisor need to be?

Your site supervisor (or an appropriate licensed back-up supervisor) should be on-site whenever you are on-site seeing clients face-to-face/in person for your practicum or internship. You cannot be on site seeing clients in person without an appropriate supervisor on site with you. An appropriate site supervisor should be available to assist you in your session if a crisis occurs and you need immediate support.

When you are seeing clients virtually via a telehealth platform you do not need to have a supervisor on site with you. However, you must have a way to contact an appropriate supervisor who can provide you with immediate support available to you should a crisis occur in your virtual session.

For formal supervision, site supervisors must meet with their practicum students for a minimum of 30 minutes per week and with internship students for a minimum of 1 hour per week. Human Services track site mentors meet with their field experience students for a minimum of 1 hour per week. Site supervisors are also available for consultation on an as-needed basis outside of formal supervision meetings. During the first week on site, the student and his or her Site Supervisor will complete the Practicum/Internship Learning Agreement Form, which includes a time schedule and brief plan of activities. A copy is submitted to the course instructor for approval.

Your site supervisor will monitor your work with individual clients/students and projects at the site, as well as provide feedback on your skills, case conceptualization, professionalism, and site procedures and protocols as they relate to your work with each of the clients/students with whom you are working. Your site supervisor is your first line of contact for ANY questions regarding your work with clients/students; other than your university supervisor you may not consult with outside persons without the explicit written consent of your site supervisor. If you have concerns about your site supervision that are not resolved by speaking to your site supervisors please consult with your university supervisor to create a plan to address these concerns.

What is the process for coordinating university supervision, which includes both individual and group supervision?

The Department will reach out to you before the start of the semester in which you are doing practicum, internship or field experience in order to get your availability for individual and group university supervision. Every effort is made to work with student’s schedules. However, you must be able to work with the university supervisor’s schedule and the schedules of a small group of your peers. This is a time in the program when flexibility is needed in order to meet the needs of all who are participating in the process.

Course Sequence Options

What are my options for completing Internship (one semester; two semesters, three semesters)?

1. Full-time on campus students: complete Internship I in the fall semester of the second year, and Internship II in the spring semester of the second year. Due to the full time course sequence there are no other options for completing internship for full-time on campus students.
2. Online students: students typically have completed internship over the course of two semesters (typically the semesters following practicum), or over three semesters (e.g. 200 hrs. in spring, 200 hrs. in summer, 200 hrs. in fall), and some students have even done it all in one semester by doing 600 hrs. – keep in mind that includes at least 44 hrs./week on a site and requires an approval process). Because the online program has rolling admissions the semester you begin internship will depend on the semester you started the program and complete the prerequisite courses.

Practicum – completed across 15 week semester	Total Hours at Site	Direct Client/Student Contact	Indirect Work at the Site	Supervision on Site
Clinical Mental Health Counseling/School Counseling	150	50	100	7

Internship*	Total Hours at Site	Direct Client/Student Contact	Indirect Work at the Site	Supervision on Site
Clinical Mental Health Counseling/School Counseling 1 semester	600	240	360	28 (14 semester; i.e., 1 hour per week)
Clinical Mental Health Counseling/School Counseling 2 semesters	600 (300 per semester)	240 (120 per semester)	360 (180 per semester)	28 (14 semester; i.e., 1 hour per week)
Clinical Mental Health Counseling/School Counseling 3 semesters	600 (200 per semester)	240 (80 per semester)	360 (120 per semester)	28 (14 semester; i.e., 1 hour per week)

*Some students may choose to complete internships at an alternate pace. These options include: completing all 600 hours in one semester or completing 600 hours across 3 semesters at a rate of 200 hours each semester. You will be informed if a student is choosing one of these alternate internship schedules. Most students complete the standard two, 300 hour semesters.

What is the process for applying for a 600-hour, full-time internship?

The full-time, single semester, 600-hour internship is an option but it is not guaranteed that a student will be approved for it. This process requires that the student complete an application form that must be approved by the site, the Counseling Department. It is reviewed by the student’s faculty advisor,  university practicum supervisor, the student’s skills instructors, the Clinical Committee, and the Department Chair. The application requires a detailed map and planning of how you will obtain your hours, co-created with your internship site supervisor, in order to help ensure that you will be able to successfully complete the necessary hours. The form must be submitted to the faculty supervisor between weeks 8-10 of the practicum semester. Students are encouraged to begin working on the application with their internship site supervisors several weeks before the application is due so they have plenty of time to formulate plans carefully and thoughtfully. It must be determined that a condensed internship experience is appropriate for the individual student. The site must also agree to take a student for a full-time internship. Not all sites are willing to host students for a 600-hour single semester internship.

