PhD/PsyD Pre-Employment Screening for Internship

[thisisfine11]

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Does anyone have any idea when the pre-employment requirements, such as background checks or drug screens, will begin to be processed after match day? There is a pretty long period of time in between Feb 22 and July 1 (my most common start date) and I’m assuming they don’t wait until you move there to start internship to confirm those requirements...

 

[AbnormalPsych]

Depends on where you match. Some places, they start ASAP.

For you military/VA people, HURRY UP and wait in line.

 

[psyche27]

Does anyone have any idea when the pre-employment requirements, such as background checks or drug screens, will begin to be processed after match day? There is a pretty long period of time in between Feb 22 and July 1 (my most common start date) and I’m assuming they don’t wait until you move there to start internship to confirm those requirements...

They should be done ASAP as they are often standing in the way of completing your officially being hired by the organization for internship. The TD will let you know the specifics when you talk on match day.

 

[SmithPsy24]

Depends on where you match. Some places, they start ASAP.

For you military/VA people, HURRY UP and wait in line.

Yup. For VA an employee physical/drug screening can be farmed out to your local VA if you match to one out of town. (I learned this when I got my post-doc, and got a surprise call the Friday afternoon of Memorial Day weekend letting me know I had an appointment with Occupational Health the following Tuesday.)

 

[psydstudent2020]

Why wouldn’t they do it before matching? If they find something they don’t like then the applicant gets screwed over for internship?


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[str63]

Why wouldn’t they do it before matching? If they find something they don’t like then the applicant gets screwed over for internship?


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Sites are supposed to post reasons for failure of a background check or drug screen. These are usually consistent with the employer and are not specific to the internship program. If the applicant didn't report something in the APPIC application (i.e., felony), or tests positive for an illicit drug, then yes, the site can rescind the match offer. It's not feasible to do this before matching because of the number of applicants the sites interview and it would be a rare occurrence where something like this would happen. I wouldn't say the applicant gets "screwed over" for internship because it was something that could have been avoided by reporting ahead of time (or not doing drugs). This is generally how all employers work - they don't do a background/drug screen until employment has been offered because it's a waste of resources to do this for any one who applies.