Internship

Ph.D. Internship

Counselor Education doctoral students are required to complete two 3-credit doctoral-level internships of 300 clock hours each: one in counseling and one in teaching.

Specific requirements for the counseling internship include performing most of the activities of a regularly employed professional in the chosen setting. Students may complete the counseling internship on either a full-time or a part-time basis, with specific arrangements (hours, duties, supervision) worked out between the student, the internship site supervisor, the student's advisor, and the doctoral coordinator. Internships can be paid or unpaid experiences and are expected to meet or exceed the following standards:

• documenting the time spent for both internships using the appropriate internship logs, which will be kept in the student's permanent file

• must receive one hour per week of individual supervision and regular small group supervision by a supervisor with a doctorate in counselor education or a closely related field

• a written evaluation completed by the site supervisor and submitted to the student's faculty advisor at the conclusion of the counseling internship must be shared with the student

• the student must submit a written evaluation of the experience to his or her faculty advisor, which will be given to the doctoral coordinator, and then kept in the student's permanent file

Specific Requirements for the Teaching Internship which must be completed at University Park under the Supervision of Counselor Education faculty are as follows:

• co-teaching one 3-credit course with a faculty member

• hours spent as a teaching assistant will not count towards the internship

• students must receive one hour per week of individual supervision provided by their faculty co-instructor

• the doctoral coordinator will be informed when students are completing their teaching internship

NOTE: Pennsylvania Acts 33 and 34 require that prospective employees of agencies serving children (Act 33) and public and private schools (Act 34) present evidence to a potential employer or internship site of any criminal record with the State Police, or a statement from the State Police that such a record does not exist. Out-of-state residents must, in addition, present evidence of an FBI background check. These Acts were intended to cover employees of agencies and schools, however, some agencies and school districts, acting on the advice of their solicitors, are also requiring these   background checks for interns if the student involved is at least 21 years of age. The necessary forms for Act 33 (agencies) can be secured through the internship site supervisor or personnel director. Forms for Act 34 (schools) can be secured in the Office of Certification and Education Services, 228 Chambers Building, Penn State University Park campus. At the time of this publication, State Police Request for Criminal Record Information costs $10.00 and the FBI charges $18.00 for a Fingerprint Record search. Interns who are required to do this should make arrangements to do this at least six weeks prior to the beginning of the internship. Failure to do so could result in termination of the internship placement.