Practicum — Applied Supportive Palliative Care

6 Months | 200 Hours | Supervised

The practicum is the applied phase of the Palliative Care Practitioner Pathway and prepares graduates for professional designation within CSPE.

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Tier 1 and Tier 2

[ View Tier 2 ]
[ Contact CSPE ]

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What the Practicum is 

The practicum is a structured, supervised applied learning phase in which participants integrate Tier 1 and Tier 2 competencies into real-world supportive palliative contexts.

This stage moves from classroom understanding into embodied, ethical, relational practice.

Participants apply the Adaptive Patient & Family-Centered Care Model (APFCCM) within community-based settings while receiving ongoing mentor guidance and reflective oversight.

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Practicum Structure 

Duration: 6 Months
Minimum Hours: 200 Applied Hours

Components include:

• Direct supportive companioning hours
• Supervised reflective integration
• Case discussion and applied learning review
• Ethical discernment development
• Professional boundary reinforcement
• Documentation and competency tracking

Practicum hours must be completed within approved community-based settings.

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Where Practicum Hours May Be Completed

Possible settings include:

• Hospice volunteer programs
• Seniors’ centers
• Community-based supportive care organizations
• Approved independent placements

Placement availability may vary by region.

CSPE is actively developing community partnerships. When formal partnerships are unavailable in a region, students may work with CSPE to identify suitable placement options.

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Supervision & Mentorship 

All practicum participants receive structured mentor oversight.

Supervision includes:

• Regular online mentor meetings
• Case-based discussion
• Reflective integration
• Feedback and competency evaluation
• Scope-of-practice reinforcement

Supervision ensures ethical development and readiness for advanced supportive roles.

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Capstone Integration

Following completion of practicum hours, participants complete a Capstone project.

Capstone options may include:

• Reflective portfolio
• Case-based analysis
• Applied presentation
• Integrative project

The Capstone demonstrates professional integration of supportive palliative competencies.

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Certification & Designation 

Upon successful completion of:

Tier 1
Tier 2
Practicum
Capstone

Participants receive:

Professional Certificate in Supportive Palliative Care Practice

and may use the CSPE designation:

CPCP — Certified Palliative Care Practitioner

This designation reflects completion of structured educational and applied supportive-care standards within a non-medical scope.

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Professional Positioning 

The practicum prepares graduates to function in:

• Community-based supportive care roles
• Interdisciplinary collaborative environments
• Family systems navigation contexts
• Complex emotional and relational landscapes

This training does not grant clinical or regulated healthcare authority.

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Admissions Into Practicum 

Progression into practicum is contingent upon:

• Successful completion of Tier 2
• Demonstrated emotional steadiness
• Commitment to ethical scope
• Readiness for applied supportive-care engagement

Practicum enrollment details are shared within the Tier 2 cohort. 

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