How To Get The Most Out Of Your Practicum
Before you start clinical practicums you should have a firm grasp of the basics of herbal medicine including theoretical and practical applications. It is important to understand that your clinical mentor and practicum will focus on clinical issues and cases and not basic herbal knowledge. It is highly recommended that you discuss your expectations of the practicum with your mentor prior to the start of your practicum. Each practitioner sets out the learning outcomes and curriculum for their own practicums based on their own clinical practice, therefore each practicum might look different based on the practitioner and the season.
Working with more than one mentor may be beneficial in order to gain a wider perspective and insight into different types of clinical setups and practices; however, due to geographical restrictions, this isn’t always possible. We recommend you choose a practitioner that you align with professionally and in terms of healing philosophies.
In order to have the best possible experience we recommend the following:
- Be honest about your skill level and competency
- Be open to honest and fair feedback and evaluations from your mentor as well as an appraisal of your skill level throughout the practicum
- Abide by the confidentiality agreement set out by your mentor
- Respect your mentor’s boundaries with regard to time and energy
- Be proactive in your learning and show initiative
- Act professionally at all times during your practicum
- Be prompt and prepared for each day of your practicum
During your practicum, you will cover (through observation or practical application) all aspects of running a clinical practice including, but not limited to:
- Client Intake
- Lifestyle recommendations
- Dietary and herbal recommendations
- Making effective recommendations
- Keeping a herbal dispensary/apothecary
- Making referrals
- Continuity of care
- Discontinuing care
- Responding to adverse reactions
- Difficult patients
- Formulating
- Dosage
- Legal issues
- Office management
Cancellation Policy
If you need to cancel your practicum after payment has been made, you may be eligible for a refund or credit.
Our cancellation policy is as follows:
- If cancellation occurs more than 2 weeks before the practicum is due to begin, the student is eligible for a 50% refund or 75% credit (credit is only applicable to another practicum)
- If cancellation occurs less than 2 weeks before the practicum is due to begin, the student is eligible for a 25% refund or credit
- If cancellation occurs less than 48 hours before the practicum is due to begin, the student is not eligible for a refund
Should you be unable to attend your practicum due to sickness you should contact both your mentor and Wild Rose College at the earliest possible opportunity. It is at the practitioner’s discretion whether to make up those hours at a later date.
In the rare occurrence that either the practitioner or the student should want to discontinue the practicum once it has started. They should contact Wild Rose College via email at the earliest possible opportunity stating their reasons for wishing to discontinue the practicum. Any refund will be at the discretion of Wild Rose College.
Student Dispute Policy
A student’s written complaint should be sent via email or the Wild Rose College web submission form in order to provide receipt and verification of the date the complaint was received. The Administrative Manager will discuss the complaint and desired resolution with the student and following discussion the Administrative Manager will conduct whatever inquiries and/or investigations are necessary and appropriate to determine whether the complaint is substantiated or not. Those investigations/inquiries may involve further discussion(s) with the student either individually or with the appropriate staff/instructor or clinical manager. The student shall receive a written summary of the above determination within 45 days of the
date the complaint was received.
If it is determined that the student complaint is substantiated, the Administrative Manager will include a proposed resolution of the complaint. If the student is still not satisfied with the determination of the Administrative Manager, the student must then advise the Administrative Manager within 5 business days of being informed of the determination. The matter will then be referred to the Wild Rose College General Manager in order to review the complaint and provide a final decision in writing within 10 business days. The General Manager will either confirm or amend the determination of the Administrative Manager, at which point Wild Rose College’s Appeal/Dispute Resolution process will be exhausted.
Recommended Reading
The following texts might be helpful resources for your clinical training:
- Principles and Practices of Phytotherapy – Simon Mills and Kerry Bone
- The Consultation in Phytotherapy – Peter Conway
- Medical Herbalism, the Science and Practice of Herbal Medicine – David Hoffmann
- Botanical Medicine – Dr. Marisa Marciano and Dr. Nikita A Vizniak
- Herbal Formularies for Health Professionals (5 volumes) – Dr. Jill Stansbury, ND
- Botanical Medicine for Women’s Health – Aviva Romm
What constitutes clinical hours?
All Wild Rose College students must complete a minimum of 200 hours under practitioner supervision through the Wild Rose College Clinical Herbalist Apprenticeship Program for certification as a Clinical Herbalist. 80 of these hours must be completed through in-person practicums and students are able to complete up to 120 hours through Wild Rose College online practicums.
We certify our students upon reception of 350 documented hours of clinical practice (a minimum of 200 hours completed through our apprenticeship, and a minimum of 150 additional hours which may be completed via apprenticeship or other approved activities, outlined below).
- Working in a related industry in related and approved positions. 10:1 ratio up to a maximum of 100 hours of practice.
