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Is it possible to go to a non-apa program, and then meet the criteria to obtain an APA Intership? Thanks in advance for any feedback...
Rob🙂
Rob🙂
Obtaining and APA Intership without attending an APA Program???
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I did a quick search of their online directory using the following parameters:
-APA and CPA acred. internship sites
-US & Canada
-Consider apps from Clinical/School/Counseling + non-acred.
38 sites came up, which means an incredibly small % of all APA-acred sites will even accept an application for consideration. For all intents and purposes, I'd say it is a no-go.
-APA and CPA acred. internship sites
-US & Canada
-Consider apps from Clinical/School/Counseling + non-acred.
38 sites came up, which means an incredibly small % of all APA-acred sites will even accept an application for consideration. For all intents and purposes, I'd say it is a no-go.
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I do think it's important to mention that (some) internship sites understand that successfully placing interns is part of the APA accred process. Thus, as T4C mentioned, there are some that will consider non-APA candidates.
In general, though, I'd imagine that "non-APA doctoral program" is one of the first applicant elimination criteria at many internship sites. Given the current 75% overall match rate, though, I wouldn't want to do anything that would place me at a significant disadvantage before I'd even begun my first day of classes.
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Adding on to T4C's information, I've contacted some of the sites that accept applications from non-APA accredited programs and those sites have indicated that they highly prefer applicants from APA-accredited programs (duh). Further, given the high number of applicants, in recent years, some of them have not even reviewed applications from students from non-accredited programs.
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It really does depend on the training program when you think about the limited number of sites that will consider non-APA internship applicants. If you are interested in a non-APA program, look closely at the training opportunities (especially practica), faculty credibility (are they from APA programs themselves, are they known in the field, have they served on APA committees or served on respected journals, etc.), and, of course, the program outcome data (even if the program isn't APA, be very wary if it does not provide outcome data). Below is an example of one non-APA program's outcome data (Radford University's PsyD in Counseling Psychology). As you can see, their match rate for their first cohort was very good. (http://www.radford.edu/~psyc-web/psyd/psyd2/Student Admissions, Outcomes, and Other Data.htm)
. As we noted above, our first cohort of students entered in Fall 2008, so the members of this first cohort applied this year. We are pleased that all 3 who applied were matched in the first round of the process. Two of the three sites are currently APA-accredited and the third is in the process of submitting material so we hope they will be accredited before the end of the internship year. The sites are listed below:.
. As we noted above, our first cohort of students entered in Fall 2008, so the members of this first cohort applied this year. We are pleased that all 3 who applied were matched in the first round of the process. Two of the three sites are currently APA-accredited and the third is in the process of submitting material so we hope they will be accredited before the end of the internship year. The sites are listed below:.
- Grand Valley State University, Counseling and Career Development Center
- Virginia Tech, Thomas E. Cook Counseling Center
- University of Washington, Counseling Center
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APA-accred. at the fellowship level isn't as widespread (or, arguably, important) as at the internship and doctoral program levels. To avoid making an erroneous assumption, if you're looking only at APA fellowships, you might consider jettisoning that requirement and seeing what additional opportunities are available.
That being said, attending a non-APA internship seems to make most things at least somewhat more difficult, and I would imagine finding a post-doc would be no different. However, there are all sorts of post-doctoral experiences that fall on all parts of the "formality" spectrum, so I have no doubt that someone from a non-APA internship would be able to find a fellowship somewhere. Just keep in mind that if the applicant is aiming for some of the more-competitive fellowships, coming from a non-APA internship will likely hurt them more than it would with a less-competitive post-doc.
