Internship Instructors - School of Social Work

Internship Instruction

How to Become an Internship Instructor for the University of Maine School of Social Work

Internship Instructor Benefits

Current internship instructor receive the following benefits:

Discounted registration fees for continuing education seminars
Free CEUs for workshops sponsored by the University of Maine School of Social Work Internship Department

Eligibility

Social workers who provide BSW-level internship instruction must hold a BSW and/or MSW. Social workers who provide MSW-level internship instruction must hold an MSW. In addition, all University of Maine School of Social Work internship instructors must meet the following criteria:

Two or more years of post-BSW and/or post-MSW social work experience;
Employed by the site for which they are providing internship instruction for at least 6 months prior to the student’s placement;
Agree to provide 1-1.5 hours of supervision per week to any assigned interns;
Participate in University of Maine School of Social Work internship instructor training and orientation.

How to Apply

If you meet the qualifications above, please submit an Agency Information Form. Once your application is received, the Internship team will review it and arrange for a meeting to get to know you and the internship opportunity. Once approved, the internship team will reach out to coordinate the connection between you and interested students.

Internship Instruction Resources

Training Modules

Resources for New Internship Instructors

Developmental Stages in Field (PDF) describes the developmental stages of the internship experience (or “field experience”) from the student’s perspective.
Orientation Plan for Students (PDF) is a checklist for field instructors to consider in orienting students to their agencies.
NASW Code of Ethics Website

Further Readings

Dozier, K., Currington, A. M., Bell, A., & Smith, B. D. (2025). “Is She Scared of Me?”: Exploring the Experiences Of Students of Color in Social Work Practicum. ALSWE Simmons School of Social Work, 15.1( Spring 2025).
Holcomb, D., Johnson, E., Roubal, J. V., & Thompson, C. (2025). Transformative Supervision: A Conceptual Framework for Relationally Based, Trauma-Informed Supervision In Postpandemic Practicum Education. ALSWE Simmons School of Social Work, 15.1(Spring 2025).
2022 EPAS Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards for Baccalaureate and Master’s Social Work Programs, Council on Social Work Education and Commission on Accreditation Commission on Educational Policy
Guidelines for Social Work Safety in the Workplace (2013), National Association of Social Workers
Best Practice Standards in Social Work Supervision, National Association of Social Workers and Association of Social Work Boards
NASW, ASWB, CSWE, & CSWA Standards for Technology in Social Work Practice (2017), National Association of Social Workers, Council on Social Work Education, Association of Social Work Boards, Clinical Social Work Association