Sequence of Clinical Training

Sequence of Clinical Training

ASHA Certification Clock Hour Requirements
The University of Georgia clock hour requirements for graduation from the Communication Sciences and Disorders (CMSD) program exceed the 2005 ASHAStandards and Implementation for the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language by five hours for the total number of graduate hours required. Clock hour minimum requirements that were established by the CMSD program are to ensure that practicum experiences encompass the breadth and depth of the current SLP scope of practice with adults and children, as required by ASHA. Clock hour requirements are as follows:

Screening and Oral Communication Requirements

1. CMSD students receive a departmental speech, language, and hearing screening upon entering the Communication Sciences and Disorders program.  Students previously screened while in the UGA undergraduate program do not need to repeat the process.
2. All Master’s level CMSD students must demonstrate communication skills sufficient to achieve effective clinical and professional interactions with their clients and relevant others.  Speech and language skills in English must be, at a minimum, consistent with ASHA’s position statement on students and professionals who speak English with accents and nonstandard dialects.  This requires that students demonstrate speech and language skills in English so that modeling of the target phoneme, grammatical feature, or other aspect of speech and language that characterizes the client’s problem is correct (2005 SLP ASHA CCC Standards, IV-B).

CLINICAL SEQUENCE

Clinical Observation

1. Students must complete 25 hours of clinical observation to meet ASHA certification requirements.  Typically, these observation hours are completed at the undergraduate level before beginning graduate level courses.
2. The UGA CMSD Program requires that these hours be completed before beginning direct work with clients.  Official documentation with signatures of the individual(s) observed and ASHA certification number is required before beginning clinical practicum.
3. Students may complete these hours observing audiology and/or speech-language pathology diagnostic and/or treatment sessions.  Students may count only those hours spent observing direct client service and interactions.
4. Students should attempt to complete observations in a variety of work settings (medical, school, nursing home, private practice, clinic, etc.).
5. Students should observe only ASHA certified individuals or graduate clinicians working under the direction of certified individuals.  Observations of individuals in a paraprofessional or technician level position are not eligible to be counted toward the 25 required hours.
6. Any student completing observations in the UGA Speech and Hearing Clinic must complete CMSD training regarding the privacy and security regulations required by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) before observations will be authorized.

Clinical Practicum

1. Students participating in clinical practicum are required to purchase professional liability insurance, which must be renewed annually. Insurance is available through Marsh Affinity Group Servicesat https://www.proliability.com/ahc/ or 1-800-503-9230.
2. A student will be considered for speech-language pathology clinical practicum experiences (CMSD 7041) upon entrance into the graduate program, based on academic and observation preparation. Once cleared, a student is required to enroll in clinical practicum each term (CMSD 7041-7046) for a minimum of six semesters on campus and will be expected to see a client or clients, as scheduled.
3. Registration for practicum is required for students to receive clinic assignments or clock hours.  If unsure about practicum enrollment, students should consult with their academic advisor or clinical faculty for the correct clinical practicum course number before registration deadlines.
4. Students must have completed the minimum prerequisite courses before receiving assignment to particular disorder cases.  Students may take specific disorder area courses prior to or concurrent with clinical work with those disorder cases.
5. During the graduate program, the student will also enroll in CMSD 7140 (Clinical Practicum in Audiology) for supervised practice in hearing screenings, diagnostic audiology, and/or aural rehabilitation.
6. All students will attend clinical seminar(s) along with clinical practicum to serve as a forum for clinical discussions, instruction in clinically relevant topics, and case presentations.
7. The student’s practicum, whether on or off campus, is under the direction of the UGA clinical faculty.  Students may not make independent arrangements for their clinical assignments.  Students may share their requests for placements with clinical faculty who may follow-up on them as appropriate.
8. A student’s first 25 hours of clinical practicum must be supervised on-campus or by University clinical faculty off-campus.  All clock hours must be supervised by an ASHA- certified clinician.  The supervisor must sign for all clock hours for them to be valid.
9. Students will be assigned cases in clinic in a graduated manner, providing easier cases and fewer clients initially. Clinical assignments and caseload will increase over each term, to prepare students for the off-campus internship experiences.  Students are likely to have only one case assignment their first term in clinic or be paired with a second-year student.  Each term following, students should expect to have an increasing clinic load and/or to demonstrate increasing growth and independence in their clinical performance.
10. After the first semester, students may be assigned to a full or partial placement in various off-campus practicum locations. These may include sites such as the McPhaul Child and Family Development Center, Oglethorpe Preschool Program (Oglethorpe County), Athens Adult Day Care Center, Hope Haven, and/or various local medical or school settings.
11. Supervision during clinical practicum will be commensurate with the student’s experience, knowledge base, demonstrated ability, clinical skill level, interaction skills, and level of case difficulty.  It is the goal of supervision to facilitate clinical independence; however, all supervisors will adhere to the ASHA supervision requirement of a minimum of 25% direct supervision of the student’s total contact time with each client, which must occur periodically throughout the practicum.  It is the policy of the UGA Speech and Hearing Clinic to strive for 50% supervision of all therapy cases and 100% supervision for all diagnostic cases.
12. Assessment clock hours will be earned through direct diagnostic lab/block assignments, which include individual screening, screening group assignments, assessment of therapy clients, and client conferences (with clients, caregivers).  Assessments will also be available during semester breaks or for special diagnostic cases, and students are encouraged to make every effort to be available for those opportunities.
13. Performance checks and grading:
    1. Periodic performance checks based on clinical competency and progress made to date will occur by assessing clinical performance with the Practicum Evaluation form (CF 405) at midterm and at the end of each semester.  Accomplishment of clinical and academic knowledge and skills requirements will be evaluated and documented each semester on the Clinical and Academic Competency Formative Assessment Record (CF 411).
    2. Specific information regarding grading is located in the Clinic Handbook (CP 21.0, Clinic Practicum Policies and Procedures).  As stated in the Grading Policy, a student must earn a grade of S (Satisfactory) or a letter grade of C or better on all clinical work and assignments.
    3. A student earning a grade of U (Unsatisfactory) or below a C for the term before internship should expect to remain on campus in clinic practicum for at least Phase I and frequently Phase II of the Off-Campus Clinical Internships.  The determination of continuation toward internship will be made based on improved skills and clinical performance during Phase I and Phase II.
    4. It is important to note that a student may have earned grades at borderline levels, but may be determined by the respective clinical committee as not meeting requirements for internship.  If that occurs, the student will be informed verbally and in writing of the inadequacies to be developed before internship.  A Competency Remediation Plan (CF 412) will be developed with the student and clinical supervisors to determine objectives and timelines for compliance.
    5. A student who does not meet clinic requirements by the middle of summer semester prior to Phase I internship will be placed in a more intensive remedial practica during Phase I, and if successfully completed, will move on to internship Phase II the next semester.
    6. If a student continues to perform at a below-satisfactory level during Phase I/II, a committee consisting of the student’s clinical supervisors, the student’s advisor, and the CMSD Program Director review the student’s performance.  This committee will determine if the student is to continue further remedial practicum, whether remedial steps are needed to bring a student’s skills to expected/appropriate levels, or will identify other appropriate options available for the student.
    7. Remedial clinic options: Remedial clinic assignments may consist of on-campus assignments, off-campus assignments, assigned readings, assigned observations, regular meetings with clinical supervisors, role-play of problematic situations, videotaping, and evaluation with supervisor, or other clinically relevant activities assigned to improve specific clinical skills.
14. Student participation in supervision and progression:
    1. Progression through the practica sequence of six semesters and completion of internship during Phase I and Phase II is the likely outcome for the majority of students, but it should not be assumed.
    2. Students should take an active interest in their clinical practica assignments and should use the supervisory process appropriately to develop their skills, knowledge base, and clinical independence.
    3. The consensus of the clinical faculty and the academic faculty, when appropriate, is required for a student to move forward to internship sequence.  Most students can expect to move forward without delay; however, students experiencing difficulty may need additional clinical work before internship.

