Everything on publichealthpracticum.com, including the blog and the Help Center, is general educational information about the MPH practicum. It is written to help you ask better questions and plan ahead. It is not professional advice for your situation, and it does not replace the people and documents that actually govern your practicum: your program, your practicum coordinator, your site supervisor, and, where relevant, your international student office, a licensed attorney, or a health professional.

Optional to use, never required

Using this website, the Help Center, The Public Health Practicum Logbook, or any other resource from Angel Reyes Consulting LLC or Subthesis is entirely your choice. None of it is required by CEPH, by any MPH program, or by any practicum site, and you do not need to buy the book or use this site to complete a practicum or earn your degree. Your program's own forms, logs, and requirements always come first. If you choose to use the Logbook or anything on this site, use it alongside what your program requires, not instead of it.

Educational information only

The articles and short answers describe common practices and general rules. Programs, schools, agencies, and laws differ, and your circumstances may change the answer. Use what you read here as a starting point, then confirm the details that matter.

Not legal or immigration advice

Some articles discuss Curricular Practical Training (CPT) and Optional Practical Training (OPT) for F-1 students. Immigration rules are specific, strict, and can change. Before you accept, start, or change a practicum, confirm your work authorization with your international student office and your Designated School Official (DSO). For legal questions, consult a licensed immigration attorney.

Not medical, mental health, or crisis advice

Some articles discuss stress, burnout, and mental health during the practicum. They are not medical or mental health advice and are not a substitute for care from a qualified professional.

If you are in crisis in the United States, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. You can also contact your campus counseling center. If you are outside the United States, contact your local emergency services.

Not academic or accreditation advice

Your program handbook and your practicum coordinator govern your practicum, including hours, deliverables, competencies, site approval, and deadlines. Where this site and your program differ, follow your program.

No affiliation with CEPH

This site is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) or any academic institution. When we describe CEPH criteria, we refer to the criteria as of the March 2024 amendment. Accreditation criteria and their interpretation change, so check the current CEPH documents and your program for the version that applies to you.

Privacy law statements are general

Articles that mention HIPAA or other privacy laws give general information about how those laws commonly apply to practicum work. Whether a rule applies, and how, depends on the organization and the facts. Follow your practicum site's policies and training, and ask your site supervisor or the site's privacy officer when in doubt.

No guarantee of outcomes

Following suggestions on this site, or using The Public Health Practicum Logbook, does not guarantee any outcome, including a practicum placement, a job offer, a grade, graduation, or CHES or MCHES certification.

Author perspective

The content is written by Angel Reyes, MPH, MCHES, and reflects a practitioner's experience and perspective. It is not the official position of any school, employer, agency, or professional organization.

Accuracy, corrections, and update dates

We work to keep information accurate and current, and many pages show the date they were last updated. Even so, errors happen and rules change after publication. If you spot something wrong or out of date, email angel@subthesis.com or see the Contact page. We review corrections and update pages when needed.

External links

The site links to other websites for convenience. We do not control their content and are not responsible for its accuracy or for their policies.

See also our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

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