How It Works
Clinical Placement Process
The process is designed to promote fairness, transparency, communication, and alignment between student learning needs and clinical placement opportunities. Through collaboration between schools, colleges, healthcare agencies, and workforce partners, the Consortium helps strengthen access to high-quality clinical and experiential learning opportunities while supporting regional healthcare workforce development.
Placement Process Overview
The planning cycle is designed to support organized requests, shared visibility, and effective communication between participating programs and facilities.
01
Placement Planning
Education programs identify their clinical or experiential learning needs for the upcoming
academic term. Programs are encouraged to plan early and submit accurate information to support effective
regional coordination.
04
Regional Coordination & Matching
When multiple programs request similar placements, the process encourages collaboration, shared problem-solving, and equitable consideration of regional needs. While every effort is made to support placement needs, placement availability depends on clinical agency capacity and cannot always be guaranteed.
02
Submission of Placement Requests
Participating education programs submit placement requests according to the Consortium’s established timeline and process. Requests are reviewed to ensure they include the information needed for clinical partners to evaluate capacity and fit.
05
Placement Confirmation
Once a placement is approved, the education program and clinical agency confirm placement details. Confirmed placements allow schools and clinical agencies to prepare students, instructors, and
staff for a successful learning experience.
03
Review by Clinical Agencies
Healthcare and clinical agencies review placement requests based on available capacity, unit or department needs, staffing considerations, learner level, and agency requirements.
06
Student & Faculty Compliance
Before students begin at a clinical agency, education programs are responsible for ensuring that all required compliance items are completed according to clinical partner expectations. Each clinical agency may have unique requirements, and education programs are responsible for meeting all onboarding deadlines.
07
Clinical Experience Begins
After placement confirmation and completion of compliance requirements, students begin their clinical or experiential learning experience under the supervision of approved faculty, instructors, preceptors, or clinical staff.
08
Ongoing Communication & Issue Resolution
The Consortium encourages early communication when concerns arise. Education programs and clinical partners are expected to work collaboratively to address scheduling changes, student concerns, compliance issues, or agency-specific needs.
09
Evaluation & Continuous Improvement
At the conclusion of each placement cycle, participating partners may review the effectiveness of the process and identify opportunities for improvement. This continuous improvement process helps the Consortium strengthen regional placement coordination and better support students, educators, and healthcare partners.
Important Information
Placement Considerations
Clinical placement opportunities are dependent on several factors, including clinical agency
capacity, staffing, availability of appropriate learning environments, and agency-specific
requirements. Submission of a placement request does not guarantee placement approval.
All participating programs and partners are expected to follow applicable regulations,
accreditation expectations, institutional policies, clinical agency requirements, and established
Consortium timelines.
