Externship

Policy Statement

Externship is a field-based course where students gain practical experience under the supervision of an industry professional. Currently attending students enrolled in programs that include an externship have access to support services in preparation for and throughout the course.

The Career Services Department oversees externship preparation and management as well as site assignment for all programs. Faculty-qualified representatives assist with clinical oversight and evaluation of students participating in clinical experiences. Students who have questions regarding externship should email externship@northwestcareercollege.edu.

Externship Scheduling

Students are scheduled to start externship after all academic prerequisite courses and Career Services requirements have been completed. All students are required to be available to participate in externship for at least 24 hours per week but are encouraged to be available for 40 hours per week as many sites require students to complete full-time hours to be eligible for placement at their facility. Students must be available to complete the minimum required hours during regular business hours (8:00 am – 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday).

Students are typically scheduled to start externship on the first day of their final term. However, exact externship start dates depend on supervisor availability at clinical sites. On occasion, situations may arise within organizations serving as externship sites which cause delays between the end of classes and the beginning of externship. These delays will be minimized or avoided whenever possible.

Students returning from LOA to attempt their externship term are required to remain in regular communication with the Career Services department and Registrar to ensure adequate time for course registration and site assignment. Failure to do so may result in delays to the beginning of externship to a later term.

Externship Site Evaluation

Externship sites are required to go through a screening process prior to affiliation whereby a facultyqualified individual evaluates the conduciveness of site personnel, facilities, location, and availability to create quality of learning opportunities for students. Sites are NOT required to guarantee employment for students who complete externship at their facility to qualify as an affiliate.

Externship Site Assignment

Externship Site Assignments are made by the Career Services Department based on site availability, student candidate profiles, and employer profiles. Site assignments are considered final once a student has started externship.

Important considerations related to site assignment include:

NCC cannot guarantee that students will be assigned to externship sites with employment opportunities available to graduates.
NCC cannot guarantee that students will be assigned to externship sites within their preferred geographic area. Rather, students are assigned to externship sites within customary and usual commuting distance of the location(s) where they received their program instruction (typically estimated as a 20-40 minute commute by car).
NCC does not allow students to complete externship via distance education. Externship is considered “residential” and must be completed on-ground at an affiliated facility.
Some facilities have requirements exceeding those required for program admission that must be met prior to site assignment. Examples include proof of supplemental immunizations (e.g. influenza, COVID-19), TB test results, physical examination results, proof of health insurance, drug test results, and background check results. Students are financially responsible for the costs associated with these requirements if they wish to complete their externship at such a facility..

Student Responsibilities

Students are required to remain in regular communication with their assigned Career Services Advisor while on externship. Failure to promptly respond to mandatory communications may result in externship delays or failure of the course.

Students are expected to attend 100% of their scheduled externship hours. Students must receive prior approval from their assigned Career Services Advisor and the on-site supervisor for all absences. Inconsistent attendance or extended absences may result in failure of the course.

Students are expected to immediately report any concerns to their assigned Career Services Advisor if they believe they are not receiving adequate training at the site. These reports will be evaluated by the Director of Career Services on a case by case basis.

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