Policy on Clinical Practicum Training at the School of Psychology

External clinical practicum training takes place in a variety of settings aimed at assessment and intervention training in hospital, institutional, and private practice settings. External clinical practica are assigned for March and/or September, typically extend over 2 days/week, and are of 6- or 12-months duration. Depending on the clinical training foci of the student, 4 external practica are typical².

Occasionally, students may be assigned to ad-hoc training settings, reviewed by the clinical program. Such settings may be considered if the student is seeking specific training not available in approved settings, or while a setting is in the process of applying to be an approved external training setting of the School of Psychology¹.

1. The first clinical practicum takes place at the CPSR and is registered as PSY 6007. The CPSR practicum normally commences at the end of the first year in the clinical program. Assignments of clinical cases are made by the Director of the CPSR.

   To be considered for a CPSR practicum, the student normally:

   1. has successfully completed all first-year courses.
   2. has been evaluated as suitable for clinical training during the consultation of first-year course instructors and the research supervisor.
   3. is in good standing in the clinical program as evaluated at the Annual Review of clinical students³.
   4. is in full compliance with professional health and safety requirements of the University of Ottawa⁴.
   5. is not under review, or on a remediation plan for major ethical violations in accordance with Article 3.h.2 of the Policy and Procedures for Review of Ethical and Professional Lapses and Misconduct of Graduate Students in Clinical Psychology⁵.
   6. is not under review, or on a remediation plan requiring a change in training parameters in accordance with Articles 4.b-g. of the Policy and Procedures for Review of Ethical and Professional Lapses and Misconduct of Graduate Students in Clinical Psychology⁵.
       

2. External practica normally begin in March of the second year in the program and are registered as PSY 6008. Assignments of external practica are made by the Coordinator of Practica and Internships (CPI) in accordance with students’ training goals outlined in the Individual Clinical Training Plan, developmental level/seniority in the program, and specific student training needs as identified by the student, practicum supervisor, and/or CPI^2,5.

   To be considered for an external practicum, the student normally:

   1. received a ‘satisfactory’ or ‘conditionally satisfactory’ rating at the most recent Annual Review of clinical students³.
   2. is in good standing at their practicum at CPSR
   3. is in full compliance with professional health and safety requirements of the University of Ottawa and the external training setting⁴.
   4. is not under review or on a remediation plan for major ethical violations in accordance with Article 3.h.2 of the Policy and Procedures for Review of Ethical and Professional Lapses and Misconduct of Graduate Students in Clinical Psychology⁵.
   5. is not under review, or on a remediation plan requiring a change in training parameters in accordance with Articles 4.b-g. of the Policy and Procedures for Review of Ethical and Professional Lapses and Misconduct of Graduate Students in Clinical Psychology⁵.
       
3. The CPI, in consultation with the student and relevant supervisors/instructors, as well as review of relevant documentation, determines the focus, setting, and length of practicum training to facilitate the development of clinical and professional competencies ultimately necessary to be considered for approval of application for internship^2,5,6.
    
4. The CPI will maintain open and regular communication with the Director of the CPSR, the Clinical Program Committee, external Directors and Coordinators of Clinical Training, and others (e.g., research and clinical supervisors) on all aspects related to student clinical training^2,6.
    
5. CPSR practicum training must be completed in October of the year the student is applying for internship. External practicum training typically is completed in February of the internship application year^2,6.

¹ https://www.uottawa.ca/faculty-social-sciences/psychology/graduate/clinical-psychology/policies-regulations/criteria-procedures

² https://www.uottawa.ca/faculty-social-sciences/psychology/graduate/clinical-psychology (Clinical Training at the School of Psychology)

³ https://www.uottawa.ca/faculty-social-sciences/psychology/graduate/clinical-psychology (Annual student review policy and procedures; Annual student review criteria)

⁴ https://www.uottawa.ca/faculty-social-sciences/programs/student-placement-risk-management