This orientation is designed to address major questions related to students’ clinical experiences required during the pursuit of Master of Education and Specialist in Education degrees in the Department of Counselor Education at the University of Florida. Students are required to know the contents of this material and abide by expectations, requirements, and procedures in order to complete successfully their practicum and internship. Additionally, students are encouraged to visit frequently the Practicum and Internship web page for the latest site information, resources, and information to help you maximize the depth of the clinical experiences.
The following topics are outlined in this orientation:
Purpose and Expectations
Practicum and internship experiences comprise the critical application component of entry-level and doctoral programs. The purpose is allow students opportunities to demonstrate increased counseling competence while integrating theory and practice. Students will apply, refine, and synthesize knowledge, technique, and skills learned in the classroom.
Students are expected to complete planned sequence of supervised clinical experiences. They are expected to demonstrate enhanced counseling competence and manage increasingly demanding and dynamic client caseloads. Students should be open to supportive and constructive feedback offered by site hosts, site staff, and supervisors. Students are expected to work at their clinical sites from the first day to the last day of classes in the academic term. They are expected to conduct themselves professionally in every aspect of their clinical placement, including timeliness, appropriate professional attire, and meeting required documentation deadlines. They are expected to abide by professional ethical counseling practice guidelines. Link on the following references for professional ethical codes: American Counseling Association, American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy, American Mental Health Counseling Association, and American School Counselor Association.
Selecting a Site and the Practicum and Internship Fair
Ideally, selecting a clinical site is a collaborative process involving the student, academic advisor, Clinical Coordinator, Assistant Clinical Coordinator and requiring the student research clinical opportunities in the Alachua County area. Students should consider such factors as career goals, client populations with which experience is needed, the student’s need for structure and guidance, and desired work settings. The Department of Counselor Education maintains relationships with a large number of mental health and marriage and family settings and K-12 schools in the local area. Students are able to review current clinical sites on the Clinical Sites webpage.
Students are required to select only active and approved sites. Practicum must be completed in the Alachua County area. Internships may be completed locally, in Florida, or out of state. Mental Health and Marriage and Family Counseling students interested in completing an internship in clinical sites that are either inactive or with whom we have not had a previous relationship, students are directed to the Site Development page. There students may review the Guide for Site Supervisors and the process for developing a maintaining a clinical site. Students must contact the Assistant Clinical Coordinator at the beginning of the term prior to the one in which they intend to register for the internship and work together to help develop the site. School Counseling and Guidance students interested in internships outside of Alachua County but inside Florida are placed by the Office of Student Services in the College of Education. Students must complete a separate application process, in addition to required clinical documentation in the Counselor Education Department. Students are directed to the Student Teaching and Internship page and to the School Counseling and Guidance Intern Instructions and Application, maintained by the Student Services office.
Mental health and marriage and family students conduct an application process similar to a job search. After collaborating with the advisor and Clinical Coordinator, the student contacts potential sites to inquire whether they are considering practicum or internship students in the desired term. The student inquires about being interviewed and identifies four (4) clinical sites where she or he will be interviewed, noting them on the Application Form. Following being interviewed and if selected at multiple sites, the student accepts a clinical placement at one site and completes the Site Agreement Form. At that time, the student should inquire about orientation information and work schedules.
School counseling and guidance students undergo a placement process. Students collaborate with advisors, the Clinical Coordinator, and research school information in the Alachua County school district. Information may be obtained from the Clinical Sites page on the web. Students identify their top four (4) choices and note them on the Application Form. The Clinical Coordinator, faculty, and the Alachua County Director of Guidance meet to review student requests. Placements are made based on student request, school needs, and on faculty input about student development and needs. The Director of Guidance confirms placements with school counselors and contacts students via email with their confirmed sites and site supervisors. Students then may contact the site supervisor, arrange and introductory meeting and orientation, and complete the Site Agreement Form.
Each fall and spring term, the Department hosts a Practicum and Internship Fair in which site supervisors from local currently active clinical settings are invited to meet with students. Students are able to network with site supervisors and learn about opportunities in various clinical settings. This Fair is useful when considering clinical or school placements for the Spring, Summer, and Fall terms. For more information, link on the Practicum and Internship Fair web page.
