What should I do before my practicum starts?

The weeks between accepting a placement and your first day matter a lot. Use them to clear the administrative hurdles and get clear on what you and your preceptor expect.

Clear the administrative hurdles

• Clearances. Background checks, fingerprinting, TB tests, and immunization records can take weeks. Start all of them together as soon as you have the list. Ask early who pays, because this varies by program and site.
• Required trainings. Sites commonly require HIPAA or other compliance modules. Finish them in one focused session rather than spreading them out.
• Paperwork map. Ask your coordinator for every document due before, during, and after the practicum. Note who signs each one and when it's due. Getting out of the paperwork jungle shows a simple way to track all of it.

Prepare for the work itself

• Draft your learning objectives and a first list of competencies that fit the projects you've discussed.
• Learn about the organization. Read its recent reports, get to know the community it serves, and check which tools it uses. If you'll need software you haven't used, start learning it now.
• Set up your documentation system so you can log hours and activities from the first day. A structured record like the Practicum Logbook or your own template both work.

Plan the day-one conversation

The most useful thing you can do early is talk with your preceptor about expectations. Bring questions such as:

• What will I be working on, and how will my time usually be spent?
• What does success look like to you?
• How and when will we check in and handle feedback?

Share your required competencies and learning goals too. Afterward, email a short summary of what you agreed to. Starting with explicit expectations prevents the mismatched expectations that can sour a practicum for months.