What should I wear to my practicum site?

Public health settings range widely, from a state health department to a community clinic, a school outreach program, or a nonprofit office. There's no single dress code, and guessing wrong in either direction can make you feel out of place.

Just ask

The easiest move is to ask your preceptor before you start: "What do people usually wear in the office, and are there days I'll need something different?" It's a normal question and shows you care about fitting in.

Default a step up

Until you know the norm, dress slightly more formally than the staff you'll work with. Business casual is a safe starting point in most offices. Once you've seen what colleagues wear on an ordinary day, adjust to match.

Dress for the setting, not just the office

• Community events and home visits: practical, modest clothing and comfortable shoes. Looking overly formal can create distance with the people you're there to serve.
• Clinical or field settings: follow any rules about closed-toe shoes, jewelry, badges, or protective equipment.
• Presentations or meetings with leadership: go more formal.
• Video calls: a neat top and a tidy, well-lit background are usually enough.

Etiquette that matters more than clothes

What you wear matters less than how you show up. Arrive on time, wear your ID badge if your site uses them, keep your phone away in meetings, learn people's names, and let your preceptor know when you'll be late or absent. Small habits like these shape how colleagues see you.

If you have religious, cultural, disability-related, or budget considerations, it's fine to raise them. Most sites are flexible. For more on setting expectations early, see mismatched expectations from day one.