Internship Information

Internship

Basic Requirements

• Interns complete a 600-hour (15 credit) internship at a facility, agency, or other employment setting consistent with your professional goals and interests. A complete description of internship requirements and application procedures are described in our INTERNSHIP MANUAL. Students must be familiar with all of the policy and procedures that are described in this manual.

  

• The purpose of the internship is to help students develop, under  supervision, professional competencies in helping people to attain and/or maintain employment, personal independence, and satisfactory personal/social relationships, empowering people with disabilities to be as independent as possible.

• Interns are required to be involved in as many aspects of the rehabilitation and human services process as their academic training and agency  responsibilities permit.

• Internships are completed during the last semester of your senior year.  It is your responsibility to make sure all other requirements for the degree have been fulfilled before you begin your internship.

• Our internship database - A complete list of sites where students have completed internships in the past five years and contact information is available.

Considerations for Internship

Background Checks

• Pennsylvania Acts 33 and 34 require that prospective employees of agencies serving children or working with public and private schools 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 present evidence of an FBI background check.  Some agencies and school districts, acting on the advice of their solicitors, are also requiring these background checks for interns if the students involved are at least 21 years of age.

• The necessary forms for Act 33 and Act 34 can be found at: 

  www.dpw.state.pa.us/partnersproviders/childwelfare/003671038.htm .

• Interns who are required to provide evidence of background checks should make arrangements to do this AT LEAST TWO MONTHS PRIOR to the beginning of the internship.  Failure to do so will result in termination of the internship placement.

Liability Insurance

• Penn State advises students to carry and maintain professional liability insurance while on internship. The following company provides a policy of malpractice and personal liability insurance specifically for students. The enrollment dates you choose should include your internship semester.  Applications are available in room 315 CEDAR building or on-line.

Marsh Affinity Group Services
1440 Renaissance Drive
Park Ridge, IL 60068-1400
1-800-503-9230
www.seaburychicago.com/

For more information on internships, review our Internship Q & A.