Internships, also known as a field practicum or field placement, is an important component of all online MSW programs. Internships are designed to enable students to gain experience working in health services agencies while under the close supervision of field instructors. This gives students the opportunity to apply what they have learned in the classroom to real-world situations.

Field education is typically completed concurrently with classes, and students complete placements in both their foundation and concentration years. As a result, advanced-standing students who enter the MSW program in the second year have fewer required field education hours to graduate.

View our guide to the best online msw programs for you to find a field placement that meets your needs.

Most MSW programs have a team or office dedicated to internships. These teams are responsible for approving agencies and ensuring that field instruction meets CSWE accreditation standards. Field instructors (employees at agencies who are responsible for training and mentoring MSW students) are licensed social workers and have earned an MSW from a CSWE-accredited program. Agencies and field instructors must be approved by the program before they can begin accepting students. In addition, most schools have field advisors who act as liaisons between students, agencies, and the university.

Inside View: To help prospective MSW students better prepare for field education, we asked social work professors and field education directors about the advice they give to MSW students in their programs.

The number of hours of field experience students are required to complete varies by graduate school. For students in traditional programs, the social work internship requirement typically ranges from 900 to 1,200 hours. For advanced standing students, the requirement ranges from 450 to 900 hours. Typically, students entering traditional standing programs work at two different agencies during their program and complete that work over four semesters (two at each agency). Students entering advanced standing programs may have one or two field placements depending on the program.

How internship hours are broken down depends on the program and whether the student is enrolled full-time or part-time. For some programs, the number of hours is split equally between the foundation and concentration years while, for others, the concentration year practicum requires more hours than the one completed during the foundation year.

Students enrolled in a full-time online MSW program will start their internship during their first year while students in part-time programs may start field education in their first or second year, depending on the program. For students who plan to work while pursuing their degree, it should be noted that the majority of programs do require students to work at least one day a week during normal business hours (i.e. Monday through Friday, 9am to 5 pm). While it may be possible to arrange for field education outside those hours or on the weekends, it is not guaranteed as most agencies do not have proper supervision outside normal business hours.

Internships are designed to provide students with hands-on experience in social work. Typically, students complete their internships at health services agencies, which could include, but is not limited to:

While universities only match students with approved agencies, placement with an agency is not guaranteed. Most agencies have specific requirements that potential students must meet before they can start working. These can include fingerprinting, a background check, TB testing, drug testing, proof of car insurance, and a clean driving record. Some requirements may incur costs not included in the program’s tuition and will need to be paid by the student.

Many agencies require students to have access to transportation as they may need to travel during their field education. Travel may include visiting community outreach sites, seeing patients at home, or attending meetings. Students who lack transportation may have limited field placement options and should discuss their options with an admissions advisor before applying.

In addition, once matched with a field agency, students may still need to interview for a position. It is very important that students take these interviews seriously and treat them like job interviews. As with all job interviews, it is good to ask questions about the work environment and any specific requirements the agency may have regarding background checks or access to transportation. Finally, since field education is about learning, students typically do not receive a stipend for their work. Some agencies may provide students with a small stipend, but it is at the agency’s discretion and is independent of the school and degree program.

Students pursuing an MSW online complete their internship at an agency in their local area. It is important to note that while schools try to match students with an agency near their place of residence, some programs may require students to travel 30 to 60 miles to their placement site. In addition, programs that only accept students from specific geographical areas may also have geographical restrictions on where students can complete their field work. Students with travel restrictions or who are interested in attending a program with geographical restrictions should consult an admissions advisor about their options before applying.

Typically, social work internships in the foundation year provide a generalist perspective, and most online schools do not allow students to select their placement from a list of potential agencies; they are matched directly to an agency. Field education in the advanced or concentration year, however, is more specific to a student’s focus or interest. During their advanced year, some schools will allow students to select from a list of options that match their career goals or specializations.

Most programs do not allow students to arrange field placements independently. Nonetheless, some programs will accept recommendations for potential new agencies that might be interested in accepting students. These agencies must be approved by the university and meet all accreditation standards. For students who already work at a health services agency that is approved (or plans to seek approval), it may be possible to complete one of their two internships at that agency. In general, this is not recommended, as the agency needs to ensure the student is released from all current responsibilities when they should be considered a student rather than an employee. Schools that allow these placements typically limit them to a specific year in the program and require students to complete their other internship at a different location.

Compare CSWE Accredited Schools for Online MSW Programs

Field education (often called an internship or practicum) is a required part of earning an MSW. While requirements vary by school and track, most CSWE-accredited MSW programs are designed for a minimum of 900 total field hours, and some programs require more depending on their curriculum, concentration, or pacing.

Traditional vs. Advanced Standing:

Because field hour requirements can change, and because they may differ by start term, full-time vs. part-time plan, online vs. campus format, and track, the most reliable way to confirm your requirement is to check:

Example of why this matters: Fordham’s MSW field education page currently states a minimum of 900 hours (450 generalist + 450 specialist), illustrating how programs may align to the CSWE minimum even when older summaries list higher totals.

Tip: If a website or ranking guide lists hours but doesn’t link to a field manual or catalog, treat it as a starting point, not a final answer.

(N/A = Not applicable as school does not offer program type)

Information last updated: February 2026