SPU has adapted our internship criteria performance assessment linked here so that we can continue to collect evidence of your growth and also to complete observations. You will work with your supervisor to determine the best way to complete this tool. We recommend that you download and use the tool as a self-assessment, then submit it to your supervisor, who will provide feedback during your debrief. This process will provide necessary evidence for required program assessments.
Internship Q&A
Please read the following Q&A from PESB regarding clinical practice (internship), conditional certificates, and edTPA:
Clinical practice must take place in an educational setting. If schools are closed, what other options are considered an educational setting?
- Clinical practice can take place in educational settings through remote instruction, online learning, at alternate locations, or as part of an extended school year or school day.
What are other clinical practice requirements?
- Clinical practice must be under the general supervision of a certificated practitioner who has three years' experience in the role for which the candidate is seeking certification. The preparation program must offer experiences for candidates to develop and demonstrate the knowledge and skills needed for their role.
What happens if an educator candidate cannot meet their required clinical practice hours?
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In response to last week’s announcement on mandatory school closures, PESB has filed an emergency rule allowing educator preparation programs to review a candidate’s course work, field experience, work experience, and alternative learning experience. Based on this review, the preparation program may then waive or reduce in length the clinical practice and course work if they determine the candidate has the required knowledge and skills. This WAC amendment is effective immediately, and will remain in place through mid-July of this year.
Clinical practice can take place in educational settings through remote instruction, online learning, at alternate locations, or as part of an extended school year or school day. Clinical practice can include planning, instruction, and reflection that prepares the candidate for the role.
Programs preparing candidates in school psychology or school counseling will need to refer to their respective national standards for minimum number of hours and other requirements for clinical practice.
Information on conditional certificates:
Information for School Counseling Students
The school counseling faculty prays that God is with us in this challenging and difficult time. We hope that you are safe and healthy. As we all are living now in uncharted territory, you may have many questions and feel unsettled. Please note that we care about each one of you and are available for you to reach out. Keep us posted on how you are doing and what kind of support you would need related to the program.
Here are the guidelines for your spring courses and clinical experience. These are developed based on the communications with CACREP, the state certification board, and the institution. When things get updated, we will let you know as soon as possible.
Classes
In the spring quarter, all classes will be delivered online. Please contact your course instructor for more information.
Practicum and Internship
The following are some guidelines for the practicum and internship experience in responding to the COVID-19. These protocols may change later, according to CACREP, the state, and the institution’s suggestions. If you have any questions regarding practicum and internship, please contact the Director of Clinical Training.
Clinical practice must take place in an educational setting for school counselors. If the internship site is closed, what do I do?
- Clinical practice includes direct and indirect hours. Indirect hours can consist of planning, instruction, studying research-based articles and interventions, working on projects for advocacy, diversity, and equity, etc., and reflecting on the professional experience while they can take place outside of your site. Direct hours can include telehealth counseling, remote work with students such as email, phone, and teleconference platforms that your district supports. This will look different in every school. Please consult with your site supervisor and communicate with the Director of Clinical Training regarding the plan and support for direct hours by your site’s school counseling program. Please refer to ASCA Ethical Standards for school counselors and guiding documents for virtual counseling available in ASCA. If there are questions between what counts as direct and indirect hours, please reach out to the Director of Clinical Training.
How do I meet the group supervision hours requirement?
- CACREP requires that students meet for group supervision while doing practicum and internship. Group supervision will take place using the Zoom video conference in the spring quarter. Please take the supervision conference call via zoom in a safe and private place. For more information on group supervision, please contact your course instructor.
How do I meet the individual on-site supervision hours requirement?
- CACREP requires that students meet with their site supervisors for a minimum of one hour a week. We suggest students schedule these meetings either via zoom (or online meeting platform) or phone if you continue to accrue direct hours supported by your school or district. Please refer to ASCA Ethical Standards for school counselors and guiding documents for virtual counseling by ASCA when you take online meetings or phone conference for supervision.
What if I do not complete the required practicum hours before the internship?
- You need to complete 40 direct hours and 60 indirect hours for practicum. If it is likely that you will not be able to accrue the necessary direct hours before the internship because your site is closed, please contact the Director of Clinical Training. If you do not complete the required practicum hours in the spring quarter, you will get an “N” grade, which means, “In process.” In such cases, direct on-site hours will be accrued during the fall quarter when you register for an internship. Once you complete your practicum hours and have sufficiently met all the requirements for practicum, your “N” grade would be changed. The hours for practicum will be completed at your internship site and not at the practicum site.
What if I don’t have my internship site secured?
- The internship paperwork for the school counseling program is May 1st. As many schools are closed for a while, placements will be more likely to be delayed. Please continue to communicate with the Director of Clinical Training for securing your internship site. The program will accommodate the due date as the circumstance changes.
What happens if I cannot meet my required clinical practice hours for the internship?
- We have continued to work with CACREP and the state certification board (PESB) to explore alternative ways to support our students with meeting the required clinical practice hours. When we have more information from them, we will let you know. In the meantime, please document both direct and indirect hours and communicate with the Director of Clinical Training regarding your internship site’s support for K-12 students during school closure.