INTERNSHIP

Internship applicants must meet the following criteria to be considered for any VA Psychology Internship Program:

1. Doctoral student in good standing at an APA-accredited graduate program in psychology program or in an APA approved respecialization training program in Clinical or Counseling Psychology
2. Approved for internship status by graduate program training director
3. U.S. citizenship

To be eligible for employment as a VA Psychologist, a person must be a U.S. citizen and must have completed an APA-accredited graduate program in psychology AND must have completed an APA-accredited internship in Psychology, with the specialty area of the degree consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed.  The only exception is for those who complete a new VA internship that is not yet accredited.

POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP

Postdoctoral fellowship applicants must meet the following criteria to be considered for any VA Psychology Postdoctoral Program:

1. Have received a Doctorate from an APA-accredited Clinical or Counseling Psychology program or an APA approved respecialization training program in Clinical or Counseling Psychology
2. Have completed an internship program accredited by the APA Commission on Accreditation or have completed a VA-sponsored internship
3. U.S. citizenship

To be eligible for employment as a VA Psychologist, a person must be a U.S. citizen and must have completed an APA-accredited graduate program in Clinical or Counseling Psychology AND must have completed an APA-accredited internship in Psychology.  The only exception is for those who complete a new VA internship that is not yet accredited.

ALL PROGRAMS

Note: A CERTIFICATION OF REGISTRATION STATUS, CERTIFICATION OF U.S. CITIZENSHIP, and DRUG SCREENING are required to become a VA intern or VA postdoctoral fellow. The Federal Government requires that male applicants to VA positions who were born after 12/31/59 must sign a Pre-appointment Certification Statement for Selective Service Registration before they are employed. All interns will have to complete a Certification of Citizenship in the United States prior to beginning the internship. VA will not consider applications from anyone who is not currently a U.S. citizen. VA conducts drug screening exams on randomly selected personnel as well as new employees. Interns and Fellows are not required to be tested prior to beginning work, but once on staff they are subject to random selection as are other staff. Interns and Fellows are also subject to fingerprinting and background checks. Match result and selection decisions are contingent on passing these screens.