If you are interested in submitting an application for a full-time internship please reach out to Dr. Emerson to discuss this process and to get a copy of the application. 

The student must also reach out to Tim Silva to discuss the course sequencing implications of this option. 

A 600-hour internship is full-time hours and very demanding, both in terms of workload and emotional labor. For one’s professional and clinical development, we recommend spreading internship out over two semesters, and again, cannot guarantee that submitting a 600-hour internship application will result in approval.

If you have any questions about a 600-hour single semester internship experience please consult with Dr. Emerson.

Who do I contact if I need to delay my practicum or internship, or if I want to spread my internship out over three semesters?

If you want to make changes to your cohort’s standard course sequence, you need to let Dr. Emerson know and reach out to Tim Silva to discuss making official changes.

Possible Site Requests

My site has specific onboarding requests such as a background check, drug screen, additional professional liability insurance, how do I complete these tasks?

1. You can ask them if you can use the background check that the Department did when you started the program. If so you can reach out to Brittany Hall to get a copy of that sent to the site. Some sites will accept this even though it is about a year and a half old. Some sites will want a current one completed. If they do want a current check for your placement you can reach out to the site and ask them who they want you to use and what process they want you to follow. For example, do they want the results sent directly to them by the background check company/site? Every site is a little different so it is important to always check with the site for their preference in who they want you to go through and how they want the info sent to them. Usually a site will have a background check company that they hire to run a check and will send you a link to fill out the necessary information. Please note that the cost of any additional background checks that are needed for a clinical placement will be the student’s responsibility.
2. Drug Screening: Most hospital settings, larger agencies, and schools will have you drug tested on site, again check with your site contact on this. Employment drug screenings can also be administered at local companies like LabCorp. Follow the site’s instructions on this process. Please note that the cost of any drug screens that are needed for a clinical placement will be the student’s responsibility.
3. Immunization and vaccination information: Some sites require students to provide proof of immunization and vaccination records. If the site you are going to needs this information the site should provide a list of exactly what they require students to have. The student is responsible for the cost of any additional vaccinations that are required by the site. 
4. Some sites will require additional training, orientation, and/or onboarding processes they expect students to complete. Please follow the site’s direction for completing these tasks.

Do I need to do a drug screening before starting at my site?

1. This will depend on the rules and regulations at your site, so it may be a good question to ask during your interview or on-boarding process. 
2. You can ask the site to recommend a place near you to get the drug screen. Ask them how they want the results delivered to them. Either directly from the screening place or if they can come to you to bring them. Each site does it differently. Student’s do pay out of pocket for additional things that sites require like drug screenings. Sometimes larger sites like hospitals cover the cost for the screening as a part of the onboarding process for interns but some sites just have the student do it and send the results back in.  

My site wants proof of Professional Liability Insurance. How do I get that?

Contact Brittany Hall  for a copy of your Professional Liability Insurance that you purchased through the Department.

If your site is requesting additional insurance please reach out to Dr. Emerson and she will assist you in that process.

Do I have to join the Department’s Group Professional Liability Insurance policy if I have another professional liability insurance policy already?

YES. There are no exceptions to this. This is the only way we can track so many students and make sure everyone is covered properly. If you do not join the Department’s group policy you cannot participate in clinical courses. This is billed as a fee on your tuition bill. It is typically renewed one time during the program. It must be kept current through graduation.

When do I need a separate or additional professional liability insurance policy?

The Department’s group professional liability insurance will cover your activities that are related to the program and clinical courses (i.e., practicum and internship). It will not cover your work as an employee or a volunteer at a site outside the role of practicum or internship student.

If a site hires you or wants you to continue on after you have completed your practicum and/or internship time at the site you will need to have your own professional liability insurance policy. If this is something you are considering please reach out to Dr. Emerson and she can let you know what needs to be in place for you to stay at a site outside of the practicum and internship course parameters.

