What are the program requirements for a pre-doctoral internship?
These requirements are summarized on our KSU School Psychology website.
What are my options?
You have several options. These options have to do with location, accreditation, and type of setting.
Location
You may choose to apply to local sites only, or you may apply to a variety of programs across the country. It will be important to consider your family, career objectives, and the skills you hope to acquire during internship as you make your decision.
Accreditation
It is up to you whether to pursue an APA-accredited internship. There is no harm in not selecting such a site; however, there may be multiple advantages to being involved in an APA-accredited program. For example, in order to obtain APA accreditation, the site must demonstrate a commitment to a scientist-practitioner training model in addition to several other commitments designed to protect students and enhance their training experiences. In addition, completing an APA-accredited internship may facilitate licensure in some states. Having an APA-accredited internship may also be important if you are considering certain types of academic positions. For more information visit the APA website under the links section of this webpage.
Setting
Depending on your previous experience, there may be latitude regarding the type where you will complete your internship. As a school psychologist in-training, you have training and skills that will make you desirable within and across multiple settings. Examples of types of settings include school-based placements, hospital-based settings, and/or community-based organizations. Be sure to think about further developing specific skill areas during internship. You will not be expected to walk into an unfamiliar setting and know everything there is to know about working there. The point of internship is to further develop your breadth and depth of knowledge and skills. Carefully assess your strengths and areas for improvement, consult with your advisor about the type of site(s) that will be appropriate for you, and make an individualized decision that meets your own trajectory and objectives.
Options for Non-accredited, Local Sites
For a variety of reasons, some students select non-accredited, local sites for doctoral internship. Options of such sites include:
- If not completed previously, a state-funded Ohio internship in school psychology can fulfill the doctoral internship experience. If appropriate to your situation, this placement will be facilitated by university faculty.
- If you have a credential for school-based practice, a doctoral internship can be completed in an educational employment setting, so long as it affords appropriate training experience and supervision requirements. It is the student’s responsibility to locate this/these type(s) of setting(s) above, and faculty approval of the experience and supervision through the internship contract is required.
- If you have previously completed a specialist-level, school-based internship, a variety of other settings may be appropriate for fulfilling the doctoral internship. These might include one or a combination of the following: mental-health agencies, treatment centers for children with developmental disabilities, hospitals, and teaching and research experiences also may comprise some of the internship experience. It is the student’s responsibility to locate this/these type(s) of setting(s) above, and faculty
approval of the experience and supervision through the internship contract is
required.
Some Good Advice
Dr. K Keith Allen, Professor of Pediatric Psychology at the Munroe-Meyer Institute for Genetics and Rehabilitation (member program, Nebraska Internship Consortium in Professional Psychology), contends that most career-related decisions are based on three factors: location, money (there will be a range; you can look at ranges through the APPIC site) and the job itself (i.e., daily tasks and routine). If you are able to reflect on the importance of these three areas as applied to your life situation and rank their relative importance you will be able to make both internship- and job- related decisions with greater ease.
What is APPIC?
The Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC) is an organization that serves multiple functions for graduate students. Specifically, it is a registry for both pre-doctoral internships and post-doctoral fellowships. Once a training site registers, students can go to the website and look up potential internship and/or fellowship training programs by name, region, and/or by selecting from various criteria designed to enhance the search engine. In addition to providing a means of searching potential sites, the APPIC hosts the yearly “match” whereby students and sites register with APPIC and following competitive interviews (in most cases, applicants are either invited for an interview or informed that the organization does not believe it would be a good match), a computer-based match occurs based on relative site and applicant rankings. This is a fairly complex process with many strengths and limitations.
For more specific information, visit the site and follow the links describing the match program. Note: there is a cost to register for a match, and there are deadlines for both site applications (dates vary by site) and registering on the APPIC system. Because internship programs must meet specific criteria to register with APPIC, this organization also serves as a quality control stamp. Have a look, even if you do not plan to register with APPIC.
Does APPIC conduct the match?
No. It serves as a liaison between students and training programs and the match service provider, National Matching Service (NMS). Information about NMS is available at their website.
Should I register with APPIC?
If you wish to be considered for a training program that is APPIC-registered, you are required to register in order to be considered for the match. If the program is not APPIC-registered, there is no need to register. A majority of the competitive, APA-accredited programs are registered with APPIC. If you plan to register with APPIC, keep in mind that their recommended registration deadline (which qualifies you to use the NMS match system) is approximately December 1 for the following academic year placements.
Are all APA-accredited internships registered with APPIC?
No. This is not a requirement
Are all APPIC-registered internships APA-accredited?
No. On each program description page there is an APA status indicator (i.e., APA Accredited?).
Where can I find a listing of APA-accredited internships, including those not registered with APPIC?
At the APA website.
Is there a common application or do I need to make multiple applications?
If you are registering to sites that are non-APPIC registered, you will have to follow theapplication procedures for that particular site, which can generally be found on that organization’s website.
If you are registering with an APPIC-registered site, there is a common application form that you must complete. This form may be downloaded from the APPIC website. The application is easy to access and available in MS Word format. You should download it as soon as possible to help gain a sense of what kinds of materials you will need in order to complete the application. It is also recommended that you begin some of the essays early in the process. Some of these are very thought-provoking and will require much planning and organization. The application form contains:
- a student information section to be completed by the applicant and
- an eligibility section requiring information about your academic institution’s eligibility to participate in the match (to be completed by your program director). The student information portion of the application has six sections, including background and educational information, essays (there are five total essays; answers may vary and be site-specific), doctoral practicum documentation, test administration information, professional conduct, and application certification.