Clinical Documentation and Deadline Dates
Each student has a clinical file, maintained by the Assistant Clinical Coordinator. The clinical file contains a complete set of documentation for each clinical experience. This file remains in the department indefinitely. It provides the documentation needed to verify clinical experiences and is consulted when graduates request verification letters for licensure and other professional endorsements. Completing documentation accurately and submitting them in professional-quality condition by scheduled deadlines is an important element of a student’s professional behavior. Employers factor in counselor competence with documentation when considering promotions, raises, and letters of recommendation. Employers and agencies rely on counselors abiding by professional standards and expectations. Counselors overlooking these expectations risk their own careers and the licensing and economic stability of their agencies. Students are expected to know scheduled deadline dates and required documentation. Students missing documentation at the end of the semester will receive a U grade until the file is complete.
For the complete list of clinical documentation and corresponding due dates, please link to the Clinical Documentation and Due Dates page. Students registering for split internships and students completing clinical experiences at the same site must complete a complete set of clinical documentation for each clinical experience. All clinical documentation is to be printed, signed, and submitted to the Assistant Clinical Coordinator by the due date in the main office. Forms in worn condition (i.e., crumpled, containing food and drink stains, and illegible) will be returned to the student for resubmission. Incomplete forms (i.e., forms with missing data or signatures) will be returned to the student for resubmission. It is recommended that students complete paperwork and obtain signatures well in advance of due dates, given the time it takes to contact advisors, supervisors, and site supervisors and secure signatures. It is recommended students submit personally all documentation in order to ensure documentation is received by the deadline dates. Forms mailed by site supervisors may not arrive by the due date.
All international students are required to complete Curricular Practical Training documentation with the International Center prior to registering for each practicum and internship. A PowerPoint presentation and documentation can be accessed through the International Center Forms site. International students are responsible for reviewing procedures and appropriately submitting required documentation by appropriate deadline dates.
Student Feedback and Concerns
At the end of each term, students in clinical have opportunities to submit anonymous feedback on sites, site supervisors, and individual and group supervisors. Site information is maintained in the Clinical Sites page on the web. This feedback is very helpful for professional and site development. Students are encouraged to complete these evaluations and use the site information feedback when reviewing sites for clinical selection.
If students have any problems or concerns with their clinical placement, site supervisor, or supervision, they are strongly advised to contact the Clinical Coordinator. The Coordinator will listen to your concerns and work with you to identify the best intervention to reconcile the situation.
Grades
Grades for Practicum, Internship, and corresponding Group Supervision courses are Satisfactory (S) or Unsatisfactory (U). Grades are assigned based on feedback from site supervisors, individual and group supervisors, and based on students’ completion of required documentation and submission by deadline dates. Students with missing documentation will receive a U grade until the file is complete.
Liability Insurance Requirements
Just as all professional counselors, students must maintain current liability insurance whenever they are in clinical experiences, including courses with clinical components. Maintaining liability insurance is demonstrated by submitting a photocopy of the current policy to the Assistant Clinical Coordinator. Make sure your copy is a full description of the policy and not the payment confirmation. When renewing their policies, students must submit an updated copy to the Assistant Clinical Coordinator. It is assumed that a student does not have liability insurance if she or he does not have a copy in their clinical file or if she or he has an expired policy on file. Without current liability insurance, a student may not participate in clinical experiences. Liability insurance policies may be purchased, at significant student discounts, through the following professional organizations: American Counseling Association, American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy, American Mental Health Counseling Association, and the American School Counselor Association.
School Counseling
In accordance with section 1012.39(3), Florida Statutes, the University and the Site may not require a student enrolled in a state-approved teacher preparation program to purchase liability insurance as a condition of participation in any clinical field experience or related activity on the premises of an elementary or secondary school. However, professional liability insurance is highly encouraged by the program faculty both as a standard of best practice, as well as for the financial protection of the student.
Students can obtain professional liability insurance at a discounted rate as a benefit of membership through national professional organizations.
For example, student ASCA members are automatically covered for $1 million in professional liability coverage to include Educators’ Professional Wrongful Acts and Educators Employment Wrongful Acts coverage. More information is available in their brochure.
