🌟 Work Experience / Placement Ideas for Learning Disability Nursing Students

 

Learning Disability Nursing students usually split their time between university study 📚 and placements 🏥👥. In the UK this is normally:

• Around 50% in practice placements

• Around 50% in university

🔹 Possible Placement Settings

• Special schools 🎓 – supporting children with additional needs.

• Day centres 🏠 – helping adults with learning disabilities take part in activities.

• Care homes / residential services 🛏️ – supporting daily living and personal care.

• Community learning disability teams 🧑‍⚕️ – working with psychologists, OTs, and nurses.

• Hospitals 🏥 – working with liaison nurses, supporting patients with LD.

• Forensic/secure settings 🚔 – supporting people with learning disabilities in prison or secure hospitals.

• Supported living services 🏡 – helping adults live more independently.

• Charities & voluntary organisations ❤️ – such as Mencap or Scope, offering advocacy and support.

• Therapy services 🧩 – working with speech therapists, occupational therapists, and physiotherapists.

• Pri

  Us Learning Disability Jobs
  Here is a spreadsheet-ready table of U.S. learning disability and mental health careers, study/training requirements, certifications, work settings, and resources. You can copy this into Excel or Google Sheets.

  Career Role	Typical Education / Training	Certification / License Required	Typical Work Settings	Notes / Resources / Links
  Direct Support Professional	High school diploma; on-the-job training	Optional	Residential facilities, group homes, day programs	DOL DSP info
  Behavioral Health Technician	High school diploma; some require associate degree	Optional	Psychiatric hospitals, outpatient clinics	GCU Behavioral Health Careers
  Educational Therapist	Bachelor’s or Master’s in Education	Optional	Schools, private practice	LDA Professionals
  Learning Disabilities Specialist	Bachelor’s in Special Education	Optional	Schools, tutoring centers	LDA Specialists
  Occupational Therapist	Master’s in Occupational Therapy	Yes (OT license)	Hospitals, clinics, schools	AOTA
  Vocational Trainer	Varies; trade school or apprenticeship	Optional	Vocational schools, community centers	CDLS Vocational Training
  Supported Employment Specialist	Varies; IPS training programs available	Optional	Community agencies, nonprofits	IPS Works
  Special Education Teacher	Bachelor’s in Special Education	State teaching license	Schools, special education programs	Drexel Special Education Careers
  Speech-Language Pathologist	Master’s in Speech-Language Pathology	Yes (SLP license)	Hospitals, clinics, schools	ASHA
  School Counselor	Master’s in School Counseling	State certification	Schools, educational programs	ASCA
  Mental Health Counselor	Master’s in Counseling or Psychology	Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)	Clinics, hospitals, community agencies	NBCC
  Psychologist	Doctorate in Psychology (PhD or PsyD)	Yes (state license)	Hospitals, clinics, schools, research	APA
  Social Worker	Bachelor’s or Master’s in Social Work	Licensed Social Worker (LSW/LCSW)	Hospitals, schools, community agencies	NASW
  Applied Behavior Analyst (ABA)	Bachelor’s or Master’s + BCBA certification	BCBA	Schools, therapy clinics, homes	BACB
  Recreational Therapist	Bachelor’s in Recreational Therapy	Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS)	Hospitals, community centers, schools	NCTRC
  Case Manager	Bachelor’s degree in human services	Optional	Community agencies, healthcare	Case Management Society
  Psychiatric Nurse	BSN or ADN; psychiatric nursing training	Registered Nurse (RN) + Certification	Hospitals, clinics, mental health facilities	ANCC Psychiatric Nursing
  Residential Care Manager	Bachelor’s degree; on-the-job training	Optional	Residential facilities, group homes	DOL DSP info
  Behavior Support Specialist	Bachelor’s in Psychology or Behavior Analysis	Optional	Schools, clinics, community programs	GCU Behavioral Health Careers

• mary care 👩‍⚕️ – working alongside GPs, dentists, and pharmacists to ensure inclusive care.