Preparing for Your Graduate Clinical Practicum

Practicum Placement

All graduate students are required to work with our clinical placement staff to secure their practicum placements and preceptors in quality health care agencies or practices. The Psych/Certificate, MS and DNP programs are online programs with students located in communities throughout the United States. The Elaine Marieb College of Nursing clinical placement coordinator will be able to give assistance with placements. Program directors must approve all preceptors before a student can begin a practicum experience. Preceptors should hold advanced degrees in nursing, public health, medicine, or a related field. Preceptors and agencies should be selected based upon their suitability with the course objectives and practicum focus areas.

You should start negotiating for a preceptor at least 6 months before you begin a practicum. Negotiating several semesters ahead or an entire year in advance may be necessary to ensure placement in a busy medical practice that may provide spots to students from multiple institutions. You must be licensed in the state in which your practicum is being completed. 

Online Practicum Requirements for Nurse Practitioners 

The University of Massachusetts Amherst (“UMA”)  the Elaine Marieb College of Nursing that leads to professional licensure in the State of Massachusetts and may allow graduates to be eligible for licensure in other states.  

  • This program meets professional licensure requirements for the following states: Alaska; Arizona; Arkansas; California; Colorado; Connecticut; Delaware; Florida; Georgia; Hawaii; Idaho; Illinois; Indiana; Iowa; Kansas; Kentucky; Louisiana; Maine; Maryland; Massachusetts; Michigan; Mississippi; Missouri; Montana; Nebraska; Nevada; New Hampshire; New Jersey; New Mexico; North Carolina; North Dakota; Ohio; Oklahoma; Pennsylvania; Rhode Island; South Carolina; South Dakota; Tennessee; Texas; Utah; Vermont; Virginia; West Virginia; Wisconsin; and Wyoming.
  • This curriculum does NOT meet current educational requirements for licensure or certification for the following states: Alabama, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, and Washington.

Additional Information: Most states require specialty certification for licensure as an advanced practice nurse/nurse practitioner. Although EMCON curriculum meets the state education requirements for most states with the exception of Alabama, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, and or Washington it is important to check with your state board of nursing for any additional licensure requirements. View state-by-state nursing licensure requirements.

Health Clearance Requirements

Before beginning a graduate clinical practicum, course students must have completed the submission of all required health records and certifications through CastleBranch at least 8 weeks prior to the clinical course start date. You will set up your student records account during orientation or via emailed instructions provided by your program.  

Instructions for submitting health records are included in Appendix A.  

Please note: Students will not be allowed to begin a practicum course until all required items have been submitted and the College has approved the practicum site and preceptor! 

Please be aware that state and local regulations have limited the states where you may participate in a clinical practicum associated with the Elaine Marieb College of Nursing. If you are moving after having been admitted to the program, notify us immediately, so that we may advise you of your options.  

You are not guaranteed to be able to complete a clinical practicum in non-covered states if you move after being accepted into the program or if regulations in your state change.

Students of the Elaine Marieb College of Nursing are required to adhere to certain health maintenance procedures to comply with standards prescribed by affiliating clinical agencies and The Commonwealth of Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 76, Section 15C, entitled, "Immunization of college health science students." Students may use the services of their own family health care providers or the University Health Services. The policies are intended to protect the health and well-being of patients and the nursing student engaged in clinical practice.

Typhon

Typhon is the web-based application that you will be using with your preceptor to track your practicum experiences. After the College of Nursing receives your “Student Preceptor Form,” both you and your preceptor will each be assigned a unique login ID and password to access Typhon. DO NOT SHARE YOUR ID AND PASSWORD.

There are tutorials within the system that will explain how to use Typhon. Like all computer programs, there may be issues at times. Please email Dorian Pariseau with any questions or concerns.

EXXAT

Students who entered their practicum Fall 2025 and prior will continue to use CastleBranch/Typhon and students who enter their practicum starting in Spring 2026 will be using Exxat. Exxat will be your health compliance, background check, clinical scheduling, and to use to track your practicum experiences.

Dorian Pariseau is your UMass support person for CastleBranch and Exxat. 

Dorian Pariseau will load your information once you are admitted into the program and then initiate your welcome email into Exxat. You will complete your profiles by reading through your attestations, uploading your immunization, and finalizing your preclinical requirements. You then utilize the Exxat system to find sites, communicate with your preceptor, instructors, and placement coordinator.

General Information Regarding Practicum and Assignment 

 Time allotment per clinic day: Students may set up practicum time with a preceptor for an 8-hour day (or 12-hour day) once or twice per week as discussed. However, if a student is only able to see 2-3 patients that “fit” the course needs, only 3-5 clinical contact hours can be counted for the day. The student will need to go back to the clinic another day to see more patients. A general rule of thumb: 6-8 patients must be seen to count 8 hours for the day. 

Please note the start and stop dates for practicum courses as you register for courses each semester so that you know the dates you must have preceptors secured for and the dates they will be working with you. Also note that we may have more than one section for any one practicum course. You may need to enroll for a section under your name or you may be asked to “swap” to another section to even out the number of students per section.