Clinical Observerships & Job Shadowing

The Northwest Territories Health & Social Services Authority supports students pursuing education in a health and social services field by providing clinical observerships, job shadowing and practicum placements.

program guidelines

Experience the Health & Social Services System

These programs provide immersive insight and hands-on exposure, helping NWT residents determine if a healthcare career is the right fit for them

Clinical Observerships

These are for applicants with some education and/or work experience in a health and social services field, where they are matched with a Mentor working in that field, to observe their work in a health or social services setting. The Applicant will not be granted independent access to facilities and resources and will not provide any services.

Clinical Observerships are intended for NWT residents looking for more exposure than what a standard job shadow can provide. Unfortunately, this program is not intended for International Medical graduates.

Clinical Observerships are unpaid, not linked to your university program, and limited to a maximum of five workdays.

Job Shadowing

These are for students and youth who may or may not have education and/or working experience in a health and social services field and wish to shadow a mentor working in a specific field during their day-to-day work.


Job Shadowing opportunities are unpaid and recommended for up to two ½ days. They will not be granted independent access to facilities and resources and will not provide any services.

Practicum Placements

Initiated as part of program requirements through an academic or technical institution, in which a student needs to complete a set number of hours to show competence to achieve a designation or graduate certificate.
Practicum placements are unpaid.

A Practicum Agreement needs to be signed by the NWT HSS System and the academic or technical institution prior to a student starting a practicum.

For more information please see specific details here.

For more information on Practicum Placements or Practicum Agreements, please contact hssprograms@gov.nt.ca.

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Northwest Territories Health & Social Services System Occupations

A list of occupations available for Clinical Observership, Job Shadowing & Practicums

COMMUNITY & CULTURAL HEALTH

Clerk Interpreter
Cultural Safety Officer
Community Health Representative
Community Development & Wellness Planner
Personal Support Worker
Resident Care Aide
Home Support Worker

NURSING

Licensed Practical Nurse
Community Health Nurse
Public Health Nurse
Registered Nurse
Nurse Practitioner

PHYSICIANS

Family Physician
Specialist Physician

REHABILITATION SERVICES

Audiologist
Occupational Therapist
Physiotherapist
Respiratory Therapist
Speech Language Pathologist

SOCIAL WELLBEING & SUPPORT

Child and Youth Care Counsellor
Healthy Family Worker
Mental Health Counsellor
Social Worker

TECHNOLOGY

Biomedical Engineering Technologist
Biomedical Engineer
Sonographer / Ultrasound Technician
Medical Laboratory Technologist
Medical Radiation Technologist
Reprocessing Technician
Sonographer

PUBLIC HEALTH

Environmental Health Officer
Epidemiologist
Infection Protection and Control

ADMINISTRATION

Medical Transcriptionist
Program Assistant
Facility Planner
Quality Risk Manager
Health Economic Policy Advisor

+MORE

Dietary Aide
Dietitian
Emergency Medical Responder
Behavioural Health Worker
Midwife
Pharmacist
Ophthalmology Technician
Oral Health Professional

application process

Step 1
Identify a mentor or submit an application requesting assistance
Briefly describe the timeline event providing your audience with all the details they need to know about it.
step 2
Application reviewed by Program Specialist
Briefly describe the timeline event providing your audience with all the details they need to know about it.
step 3
Mentor confirmed and opportunity developed
Briefly describe the timeline event providing your audience with all the details they need to know about it.
step 4
Complete required documentation
Orientation, Immunization requirements, Confidentiality &
Indemnity Agreement
step 5
Submit signed agreement at least one week before placement
Briefly describe the timeline event providing your audience with all the details they need to know about it.
step 6
Participate in placement
Briefly describe the timeline event providing your audience with all the details they need to know about it.
step 7
Complete post-placement survey & Share experience on social media
Tag us @practicenwt with your review and photos from the experience!
TYPES OF PLACEMENTS
Job Shadowing
Clinical Observerships

Practicum Placements

Affiliated with educational or technical institution?

No

No

Yes

Who is eligible to access this initiative?

Students and youth, interested in finding out more about a specific health and social services profession.

Individuals with education/work experience in a specific health and social services field, interested in observing a mentor.

Length of Program or Initiative?

Recommended maximum of two ½ days.

Recommended maximum of 5 workdays.

Varies, as directed by academic or technical institution.

Paid opportunity?

No

No

No

Will the Applicant provide any services?

Participant observes only.

Participant observes only.

Varies, as directed by academic or technical institution.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you have further questions please use the contact form to reach out to us.

No, all opportunities are unpaid.

No. Participants observe only for Job Shadowing and Clinical Observerships. Practicum placements, it varies, as directed by the institution.

Job shadowing: up to two half-days. Clinical observerships: up to five days. Practicum placements are outside of our guidelines and length varies, as directed by the academic or technical institution.

Job shadowing: Students & Youth, NWT residents, interested in finding out more about a specific health and social services profession.

Clinical Observerships: Individuals with educaiton/work experience in a specific health and social services field, interested in observing a mentor.

Practicum Placements: Students of academic or technical institutions required to complete practicum hours as part of educaiton requirements. Unfortunately, this program is not intended for International Medical graduates.

Ready to Explore a Career in Health and Social Services?
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