MSW Student Guide
Section 3.03.02: Field Instructor Criteria and Credentials
UM School of Social Work Field Instructor criteria and credentials align with the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) requirement that all Master’s level field instructors possess a CSWE-accredited, CASWE-accredited degree (from the Canadian social work accreditor, recognized through an MOU with CSWE and CASWE) or an internationally earned ISWDRES-evaluated degree and two years post master’s social work degree practice experience in social work. If the field instructor’s role requires state licensure, we require the field instructor to have an active license and disclose their licensure information to the Office of Field Education.
Specifically for field instructors external to the state of Michigan, they will be required to attest adherence to their respective state social work licensing board’s requirements. Students will be responsible for reviewing their respective state licensing board’s requirements as it pertains to field instruction and post Masters licensing requirements. When students are placed globally, they need to meet the CSWE requirement or the equivalencies established jointly by the SSW Office of Global Activities and the Office of Field Education. Please see volume 3, section 3.03 Field Instructor Criteria and Credentials for Global Field Placements.
All field instructors and task supervisors will be required to submit an updated curriculum vitae or resume.
Qualified field instructors should possess a commitment to the following:
• Provide the equivalent of one hour of supervision per week
• Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging based teaching practices
• Competency based field instruction
• Adherence to the NASW Code of Ethics
• Support students in maintaining the UM School of Social Work Technical Standards
• Sound social work practice skills
• Ability to work with a secondary field instructor (if indicated)
• A strong interest and ability to develop competence in teaching.
• Partnering with the UM Office of Field Education on all requirements of the placement including but not limited to: completing all field related forms, communication and collaboration with the Field Faculty/Field Office, and site visits each semester.
When a MSW Is Not Available at the Field Site
In certain circumstances where an MSW social worker is not available, the goal is to identify a professional that possesses the requisite skills and experiences and desires to function as the student's on site task supervisor (task assignments, daily involvement, etc.) based on the student's pathway. In settings where there is not a MSW, the task supervisor, or non-Social Work field instructor, provides the day-to-day assignment of projects and oversight/direction for students in addition to mentoring and supporting the student throughout their placement. These situations will be assessed by the Office of Field Education and determination will be made on a case by case basis. Consideration will be given based on the agency’s suggested field assignments, their connection to the CSWE competencies, and qualified field instructor availability at that time.
In some situations, the field site and the Office of Field Education will work together to identify a qualified field instructor with a social work degree who meets the above CSWE criteria and who can commit to providing the equivalent of one hour per week of supervision for the student to discuss the field placement experiences and assignments, and how their experience working in the placement relates to social work and the social work competencies.
The duties of the social work field instructor include providing the student with regular educational supervision, completing the student's Educational Agreement along with the task supervisor, participatingon in the evaluation process and being available to meet with the field faculty, task supervisor, and student during site visits and/or during problem solving. In field sites with more than one student, the social work field instructor may meet with the students in a group as well as provide individual supervision. This arrangement does meet the School's credentialing requirements.
There are varied supervision models depending on the organization and the setting. Some may offer weekly task supervision combined with weekly group supervision. Others may offer biweekly task supervision with biweekly social work supervision. Our recommendation is students have contact, guidance, and support with the task supervisors weekly, with at least a minimum of two one- hour supervision sessions per month with the qualified field instructor. Field faculty will inquire about the frequency and quality of supervision at site visits.
Specifically for field instructors external to the state of Michigan, they will be required to attest adherence to their respective state social work licensing board’s requirements. Students will be responsible for reviewing their respective state licensing board’s requirements as it pertains to field instruction and post Masters licensing requirements. When students are placed globally, they need to meet the CSWE requirement or the equivalencies established jointly by the SSW Office of Global Activities and the Office of Field Education. Please see volume 3, section 3.03 Field Instructor Criteria and Credentials for Global Field Placements.
All field instructors and task supervisors will be required to submit an updated curriculum vitae or resume.
Qualified field instructors should possess a commitment to the following:
• Provide the equivalent of one hour of supervision per week
• Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging based teaching practices
• Competency based field instruction
• Adherence to the NASW Code of Ethics
• Support students in maintaining the UM School of Social Work Technical Standards
• Sound social work practice skills
• Ability to work with a secondary field instructor (if indicated)
• A strong interest and ability to develop competence in teaching.
• Partnering with the UM Office of Field Education on all requirements of the placement including but not limited to: completing all field related forms, communication and collaboration with the Field Faculty/Field Office, and site visits each semester.
When a MSW Is Not Available at the Field Site
In certain circumstances where an MSW social worker is not available, the goal is to identify a professional that possesses the requisite skills and experiences and desires to function as the student's on site task supervisor (task assignments, daily involvement, etc.) based on the student's pathway. In settings where there is not a MSW, the task supervisor, or non-Social Work field instructor, provides the day-to-day assignment of projects and oversight/direction for students in addition to mentoring and supporting the student throughout their placement. These situations will be assessed by the Office of Field Education and determination will be made on a case by case basis. Consideration will be given based on the agency’s suggested field assignments, their connection to the CSWE competencies, and qualified field instructor availability at that time.
In some situations, the field site and the Office of Field Education will work together to identify a qualified field instructor with a social work degree who meets the above CSWE criteria and who can commit to providing the equivalent of one hour per week of supervision for the student to discuss the field placement experiences and assignments, and how their experience working in the placement relates to social work and the social work competencies.
The duties of the social work field instructor include providing the student with regular educational supervision, completing the student's Educational Agreement along with the task supervisor, participatingon in the evaluation process and being available to meet with the field faculty, task supervisor, and student during site visits and/or during problem solving. In field sites with more than one student, the social work field instructor may meet with the students in a group as well as provide individual supervision. This arrangement does meet the School's credentialing requirements.
There are varied supervision models depending on the organization and the setting. Some may offer weekly task supervision combined with weekly group supervision. Others may offer biweekly task supervision with biweekly social work supervision. Our recommendation is students have contact, guidance, and support with the task supervisors weekly, with at least a minimum of two one- hour supervision sessions per month with the qualified field instructor. Field faculty will inquire about the frequency and quality of supervision at site visits.