School of Psychology Policy on Pre-doctoral Internship in Clinical Psychology

Readiness is evaluated by the Coordinator of Internships (CI) considering the training and career goals in each student’s multi-year clinical training plan, by examining achievement of professional competencies associated with readiness for internship_^1,2  (e.g., evaluations from external clinical training settings and the Center for Psychological Services and Research), and by reviewing the successful and timely completion of all program-related requirements. Students considering an application for internship are invited to meet with the CPI in the fall or winter semester preceding the Annual Review of Students.

At the time of the Annual Student Review, students who have been recommended to apply for internship by the CI need to submit documentation declaring their intent to apply for internship and a plan for the completion of their dissertation prior to commencing internship_³.

The formal approval to apply for internship rests with the Clinical Program Committee at the time of the Annual Student Review and is communicated to the student in the annual student review letter.

Parameters for approval to apply for internship:

1. In order to be approved to apply for an internship and participate in the APPIC application and matching process, by October 1st of the application year, students normally:
   1. Must have an approved thesis proposal,
   2. Must have completed data collection for their dissertation,
   3. Have successfully completed all program requirements (except dissertation and external clinical training), and
   4. Must be on track to complete data analyses and, minimally, a draft of the dissertation prior to beginning the internship, as confirmed by the research supervisor (the plan to achieve these goals is vetted by the research supervisor and submitted at the time of the Annual Review of Students_³).

Following formal approval, applicants will be accompanied through the application process via three orientation meetings (typically June, August, and November).

Parameters regarding the application for and completion of the pre-doctoral internship:

2. Students in the clinical program at the School of Psychology:
   1. Are required to complete a fulltime internship towards the completion of their Ph.D. in clinical psychology.
   2. Must complete an internship in a CPA/APA accredited internship setting, or a School of Psychology formally approved internship setting_⁴.
   3. Are not permitted to participate in the APPIC Post-Match Vacancy Service if they were not approved to apply for internship at the time of the Annual Student Review in the application year_⁵.