Introduction

With a growing number of fourth year externs needing placements in their final year, many clinical programs across the nation are receiving year-round inquiries from universities and students. At the request of clinical program directors and in an effort to bring greater uniformity to the application and selection process, the following timeline was suggested by the Academy's Clinical Education Subcommittee in 2006. The timeline will not be ideally suited for every university and every clinical setting; however, movement toward greater uniformity in application and placement should result in a more timely and efficient process, beneficial to students, university programs and clinical sites.

Externship Timeline

Student/Faculty Search Process:	Students/faculty investigate program opportunities, requirements, deadlines; July through October
Application Period Open:	Extern sites accept applications during this time period; September and October
Application Submitted:	Final date for sites accepting applications; October 31
Applications Files Completed:	Letters and transcripts to be on file; November 15
Interviews:	Externship interviews scheduled and completed; December and January
Offers Made:	Offers made by sites to students on February 1
Accepted Round 1:	Offers accepted by students within 2 weeks
Follow-up Offers Completed:	Process completed by March 31
Externship begins:	June 1 – July 1