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Fieldwork

During fieldwork, you will engage in practical, relevant, and meaningful experiences across the domains of academic, social/emotional, and college/career counseling. Fieldwork is your opportunity to observe the workings of counseling sites, apply the knowledge gained in the classroom, and continue to develop a style as a school counselor in pre-K-12 or college settings. You are strongly encouraged to immerse yourself in the hands-on learning processes – learning beyond what’s simply required is essential for professional and personal growth.

While you are enrolled in EDUC 677A/B/C courses, you will complete the following hour requirements based on your program track:

Pre-K-12 Track & Credential-Only Program

Includes PPS Credential

Combo (Pre-K-12 + College) Track

Includes PPS Credential

 College Track
800 Total Hours of Fieldwork 800 Total Hours of Fieldwork 600 Total Hours of Fieldwork
  • A minimum of 800 fieldwork hours must be completed in two of three school levels such as elementary, middle, high school with a minimum of 200 hours completed within each level.
  • At least 600 of the 800 hours must be
    completed in public school settings with Pre-K-12 pupils.
  • 200 of the 800 hours may be completed in other areas related to schools and/or counseling (If you elect to complete 200 hours in a setting outside of the Pre-K-12 school system, you must have a site supervisor that has a master’s degree in counseling or a related field.)
  • 50% of the total number of fieldwork hours completed must be direct contact hours.
  • At least 100 hours of experience must be completed in each of the following areas: Social/Emotional, College/Career, and Academic.
  • A minimum of 150 fieldwork hours must be completed working with students of diverse backgrounds, including those with socioeconomic disadvantages, English learners, students who are housing insecure, students who are current or former foster youth; students with disabilities (including Section 504 plans), students experiencing suspension and expulsion from school, students who identify as LGBTQ+, and students who hold historically minoritized racial and ethnic identities; and understand information on school, district, State, and Federal policies and the impact of resulting practices.
  • A minimum of 800 fieldwork hours must be completed in two of three school levels such as elementary, middle, high school with a minimum of 200 hours completed within each level.
  • 200 of the 800 hours must be completed in a college or high school-to-college transition setting. (Your site supervisor for the 200 hours must have a master’s degree in counseling or a related field.)
  • At least 600 of the 800 hours must be
    completed in public school settings with Pre-K-12 pupils.
  • 50% of the total number of fieldwork hours completed must be direct contact hours.
  • At least 100 hours of experience must be completed in each of the following areas: Social/Emotional, College/Career, and Academic.
  • A minimum of 150 fieldwork hours must be completed working with students of diverse backgrounds, including those with socioeconomic disadvantages, English learners, students who are housing insecure, students who are current or former foster youth; students with disabilities (including Section 504 plans), students experiencing suspension and expulsion from school, students who identify as LGBTQ+, and students who hold historically minoritized racial and ethnic identities; and understand information on school, district, State, and Federal policies and the impact of resulting practices.

 
  • A minimum of 600 fieldwork hours must be completed at a minimum of two different sites.
  • 400 of the 600 hours must be completed in a college setting (community college or university).
  • Students may conduct hours at the same
    institution provided they are earned at two different offices or departments.
  • It is recommended that 200 hours are conducted in a high school or a high school-to-college transition setting.
  • 50% of the total number of fieldwork hours completed must be direct contact hours.
  • At least 100 hours of experience must be completed in each of the following areas: Social/Emotional, College/Career, and Academic.
  • A minimum of 150 fieldwork hours must be completed working with students of diverse backgrounds, including those with socioeconomic disadvantages, English learners, students who are housing insecure, students who are current or former foster youth; students with disabilities (including Section 504 plans), students experiencing suspension and expulsion from school, students who identify as LGBTQ+, and students who hold historically minoritized racial and ethnic identities; and understand information on school, district, State, and Federal policies and the impact of resulting practices.

 

Advancing to Fieldwork

As a fieldwork candidate, you are may begin fieldwork as early as the third term (summer, first year). To advance to fieldwork, you must complete the steps outlined below. 

Step 1: Begin to Explore Your Areas of Interest

While completing your pre-fieldwork requirements, begin to think about your areas of interest within counseling and how your fieldwork experience will align with your professional and personal goals. As fieldwork plays a central role in your development as a school and/or college counselor, it is the time for you to explore and learn about the counseling services, spaces, and populations that interest you the most.

You can begin to identify your professional and personal goals by:

  • Attending webinars and professional development events
  • Discussing your interests with faculty and other counseling students
  • Utilizing the Office of Career and Professional Development's resources and services
  • Exploring resources available through community partners and professional organizations

Step 2: Complete All Pre-Fieldwork Requirements

To ensure you are best prepared to begin your fieldwork experience, you must complete all the pre-fieldwork requirements, including coursework and practica.

For further information about the pre-fieldwork requirements, please visit the Pre-Fieldwork page.

Step 3: Attend the Practicum/Fieldwork Fair

In February of each year, the Office of Licensures and Credentialing (OLC) partners with the Department of Counseling and Human Services (DCHS) to host a Practicum/Fieldwork Fair. The fair aims to help counseling students explore practicum/fieldwork settings, foster greater understanding of programs and services that align to school and clinical counseling, and share resources and expectations related to practicum/fieldwork. First-year students are expected to attend the fair as it will help prepare them for a successful transition to the field.

