PhD/PsyD Options for APA Postdoc but non APA internship

[Balmoral]

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A psychologist I know completed an 2 year APA-accredited postdoc but the individual's predoctoral internship was not APA accredited. Can this person be considered for a VA/AMC position?

Does the APA postdoc experience trump the non-APA internship?

 

[WisNeuro]

The way that the position statements are written, nope, at least from my understanding. Unless that non-accredited internship was done at a VA. We don't pay attention to accreditation of postdocs in hiring. It's so hit or miss in the field given that it's not required. If they want a definitive answer, I'd say contact HR at a VA, but those people can barely dress themselves. So, I'd ask a unit supervisor or chief to get a definitive answer.

 

[erg923]

A psychologist I know completed an 2 year APA-accredited postdoc but the individual's predoctoral internship was not APA accredited. Can this person be considered for a VA/AMC position?

Does the APA postdoc experience trump the non-APA internship?

No. Not unless the internship was at a VA.

 

[Ollie123]

AMCs set their own rules (generally) and have more flexibility. So I guess the answer is technically yes, but realistically probably not? Pull in a $25,000,000 grant and I wager many AMCs would make an exception though.

VA - no. Unless they interned at one of those "VAs that was applying for accreditation but didn't have it yet" for which they created an exception to the rule.

If you are referring to a hybrid position, its likely some combination of the above two answers. These situations are often outrageously complicated. I don't know if the rules applied to someone who isn't paid by the VA - I imagine it likely depends on the exact context, time spent, activities involved, etc. I don't know if WOC folks need an APA internship too or where exactly the line is drawn.

 

[docma]

AMCs set their own rules (generally) and have more flexibility. So I guess the answer is technically yes, but realistically probably not? Pull in a $25,000,000 grant and I wager many AMCs would make an exception though.

VA - no. Unless they interned at one of those "VAs that was applying for accreditation but didn't have it yet" for which they created an exception to the rule.

If you are referring to a hybrid position, its likely some combination of the above two answers. These situations are often outrageously complicated. I don't know if the rules applied to someone who isn't paid by the VA - I imagine it likely depends on the exact context, time spent, activities involved, etc. I don't know if WOC folks need an APA internship too or where exactly the line is drawn.

I know psychologists who attended a non-APA non-VA internship but then went to post-docs at a VA/AMC; the AMC (where she had done a practicum) did the hire and did not have the APA only restriction. But the individual went on to licensure and continued employment in the VA/AMC position.

 

[AcronymAllergy]

I know psychologists who attended a non-APA non-VA internship but then went to post-docs at a VA/AMC; the AMC (where she had done a practicum) did the hire and did not have the APA only restriction. But the individual went on to licensure and continued employment in the VA/AMC position.

Hybrid positions are indeed unique. If the person is paid solely through the AMC, or if they're paid by both but the VA position is research-only (or some other similar setup, such as that their VA pay is actually grant money that's essentially funneled through the VA rather than coming from VA's budget), then I could see how one might get past the accredited internship requirement. However, even with a hybrid position, if a person is paid directly by the VA for clinical work, I'd honestly be shocked if they were able to be hired with a non-accredited internship.

To the OP--as has been said, APA accreditation of postdocts doesn't trump non-accreditation of internship (for the VA), no. As WisNeuro mentioned, APA accreditation at the postdoc level is still pretty sparse, and I've not yet heard of a single organization or seen a single job posting that's required it.

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

APA-acred at the post-doc level appears mostly aspirational at this time, while APA-acred at the internship level is very much the expectation (at least that is how I read the VA policies).

 

[WisNeuro]

Also, it varies depending on specialty for postdoc. When we hire, we care more about whether or not the postdoc conforms to HC guidelines than if they are APA accredited. I.e., they need to be board eligible, which is generally more stringent than APA accreditation at this time.

 

[Balmoral]

Thanks for the response. Yes, I did additional research and the VA appears to draw a hard line on the APA internship position. The psychologist I mentioned is already an ABPP candidate so that may help the job opportunities. I have to say it's interesting having this asterisk with no ability to change it after you've gone through the process. Definitely systemic issues (numerous professional schools that give degrees while career limitations are placed due to internships selection) but that is a whole different conversation/debate.

I appreciate the information that there are possible contract positions through the VA...something to keep in mind.