Staying at a Site

Can I stay at my practicum site for internship if it is a good site? Or, do I have to choose a different internship site?

Yes, you may stay at your practicum site for internship if you are having a good experience and the site can meet the increased requirements for internship semesters. Some sites may require you to stay on for both practicum and internship in order to be placed.

Can I complete my internship semesters at more than one site?

1. No. You must complete all of your internship semesters and hours at the same site. You cannot have multiple sites for internship and you cannot be placed at different sites for each semester of internship. 
2. You can complete practicum at one site and then go to a different site for internship but all internship semesters/hours must be completed at the same site.

What do I do if I have a spring practicum, and my site wants me to stay on through the summer for continuity of care with clients, but I can’t do internship in the summer?

On Campus, full-time students are not able to complete internship over the summer semester. Currently, the department does not do summer internship for on campus full-time students as there is not an internship course set up over the summer in your program. You will need to let your site know that you are not able to be on site seeing clients for the summer semester and make appropriate arrangements.

Online, part-time students have a little more flexibility in their course sequence. Online students can move internship into the summer semester in order to remain at the site consecutively through practicum to the end of internship. You cannot stay at the site as a practicum student/intern for a semester if you are not enrolled in a clinical course. If you need to move internship into the summer please reach out to Dr. Emerson or Brittany Hall to discuss. Then you would need to contact Tim Silva to make the change to your course sequence official.

Site Agreements

What is the external site agreement deadline?

If you secure your placement with a site that requires us to use their paperwork for a site agreement (i.e., and external agreement) we must have that process started by the site placement deadline. These agreements can take a significant amount of time to push through, and back and forth between, the University and Site legal contracts offices. Because much of this process is completely out of our control we can’t guarantee that we can get this paperwork completed in a short amount of time. 

Where can I get a copy of the site agreement to share with my site so they can review it?

1. You can find a copy of the site agreement here. 
2. Please let your site know that this copy is for review purposes only. If they need a word version to redline/track changes to submit to WFU for approval please reach out to Brittany Hall and she can provide that document. 
3. For all site agreements that do not need revisions, we will send these via DocuSign for electronic signing by the student, the site, and Dr. Emerson. 

My potential site says they don’t have an affiliation agreement with WFU. What should I do?

If a site tells you that they don’t already have an agreement in place with them, let them know we are happy to complete an affiliation agreement with them. We work with sites to create new affiliation agreements everyday.

Gap Time

What is a GAP Time form?

A GAP Time form is used when a student plans to stay at their site during a break BETWEEN two semesters. Gap time is the time between the last day of one semester and the first day of the next consecutive semester (e.g., winter break between the end of the fall semester and the beginning of the spring semester). The Gap form is signed by the student, the site supervisor, and the university representative. It is used to let the site know and understand that the student’s role during the gap time is for continuity of care purposes only. The form also states that the site supervisor will be the only supervisor the student has during this time as they will not be receiving supervision from the university until the new semester begins.

The GAP form really only covers the time BETWEEN the end of one semester and the beginning of another semester. So if there are breaks DURING the semester (like spring break or Thanksgiving etc) you don’t need a GAP form for those breaks. You can proceed working at your site and continue to count those hours on your time log.

Just a friendly reminder that the hours you accumulate during this gap period will not count toward your practicum or internship hours. This is because CACREP says if you aren’t getting your weekly supervision from the university the hours cannot count.   

Toward the end of each semester you will receive an email asking if you need a Gap Time form for the upcoming semester break. In this email there will be a link to a Google form to complete to get a Gap Time form sent to you. 

Here is a link to a video module that goes over the Gap Time form if you would like to view it. 

Questions about Hours

Can I start at my site before the semester begins?

1. No. You can’t be on site or seeing clients or students before the semester begins because your course hasn’t started and you are not getting university supervision.

Exception: If your site requires you to do a training or orientation that occurs before the semester begins you can attend those and count those indirect hours.

Can any off-site training hours count towards my total hours for the semester?

Yes, but any off-site hours must be pre-approved. For on-campus students, the hours should be pre-approved by their University Supervisor. For online students, the hours should be approved by your PI/University Supervisor AND Lead Faculty.  

Below, we outline the maximum off-site indirect hours per clinical experience. 

