Interested in Becoming a Practicum Site?
Thank you for your interest in hosting social work practicum students! We appreciate the commitment of time and staff resources you are willing to make in order to provide our students with a meaningful experience. Please review the practicum requirements and steps for agency onboarding detailed below and reach out if you have any questions.
Practicum Hours
BSW and MSW foundation year students are required to complete 16 hours per week. MSW concentration year students complete 16-24 hours per week. Students generally begin practicum hours late August/early September and finish their hours in early May.
Practicum Learning Activities/Tasks
We ask that agencies provide social work students with learning activities that help them develop skills in the nine competency areas set by the Council on Social Work Education (PDF). Social Work students can do a variety of tasks depending on the agency. Please refer to the Social Work Practicum Learning Activities (PDF) table for a general idea of appropriate learning tasks at each level.
Practicum Instruction
Agencies are asked to identify a staff member that can serve as the student's Practicum Instructor. BSW students can be supervised by someone with a BSW or MSW degree and at least 2 years of post-graduation experience. MSW students must be supervised by someone with a MSW degree and at least 2 years of post-graduate experience. Practicum Instructors are required to attend the practicum orientation that takes place at the start of the fall semester. Virtual orientation is also available.
The Practicum Instructor meets weekly with each student for one hour of social work supervision, works with the student to develop the Learning Contract, completes the end-of-semester student evaluations, and meets with the student and their faculty liaison once per semester for a site visit.
If your organization does not have a degreed social worker on staff or is not able to identify a social worker in the community who can serve as the Practicum Instructor, the Practicum Education Program will help identify someone who can serve as an off-site Practicum Instructor. In those situations, the agency would need to provide a Task Supervisor who oversees the student's day-to-day learning activities. Task Supervisors are also used in agencies that have an on-site Practicum Instructor to provide additional support and supervision to the student.
When a Practicum Instructor has been identified within your agency, they will be asked to complete a Practicum Instructor Application (PDF) and attach an employment vitae or resume with this form.
Support for Agencies
Every social work student is assigned to a Faculty Liaison. The Faculty Liaison is the bridge between the university and the agency and is there to support student success and provide consultation and support should questions or concerns arise with the placement.
How to Become an Approved Practicum Site
The first step to become an established placement site is to download and complete the Agency Profile (PDF).
The Agency Profile should include a list and description of the different programs or services your agency offers that will accept practicum placements. Please feel free to attach your program mission, goals, and descriptions to the form.
After you have submitted the Agency Profile, the Director of Practicum Education or a Practicum Coordinator will contact you to arrange a meeting to discuss the placement opportunity in more detail, review the practicum requirements, and answer any questions you have.
Student Placement Agreement
Lastly, the University requires that a Student Placement Agreement (SPA) be in place before a student can begin their practicum hours. The SPA is sent directly to the agency contact by Chico State Contract Services. If you would like to preview the SPA template please let us know.
If you require any of this information in an accessible format, please contact the School of Social Work at 530-898-6204 or the Office of Accessible Technology at 530-898-6532.