Externship Competency Building

This page includes an important resource created to support you as you prepare for externship. Our goal is simple: that you enter your first week prepared. The impressions you make early on help shape your learning opportunities, your professional relationships, and the level of trust your supervisors place in you. Being prepared demonstrates respect for the clinical environment, clarity about your responsibilities, and a genuine commitment to your growth as a clinician.

Taking time to review this document, revisit your foundational tools, and reflect on your learning needs will help you begin your placement with confidence and direction. Supervisors notice readiness, curiosity, and professionalism and these qualities open the door to stronger mentorship, deeper involvement, and meaningful professional growth. These resources are designed to help you identify both your strengths and areas where you may need additional guidance, without overwhelming you.

Throughout your coursework, you’ve built a strong foundation in assessment, treatment planning, documentation, and clinical reasoning. The first section of this document brings you back to those core elements through key templates, frameworks, and foundational concepts—so you can ground yourself in what you already know as you begin applying these skills more independently in a new setting.

In addition to this foundational review, the document includes a curated collection of advanced readings and CEUs to support deeper learning during externship. These materials are meant to help you recognize where your knowledge is strong and where you may benefit from further instruction as your clinical questions emerge over time.

This resource also supports more meaningful engagement with your supervisors. By reflecting on your skills, knowledge, and developing areas, you’ll be better prepared to enter supervisory conversations with clarity and purpose. This allows your supervision to be more focused, individualized, and productive and helps you advocate effectively for the support you need.

Ultimately, this document is meant to serve as a living guide throughout your externship, something you can return to for reflection, confirmation, and continued growth. Our hope is that it provides structure, confidence, and a clear sense of purpose as you move through this important stage of your clinical training.