Je. Hecker et al., PERSPECTIVES ON PRACTICUM - A SURVEY OF DIRECTORS OF ACCREDITED PHD PROGRAMS AND INTERNSHIPS (OR, WHAT IS A PRACTICUM HOUR, AND HOW MANY DOI NEED), Professional psychology, research and practice, 26(2), 1995, pp. 205-210
Directors of American Psychological Association (APA)-accredited gradu
ate training programs in clinical psychology and APA-accredited intern
ships were surveyed regarding preinternship practicum requirements, de
finitions of practicum experience, and supervision practices. A striki
ng degree of variability in the number of required hours was found for
both samples. There was unanimous agreement within each sample that d
irect contact with clients should be considered practicum experience.
Most respondents indicated that individual supervision counted as prac
ticum. Beyond these 2 categories, there was considerable disagreement
as to what should be considered practicum experience.