Canyon College Practicum FAQ - (Frequently Asked Questions)

If you are considering doing your practicum with Canyon College and have questions, please read the following information. If your question was not answered or you are not sure you may contact me at my Canyon College email address: lovejoy@canyoncollege.edu

1. How many practicum hours do I need to have? A Bachelor practicum requires 400 hours and a Master's practicum requires 900 hours.

2. Do I have to leave my community to do a practicum? No, your practicum is done in your own community and can be for anyone who provides the services you want experiences in. Practicum can be done at, but not limited to: private, non-profit, state, federal, community, or church organizations.

3. When can I be eligible to start my practicum? A student in a bachelor program should wait until most of their courses are completed. This allows you more knowledge to utilize at your practicum site. A student in a master's program can begin the practicum at any time.

4. If I am not enrolled in any programs or classes at Canyon College may I still take the practicum course? Yes, anyone who would like to take the practicum course can enroll for it. All practicum requirements will apply.

5. How do I get a practicum site? Each student finds their own practicum site. This allows the student to stay within their community, arrange hours that are suitable for them as well as the site, and find a placement in the area of their concentration and interest.

6. Is Canyon College accredited? Canyon College is accredited by a private accreditation (see Canyon College Home page. There is a FAQ link. I think accreditation is about #5). The Social Work programs are not accredited by the CSWE (Council on Social Work Education.) If you are in doubt contact your licensing agency. Each state and country is different.

7. May I do my practicum at my current work place? Yes, students can use their work place for their practicum with stipulations. You may use your current employment site IF you are performing Master's level skills and duties.

8. Can previous hours or experience count as any practicum hours? No, practicum hours will not count until your site and supervisor is in place.

9. How many hours per week or month is required? Specific hours are not required. Each student and the practicum site know how many hours each has available. Some students are able to do forty hours per week, while others only have a minimal amount of time. This is why practicum is done in hours rather than weeks like the class courses are measured.

10. May I have more than one Practicum site? Yes. You may have up to two (2) sites at a time. Both sites will have to follow the procedures for the site supervisor. If you are doing your practicum at two sites you do not have to do assignments for each site. Also, you may change practicum sites during your practicum hours without of penalty or loss of hours you have already acquired. Approval of college instructor would be needed prior to changing.

11. Who can be my Practicum supervisor? Any one who has a Masters degree or equivalent, preferably in the discipline you are going to be practicing. Social Workers must have a MSW site supervisor.

12. What is required of the Site Supervisor? Site supervisors must send a statement that he/she is willing to supervise your practicum. This statement can be faxed to my home office or mailed via US mail to the college. This document as well as monthly time sheets must be signed with your supervisor's name & credentials. Other than your supervision your supervisor does not need to contact me until the end of your practicum. Before completing I ask for a suggested grade from the supervisor. The supervisor should have my email address incase he/she would like to contact me.

13. What is considered Master's level skills and what will count as practicum time? Some of the Master's skills include but not limited to are: employee supervision, intake, assessments, writing treatment plans, organizing and/or conducting groups, record keeping, counseling and/or working with individual clients, families, or community support people, crisis intervention, meetings with you site supervisor, training offered by your agency or CEU training and is done by someone with at least a Masters degree or higher, time spent meeting with team members, families, community support, other agencies or organizations, referrals, etc. Time used to send email or communicate with the college instructor is not countable.

14. How are practicum hours reported? There are no specific time sheets required by the college. You may use the one you keep at your site. Monthly hours must be submitted by the 10th of each month. Your signature and your supervisor's must be on the time sheet you submit.