Pediatric Psychology Internship - For Applicants

Internship Admissions, Support & Initial Placement Data

In support of local and national recommendations, the Psychology Internship will only be conducting virtual interviews. Our programs will not grant in-person interviews or visits to our sites in order to minimize the health risks of traveling during this coronavirus pandemic and to limit disadvantaging any applicant to our programs.

The University of Minnesota Medical School Psychology Internship committed to excellence in all areas of its mission. It recognizes that excellence is achieved when the University core values of equity and diversity are infused into all aspects of scholarship and patient care. We strive for an environment and culture of inclusivity, equal opportunity and respect for the similarities and differences in all department members - faculty, trainees and staff.

The Departments of Pediatrics’ and Psychiatry's commitment to a welcoming and affirming climate translates into providing equal access to and opportunities in its programs, facilities, and employment for all individuals without regard for race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, apparent and non-apparent disabilities, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. This includes incorporation of diversity and equity issues in our educational curriculum and research endeavors, along with addressing health-care disparities among our patient populations.

Our program is committed to training psychology interns from all racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, gender, and sexual orientation backgrounds. For applicants who come from a background that is under-represented in Psychology, we would love to create an opportunity for a second look or extended visit at our program.

Questions about the application process?

Lauren Lofgren
Email: internshipcoord@umn.edu

Inquiries may also be made by an email to the Internship Director, Sasha Zagoloff, at zagoloff@umn.edu.

With the advent of the AAPI Online Applicant Portal, there is no need to mail application materials to our site.

Requirements

Applicants are preferred to have completed a minimum of 500 hours of practicum training including 250 Intervention/Assessment hours as listed on the AAPI by November 1. They are to be familiar with the rudiments of patient contact, test administration, test scoring, diagnostic interviewing, psychotherapy, and professional ethics. Applicants interested in the Pediatric Neuropsychology rotation are required to have clinical neuropsychology practicum experience and relevant coursework. Interns are selected primarily from APA-accredited clinical psychology doctoral programs. Strong candidates from APA accredited counseling psychology, health psychology, neuropsychology, or school psychology programs with practica experience in related health settings also are invited to submit applications. Applicants must be recommended for this clinical psychology Internship training by the Director of Training at their doctoral program and must have successfully completed the general written preliminary examination for the PhD or PsyD degree if one is required for the doctoral degree by their program.

By Minnesota Statute (144.057), health facilities licensed by the Minnesota Department of Health are required to obtain criminal background studies on individuals who have direct contact with patients as well as to check with previous employers/supervisors about professional activities that may have involved inappropriate sexual conduct. After the match, applicants matched to the Internship then undergo this additional scrutiny. Individuals who do not pass the criminal background study are prohibited from engaging in direct contact with patients, unless their disqualification has been set aside by the Commissioner of Health through a reconsideration process. Similarly, evidence of inappropriate sexual contact with patients at any time precludes internship participation. Consequently, failure to pass the criminal background check or evidence of sexual exploitation of clients nullifies any offer for internship that might be extended in the computer match.

How to Apply

Applications are considered complete when all of the following materials have been received by the University of Minnesota:

1. The AAPI Online

Applications are submitted through the AAPI online system. The online application will be used for the upcoming selection cycle. After creating an account, enter information into the various fields of the AAPI, and ultimately submit your completed application to our internship site. For overview, fee information, and further help about the AAPI online, go to https://appic.org/Internships/AAPI.

Cover Letter
A cover letter is submitted along with the application which can address issues for the internship as a whole as well as information related to specific rotations. The cover letter provides an introduction to your application and the opportunity for you to describe your interest in, and fit with particular training experiences and rotations. It also gives you the opportunity to address rotation-specific issues or questions. Applicants will be considered for all rotations for which they express interest in the cover letter. Please include the following information in the cover letter.

1. For which of the three rotations do you wish to be considered (you may express interest in all three)?
2. If you wish to identify yourself in terms of racial, cultural, ethnic, or other elements of diversity

The other components of the AAPI include:

Applicant information
Colleges attended
Summary of doctoral training
Academic program's verification of internship
Eligibility and readiness
Intervention experience
Psychological assessment experience
Supervision received
Description of support activities
Additional information about practicum experience

Your doctoral program’s Director of Clinical Training is required to review certain elements of your application (e.g., doctoral practicum hours) to verify their accuracy and to certify that you are authorized to apply for internship. When you have completed the portions of the application that require verification, you may submit them electronically to your DCT for review. You will not be permitted to submit any applications to internship sites until this review and verification process is completed by your DCT.

2. Uploaded Documents

Letters of Reference
We require at least three letters of recommendation. The AAPI Online service allows you to request letters from your recommenders, who will then upload their letters directly to the service. Once your recommenders have uploaded their letters, you may then choose which letters get sent to which internship sites.
Curriculum Vitae
Transcripts
Supplemental Documents
1. One psychological assessment report written by the applicant
2. One psychotherapy treatment summary written by the applicant

Applicants must be registered with the National Matching Service.

The University of Minnesota demonstrates a commitment to leveraging the transformative power of equity and diversity to advance excellence in teaching, learning and community engagement. The internship recognizes the importance of cultural and individual differences in the training of psychologists, including in selection of trainees and in the development of the psychologist workforce. It is committed to not discriminating against any candidates for trainee positions or faculty positions based on age, culture, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, language, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, or spirituality.

Timetable