If I complete the common APPIC application, do I also need to complete a site-specific application?
It depends. A majority of the sites rely primarily on the APPICapplication. However, it is common practice to have specific additional requirements such as site-specific essays, examples of assessment and/or treatment reports, and/or additional practicum documentation. In addition, many sites prefer that letters of reference be sent directly to them from your letter writers. It is suggested that you go to the website of each site and carefully review the application procedures to make certain you include all necessary materials. Because of the high volume of applications, most sites will not accept materials past the due date published on their website.
Where do I send my application?
If you are registered with APPIC, you send a copy of the APPIC application to APPIC and a copy to all sites for which you are applying. Visit each training program’s website in addition to the APPIC website for the specific application procedures. If you are applying to non-APPIC registered programs, follow the application procedures of that particular agency.
How many letters of reference will I need?
Most programs require 3. However, some places require up to 5. Be sure to look at each agency’s website for specific application requirements and procedures.
Who should I ask to write letters of reference?
In most cases, a letter from your advisor is in your best interest. Additional letters can come from other faculty and/or practicum supervisors. As with graduate school applications, letters from personal friends and/or family members carry very little weight.
Ask only those individuals whom you believe know you well and will be able to write you an in-depth letter. Although most people do not write “nasty” or “negative” letters, their regard for you is often communicated via the length of the letter. For example, a short letter with the primary message that “I worked with him/her on this project (or I had him/her in ____ class)” and “he/she did a great job” is not to your benefit. Alternatively, letters that provide in-depth information about the letter writer’s relationship with you across multiple projects and activities generally reflect a heart-felt recommendation. Clearly, it is to your benefit to seek letters from people you have known and worked with for at least a year; and who are able to write about multiple projects and activities for which they can assess your skills, talents, and characteristics.
It is always a good idea to ask each individual if they believe they can write you a strong letter. If they are hesitant they will likely be honest with you. If they are supportive, it is always nice to hear a validating, “yes, absolutely!”
Where do I send my letters of reference?
Again, visit each agency’s website for specific instructions. Keep in mind that a growing number of training programs wish for letters to be sent directly from your letter writers rather than you sending them in as part of an application packet.
Is there anything I can do to make it easy on my letter writers?
It is often helpful to provide your letter writers with
- a copy of your vita and
- a brief career objectives statement.
- In addition, be sure to provide each letter writer with the following materials:
- a list including the names and addresses of all training programs you are applying to (this allows them to include this information in the
letter; be sure to include the name of the training director, if applicable); - stamped, type-written, addressed envelopes;
- as well as contact information (and schedule, if appropriate) for you should they have any questions/concerns. It is also highly recommended that you give them at least two weeks to complete the
letters.
- a list including the names and addresses of all training programs you are applying to (this allows them to include this information in the
What information/documentation will I need to complete the actual application?
Applications for programs not using the APPIC vary greatly and you will need to contact each site for more information regarding the application. Although some of the information below may apply to non-APPIC registered programs, it is based on the APPIC application itself. It is recommended that you get a copy of the application as early as possible. Completing the application is a very time-consuming endeavor.
In addition to general information about
- how to get in touch with you
- your program
- your coursework
You will need detailed information about your doctoral and masters level practica. Specifically, you will need to know how many hours you have in the following areas: individual therapy, career counseling, group therapy, family therapy, couples therapy, school counseling interventions, and other psychological interventions.
In addition, you will need to provide specific information about the types of assessment and testing you have completed as well as information about the types of assessment instruments you have used. Keep in mind that this is a generic application and you will not have hours in all areas! The application also requires information about supervision (with you as both a supervisee and supervisor), the diversity of your clients (e.g., age, gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and disabilities), your teaching experiences, and additional clinical activities. It is highly recommended that you start this portion of the application early. It is perhaps the most time consuming part of the application. On the other hand, if you are organized and well prepared, this application IS doable and you will have a great product in the end.
Should I send a copy of my vita along with my application?
Most sites will explicitly ask for a copy of your vita. Even if they do not, it is highly recommended that you send a copy along with your application. Your vita is perhaps the most critical piece of information you provide the site. It tells them who you are, your professional background, as well as how you will complement and benefit from training at their site. Make sure your vita is well developed, professionally organized, easy to follow, and contains no major typos or other errors. It is highly recommended that you talk with your advisor about how to organize your vita and that you have others carefully review your vita prior to sending it in with any applications.
Is there anything else I should send with my application?
In addition to including any site-specific additional materials and a copy of your vita, it is a good idea to include a brief, well-formulated cover letter including your name, materials enclosed in the application, a brief statement demonstrating your enthusiasm for the program (i.e., tell them what about the program you are interested in), and contact information. Make this letter to the point (it should not exceed one page in length; generally, ¾ page is acceptable) and proof it several times. It will be the first thing they see!
Do you have any recommendations for how to keep track of practica-related assessment & intervention hours?
START EARLY!!!
You might start by consulting your day planner and/or PDA. This will serve as a beginning place. Next you should consult any course-related logs you have completed. These sources will be invaluable. Individuals in the field have put together tracking systems that can be used as is, or modified to meet your specific needs. Have a look at the following resources:
