Clinical Experience

Externship assignments are typically made nearer the end of the didactic portion of a course. Students must be prepared to travel to their externship assignments. Based on site availability and topical course requirements, students may be required to complete their hours at more than one site. Students who decline two clinical sites may be required to withdraw from the program. Students must be in good academic and financial standing before a site will be assigned.

Attendance to clinical is mandatory. Students failing to appear for a scheduled rotation without a pre-arranged excused absence will be charged a $150.00 fee. Unplanned absences will only be excused if the student provides a doctor’s note or an accident report that supports the inability of the student to make prior arrangements.

While didactic classes are scheduled Monday through Friday, except on holidays and faculty planning days, clinical sessions may be scheduled weekdays or weekends, day or evening. Students will be notified in advance of attendance and are expected to make themselves available to complete hours during this timeframe. Class times will vary depending on course selection. Students must attend the hours designated by the site. Schedules may not be changed without permission from the college’s Clinical Coordinator who will negotiate with the assigned site supervisor. In the event the student will be absent from an externship assignment; the student must call the college in advance. If student misses two or more clinical assignments without proper notification, the student may be dismissed from the program.

ACI will not assign clinical hours during published holidays or vacations as faculty will not be available for supervision. It is the responsibility of the student to acquire faculty signature on the Clinical Hours log on the date the hours were completed. The student will not ask or expect the faculty member to sign hours from past attendance. If a student has missed any assigned hours, s/he must approach the Clinical Coordinator to arrange for make-up time. Make-up hours will not receive top priority. Students will not be considered to have completed their clinical requirements until the college has certified all required attendance hours. Providing ACI with inaccurate data regarding clinical attendance or performance is grounds for dismissal from the college.

A faculty member will evaluate the student throughout each clinical assignment. At the end of each course’s assignment, the student is responsible for submitting the corresponding Clinical Hours Log. Submission of the Clinical Hours Logs is required for graduation. Clinical hours are a Pass (A) or Fail (F) component of the overall course. If a student fails to complete the hours for a course within its five-week period, the student will receive an incomplete grade (I) and be granted an additional five weeks within which to complete the hours. Failure to complete the clinical hours for a course within the subsequent period will result in failure of the course and may delay the student’s expected graduation date.

Clinical sites are a professional environment. Students must conduct themselves in a manner deemed appropriate for a professional workplace. This includes arriving at least 15 minutes ahead of time unless otherwise stated by the site, being ready to begin clinical activities on time, leaving at the designated time and not before, and acting in a reliable and responsible manner. Students must always demonstrate a professional image and demeanor, and practice good personal hygiene. Students will wear the college uniform unless the site requests otherwise. Students must adhere to site protocols and complete any assignments given by college instructor or site supervisor. The student should never reveal any confidential information regarding patients, clients, or their families; guarding their privacy in every way possible and adhering to HIPPA regulations.

The site supervisor may at any time and for any reason, request that the college remove a student from the site. Students that have been asked to leave the site by the supervisor may have to wait until another site or rotation becomes available to resume their clinical hours. Therefore, students should make every effort to demonstrate the utmost integrity and honesty while at a clinical site.