Academic Programs

Clinical Placement & Training

Students seeking the California license as a marriage and family therapist and the PPS Credential are required to complete 450 hours of practicum experience at an approved training agency and 700 field placement hours at an approved K–12 public school prior to degree completion.

The practicum experience allows students to provide counseling services to clients under the supervision of licensed professionals. Phillips-approved training sites include counseling centers, schools, mental health agencies and hospitals throughout Southern California in addition to opportunities in the Phillips Counseling Center.

Assistance with clinical placement and school counseling field placement is provided by the MFT Department’s Co-Directors of Clinical Placement and by School Counseling advisors. Depending on the site and the appropriate supervision, it is possible that hours could be counted toward both MFT licensure and the PPS credential requirement. Some of the PPS practicum courses are taught by faculty with an MFT license who are able to sign for MFT hours completed at PPS field placement sites.

Students may begin their Practicum experience after they have completed 14 units of course work and have been designated by Phillips faculty as trainees who are ready to begin clinical work and school counseling work.

<

Note: Please see the Course Catalog for more information about MFT and School Counseling placement.