Thank you for your interest in experiential learning opportunities with Wake County Public Health!
We offer a variety of non-employee learning and service opportunities, including volunteers, clinical rotations, internship preceptor required placements, experiential internships, high school internships and shadowing experiences.
Our department partners with many colleges, universities, and community programs across North Carolina to provide unpaid learning experiences for individuals pursuing careers in nursing, public health, pharmacy, allied health, dental professions and related fields.
Many of these opportunities require that individuals are currently enrolled in an academic institution and must complete a specified number of supervised hours to receive academic credit or meet program requirements. Participants must be under the direction of an appropriately credentialed professional who can complete necessary evaluations.
Most placements, including internships and clinical rotations, are facilitated through established agreements with local colleges, universities, and educational programs. Students should first contact their program’s field placement coordinator to explore potential placement opportunities. Educational institutions are required to have an active contract with Wake County Government before placing students within our agency.
Please complete the application below for experiential learning opportunity consideration with Wake County Public Health.
Definitions
Internship Applicants
A public health internship provides college students with the opportunity to earn college credit while gaining hands‑on professional experience in a public health environment. Interns may participate in assigned work tasks based on their academic program, skills, and department needs.
Internship Preceptor Required
An Internship Preceptor‑Required placement is an academic experience in which a student must complete supervised hours under the guidance of an approved, credentialed preceptor to meet their program’s curriculum requirements. The preceptor provides direct oversight, assigns appropriate learning activities, and completes required evaluations to support the student’s successful completion of their academic program.
Internship Experiential
An Experiential Internship provides students with practical, hands‑on learning opportunities that enhance their academic knowledge through real‑world public health experience. These internships focus on skill development, project‑based learning, and exposure to daily public health operations. Activities may align with the student's academic program and are supervised by qualified Public Health staff.
Internship High School
A High School Internship provides eligible high school students with supervised learning experiences that introduce them to careers in public health. These internships focus on basic skill development, career exploration, and exposure to public health programs and operations. Participation is project‑based or observational in nature and does not include direct involvement in service delivery.
Shadowing Definition for Public Health Applicants
A public health shadowing experience provides individuals with the opportunity to observe Public Health staff as they perform their regular duties. Applicants must be 18 years of age or older. Shadowing is limited to a maximum of 8 hours and does not include participation in work tasks or direct involvement in service delivery.
Public Health Volunteer Description
A Public Health Volunteer is an individual 18 years or older who donates their time and skills to support programs that protect and improve community health. Volunteers may assist with outreach, education, events, and other activities under the guidance of a Wake County Public Health team member.