Eligibility, Application & Selection
Please know the Doctoral Internship Program is on pause for the 2024-2025 academic year and is anticipated to remain on pause for the 2025-2026 academic year. It remains an APA-accredited program, with an inactive status.
Eligibility
- Applicants must be currently enrolled in an APA-accredited doctoral program in Counseling or Clinical Psychology. We do not accept candidates who have already completed the doctoral degree.
- Applicants must complete all doctoral coursework prior to the beginning of the internship.
- Applicants must have successfully passed their comprehensive examinations by the time of their application to the internship.
- Applicants must have their dissertation proposals completed prior to the beginning of the internship.
- Applicants must be certified as ready for internship by their doctoral programs.
- Applicants must have a minimum of 500 practicum hours of direct intervention, including a minimum of 100 hours of clinical experience with adults.
- Note: in recognition of the impact on training with the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as changes to application processes regarding the October 1st cut-off for hours reporting, flexibility in these hours requirements will be allotted.
- Applicants must demonstrate a strong and genuine interest in university counseling center work.
Application Instructions
As a participant of the APPIC Match Program, we follow all APPIC Match policies. We only accept applications that are submitted electronically via the APPPIC “AAPI Online” Service. Please follow instructions for uploading your application on the APPIC website and log in or register for an account to upload your materials.
A complete application includes the following materials:
- APPI Online Application
- Cover letter
- Complete, current curriculum vita
- Copies of all graduate school transcripts
- 3 letters of reference (at least 2 of which must by written by current or past clinical supervisors who are familiar with your clinical skills)
We look forward to receiving your application. Our center values social justice and liberatory practices, opportunities for cross-cultural interactions, broad representation among staff and trainees for meeting the needs of our campus community, and the importance of increased representation within the profession overall. As such, individuals holding a range of intersecting identity markers are strongly encouraged to apply.
Selection Process
All applications must be uploaded by November 3, 2023. Applicants will be notified by email of their interview status by December 8, 2023. Applicants who are selected for interviews will receive instructions to schedule their interviews through Sign-up Genius, an online scheduling program.
Interviews are primarily conducted through Zoom* (approximately 50 minutes with two senior staff members and one doctoral intern) during the second and third weeks of January. While our interviews are held online in an effort to minimize the financial burden of travel on our applicants, we welcome in-person visits if applicants wish to learn more about our site. Please note that these visits are optional and do not influence our selection decisions.
*We are happy to conduct phone interviews if there are technological or other barriers to the use of Zoom that might impact your interview experience. Please contact Tina Rockwell (Tina.Rockwell@unco.edu) to make arrangements if you would prefer a phone interview.
Applicants with a disability who require accommodations for the application process, interview, or training year are encouraged to contact the Director of Training, Dr. Jeff Roche, in order to discuss your needs. We are happy to make accommodations in order to make this process more accessible to candidates.
The Director of Training contacts all matched candidates by phone on Intern Match Day in February, to welcome them into the agency and address any initial questions they might have. This is followed by a formal offer letter, per APPIC requirements.
Other Considerations
Background Checks
Offers to candidates who match with our site are conditional upon successfully passing a criminal and educational background check, facilitated by UNC Human Resources (HR). These background checks will include criminal felony/misdemeanor, sex offender registry, Social Security Number Trace, Widescreen Plus National Criminal Search, and Education verification.
Drug Testing
Our internship site does NOT conduct drug testing as a condition of pre-employment following the Match process. That said, the University strives to create a healthy environment, one in which the high-risk use of alcohol and the use of illicit drugs does not interfere with learning, performance, or development. Prospective interns are encouraged to review the university’s “Drug and Alcohol Policy” within the Board Policy Manual for additional information.
COVID-19 Considerations
Currently, UNC does not have a mask or vaccination requirement and continues to follow CDC guidelines. That said, the Counseling Center affirms and supports individual decision-making regarding mask wearing, regardless of the reason. For more information related to COVID-19, candidates can check the information on the University Health Clinic website.
Questions?
We are always happy to answer questions about our internship program. Please direct your questions or requests for a visit to Jennifer McDermott.