What if my work doesn't fit my chosen competencies?

Practicums rarely go exactly as planned. A project gets delayed, your preceptor changes, or the work turns out to emphasize different skills than you expected. When that happens, the worst response is to stretch vague connections at the end of the semester. Reviewers can tell.

Figure out what kind of gap it is

Look at your activity log and sort the problem:

• Partial gap: you are doing related work but have not had the chance to apply the competency fully yet
• Wrong fit: your actual work clearly aligns with different competencies than the ones you selected
• Missing opportunity: your site cannot offer anything that addresses a required competency

Match the fix to the gap

For a partial gap, ask your preceptor for a specific task that would let you apply the skill, such as drafting a section of a report or presenting findings at a staff meeting. Small, targeted additions often work.

For a wrong fit, revisit your selections. Many programs allow changes when a site's work shifts, especially if you raise it early, ideally around your midpoint review, and explain why. See retrofitting work to competencies for how to make that case.

For a missing opportunity, talk to your faculty advisor about alternatives, such as a supplementary project or another evidence source your program accepts.

Be honest in your documentation

Write about the competencies your work genuinely addressed, with specific evidence. If a planned competency did not materialize, acknowledging it and explaining how you adapted shows professional judgment. A few strong, authentic narratives are far more convincing than many forced ones.

Timing matters

Bring gaps to your advisor as soon as you notice them. Early conversations leave room for solutions; end-of-term requests leave very few. Check your program handbook for its specific process and deadlines for changing competencies.