Becoming a Navy Psychologist (already graduated)

[angrydragon]

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I am a recent graduate with my Psy.D. I don't have my license yet and was looking into joining the Navy to do their internship and 3 years active duty. My primary concerns are:

1) how long is the internship, and does that time count towards licensing?
2) what are likely duty stations (stateside) and how likely is it that I can choose where I want to be stationed?
3) less concerning question, but still curious...can anyone who has gone this route please try and breakdown the process for me. as in, how long was training, internship, timelines, experiences, etc. just like to know what to expect. gotta gather proper intel prior to dispatching.

any help would be nice, thank you.

 

[KillerDiller]

If you've already graduated with a PsyD, you're not going to be able to do their predoctoral internship program.

 

[angrydragon]

i believe there are positions for graduated personnel as well.

Internship:

• Completion of all academic requirements for a doctoral degree in clinical psychology or counseling psychology from a university or professional school program accredited by the American Psychological Association
• Completion of all other requirements, including doctoral committee approval of dissertation topic
• Applicants are encouraged to visit at least one of the two internship sites in Bethesda, Maryland, and San Diego, California.
• Applications must be completed by December 1 (selection board meets in late January, with applicants informed of its decision the second Tuesday of February; date is set nationally for internships by the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers [APPIC])

this was on the navy website. http://www.navy.com/careers/healthcare/clinical-care/clinical-psych.html


i think it is the HPSP that I wouldn't qualify for since I've already graduated. or am i misinterpreting this...? in which case...damn it.

 

[voyeurofthemind]

You can go in as a licensed psychologist. You won't complete internship since I am assuming you have already completed one since you have earned your PsyD. You have a choice of duty stations (I think you pick 3). You aren't guaranteed to end up where you want as they will ultimately fill stations based on need but they will take into account your choices. Disclaimer: I did not do this program but I am an Army brat of two retired officers so I know a good bit about uniformed services.

 

[angrydragon]

that makes sense. guess i'm sol for now. was hoping to go in prior to licensing, but guess it'll have to wait. thank you for your replies.

 

[deleted176373]

that makes sense. guess i'm sol for now. was hoping to go in prior to licensing, but guess it'll have to wait. thank you for your replies.

You are NOT sol. There is a post-doctoral fellowship that would be perfect for you.

Call Dr. Getka or CAPT Ralph in Bethesda for details. See Link Below:

http://www.wrnmmc.capmed.mil/Resear...t-Doctoral Fellowship Updated 19July2012.docx

 

[angrydragon]

wow, this IS perfect for me! i don't have an APA accredited internship under my belt, but I think I should still have a decent chance. I'm also prior service, 4 years Marine Corps and 2 combat tours to Iraq. Now that I might be back in the game so to speak, any ideas on what duty stations are likely? Btw, thank you so much for this info, definitely opened up new doors for me.

 

[angrydragon]

MarkP, I just realized that you also responded and helped me out years ago when I was considering the HPSP. You are quite the informative individual. I have some new inquiries. So as far as you know, is Navy the only one with the postdoc fellowship? I was trying to see if Army had a program like that, but couldn't find any information on it. Any thoughts?

 

[deleted176373]

I am not aware of any, but I wouldn't assume that they do not exist. I would be surprised if post-doctoral/pre-licensure fellowships did not exist in the other services. Plus, you don't want to go Army, when you could go Navy. 😉

 

[roubs]

I am not aware of any, but I wouldn't assume that they do not exist. I would be surprised if post-doctoral/pre-licensure fellowships did not exist in the other services. Plus, you don't want to go Army, when you could go Navy. 😉

Do you think they will consider an app from someone w/o an APA accredited internship? It seems like they require it. I have some friends in the Psy.D. realm who have asked about Navy and I've always stressed being one of the ones who gets an APA slot if they at all want to consider accession post-licensure or something like this fellowship.

 

[deleted176373]

Do you think they will consider an app from someone w/o an APA accredited internship? It seems like they require it. I have some friends in the Psy.D. realm who have asked about Navy and I've always stressed being one of the ones who gets an APA slot if they at all want to consider accession post-licensure or something like this fellowship.

I know that they prefer an APA internship, but there have been people without APA internships who have successfully been considered in the past... doesn't mean they will still do it, but they might.

 

[angrydragon]

I am not aware of any, but I wouldn't assume that they do not exist. I would be surprised if post-doctoral/pre-licensure fellowships did not exist in the other services. Plus, you don't want to go Army, when you could go Navy. 😉

As ridiculous as it sounds, there are only two reasons why I would consider Army over Navy. 1) I deeply deeply dislike the NWUs. I would NEED to be attached to a Marine Corps unit so I can wear the Marine style cammies I'm used to. 2) I don't like the Navy rank structure. O-3 is Lieutenant while it is Captain in both Marine and Army.

Petty I know. Part of me wanting to go back into the military is based on familiarities that I have missed. But the #1 pro of going Navy, I get to work with my fellow Marines again.

 

[angrydragon]

Do you think they will consider an app from someone w/o an APA accredited internship? It seems like they require it. I have some friends in the Psy.D. realm who have asked about Navy and I've always stressed being one of the ones who gets an APA slot if they at all want to consider accession post-licensure or something like this fellowship.

I asked Dr. Getka, director of Navy Psychology Training Programs that same question. His response was "The post-doc training director (Dr. Kupke) will consider applications
from individuals who have not had an APA-accredited internship." So yes, it is a possibility. The fellowship discusses non-APA-accredited internship applicants as ".Individuals who have completed, or are currently enrolled in, non-APA-accredited internships will be considered on a case-by-case basis."

..worth a shot.
.

 

[mixolyd]

Best of luck!