Practicum – 11 hours
Internship (300 hour semester) – 22 hours
Internship (600 hour semester, online only) – 44 hours
Internship (200 hour semester, online only) – 14 hours

How many hours do I need for Practicum/Internship?

Practicum:

• 150 Hours of work in a school or clinical mental health setting over a period of one full semester (approximately 11-12 hours per week across the full 14 week semester)
• Should include a minimum of 50 hours of direct contact
  1. SOME hours of which should be group work (See Group Work info below)
  2. A maximum of 10 hours can be observation
  3. 7 hours of supervision by the site supervisor (i.e., approximately 30 minutes per week)
  4. 14 Hours of individual or paired supervision by a university supervisor (off site)
  5. 21 Hours of group supervision (1.5 hours per week) by University Supervisor with other students (off site) 

185 Total Hours (Minimum)

Internship Standard 300 hour semester:

• 300 Hours of work in a school or clinical mental health setting over a period of one full semester (approximately 20-22 hours per week for entirety of the 14 week semester) 
  1. Minimum of 120 hours of direct contact
     • SOME hours of which should be group work if none conducted during practicum (See Group Work info below)
  2. 14 hours of supervision by the site supervisor (i.e., 1 hour of individual site supervision per week) 
  3. 21 Hours of group supervision (1.5 hours per week) by internship course instructor with other students. These hours are off site but can count toward the total indirect hours.
  4. 300 Total hours each semester internship course
  5. You will complete two semesters of 300 hours each to meet the minimum 600 hours of internship.

Internship Alternative Option 200 hour semester (This option is only available for part-time online students):

200 Hours of work in a school or clinical mental health setting over a period of one full semester (approximately 14-15 hours per week for entirety of the 14 week semester) 

1. Minimum of 80 hours of direct contact
   • SOME hours of which should be group work if none conducted during practicum (See Group Work info below)
2. 14 hours of supervision by the site supervisor (i.e., 1 hour of individual site supervision per week) 
3. 21 Hours of group supervision (1.5 hours per week) by internship course instructor with other students. These hours are off site but can count toward the total indirect hours.
4. 200 Total hours each semester internship course
5. You will complete three semesters of 200 hours each for this option to meet the minimum of 600 hours of internship.

Internship Alternative Option** 600 hour semester (p. 19 of Clinical Experience Manual): This option is only available for part-time online students.

1. 600 Hours of work in a school or clinical mental health setting over a period of one full semester (approximately 43-44 hours per week for entirety of the 14 week semester) 
2. Minimum of 240 hours of direct contact
   • SOME hours of which should be group work if none conducted during practicum (See Group Work info below)
3. 14 hours of supervision by the site supervisor (i.e., 1 hour of individual site supervision per week) 
4. 21 Hours of group supervision (1.5 hours per week) by internship course instructor with other students. These hours are off site but can count toward the total indirect hours.
5. 600 Total hours in this single semester internship course
6. You will complete one semester of 600 hours for this option to meet the minimum of 600 hours of internship. 
7. **Please note that while a full time, single-semester internship is an option it requires an application and approval process to determine if it is developmentally appropriate for the student to complete all internship hours in a condensed format. If you are interested in discussing this as an option please reach out to Dr. Emerson to set up a phone call to consult on this application and approval process. 

If I complete my hours early can I finish at my site early?

No. It is okay to get more than the minimum hours required for the course at your site. For your own developmental purposes, supervisors will need to see your work progress over a full semester in order to accurately evaluate your counseling skills. If you complete the minimum number of hours for your course, you will still have to continue at your site for the contracted weekly hours for the entirety of the semester.

Can I carry over extra hours from one semester to the next?

Extra Practicum hours:

No hours can carry over from practicum to internship. Practicum is a prerequisite course for internship and the hours from practicum are not transferable to internship. CACREP will not allow any hours from practicum to count toward internship.

Extra Internship hours:

If a student accrues more than the minimum required hours during an internship semester, they are able to transfer up to 15 hours from one semester of internship to the next semester of internship. This can be all direct hours, all indirect hours, or a combination of both. If you have hours you would like to roll over to the next semester of internship please reach out to your University Supervisor for direction on how to complete this process.

What happens if I don’t get my hours completed within the semester?