To learn more about the fair, please visit the Practicum/Fieldwork Fair page.

Step 4: Identify a Fieldwork Site

When considering whether you can complete your fieldwork experience at a particular site, you should ask yourself:

  • Does the site align with my goals and areas of interest?
  • Can I accrue the required number of direct contact hours?
  • Is it possible to earn the total number of required hours during the term?
  • Is there a Site Supervisor who meets the qualifications and will provide weekly supervision?
  • Does the site have a current partnership with the university?

In order to be qualified, your site supervisor is required to: 

  1. Hold a valid Pupil Personnel Services: School Counseling credential and have a minimum of 2 years of PPS experience as appropriate to the fieldwork setting (for Pre-K-12 settings only)
  2. Hold a master's degree in counseling or a related field
  3. Have a minimum of 2 years post-master's experience as a counselor
  4. Have worked at least one year in the school/site where the supervision will be conducted

In addition, the University of Redlands must have a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the fieldwork site before you can begin. Please review our active partnership list to determine whether a partnership is in place with your potential site.

If you are interested in a district or organization not currently partnered with the university, please notify the Office of Licensures and Credentialing  (olc@redlands.edu) via e-mail as soon as possible because new fieldwork partnerships require a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the University of Redlands and the site. The contractual agreement process can take up to three months. 

Pre-K-12 Placement Process - Requesting Pre-K-12 Sites:

If you are interested in completing fieldwork at the Pre-K-12 level, please explore the list of partnering school districts and charter organizations by viewing our active partnership list. You can also visit the Fieldwork Opportunities page for more information. You will need to identify the school district or charter organization and the level you prefer. You can complete fieldwork at up to two sites per term.

As a candidate seeking a Pre-K-12 placement, you should not contact school districts or make your own Pre-K-12 site arrangements. The Office of Licensures and Credentialing will coordinate all Pre-K-12 placements directly with school districts and charter school based on what you request on your Fieldwork Placement Form prior to each semester. 

While you are unable to coordinate a Pre-K-12 fieldwork placement on your own, you are welcome to connect with school counselors directly to learn about their sites prior to submitting your request for the next semester. If you make a connection with a particular school counselor, it is best to encourage them to contact their district representative to request to host a University of Redlands student as all fieldwork placements must be approved by the district.

College-Level Placement Process - Identifying & Confirming College-Level Sites:

If you are looking to complete fieldwork at the college level, you are responsible for identifying and confirming your own site and site supervisor for the upcoming semester. College-level placements require advance coordination and often involve an application process. The entire process can take up to 6-8 weeks. When pursuing a college-level site, you must ensure your identified site has a current partnership with the university by reviewing our active partnership list.

During the process of identifying a college-level site, you may reach out to community colleges, universities, and other institutions directly to inquire about fieldwork oppportunities. You can also visit the Fieldwork Opportunities page for more information. If you need support as you seach for a fieldwork site, you are encouraged to connect with the Office of Career and Professional Development for services and support.

Prior to each semester, you will indicate to the Office of Licensures and Credentialing the college-level fieldwork site(s) you are pursuing by submitting the Fieldwork Placement Form by the designated semester deadline.

Step 5: Submit the Fieldwork Placement Form by the Designated Semester Deadline

In order to complete fieldwork, you will complete the School Counseling Fieldwork Placement Form by the stated deadline for that particular term. Candidates electing to continue at their current site for an additional semester must also complete the form by the stated deadline.

If you are requesting a Pre-K-12 placement, you will request your site preference(s) including school district and level. If you are indicating a college-level placement, you will indicate the institution(s) where you are pursuing fieldwork.

If you are advancing to fieldwork for the first time, you will need to attach evidence of the requirements listed below. More information about the requirements can be found on Pre-Fieldwork page.

Approved Practica Log

You must attach your completed Practica Hour Log of approved practica activities. 
Proof of Liability Insurance You must attach proof of professional liability insurance. 
Negative TB Test You must attach proof of a current negative tuberculosis test that will not expire prior to completion of fieldwork. Skin TB tests are valid for 2 years and chest x-ray exams are valid for 5 years.
Certificate of Clearance You must have a valid Certificate of Clearance with CTC during the program and at the time of submitting the Fieldwork Placement Form.
Current Curriculum Vitae (CV) You must attach your current CV, which should include information such as your educational background, courses completed, volunteer/work experience, pre-fieldwork and/or fieldwork experiences, conferences/presentations, skills, and professional membership(s).

 

Step 6: Confirm Your Fieldwork Site(s)

You will receive an email notification from the Office of Licensures and Credentialing after your placement form has been reviewed and when your placement with a district is confirmed, if applicable. If your fieldwork site requires an additional application process, such as an interview, you will complete those requirements at this time.

If you are planning to complete fieldwork hours at a site that is not currently partnered with the University of Redlands, the Office of Licensures and Credentialing will begin the process of securing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the site prior to you beginning your fieldwork experience.

Have Questions? Need Support?

Student Success Advisors focus on providing comprehensive support and guidance. Learn more about how to recieve support from the Student Success Center.

STUDENT SUCCESS CENTER