Off-Campus Clinical Internships

1. Many school systems and medical settings require a criminal background check be completed before internship placement. The UGA College of Education requires satisfactory clearance of a criminal background check for all students who are admitted to Teacher Education for student teaching. Students must make a written statement for any reports that come back with incidents, which is shared with the CMSD program director and clinic director. Any criminal findings will be considered good cause for denial of placement in field experiences.
2. Students will complete two separate internship affiliations consisting of 9 – 10 weeks each.  These clinical assignments will be full-time placements in two distinctly different settings, so that clinicians may gain experience and clock hours with a variety of clients and in differing work settings.
3. The sequence for affiliations is a follows:
   1. Typically, a student will successfully complete four on-campus practica terms before the final semester, which is divided into three 9 – 10 week internship periods, of which students will complete two:
      

      Phase I from January- mid March
      Phase II from mid March – mid May
      Phase III from mid May- mid July

   2. If a student does not enroll in clinic for a term, the on-campus practicum will be extended into the internship period during Phase 1 and possibly Phase II.
   3. Because of the number of clock hours and the level of competency required before an internship is initiated, internships may be completed only after successful completion of clinic practica and academic courses.
4. Students will be assigned to their internship placements typically during their fourth semester of their graduate program.  Students will apply for internship placements through the respective Internship Coordinators (SLP School-based and SLP Medical-based) by following the requirements of those Internship Coordinators.
5. Living arrangements are the responsibility of the student; however, placements will be made with geographical location requests in mind.  Although Internship Coordinators cannot guarantee particular placements for students, every effort is made by the Coordinators to make a compatible match between the student’s needs and the internship’s requirements.
6. Both internships must be passed and all 405 clock hours must be completed before graduation from the program.
7. Internship grading policy:
   1. Once a student moves forward to the internship sequence, the grades are recommended by the internship supervisor(s), on an S/U basis, using the internship evaluation form appropriate for that setting as a guide.
   2. Additional documentation may be provided by the supervisor to support the grade issued.  In rare instances, the student may be issued an Incomplete when the supervisor feels that the student is progressing, but has not yet met all skill competencies at a satisfactory level.  The student would then extend the internship at the internship site or be placed in another setting to continue the internship.  If the student is extending at the same site, a full nine-week internship may not be required.  If placed in an alternative setting, it is likely that the internship will be 8-10 weeks to insure many opportunities for success.
   3. Decisions on rectification of an Incomplete are based on the student’s needs and recommendation from the internship supervisor in conjunction with the UGA Internship Coordinator and Clinic Director.
   4. Students and internship supervisors are encouraged to communicate closely with the UGA Internship Coordinator throughout internship difficulties.
8. Alterations in a student’s program typically require full faculty support, although they may be based on clinical faculty or academic faculty recommendations.  Full faculty support is also needed for alterations to the above clinical sequence policy.
9. Students completing thesis requirements may be scheduled for internships on a different schedule due to the progression of their thesis.
10. Please refer to the Clinic Practicum Handbook for further details relating to internship requirements.
11. Questions regarding the practica to internship process should be directed to the clinical supervisor(s), internship coordinators/liaisons, or to the clinic director.

Updated

July 23, 2008