Additional information may be found at ACA and ASCA partners:
ACA Insurance Trust
CPH & Associates
School Counseling and Guidance Students Fingerprinting Requirements
| WHAT: | Fingerprinting and Background Check |
| WHERE: | To be fingerprinted BY APPOINTMENT ONLY
In Gainesville – Monday-Friday 10:00am–6:00pm; Saturday 10:00am-4:00pm UPS Store in the Tower Square Shopping Center 5745 SW 75th Street, Gainesville Out of Gainesville – consult website for list of locations To pick up results a week later Monday-Thursday 8:00am-4:00pm, Friday 8:00am-3:30pm School Board of Alachua County (SBAC) Personnel Office WEST WING of the Kirby Smith Center 620 East University Avenue, Gainesville |
| COST: | $50.75 credit card or money order ONLY NO cash accepted |
| PROCEDURE: | • Go to www.fieldprintflorida.com to make an APPOINTMENT and prepay. Please explore the website’s How it Works, Our Locations, and FAQs links first, then choose the Schedule an Appointment link to get started.
• Set up your account with email, username, and password • On the page labeled “Reasons why you need to be fingerprinted” click on “I know my Fieldprint Code” (do not click on the dropdown box) and enter the code: FPAlachuaIntern • Enter your permanent address information and personal attributes as prompted • For the Attending College or University, from the dropdown list select University of Florida • If your local address is different from your permanent address, you’ll be prompted to enter that address to find a fingerprinting location and make an appointment. (Zip code will suffice.) Click on “Find” to generate a list of locations. Choose a location and click on “Schedule Appointment” then choose the date and time that’s convenient for you. • Note: there is a $12 rescheduling fee if you miss your appointment or do not reschedule more than 24 hours ahead of time. • Enter your credit card or debit card information. You will be provided with a registration number and an appointment time at the end of the transaction. • Take your IDs and registration number with you to the fingerprinting location you chose. • Complete the fingerprinting process (electronic fingerprints, no inky smudging). • Background check/clearance will take approximately 3-5 business days. Call 955-7715 and speak to Lori Hanson to confirm that your background clearance is back. You must bring a photo ID to pick up the printout of your background clearance and then bring the background clearance to the Office of Student Services, G-416 Norman Hall. A copy must be provided to the clinical assistant coordinator to be added to your clinical chart, as well. • Fingerprint results that indicate criminal history may require you to provide arrest or court documents to the school district before a clearance can be determined. The College of Education’s Office of Student Services will contact you if further information is needed. |
Course Pre- and Corequisite Requirements
Unless you have deviated from the cohort model, you should have taken the following courses by the beginning of your practicum experience. A program advisor will need to confirm that you have completed the following courses on your Clinical Application Form.
Mental Health and Marriage and Family Counseling Programs
Prerequisite Courses for Practicum
MHS 5005 – Introduction to Counseling (3 cr.)
MHS 6401 – Counseling Theories & Applications (4 cr.)
MHS 6720 – Professional Identity & Ethics (3 cr.)
MHS 6200 – Assessment in Counseling & Development (3 cr.)
MHS 6500 – Group Counseling: Theory & Practice (3cr.)
Corequisite Courses for Practicum
MHS 6071 – Diagnosis & Treatment of Mental Disorders (3 cr.)
MHS 6430 – Introduction to Family Counseling (3 cr.)
MHS 6428 – Multicultural Counseling (3 cr.)
Prerequisite Courses for Internship
MHS 6020 – Counseling in Community Settings (3 cr.)
MHS 6450 – Substance Abuse Counseling (3 cr.)
School Counseling and Guidance Program
Corequisite Courses for Practicum
MHS 5005 – Introduction to Counseling (3 cr.)
MHS 6401 – Counseling Theories & Applications (4 cr.)
MHS 6720 – Professional Identity & Ethics (3 cr.)
MHS 6421 Play Counseling and Play Process with Children (3 cr.)
SDS 6411 Counseling with Children (3 cr.)
SDS 6413 Counseling Adolescents (3 cr.)
Course Sequence and Registration Requirements
Entry-level M.Ed./Ed.S. and Ed.S. only students newly enrolling in the Department of Counselor Education as of Fall 2005 are required to complete one (1) practicum and one (1) internship. The Practicum is completed in one academic semester. The Internship may be completed either one academic semester or split into two academic semesters. Students may register for full-time internships in the Fall and Spring. Students may not register for full-time internships in the summer. Students register for group supervision simultaneously with clinical courses. Students registering for split internships and students completing clinical experiences at the same site must complete a complete set of clinical documentation for each clinical experience. The following are the specific practicum and internship courses for each program specialization.
Mental Health Counseling Practicum Registration
MHS 7805 – Practicum in Mental Health Counseling (3 cr.)
Mental Health Counseling Internship Registration
Full-time One Semester Registration
MHS 7830 – Internship in Counseling (5 cr.)
