Social Work Internships and Practicums
SocialWorkGuide.org is committed to delivering content that is objective and actionable. To that end, we have built a network of industry professionals across higher education to review our content and ensure we are providing the most helpful information to our readers.
Drawing on their firsthand industry expertise, our Integrity Network members serve as an additional step in our editing process, helping us confirm our content is accurate and up to date. These contributors:
- Suggest changes to inaccurate or misleading information.
- Provide specific, corrective feedback.
- Identify critical information that writers may have missed.
Integrity Network members typically work full time in their industry profession and review content for SocialWorkGuide.org as a side project. All Integrity Network members are paid members of the Red Ventures Education Integrity Network.
Explore and compare a list of accredited schools to enroll in your next program.
All accredited social work programs typically require experience in the field. More commonly known as an internship or a practicum, among other names, field experience helps social work students apply what they’ve learned in the classroom to real-world settings and situations, all while observing experienced professionals at work. It’s widely considered an essential part of many education programs, both in and out of the social work professions.
Review this handy guide to social work internships and social work practicums to learn more about these important experiences and how best to identify and pursue the experiences that speak to you and your unique professional aspirations.
Popular Online MSW Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
Social Work Internships vs Social Work Practicums: What’s the Difference?
Specific aspects of social work internships and practicums can vary by school, program, or degree level. The number of field hours required, for example, often changes.
Program staff often — but not always — help students find field placements that match their area of interest or specialization within social work so that they are better prepared to find their desired job after graduation. Check with your program to learn more about the process at your institution.
All field placements give students a leg up in their profession, providing them with practical work experience in dealing with the issues and challenges they are likely to face on the job.
Social Work Practicum: A Quick Overview
During a social work practicum, the student follows and observes an established social worker on a limited basis, usually once a week. The student may take on some responsibilities during the experience, but only under the close supervision of a trained social worker.
A practicum is generally part of a course that requires reporting and reflecting on experiences in the field to combine theory and practice, and is more common in bachelor’s-level programs.
A practicum requires less time per week than an internship. Students completing a practicum typically work for a few hours once a week, while interns usually work full-time or part-time.
Social Work Internship: A Quick Overview
Social work students begin their social work internships at various points along their educational journey. As one example, MSW students typically begin internships in their first year of instruction, alongside their initial coursework. But social work Internships may be other times as well, and may be completed on a part-time or full-time basis.
Social work interns tend to work more independently as they put their classroom learning into practice. Similarly to practicums, however, social work interns work under the close supervision of on-site professionals.
Social work interns also receive ongoing guidance and support from off-site educators who supervise their field placements.
They may assess client needs and help them obtain needed resources. In a school setting, for example, an intern might work with a group of students on identified skills or help the school social worker find resources for families. A clinical social work intern could provide counseling to clients, collect medical histories, and help maintain client records.
What Are Some Common Settings for a Social Work Internship?
Social work internships can occur in many settings, including:
- Schools
- Hospitals
- Community service agencies
- Correctional facilities
- Therapy practices
Programs attempt to match students with social work internships that match their professional goals. A student wishing to specialize in substance use or addiction counseling, for example, might complete a social work practicum or internship in a setting that offers this service to its clients.
How Long Will My Social Work Internship or Practicum Last?
Social work internships or practicums generally last either one semester or one academic year.
For bachelor’s-level social work students, a 100-hour practicum during one semester of their junior year would not be an uncommon duration. Meanwhile, master’s-level social work students typically complete internships three days per week during both years of their program.
In other words, required hours vary based on several factors. it is important to research the specific field experience requirements of the programs and professions that interest you.
Will I Get Paid for My Social Work Internship or Practicum?
It depends based on program and experience. Because a social work practicum is considered part of your education, students are sometimes not paid for their work. Some internships, however, are paid positions.
As with many other components of these programs, you’ll need to check with your program and internship coordinator to learn more about the specifics at your institution.
Will I Get Academic Credit for My Social Work Internship or Practicum?
Yes. Students who complete field placements as part of the curriculum for their social work program do receive academic credit for their practicum or internship.
A social work practicum is an integral part of an academic course, and professors build specific classes based on student experiences in the field. Students are expected to turn in assignments and meet benchmarks related to their field placement and then share their experiences.
Internships operate in much the same way, although requirements may be more rigorous. A social work internship may require research on the field placement agency, submitting treatment plans or client case studies, and completing other detailed reports.
