The purpose of the rehabilitation counseling practicum and internship is to develop, under appropriate supervision, professional competencies in assisting individuals with disabilities to attain their vocational or independent living goals. In addition to the academic coursework, the clinical experiences encourage students to apply the knowledge, skills and abilities they learned from their rehabilitation courses. This is a primary component in helping build the student’s competence and readiness to become a professional rehabilitation counselor.

The curriculum at WWU requires 100 hours of practicum and 600 hours of internship. The practicum student is focused on meeting with and providing counseling to clients of an organization, while the intern works with all aspects of the organization in serving the clientele. Successful completion of the practicum is a prerequisite to the supervised rehabilitation counseling clinical internship.  In both practicum and internship the student is expected to participate in a seminar facilitated by a University supervisor as well as weekly meetings with their on-site supervisor.

Work settings often used for practicum and internship include selected public and private rehabilitation agencies and human service facilities such as: community rehabilitation programs, public rehabilitation agency district offices, hospitals, institutions and psychological treatment programs for persons with long-term mental illness, rehabilitation hospitals, and supported employment programs.

Practicum Guide

Internship Guide