MHS 7804 – Group Supervision in Agency Counseling (3 cr.)
Split-Internship Two Semester Registration
Semester One
MHS 6831 – Supervision for a Split Internship (3 cr.)
MHS 7804 – Group Supervision in Agency Counseling (3 cr.)
Semester Two
MHS 7830 – Internship in Counseling (5 cr.)
MHS 7804 – Group Supervision in Agency Counseling (3 cr.)
Marriage and Family Counseling Practicum Registration
MHS 7806 – Practicum in Marriage and Family Counseling (3 cr.)
Marriage and Family Counseling Internship Registration
Full-time One Semester Registration
MHS 7830 – Internship in Counseling (5 cr.)
MHS 7807 – Group Supervision in Marriage and Family Counseling (3 cr.)
Split-Internship Two Semester Registration
Semester One
MHS 6831 – Supervision for a Split Internship (3 cr.)
MHS 7807 – Group Supervision in Marriage and Family Counseling (3 cr.)
Semester Two
MHS 7830 – Internship in Counseling (5 cr.)
MHS 7807 – Group Supervision in Marriage and Family Counseling (3 cr.)
School Counseling and Guidance Practicum Registration
SDS 7800 – Practicum in School Counseling (3 cr.)
School Counseling and Guidance Internship Registration
Full-time One Semester Registration
SDS 7830 – Internship in School Counseling (5 cr.)
SDS 7820 – Group Supervision in School Counseling (3 cr.)
Split-Internship Two Semester Registration
Semester One
SDS 6831 – Supervision for a Split Internship (3 cr.)
SDS 7820 – Group Supervision in School Counseling (3 cr.)
Semester Two
SDS 7830 – Internship in Counseling (5 cr.)
SDS 7820 – Group Supervision in School Counseling (3 cr.)
Supervision and Taping Requirements
Students registered for practicum and internship courses will receive one (1) hour of individual supervision and one and one half (1 1/2) hours of group supervision per week, beginning the first week of the academic term. Supervision will be provided either onsite or by doctoral students or faculty in the Counselor Education Department. Supervisors are assigned by either the site host for onsite supervision or by the Assistant Clinical Coordinator for department supervision. With the exception of SCG practicum students, supervision hours are included in the total hour requirements for each clinical experience.
Direct observation of skill is an important part of supervision experiences. Regular recordings are expected for each field experience in order to enhance students’ growth and development with the most effective feedback based on their supervisors’ observation of their skills. Audio or Video recordings will be reviewed with both campus and site supervisors and specific requirements of each is to be discussed with the supervisor. It is a program requirement that every semester all clinical students complete at least one case conceptualization that includes a recording. The required recording consent forms are on the P&I webpage under Current Students and then Consent to Tape. Also, the university approved equipment can be found in the College of Education Instructional Technology Office.
School Counseling and Guidance Accomplished Practice Requirements
School counseling and guidance students are required to complete specific assignments in their clinical experiences, demonstrating competency in practices expected of professional school counselors. These assignments must be submitted to the Group Supervisor at assigned due dates, or at least 1-week prior to the last day of class to allow time for review, rating, and revisions as needed prior to the last day of the semester. Information is provided about required assignments in the Practicum and Internships syllabi.
Site and Direct Service Hour Requirements
Practicum and Internship experiences require students complete minimum number of hour requirements. Hour requirements include hours in which the student is required to be onsite and hours in which the student provides direct client contact. Students may be asked to complete additional hours as part of their negotiation with clinical site hosts. Students are required to maintain an Activity Log, tracking their hours, and submit a signed copy to the Assistant Clinical Coordinator on the last day of classes. Listed below are hour requirements for each program specialization. Logs are maintained through LIVETEXT, and students are encouraged to update them weekly.
Students are expected to begin work on the first day of class and are required to be onsite until the last day of class. Students are demonstrating professional misconduct when leaving a clinical site prior to the end of term and are subject to department disciplinary action, which may include receiving an Unsatisfactory (U) for the clinical experience requiring the student to register again for the clinical experience.