You cannot pass the course if you do not complete the minimum hours needed. Students should be tracking and logging their hours weekly. If you have any concerns about your hours please speak with your University Supervisor promptly so they can assist you in working with the site to create a plan for success. For further information on all academic policies, including the policies for adding and dropping a course, requesting a grade of incomplete, academic probation, termination of enrollment, reinstatement, and student and faculty expectations, see the Wake Forest Student Handbook.

What if I want a site that has evening and weekend hours?

Trying to find sites with evening and weekend hours can be a challenge. You need to look for sites like hospitals, inpatient settings both adult and child, cancer centers, substance abuse centers, Intensive outpatient programs, hospice, residential treatment centers for adolescents, etc. These types of sites may have hours outside of a 9-5 schedule. However, a site must have both clients and an approved site supervisor present during the time you would be working at the site. You may also need to realistically look at your own schedule and think about how much flexibility you have for your clinical experience because these types of sites are harder to secure. 

The bottom line is that you need to be able to be on site when clients and your site supervisor are available. If you want to talk about your scheduling and process ideas and options please reach out to Dr. Emerson. She is always happy to help you think outside of the box and assist you in creating a realistic plan to complete your hours at your site.

What is the difference between direct and indirect hours? And what counts for each category?

Examples of Direct Service	Examples of Indirect Service
Conducting individual, couples, family, or group sessions; co-counseling with another clinician	Observation of other clinicians
Conducting intake interviews	Attending staff meetings, completing paperwork
Participating in staffing with client/student/family present	Attending training, workshops, etc.
Speaking on the phone with client or parent/guardian	Preparing or planning for sessions and activities
Providing consultation to families, teachers, staff, parents, case managers, and other professionals	Collecting and analyzing data
(School counselors) Participating in Fair Share responsibilities when interacting with students (e.g. duties everyone shares in, such as, recess, lunch, or bus duty)	Attending weekly clinical supervision
(School counselors) Conducting classroom guidance activities	Developing psychoeducational materials

What counts as direct consultation hours?

Consultation hours at your site can be either direct or indirect time. IF you are in the EXPERT CONSULTANT role that the time is direct. For example, if someone at your site is seeking out your expertise on a client or issue then it is direct time. If you are asking the question or seeking the consultation it is indirect time. Talk to your university supervisor regarding your consultation time to determine how to log it appropriately in your time log.

What does co-counseling need to include to be considered “direct hours”?

If you are co-counseling with another clinician at your site you must be providing a significant amount of the counseling and facilitating process – at least 40%. If you only say one or two things in the counseling session then you are observing the other counselor’s work and observation is not direct time. You have to be actively participating and contributing to the process as in the counselor role for the time to be considered direct.

Does observation count as direct contact?

No. When you are observing another clinician’s work you are not actively using your counseling skills and it is not direct contact. It is a great way to learn and we encourage you to observe as much as you can but those hours are indirect hours.

What is the group hours requirement for CACREP?

CACREP Section 4.E states “ In addition to the development of individual counseling skills, during either the practicum or internship, students must lead or co-lead a counseling or psychoeducational group.” 

If you do not get experience leading or co-leading a group in practicum you must get it during internship.

You should aim for a minimum of 5 hours of group experience.

Other Site Concerns

What if I start at a practicum site, and find out I can’t get my hours or have another significant concern about being successful at my site? What should I do?

If you have concerns about your hours or other issues at your site you need to bring your concerns to your University Supervisor immediately.  Please be in touch with your University Supervisor first and if they need you to consult with Dr. Emerson, they will let you know. Your University Supervisor will consult with Dr. Emerson as needed to help you create a plan with your site.

What if my site won’t allow me to record sessions?

