Can I do my practicum at my current job?

If you already work in a public health setting, a workplace practicum can solve scheduling and money problems at once. Programs generally accept this arrangement under conditions meant to make sure you're still learning something new.

Typical conditions

Rules vary by program, but common requirements include:

• Distinct work. Your practicum project must go beyond your normal job description. Doing your usual job and counting those hours generally won't qualify.
• A separate preceptor. Many programs want someone other than your direct supervisor, or at least someone who can evaluate your practicum work apart from your job performance.
• Qualified supervision. Your preceptor still has to meet your program's qualification rules. See preceptor qualification requirements.
• Separate time tracking. You may need to show which hours were practicum work and which were your regular job.
• Formal approval, often through a proposal or learning agreement, and sometimes an affiliation agreement with your employer.

Building a strong proposal

Look for an unmet need at your organization, such as an evaluation nobody has time for, a data project, or a new community partnership. Describe how it differs from your current role, which competencies it builds, and what you'll produce. Get your employer's support in writing before you submit.

Pros and cons

The upside is obvious: familiar people, no commute change, and often continued pay. The downsides are real, too. Practicum work can get squeezed by daily job demands, and you miss the chance to see a new organization and build a new network. The working student double bind discusses how to protect practicum time when your job and practicum share a building.

Start the approval conversation with your practicum coordinator early, since these proposals can take extra review.