Practicum Instructor Requirements

Practicum Instructor Requirements

MSW Specific Requirements: 

• Possesses an MSW degree from a CSWE-accredited program with a minimum two years post graduate experience and/or LCSW. 

• In a clinical specialization placement, an LCSW is preferred as a primary supervisor.

BSW Specific Requirements: 

• Possesses a BSW or MSW degree from a CSWE-accredited program with a minimum two years post graduate experience and/or LCSW 

For cases in which a practicum instructor does not hold a CSWE-accredited social work degree or have the required experience, the Social Work department will provide supplemental supervision by a qualified social work faculty to reinforce a social work perspective and document how this is accomplished. This will be handled case by case.

General Practicum Instructor Requirements for both MSW & BSW:

• Possesses exemplary social work skills in the chosen practicum of practice.

• Information about the agency and the practicum instructor’s resume is placed in the director of practicum education’s office file and kept confidential

• Completion of 10 hours of mandatory Practicum Instructor Training every five years, prior to hosting an APU BSW or MSW student or concurrently.  Practicum Instructors have five months from onset of practicum instruction to complete this requirement

• Commitment to social work values and student education

• Understanding of social work curriculum, program mission and ability to contribute to its improvement and modification, as necessary

• Provide timely communication to practicum faculty liaison regarding student concerns

• Provide weekly one hour, face-to-face individual supervision helping the student integrate theoretical knowledge, application of interventions, and development of faith integration into social work practice

• Commits to timely review and provision of feedback on student practicum assignments

• including, but not limited to, the Learning Agreement, Process Recordings, Time Logs

• and Evaluations.

• Ability to structure the educational experience and to use a variety of learning strategies in practicum instruction

• Skilled application and modeling of professional social work practice.

• Knowledge, application, and reinforcement of BSW or MSW practice curricula content including professional use of self, ethics, theoretical frameworks, and stages of treatment.

• Willingness to satisfy the educational needs of the student, allowing them to express their differences and manage conflicts, and to help in the development of the student’s strengths and limitations and their ability to use themselves in their professional capacity

• Ability to assign the student’s responsibilities as related to the student’s abilities

• Ability to use authority constructively

• Ability to evaluate the student’s professional competence

• Ability to support the mission of the BSW & MSW Social Work Program at APU and the competencies outlined by the Council of Social Work Education, and the NASW Code of Ethics

• Supervisory experience is highly preferred with a desire to teach and mentor social work students

• NASW membership and involvement is strongly encouraged

PPSC Practicum Instructor Requirements:

• Practicum instructor has a PPS Credential in School Social Work or an MSW with another PPS Credential and a minimum of two years post MSW experiences

• The Practicum instructor has completed practicum instructor training, including models of supervision, the SSW Performance Expectations, and program practicum work requirements

• Candidate meets with their practicum instructor for at least one hour of individual supervision per week. The practicum instructor must be accessible at all times during the accrual of internship hours.