Master's in Clinical Psychology Field Experience Manual:

Section 2. Field Experience Requirements and Policies

Students in the MS in Clinical Psychology program participate in an intense, focused practice experience (practicum) and an intense, broad-responsibilities experience (internship) where classroom education, clinical skill building, and research skills are brought to the field of practice. Students identify field sites that enhance professional skills, knowledge, and attributes. Students build relationships with site supervisors—experts in the field—and establish a plan of development that will serve to increase the students’ competence in the areas of professional values and attitudes, individual and cultural diversity, ethical and legal standards, consultation and interprofessional/interdisciplinary skills, communication and interpersonal skills, intervention, assessment, supervision (as appropriate), and the use of research in practice.

Progress is achieved by ongoing training, evaluation, feedback, and interaction as students further develop competencies. The expected outcome of these experiences is the integration of knowledge, skills, research, professional attitudes, and beliefs into a comprehensive, ethical model of practice. In this manner, students are trained to be practitioners with the confidence and experience to work in and make contributions to the field of psychology.

Psychology, as a science studying the human mind and behavior, has much to contribute to social change. Throughout the psychology training programs, multicultural and international issues and perspectives are woven into the coursework; students are encouraged to think beyond the culturally bound traditions of practice and become prepared to address broad social issues in an increasingly diverse world. Field experiences allow advanced students to practice under professional supervision and begin to apply empirically validated strategies to resolving human problems.

Education at Walden University is centered on the learner and sets a standard of mutual courtesy and respect among the students, the faculty, and the community. Collegial interaction among students and faculty members is cultivated throughout the program. Field sites are expected to follow the same pattern of professional interaction, supporting students as they build competence and confidence in developing their skills.

Field experience provides an important professional socialization experience; students, site supervisors, and other field site personnel are expected to interact in a manner consistent with the highest standards of the profession. When problems arise, students are expected to inform their site supervisors and, when appropriate, Walden faculty members. Students should work to resolve problems consistent with the ethical standards of the profession—the American Psychological Association’s (APA) Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct, policies included in this manual, and those of the field site. Students have a professional obligation to become familiar with these principles prior to beginning a field experience.

Students seeking licensure, should periodically consult their state’s criteria for licensure to ensure that each experience meets those requirements, particularly before planning field experiences. A listing of state licensure board contact information is provided on the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards website. If a state requires additional experiences, students are required to meet the higher standard.

Walden field placement coordinators are committed to working collaboratively with students and site supervisors to support successful completion of field experiences. It is expected that site supervisors will establish accessibility for students and provide guidance and supervision that promotes growth of knowledge, skills, and competencies consistent with Walden’s training goals as well as with preferred practices in the profession. Site supervisors provide mentoring and guidance appropriate to students’ roles at the field site, including ongoing feedback about students’ progress in meeting goals.

Students attending Walden are a diverse group who bring varied experiences and world views into their education and training. The university strives to meet the needs of students by recruiting experienced, diverse faculty members who can both model professional roles and who understand the needs of a broad and varied group of students. Multicultural and international issues, as well as other types of human diversity, are woven into the courses throughout the program, including the practicum and internship, to allow students to build skills needed to work effectively across cultures and within diverse groups.

Student and Field Site Practicum Requirements

Students must complete, and field sites must offer, learning experiences that meet all of the following requirements:

• A minimum of 375 hours with 1 hour of supervision for every 10–15 hours worked;
• At least half of the supervision must be individual as opposed to group;
• No fewer than 188 hours of direct intervention services, such as individual therapy, group therapy, or assessment;
• The 187 additional hours can be devoted to case management, case consultation, record keeping, and other related activities;
• Since COVID-19, teletherapy has become a tool for patients to receive mental health services; many field sites conduct teletherapy as part of their practice, and it can also be utilized for practicum experience, but it is the students’ responsibility to check with their state boards to determine how many hours will be allowed for teletherapy while at their practicum;
• Some states may allow fully remote practicums. Walden allows students to complete practicums in teletherapy;
• If a student does not accrue the 375 hours in one quarter, they must remain enrolled a practicum course until the requirement is completed;
• For students seeking licensure, some states require practicum hours beyond Walden’s required 375 hours; therefore, if a student remains enrolled in practicum in order to fulfill the state’s licensure requirements, then the student must be enrolled in a practicum course while completing those hours.
• Practicum must be successfully completed prior to internship; and
• Some states expect and require the presence of other practicum students at a site, therefore, students must check their state licensure guidelines to ensure that their field experience meets those requirements.
• Students may not use their employment to fulfill the practicum requirements. Practicum must be completed separately from the student’s employment.
• If students fail a term of practicum, hours accrued during the quarter will be forfeited and will need to be repeated. Termination from a practicum site will result in failure of the practicum for the term.
• If students anticipate circumstances that would cause an interruption in their practicum either through voluntary or involuntary termination from an practicum site, they should confer with the field placement coordinator prior to terminating their practicum and before reenrolling for a subsequent term of practicum. If a student is terminated from an practicum, the student will generally fail the course and lose all hours accrued at the practicum site. If this occurs, a student development plan will be created by Walden’s administration and the student cannot pursue a new practicum site or return to their practicum until all remediation areas are met. Each student case will be reviewed individually to determine the best way forward.

Obtain Additional Practicum Experience

In general, the practicum should be focused on the development of a few discrete core skills rather than developing a broad range of skills. If students find it difficult to obtain the desired range of supervised practice in two terms of practicum, they should plan additional terms of practicum to obtain sufficient opportunities to develop needed skills. Investing too little time in developing skills during practicum may result in insufficient preparation for the demands of internship and subsequent practice.

