Many people pursuing advanced degrees will need to complete a practicum experience in order to graduate. Though they are most common in master’s and doctoral degrees, they are also required in some undergraduate degrees. As a result, the number of practicum hours required varies greatly between schools and academic disciplines. A doctoral degree, for example, typically necessitates significantly more practicum hours than a bachelor’s degree. The number of hours required depends on the purpose of the practicum; for some fields, it is simply a supplementary learning experience, similar to an internship, whereas for others, it is an absolute requirement to gain work experience in order to earn a certificate or professional license.
Each college or university that requires its degree candidates to complete a practicum will specify the number of hours in advance. If students are earning college credits for their practicum, they may be required to pay for it, but most practicums are unpaid for the duration. If pay is received, it is usually insignificant. The number of practicum hours that each student is required to complete can range from 60 to 2,000 hours. The first is roughly equivalent to part-time work over the course of a semester, whereas the second is roughly equivalent to a year of full-time work.
A full year of work, or approximately 1,500 to 2,000 practicum hours, is likely to be required for doctoral candidates, such as those pursuing a professional degree and license to practice psychology. Students pursuing a bachelor’s or master’s degree will likely require significantly less, but this depends on the course of study and the university’s decision. Although not all degrees require a practicum, those that do are usually quite insistent that students complete the work in a timely manner.
Another factor that affects the practicum hours requirement is whether a student is completing a degree program in a traditional educational setting or online. Many online degree programs, especially those that are regionally accredited and thus more demanding for students, will require additional practicum hours to ensure that graduates have hands-on experience in their chosen field. This will almost certainly be true of online master’s and doctoral programs, as it is critical to the school’s success that the graduates it produces are competent and capable of being hired, as this will reflect well on the school and encourage future enrollment.