• Please do your best to find a site that will allow recordings as recordings are immensely helpful for the supervision process and improving your counseling skills during practicum and internship. However, if you absolutely cannot record please let Dr. Emerson and your university site supervisor know and we will discuss alternatives with you. 
• Currently, there are several steps for the alternative to recordings process:
  1.  Students will need to have their site supervisor sit in on a minimum of three client sessions in which the student is serving in the counselor role.  Following each session, the site supervisor should complete Wake Forest’s “Session Rating Form” as a means of evaluating the students’ skill level during the session.  Likewise, immediately following each session, the student should type out as much of the session dialogue that he/she can remember and verbatim whenever possible.  This write-up will serve as the student’s transcript, same as if he/she were doing an actual transcript for a session recording.  As with the regular transcript, students will reflect within the transcript on why they responded the way they did and how they might have responded otherwise.  Along with their “transcript,” they’ll also complete a Recording Review Form.  (Note: The lead instructor will email you a copy of the Session Rating Form upon your request.)
  2. Additionally, students’ site supervisor will need to assign another staff member with whom students can record mock sessions at their site and Recording Review Form. The student will submit three of these over the course of the semester so that they university supervisor can hear the students skills in these mock sessions. 
  3. Sometimes, students may be able to do mock sessions with their lead instructor or another Department faculty member or.  This is an option and only applicable if the above option is not possible.  However, if a student is using the above option, a Department faculty member may still do at least one mock session with the student to further evaluate their clinical skills development.
  4. PLEASE KNOW that the alternative to recording process is more work on the student’s part but is necessary for the university supervisor to be able to properly evaluate the student’s skills and development. If a site will not let you record and will not live observe your skills and fill out the review form then it is probably not an appropriate site for your clinical experience. If you have questions about a site that will not allow recording for supervision purposes please contact Dr. Emerson so you can discuss the site and its ability to provide you with an acceptable experience. 

Am I able to change sites mid-semester?

No, students cannot change sites mid-semester. If a crisis situation arises (e.g., site closes unexpectedly), please contact your University Supervisor /PI first to discuss options for creating a plan for success at your site. If it is determined that you must change sites you and your University Supervisor /PI will consult with Dr. Emerson and they will guide you through next steps for your specific situation.

What are issues that can negatively impact my placement that are out of my control?

Although it is not common there are some things that cause a student to lose a placement through no fault of their own. These can include:

1. Sites undergo changes in management and decide they cannot take an intern as they had originally planned and offered to a student.
2. A site supervisor leaves the site and no one else at the site meets the site supervisor criteria or is willing to supervise students.
3. Legal agreement issues and delays; a detail in the site agreement cannot be agreed on by the University and Site legal offices. 
4. Insurance issues
5. Site changes their mind about hosting the student.

What are issues that can negatively impact my placement that are out of my control?

Although it is not common there are some things that cause a student to lose a placement through no fault of their own. These can include:

1. Sites undergo changes in management and decide they cannot take an intern as they had originally planned and offered to a student.
2. A site supervisor leaves the site and no one else at the site meets the site supervisor criteria or is willing to supervise students.
3. Legal agreement issues and delays; a detail in the site agreement cannot be agreed on by the University and Site legal offices. 
4. Insurance issues
5. Site changes their mind about hosting the student.

Financial Questions

Why is my tuition bill higher during a clinical semester?

Up until you begin your clinical courses you are probably used to being registered for only 5 or 6 credits (i.e., credits for two academic courses) per semester. Please keep in mind that when you begin your practicum/internship/field experience semester, you will typically be registered for 8 credits in one semester. You will still take two academic courses during a clinical semester but you will ALSO be taking a clinical course (i.e., practicum or internship). This means you will be registered for more credits during these semesters. Please be aware that your tuition bill is based on a per-credit tuition rate, and will most likely be higher during your clinical semester(s).

Can I get paid while completing practicum/internship?

Yes, if you are able to find a paid internship. However, paid internships are not the norm.

Licensure

Where can I find information about differences in licensure by state?

Every state is a little bit different with what they require for licensure. You need to check with your state’s counseling licensure board to make sure you have the correct information. The Department reviews state licensure information on an annual basis. You can find the department’s information on state licensure in Deacon’s Den and on our State Licensure Requirements page.  

As you look at the information provided on state licensure board websites keep in mind that there are typically TWO types of hours that are discussed. The first is the number of hours that you need to have DURING your educational/training program (e.g., practicum and/or internship hours). For most states (not all though) none of these hours transfer over to post graduate licensure hours. These are the second type of hours you need to look for. Licensure hours are typically (but not always) the hours you get AFTER you graduate and are getting supervision toward your actual counseling license in your state. A few states may still count some or all your internship hours toward your license. 

If you have questions about the information you are seeing on your state’s licensure website please reach out to Dr. Emerson and she will connect you with the faculty member who tracks licensure information for that state. 

