Section 4: Professional Practice

The following standards apply to entry-level programs for which accreditation is being sought. Professional practice, which includes practicum and internship, provides for the application of theory and the development of counseling skills under supervision. Fieldwork experiences will provide opportunities for students to counsel diverse clients.

ENTRY-LEVEL PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE

A. The counselor education program provides ongoing support to help students find fieldwork sites that are sufficient to provide the quality, quantity, and variety of expected experiences to prepare students for their roles and responsibilities as professional counselors within their CACREP specialized practice areas.
B. Students are covered by individual professional counseling liability insurance while enrolled in practicum and internship.
C. Supervision of practicum and internship students includes secure audio or video recordings and/or live supervision of students’ interactions with clients that are in compliance with applicable institutional, state, federal, and international privacy requirements for all program delivery types.
D. Students have the opportunity to become familiar with a variety of professional activities and resources, including technology, as part of their practicum and internship.
E. 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.
F. Formative and summative evaluations of the student’s counseling performance and ability to integrate and apply knowledge are conducted as part of the student’s practicum and internship.
G. Programs provide a fieldwork handbook to all students and fieldwork site supervisors, for all program delivery types, detailing requirements, expectations, policies, and procedures, including:

CACREP standards and definitions related to supervised practicum and internship;
supervision agreement;
evaluation procedures and requirements; and
policy for student retention, remediation, and dismissal from the program.

H. Written supervision agreements:

define the roles and responsibilities of the faculty supervisor, field experience site supervisor, and student during practicum and internship;
include emergency procedures; and
detail the format and frequency of consultation between the counselor education program and the site to monitor student learning.

I. The counselor education program provides orientation to fieldwork site supervisors regarding program requirements and expectations.
J. During entry-level professional practice experiences, the counselor education program engages in consultation with the fieldwork site supervisor to monitor student learning and performance in accordance with the supervision agreement.
K. The counselor education program provides professional development opportunities to fieldwork site supervisors for all program delivery types.
L. Students have opportunities to evaluate their experience with the practicum and internship placement process.
M. Students have regular, systematic opportunities to evaluate practicum and internship fieldwork sites and site supervisors.

SUPERVISOR QUALIFICATIONS

N. Counselor education program core or affiliate faculty members serving as individual/triadic or group practicum/internship supervisors for students in entry-level programs have:

relevant certifications and/or licenses,
relevant training for in-person and/or distance counseling supervision, and
relevant training in the technology utilized for supervision.

O. Doctoral students serving as individual/triadic or group practicum/internship supervisors for students in entry-level programs must:

have completed entry-level counseling degree requirements consistent with CACREP standards;
have completed or are receiving preparation in counseling supervision, including instruction for in-person and/or distance supervision; and
be under supervision on a regular schedule that averages one hour a week from a qualified core or affiliate counselor education program faculty supervisor.

P. Fieldwork site supervisors have:

a minimum of a master’s degree, preferably in counseling or a related profession;
active certifications and/or licenses in the geographic location where the student is placed, preferably in counseling or a related profession;
a minimum of two years post-master’s professional experience relevant to the CACREP specialized practice area in which the student is enrolled;
relevant training for in-person and/or distance counseling supervision;
relevant training in the technology utilized for supervision; and
knowledge of the program’s expectations, requirements, and evaluation procedures for students.

PRACTICUM

Q. Students complete supervised counseling practicum experiences that total a minimum of 100 hours over a full academic term that is a minimum of eight weeks consistent with the institution’s academic calendar.
R. Practicum students complete at least 40 hours of direct service with actual clients that contributes to the development of counseling skills.

PRACTICUM SUPERVISION

S. Throughout the duration of the practicum, each student receives individual and/or triadic supervision on a regular schedule that averages one hour a week and is provided by at least one of the following:

a counselor education program core or affiliate faculty member, or
a doctoral student supervisor who is under the supervision of a qualified core or affiliate counselor education program faculty member, or
a fieldwork site supervisor who is working in consultation on a regular schedule with a counselor education program faculty member in accordance with the supervision agreement.

T. Throughout the duration of the practicum, each student receives group supervision on a regular schedule that averages 1½ hours per week and is provided by at least one of the following:

a counselor education program faculty member or
a doctoral student supervisor who is under the supervision of a qualified core or affiliate counselor education program faculty member.

INTERNSHIP

U. After successful completion of the practicum, students complete 600 hours of supervised counseling internship in roles and settings with actual clients relevant to their CACREP specialized practice area.
V. Internship students complete a minimum of 240 hours of direct service with actual clients.

INTERNSHIP SUPERVISION

W. Throughout the duration of the internship, each student receives individual and/or triadic supervision on a regular schedule that averages one hour a week and is provided by at least one of the following:

a counselor education program faculty member, or
a doctoral student supervisor who is under the supervision of a qualified core or affiliate counselor education program faculty member, or
a fieldwork site supervisor who is working in consultation on a regular schedule with a counselor education program faculty member in accordance with the supervision agreement.

X. Throughout the duration of the internship, each student receives group supervision on a regular schedule that averages 1½ hours per week and is provided by at least one of the following:

a counselor education program faculty member or
a doctoral student supervisor who is under the supervision of a qualified core or affiliate counselor education program faculty member.

PRACTICUM AND INTERNSHIP COURSE LOADS AND RATIOS

Y. When individual/triadic supervision is provided by the counselor education program faculty or a doctoral student under supervision, each practicum and internship course should not exceed a 1:6 faculty:student ratio. This is equivalent to the teaching of one 3-semester credit hour or equivalent quarter credit hour course of a faculty member’s teaching load assignment.

Z. When individual/triadic supervision is provided solely by a fieldwork site supervisor, and the counselor education program faculty or doctoral student under supervision only provides group supervision, each practicum and internship course should not exceed a 1:12 faculty: student ratio. This is equivalent to the teaching of one 3-semester credit hour or equivalent quarter credit hour course of a faculty member’s teaching load assignment.

AA. Practicum and internship students are not combined for group supervision.

BB. Group supervision for practicum or internship students should not exceed 12 students per group.

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