Prerequisites

Students must complete, before beginning an internship. Students should reference their degree plan (DegreeWorks) and the Student Handbook for coursework that must be completed prior to commencing field experience. During the internship, students should plan to devote their attention to  an intense, broad-responsibilities experience. Students who have completed all curriculum requirements upon completion of the internship, are ready to graduate immediately. After graduation, these alumni will be eligible to begin immediately accruing their postgraduate hours toward licensure.

Student and Field Site Internship Requirements

• Students must complete a minimum of 375 hours with 1 hour of supervision for every 10–15 hours worked.
• No fewer than 188 hours of direct intervention services, such as individual therapy, group therapy, or assessment
• The 187 additional hours can be devoted to case management, case consultation, record keeping, and other related activities.
• Since COVID-19, teletherapy has become a tool for patients to receive mental health services; many field sites conduct teletherapy as part of their practice, and it can also be utilized for internship experience, but it is the students’ responsibility to check with their state boards to determine how many hours will be allowed for teletherapy while at their practicum;
• Some states may allow fully remote internships. Walden allows students to complete internships in teletherapy.
• If a student does not accrue the 375 hours in one quarter, they must remain enrolled a internship course until the requirement is completed;
• For students seeking licensure, some states require internship hours beyond Walden’s required 375 hours; therefore, if a student remains enrolled in internship in order to fulfill the state’s licensure requirements, The student must be enrolled in an internship course while completing those hours
• The internship site should supply opportunities for a wide range of training duties designed to expand students’ skills and experience consistent with their Walden training and specialization.
• The internship site must have a clearly designated licensed mental health professional who is responsible for the integrity and quality of the training program. The person must be actively licensed, certified, or registered with the State Board of Examiners in the jurisdiction where the program exists and be present at the training facility for a minimum of 20 hours per week.
• Students who are unable to complete the required hours within one quarter will need to apply for another quarter of internship via Meditrek and then be registered for an additional term of internship until this requirement is successfully met.
• If students fail a term of internship, hours accrued during the quarter will be forfeited and will need to be repeated. Termination from an internship site will lead to failure of the internship during the term. The internship cannot generally be completed at multiple sites unless the internship is done at a consortium.

Internship Activities

• At least 50% of the internship must include direct services, such as assessment/testing services, intervention services (individual and group), consultation services, teaching, research, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
• The remainder of the hours can be spent on indirect services, such as case management, report writing, note writing, in-service training, etc.
• A minimum of 2 hour of individual supervision must occur each week, addressing, in part, the delivery of psychological services rendered by the intern.
• Students should demonstrate the professional competencies outlined in the Field Experience Manual during their field experience.
• If students anticipate circumstances that would cause an interruption in their internship either through voluntary or involuntary termination from an internship site, they should confer with the field placement coordinator prior to terminating their internship and before reenrolling for a subsequent term of internship. If a student is terminated from an internship, the student will generally fail the course and lose all hours accrued at the internship site. If this occurs, a student development plan will be created by Walden’s administration and the student cannot pursue a new internship site or return to their internship until all remediation areas are met. Each student case will be reviewed individually to determine the best way forward.

Teletherapy

• Teletherapy is allowed as a part of the internship if the site provides adequate training on the proper use of teletherapy and teletherapeutic practices.
• Students must check their state board allowance for teletherapy. Each state is different.
• Students may not conduct teletherapy without the virtual or physical availability of the approved supervisor. Supervisors will be required to engage in observation of the student doing teletherapy.

• Some states, require specific credentials before the student starts their internship. Students should check with their state on these requirements early on in the program in order to properly plan to meet state requirements for starting internship.
• Students are responsible for knowing the requirements of their state’s board and for arranging an internship that meets those requirements. Students should periodically review these requirements to ensure that no changes have been made within their state.
• Students are responsible for understanding that if a state’s requirements are greater than Walden’s requirements, students must engage in field training that meets the state’s requirements in order to meet the state’s licensure requirements. If Walden’s requirements are greater than the state’s requirements, students must remain enrolled and comply with Walden’s requirements.
• Stipends may be allowed for internship students in some states. A stipend is a fee paid to a supervisee that is not based on productivity or revenue generated.
• Students may not count paid working hours as field hours. There must be a clear definition between work hours and internship hours. Students are not allowed to use their regular employment to fulfill the internship requirement. The internship must be completed separately from the student’s employment.
• Some states expect and require the presence of other practicum or internship students. Students must check their state licensure guidelines to ensure that their field experience meets those requirements.

Note for international or non-U.S.-based students: Students who do not plan to practice in the United States should select a site supervisor who holds a license or other equivalent authority to practice appropriate for the country in which they intend to seek licensure.

Participation in a field experience in a country other than the United States may meet the local requirements for training and/or licensure; it does not guarantee, however, that such field experience will meet requirements for licensure in any state in the United States or similar requirements for authority to practice in the country or local jurisdiction where students intend to practice. As a result, students may be prohibited from obtaining licensure in the United States or the equivalent of licensure in the jurisdiction where they intend to practice. Students are strongly advised to research licensing or authority to practice criteria for any state, jurisdiction, or country in which they would like to practice professionally in their field of study. Students are ultimately responsible for understanding the regulations and requirements of the states or countries in which they intend to seek licensure or other authority to practice.