Externship and Clinical Experiences

Externship and clinical experiences required in some programs enable students to work with patients/clients to apply the competencies and practices learned in the classroom. Students participating in externship and clinical experiences work under the supervision of a qualified assigned preceptor, as determined by College faculty, in participating sites and under the general supervision of College staff. Students are evaluated by supervisory personnel and evaluations are placed in the students’ permanent records. Externship and clinical guidelines and requirements for each program may be obtained from the Program Director.

The following applies to all students who are required to complete externship or clinical experiences:

1. Students are expected to meet all host site requirements.
2. Site assignments are determined by the College. Students may be terminated from the program if they refuse the clinical or externship site assignment.
3. Externship and clinical sites are selected to meet the objectives of the program. Students are required to travel to the clinical site. In many cases, this may require travel that is a greater distance than the student’s commute to the campus.
4. Site locations within a specified distance from the campus or from a student’s home cannot be guaranteed.
5. The College reserves the right to re-assign site assignments and locations as needed to ensure that program requirements are met.
6. Students must arrange and pay for their own transportation to and from their assigned clinical or externship experience, including any parking charges at the host site.
7. Students should expect the hours and days to vary depending on the host site. Shifts on externship or clinical experience can range up to 12 hours, occurring any hour of the day, afternoon, or evening and any day of the week.
8. If students are going to be absent from their clinical or externship site, they are required to notify their designated supervisor and the applicable College staff member.
9. Students must make up all absences that occur during clinical or externship experiences to ensure that the required hours are completed prior to the end of the scheduled period.
10. Students enrolled in a program that requires an externship are expected to immediately begin that portion of their program, upon successful completion of all classroom requirements.
11. Externship students are encouraged and should be prepared to participate in their externship training on a full-time basis (30-40 hours per week).
12. Students are expected to abide by the College’s Conduct Policy at all times while on externship or clinical, as well as the policies and procedures of the site.