Mental Health and Marriage and Family Counseling Programs
PRACTICUM
Onsite Hours – 200 Hours (about 13 – 14 hours per week during Fall & Spring semesters; 16 – 17 hours per week during Summer C semester)
Direct Client Service Hours – 60 Hours, including 10 hours leading or co-leading a group (can be accrued across all clinical experiences)
INTERNSHIP
Onsite Hours – 600 Hours (40 hours per week during full-time, one-semester internship; 20 hours hours per week during split, two-semester internship)
Direct Client Service Hours – 240 Hours (Students seeking Marriage and Family licensure must demonstrate, within their practicum and internship clinical experiences, they have completed 180 hours of direct service with couples and families.) These hours are including 10 hours leading or co-leading a group (can be accrued across all clinical experiences).
School Counseling and Guidance Program
PRACTICUM
The counselor in training (CIT) enrolled in a school counseling practicum is required to accumulate a total of 200 site hours during the semester of which 60 hours must be direct client service hours, including 10 hours leading or co-leading a group (can be accrued across all clinical experiences). Students can count their hours spent in individual supervision (1 hour) and in the peer supervision portion of the group supervision course (1/1/2 hrs) as indirect hours in the total number of site hours.
INTERNSHIP
The CIT enrolled in a school counseling internship is required to accumulate a total of 600 hours per semester. CITs are expected to be on site (i.e., at the school) 40 hours per week. At least 240 hours of that amount must be earned in direct client service hours, including 10 hours leading or co-leading a group (can be accrued across all clinical experiences). Students can count their hours spent in individual supervision (1 hour) and in the peer supervision portion of the group supervision course (1/1/2 hrs) as indirect hours in the total number of site hours.
Student Feedback
Students are invited to provide feedback on specific strengths or areas for improvement regarding this orientation and the clinical program. If students have any questions or need further clarification, they may contact the Assistant Clinical Coordinator, at ceclinical@coe.ufl.edu.
Internship Special Requests
New Site Procedure
Students are generally encouraged to complete their internships with established sites in the community. Out of area internships are not guaranteed and are approved on a case-by-case basis. The student should present a strong case for an out-of-area internship subject to faculty approval. The practicum and internship coordination team has instituted a review process for these requests. The student will need to prepare in writing a request to their track coordinator the semester prior to practicum. Upon initial approval the request, the track coordinator will forward the request to the practicum and internship coordinator. The written request should include the new site, as well as needs and concerns supporting the student’s request for an out-of-area internship. The student can arrange to meet with the coordinator or assistant coordinator to discuss this. The student’s placement in an out of area site is contingent upon approval by the faculty and is based at least partly on the student’s performance in practicum. The supervisory contract will outline agreements for how the student will complete supervision. Additionally, the student must initiate coordination with the site in accordance with procedures for establishing a new clinical site. Out of area practicums are not allowed.
Dual Site Internship
The student will need to prepare in writing a packet to the track coordinator the semester prior to the dual site internship. The student should present a strong case for a dual-site internship subject to faculty approval. Following initial screening, the track coordinator will forward the request to the practicum and internship coordinator. The written request should identify and describe the sites requested for a dual site internship, as well as needs and concerns supporting request for a dual-site internship. The request will be submitted in a dual-site request packet which includes three pieces. The packet should include, in a word document, a table with a weekly schedule identifying class times and expected times at each site with a cover letter outlining reasoning and concerns regarding a dual-site internship. The schedule will require signature lines on the weekly schedule packet for each of the sites agreeing to host. Requests are reviewed in faculty meetings in the spring and approval is contingent upon the student’s performance in practicum.
Recording Procedures
Procedures for File Recording and Upload
Students will record the session with cameras checked out from COE tech. COE Tech will transfer the file from the device to ResVault, which stores the file on a secure cloud requiring a special privacy key. Students and faculty have been trained in HIPAA privacy and must complete training for the software. After completing the ResVault training, users will create their account and contact rvrequest@rc.ufl.edu to activate their account. Then students and faculty can play a de-identified file from ResVault. The faculty member will play the file from a UF device in group supervision for a case presentation. Encrypted or non-encrypted flash drives are not allowed by UF Privacy for storing video files.
Check-out procedures from COE tech
Due to limited number of cameras, it will be necessary to have students logon to the College of Education’s Helpdesk and make an equipment (camera) checkout request. It is also strongly advised that the students have made prior arrangements with the client to record the session.Camera checkout days will be Mondays and Wednesday for two days. Cameras that go out on Monday are due back on Wednesday. A camera that goes out on Wednesday is due back on Friday. Video files will be uploaded to the UF Cloud for review within two days of the cameras return and shared on ResVault with the student, as well as the group supervisor.
