Social Work Internships and Practicums
Internships and practicums play a significant role in social work programs. They allow you to gain experience in the field while you study and may even provide a pathway for future career opportunities. But every program is a little different.
This guide explains social work internship and practicum requirements and offers tips on finding the best opportunities.
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What to Expect From Your Social Work Internship or Practicum
Every social work school and program approaches internships and practicums differently. The number of hours required can vary by location, and the type of work you’ll do may depend on your clinical site or specialization.
What Will I Do for My Social Work Internship or Practicum?
Social work internships and practicums combine fieldwork instruction and direct social work practice with individuals, families, and community groups. Within a clinical setting or social agency, you’ll apply your learned knowledge and skills, such as client engagement, assessment, and data collection and documentation.
While undergraduate practicums typically focus on generalist activities, graduate internships typically have generalist and specialized experiences. At both levels, practicums include on-site observation and supervision from a licensed social worker. Your supervisors provide tasks and guidance throughout the placement, along with an evaluation at the end of the experience.
In What Type of Setting Will I Work?
You can complete your social work internships and practicums at most sites that provide social work services, such as mental health centers, hospitals, and correction centers. Some schools have predetermined practicum sites, while others allow you to choose your location. Either way, your school must approve the facility, and a licensed social worker must supervise you.
How Long Will My Internship or Practicum Last?
Practicums vary in length, but the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) has requirements for accredited programs. According to the CSWE, accredited bachelor’s programs need at least 400 hours of supervised field experience, and accredited master’s programs need at least 900 hours. Some schools, such as Syracuse University, require 500 hours for BSW students and 1,000 hours for MSW students.
Will I Get Paid for My Social Work Internship or Practicum?
Most social work internships and practicums are unpaid placements, with budgetary constraints cited as the primary reason. While rare, some organizations offer financial stipends to practicum participants, such as the Department of Veterans Affairs, which pays approximately $15 per hour. Nationwide initiatives like Payment for Placements advocate for payment for social work students.
Will I Get Academic Credit for My Internship or Practicum?
All CSWE-accredited social work programs provide academic credit for internship and practicum hours. The exact number of practicum credits varies by program, but many offer 5-15 credits at the bachelor’s level and 12-20 credits at the master’s level.
For example, Boise State University’s bachelor’s program features two five-credit practicum courses and two one-credit practicum seminars for a total of 12 practicum-related credits. Its master’s program has two two-credit practicum courses, two six-credit practicum courses, and four one-credit practicum seminars, for a total of 20 practicum-related credits.
How to Find Social Work Internships
Depending on your program, you may need to find your own social internship or practicum. Thankfully, many resources are available to make this process as easy as possible.
Here are some of the best options for finding an internship you can be proud of:
- Job Fairs: Check out the job and career fairs at your school and local professional organizations to meet with employers and lay the groundwork for future internships.
- Alumni Network: Along with mentorship regarding field experiences, your school’s alum network may offer internship and practicum advice and/or connections.
- Recruiting Events: Many professional, community, and social service organizations run recruiting events to meet and connect with prospective practicum sites and employers.
- School Career Center: Your school’s career services center may offer internship guidance and support, including help with your applications and interviews.
- Job Boards and Internship Databases: Look for internships on social work job boards, such as the National Association of Social Workers’ Career Center and/or the CSWE’s Career Center.
Find Social Work Internship Opportunities
You may find social work internships and practicums from the major job boards along with the more specialized resources above. You can filter your search results on these platforms to find internship opportunities in your area.
Start your search on these platforms:
- LinkedIn: LinkedIn allows you to search for social work internships and practicums on its dedicated job board, along with the opportunity to connect and network with potential placement supervisors.
- Indeed: One of the most popular job boards in the world, Indeed connects more than 580 million job-seekers to over 3.5 million employers. Indeed allows you to filter by industry, location, and job type to find internships in your field and area.
- SimplyHired: On SimplyHired’s extensive job board, you can filter out the results to highlight social work internships and practicums in your region.