Who do I contact regarding verification of my internship hours for licensure?

Contact the Department’s Program Manager, Louisa Steffen for assistance regarding licensure verification.

What if my state has requirements for practicum and internship that are different from the CACREP requirements that the Department follows?

MOST states follow the CACREP guidelines for counselor training and internship experiences. However, some states do have different or additional requirements. Students need to look at the requirements for licensing in their state to see if additional details need to be considered or covered in practicum or internship (e.g., additional hours needed, specific site supervisor requirements). Sometimes graduates from CACREP programs are exempt from these additional requirements so it is always best to clarify with your state board. The Department provides information on how our program meets the licensure requirements for every state. You can find this information in Deacon’s Den and on our State Licensure Requirements page. If you have questions about the requirements you see for your state you can reach out to Dr. Emerson and she can connect you with the faculty member who tracks licensure information for your state.  Keep in mind, the best way to get clarification is to reach out to your state’s licensing board to get an exact answer.

Telehealth

Can I do telehealth/virtual counseling for my practicum and internship?

Yes, you can do telehealth and virtual counseling during practicum and internship. However, it is not ideal to ONLY do telehealth work during your clinical experiences. If it is at all possible students need to have experience working with clients in person and face to face as well. 

Please consult the Department’s Tele-mental Health Guidelines document if you are planning to participate in telehealth/virtual counseling at your site.

Where can I find the Department’s Tele-mental Health Guidelines document?

You can find the Department’s Tele-mental Health Guidelines document here.

Anthology

When will I get access to my clinical course and start to receive Anthology information?

Students will not get access to their clinical course until the first day of classes the semester they are enrolled in the course.

When will my site supervisor get login information for Anthology for my placement?

Site supervisors will receive this information on the first day of class when the semester begins. It automatically gets sent to them when the clinical courses are imported into Anthology on the first day of the class. If your site supervisor has any questions please have them reach out to your University Supervisor for your practicum/internship course.

School Counseling

Should I seek a site at an elementary, middle school or high school?

This can sometimes be a difficult decision for some students, but keep in mind you will get to experience two levels through practicum and internship. The Department encourages students to complete practicum at one level and internship at a different level. It’s helpful to think about your career goals and this might aid in figuring out at what level you want to spend the most time. Then you can plan to find an internship site at that level (and do practicum at a different level). 

Some states or school systems may require students to experience all three levels during their program. If this is the case for you please reach out to Dr. Emerson or Brittany Hall and they can guide you in this process. 

Keep in mind that while we can request your site level preferences the school district will be responsible for making the final decision on the level and specific school you will be placed at for your practicum or internship.

School track students may also do their practicum at a community mental health site, but must do internship at a school site.

For online students who need to complete practicum over the summer semester you will likely need to do practicum in a clinical mental health setting because schools are not in session over the summer.

If my practicum site is at one level, is it ok to continue at that level for internship?

The Counseling department strongly encourages that students do practicum and internship at different levels (e.g. practicum at a middle school and internship at a high school). Internship must be completed all at the same level. 

Some states may require experience at different levels during practicum and internship. 

What do I do if I need to complete practicum over the summer but I can’t be placed at a school for the summer semester?

For online students who need to complete practicum over the summer semester you will likely need to do practicum in a clinical mental health setting because schools are not in session over the summer.

If you have a year round school near you that continues to be in session during the summer you can reach out to Dr. Emerson to determine if a summer placement at this school would be appropriate. Some year round schools do operate in a manner that would allow students to be in practicum or internship during the summer but many do not.

If I am on the school counseling track can I spread my internship across three semesters?

While it is possible to do this you need to be aware that doing so may extend your time in the program and delay your graduation date. This is because schools are not in session during the summer semester, thus, you can’t continue to do internship at a school over the summer. If this is something you would like to discuss and think through please reach out to Dr. Emerson or Brittany Hall.

Where can I find information about licensure by state for becoming a school counselor?

The Department keeps track of WFU graduates eligibility for school counseling licensure information for each state. You can find this information in Deacon’s Den and on our State Licensure Requirements page. If you have questions about what you see on this form, please reach out to Dr. Emerson and she will connect you with the faculty member who tracks licensure in your state.

Please reach out to your state’s school counseling licensure board for additional information.