What is the difference between an internship and an externship?

[psych985]

I am a student currently applying to PsyD programs, and the one I am most interested in appears to have more students match for externships, rather than internships. I am wondering what this says about the program? What is the difference between the two?

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[psybee]

I am a student currently applying to PsyD programs, and the one I am most interested in appears to have more students match for externships, rather than internships. I am wondering what this says about the program? What is the difference between the two?

an internship is a full time, usually paid experience, ideally done in your fifth year or one your dissertation is done or after your coursework is done. it is required to get your phd, and an APA accredited internship is really ideal, since not having an APA accredited one may make it difficult for you to work at some places, like VAs, in some states.

an externship is usually part time, is done while you are still a student (usually 2-3 years of externships, starting your 2nd or 3rd year). externships can be at your uni's counseling center, can be prearranged by your program (which would make matching very easy, obv) or can be independently applied to by the students. they are usualy unpaid, and are an opportunity to gain "real world" clinical experience, gain direct and indirect client hours ( necessary for applying to internship and graduating from your program), etc.

when applying, i never saw anyplace list externship match rates, only internship. i did ask in my interviews about externship opps and placements of enrolled students, what kinds of chances i would have to gain experieence with certain pop or in certain settings, because these things can vary widely and just like applying to jobs, your previous clinical expereince via externships can shape how competitive you are when you finally apply for the internship.

 

[psychanxiety]

And what's the difference between externships and practicum?

 

[psybee]

And what's the difference between externships and practicum?

from the schools i looked at when i was applying ( and my own now) i didn't really see a diff., except that externships are not called practicum, and practicum seemed to be school based. for example, at my school, practicum is used when talking about our for credit school-based clinical training--like I'm taking Behavioral Medicine, with Practicum, and I will as part of my class, give assessments, intakes, case reports, physician letters, and have an ongoing 1-one-1 client, all through our schools graduate training clinic. I'll do similar things in my externship, but that's not for credit, it's clinical training outside of my school at a "regular" clinical setting.

 

[psychmama]

From my experience, schools around NYC use the term "externship" and other areas of the county use "practicum". They both refer to pre- internship clinical training. I once referred to my "practicum" during an interview for internship in New York City. They did not seem to know what I talked about until I used the word "externship."😉

 

[docjohng]

Practicum = externship

Internship = what you do for a year after you're done grad school (once all credits have been completed; regardless of whether dissertation is completed or not)