PERSPECTIVES ON PRACTICUM - A SURVEY OF DIRECTORS OF ACCREDITED PHD PROGRAMS AND INTERNSHIPS (OR, WHAT IS A PRACTICUM HOUR, AND HOW MANY DOI NEED)

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.