- Attending clinical-level workshops, seminars and conferences recognized by Wild Rose College. 1:1 ratio up to a maximum of 50 hours of practice.
- Documenting own clinical practice. 1:1 ratio up to a maximum of 150 hours of practice
- Carrying out a clinical-level research project (note that the Master Herbalist Diploma Program Thesis does not count towards this). 1:1 ratio up to a maximum of 25 hours of practice.
- Teaching and mentoring related to herbalism. 1:1 ratio up to a maximum of 25 hours of practice.
- Self-study (to include all media e.g. books, journals, videos, podcasts). 2:1 ratio up to a maximum of 25 hours of practice.
- Previous Nutrition School or Herbal School Clinical Practicum in approved schools and completed in the last ten years. 1:1 ratio up to a maximum of 100 hours
Note: Aside from previous clinical practicums, the above educational hours will be counted from the date the student has been accepted into the program.
Clinical Herbalist Apprenticeship Program – Student Agreement
The Clinical Practicum will allow for a variety of learning opportunities related to your herbal studies, including but not limited to intake and assessment, client consultations, fieldwork, and processing and preparing of various herbs. The Clinical Practicum will provide opportunities to work with a diverse range of practitioners and clients and to enhance professional skills in a community-based setting.
The purpose of this Agreement is to outline the obligations of Wild Rose College, the Clinical Practitioner and the Student to ensure successful Clinical Practicums that are mutually beneficial.
Wild Rose College is responsible for:
- Acting as a liaison between the practitioner and the student to facilitate the booking of
student practicum blocks - Providing practicum information to students and coordinating student bookings for each
practicum - Ensuring that all clinical students are in good standing and have satisfied all educational
prerequisites and professional standards - Tracking students’ clinical hours for graduation
- Resolving any disputes between the student and practitioner as they pertain to clinical
hours and completion of the practicum, conduct and learning expectations.
The practitioner is responsible for:
Keeping thorough records and documentation for each student and providing this
documentation at the request of Wild Rose College to include:
- Learning objectives and expectations of practicum (including clear discussion of rules and
expectations when working in your private clinical space) - Date and time of completed hours
- Learning format confirming either in person or online, as specified at the time of booking and
unable to be changed by either practitioner or student unless approved by Wild Rose College Education Manager) - Learning material covered in each session e.g. client intake, care plan discussion etc.
- Feedback for areas of improvement
Additionally, the practitioner is expected to:
- Sign off on student hours in a timely manner
- Invoice Wild Rose College per practicum, once completed in full
- Contact Wild Rose College for approval if any changes to the practicum dates, number of hours or learning format occur within each practicum
- Act in a professional and respectful manner
The student is responsible for:
- Providing accurate information with regard to the level of education and competence
- Abiding by any confidentiality agreements laid out by the practitioner
- Following rules and expectations set by the practitioner while working in the practitioner’s private clinic space.
- Discussing with the practitioner any specific learning objectives or expectations they wish to cover in their practicum
- Acting in a professional and respectful manner
- Keeping detailed records of practicum hours, learning outcomes and other necessary
information for graduation.
I understand and accept that by taking part in the Clinical Apprenticeship program facilitated by Wild Rose College of Herbal Medicine I will be working with practitioners who are not faculty of the college.
I understand and accept that it is my responsibility to become familiar with and abide by the regulations, rules, policies and administrative procedures established by my clinical practitioner and Wild Rose College of Herbal Medicine.
I understand and accept that Information regarding clients, volunteers, staff, and clinic or college operations shall be respected and handled confidentially. All information concerning clients, volunteers, staff or practitioners shall be confidential and shall not be disclosed to or discussed with anyone other than those authorized to receive such information unless disclosure is authorized by law.
I understand that intentional or involuntary violation of this duty of confidentiality may lead to disciplinary action as it relates to my ability to achieve all educational prerequisites and professional standards for graduation. I also understand that such disclosure violates the Canadian Personal Information Protection and Electronics Documents Act (PIPEDA), and the Privacy Act, and I may be liable for a fine and any other penalty as outlined in these Acts. This obligation of confidentiality and non-disclosure as outlined shall survive the Clinical Practicum term.
I also understand and accept that it is my responsibility to ensure that I keep detailed records of
clinical practicum hours and activities.
I understand and accept that within the scope of this clinical practicum, I have not entered into an employment relationship with Wild Rose College of Herbal Medicine or the practitioner and that I am not entitled to receive a salary or any employee benefits.
I understand and accept that Wild Rose College is not responsible for any unsafe working conditions or liabilities arising from participating in a clinical practicum.
I accept sole responsibility for obtaining and maintaining any required liability insurance and any other medical, disability or life insurance which I deem appropriate.