Part-Time Employment of Clinical Graduate Students
1. Clinical students can work part-time within the university as teaching assistants, research assistants, or course instructors, etc. Students working in these positions should ensure that they comply with all program and university regulations regarding part-time employment (e.g., maximum number of hours per week of work) and that such part-time employment does not impede appropriate progress on any clinical psychology program requirements. In addition, students holding major scholarships should ensure that they comply with all of the funding regulations set forth by the funding agency. The graduate office in the Department of Psychology can be consulted regarding specifics of program and university regulations. The websites of the major funding agencies provide details of regulations concerning part-time employment for scholarship holders.
2. On occasion, more senior Ph.D. clinical students may seek part-time clinical employment that is independent of any requirements of the clinical program. Students in such positions must ensure that they comply with all program and university regulations concerning part-time employment, and that such part-time employment does not impede appropriate progress on any clinical psychology program requirements. Further, it is the responsibility of the student and any employer to ensure that the student does not engage in any professional activities that are not appropriate for the level of clinical training the student has thus far acquired. The student and employer should also ensure that the clinical supervision of the student’s part-time clinical work is in compliance with all requirements of the College of Psychologist’s of Ontario (or any other Health Care Regulatory College, as applicable). Both the student and employer should be aware that the student is not covered by any insurance policies of the University when engaged in part-time clinical professional activities that are independent of requirements of the clinical program. Accordingly, the student and employer should ensure that appropriate professional insurance coverage is in place, prior to commencing any part-time clinical employment. Please note that it is the responsibility of the student and employer, and not the Clinical Psychology Program, to ensure that all of the above issues are dealt with appropriately, prior to the student commencing any part-time clinical employment that is independent of clinical program requirements.
Senior Ph.D. Clinical Graduate Students Seeking Full-time Employment
Given the demands of the program, senior Ph.D. clinical students are most strongly advised against prematurely seeking full-time employment. It is our experience that students who accept such positions prior to completing all degree requirements delay the submission of their dissertation unnecessarily and can consequently jeopardize their status in the program.
Note: According to CPA Accreditation Standards, students are not to work more than an average of 20 hours a week in employment outside of the programme. These hours do not include teaching and research assistantships.
