Internship: Ph D vs Psy D

[AryaStark]

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When internships are looking over applications, is there a difference in opinions between the two degrees? I assume there is a disproportionately higher amount of Psy D's applying than Ph D's, which I also assume (rightly or wrongly) may account for recent increases in applications for internship programs. In terms of internship interviews/acceptances, does it really matter what program you went to? Is a Psy D more sought after because they may have more clinical hours, is a PhD more sought after because it incorporates research? Any opinions would be good to hear...

 

[clinpsych]

It all depends on the internship site, though I think that you'll find more sites that prefer Ph.D. applicants to Psy.D. applicants than vice versa (but I could be wrong about that).

You could take a look at the APPIC directory (http://http://www.appic.org/directory/4_1_directory_online.asp). The program descriptions list how many of their interns came from Psy.D. versus Ph.D. programs

It also depends on graduate program (its reputation, practicum opportunities, etc.).

Finally, I also don't think it's a given that Psy.Ds will have more clinical hours than Ph.Ds.

 

[AcronymAllergy]

It all depends on the internship site, though I think that you'll find more sites that prefer Ph.D. applicants to Psy.D. applicants than vice versa (but I could be wrong about that).

You could take a look at the APPIC directory (http://http://www.appic.org/directory/4_1_directory_online.asp). The program descriptions list how many of their interns came from Psy.D. versus Ph.D. programs

It also depends on graduate program (its reputation, practicum opportunities, etc.).

Finally, I also don't think it's a given that Psy.Ds will have more clinical hours than Ph.Ds.

Almost word for word what my response would've been. There still does exist some bias against the Psy.D. at the internship level (i.e., some sites explicitly state in their application materials that they only accept Ph.D. applicants), but it's not highly widespread. I don't know if there are programs that prefer Psy.D. applicants, but I would imagine there are probably a few.

And as clinpsych mentioned, it's not at all a given that Psy.D. students will have more clinical hours than Ph.D. students. Additionally, always keep in mind that more (publications, hours, etc.) does not always = better. If one student has a plethora of hours that are all in one setting with one restricted population, they would potentially be at a disadvantage to another student who had slightly fewer hours, but whose hours were spread out amongst a variety of sites and with various patient populations.

 

[Student4Life0]

I am only at the MA level (hopefully in a PsyD or PhD program in fall 2011), so I don't have an answer to this question. But my limited understanding would be that it all depends on what you did with the degree while you were obtaining it. If I end up in a PsyD program, I plan to take advantage of all research opportunities, attempt to publish, and to find the best practicum sites that I can. I think regardless of the degree, it is all in what you make it.

 

[erg923]

The definitive answer is Yes, it can definitely matter. But only to certain sites. Highly academic and research oriented internships will prefer Ph.D.s, not so much because of thr degree name, but because, on average they have demonstrated more research productivity during grad school. A few sites will exclude Psy.Ds altogether. The ones I know of WPIC, Palo Alto VA, Charleston Consortium, University of Washington, Mclean. I am sure their are a few others as well.

As far as preferring the Psy.D degree, there are certainly sites in the APPIC directory that have a track record of almost exclusively taking Psy.D applicants. However, I think this is much more due to the fact that these sites are particularly attractive to Psy.D applicants and get an inordinate amount of Psy.D. applicants compared to Ph.D applicants. I doubt any training directors would really state that they have a true bias for Psy.Ds...as Ph.D.s, on average, have just as many clinical hours (if not more) than Psy.D. folks. That said, there are certain sites that are just better fits for the average Psy.D. applicants vs the average Ph.D. applicant. I can certainly see, come ranking time, the desire to train purely as a clinician vs wanting to have a blended career to be a better fit with a site. Thus, in certain cases the Psy.D. applicant A will rank ahead of Ph.D applicant B simply because of the focus of their training goals.