Applicants should have completed all the coursework required for the Ph.D. or Psy.D. Degree in an APA-, CPA-, or PCSAS-accredited doctoral program and should have received supervised clinical practicum training. We prefer applicants from clinical psychology programs, but will also consider applicants from counseling psychology, and from school psychology programs. Rutgers RBHS is committed to recruiting and maintaining a diverse professional staff and student body.
Applicants must have successfully passed comprehensive or qualifying examinations, and successfully proposed their dissertation proposal before applying.
Along with the APPI Internship application, please include your CV and three (3) letters of recommendation from individuals who are in a position to evaluate your clinical skill and to comment on your strengths and weaknesses. We also request an official graduate school transcript as part of the APPI Internship application. In addition, please provide one (1) written work sample in the form of a de-identified assessment report.
Applicants are expected to express interest in one or more of our five specific major tracks when applying. Practicum and/or research experience should support your major track choice. Applicants should highlight related experience, interest, and goals with respect to the track to which they apply. We emphasize that the internship demands maturity, motivation, autonomy, and focus.
- Total Direct Contact Intervention Hours: 450 hours minimum
- Total Direct Contact Assessment Hours: 100 hours minimum
Applicants should apply via the APPIC Application process. In ranking candidates, we are particularly attentive to the match of the applicant’s interests and career goals with our opportunities and resources. We are particularly attuned to the match between the applicant and their choice of major track. You may apply to more than one major track, however, there should be a clear rationale for doing so.
We adhere to all APPIC requirements in meeting, interviewing, and considering candidates for our internship program. This internship site agrees to abide by the APPIC policy that no person at this training facility will solicit, accept, or use any ranking-related information from any applicant. The following steps are taken from the time the completed application is received through to the final ordering of applicants:
The Doctoral Psychology Internship Director and Training Committee read and review all applications. Based on the prospective Psychology Resident's credentials and our judgment as to goodness of fit, decisions are made regarding extending interview invitations.
We prefer candidates who have completed all or almost all requirements for their degree, have outstanding letters of recommendation, have completed at least 2-3 years of practicum experience, and are an excellent match for their major track of choice. In the past few years, we have invited between 26% and 41% of applicants for an interview.
Selected applicants are invited to attend one of several interview dates scheduled in December and January. The prospective applicants meet with faculty and staff before also meeting with the current intern group to obtain unencumbered and uncensored feedback from the Psychology Residents who are immersed in the program. We will schedule only VIRTUAL interviews. This decision was initially made because of continued uncertainties regarding variants of COVID-19 and how this could influence travel, and we are continuing this decision because of our commitment to equity. Flying around the country to go to interviews is expensive and may be physically and emotionally difficult, which may cause qualified applicants to apply to fewer programs. We hope by offering only virtual interviews, we can contribute to a more equitable system.
Interviewers complete a rating form describing the applicant’s strengths, weaknesses, and goodness of fit.
If you are matched with Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care, the University will conduct a criminal background check at no cost to you. To do so, we will give our Human Resources department your identifying information. While employment is contingent upon successful completion of a background check, a criminal conviction does not automatically prohibit employment.
Eligibility for employment will be determined by the administration of University Behavioral Health Care in consultation with Rutgers Human Resources. Applicants who match to our program but do not successfully pass this background check will not be employed as Psychology Residents (APPIC Match policy 6b states, "Appointments of applicants to internship positions may be contingent upon the applicants satisfying certain eligibility requirements. Such eligibility requirements must be clearly specified in the internship programs' written materials and provided to applicants in advance of the deadline for submitting rankings for the APPIC Match.")
In addition, if you are working on a unit treating substance use disorders, you will be required to pass a drug test. Most clinical rotations will also require that you are fingerprinted, and you should note that this is at your own expense because it is not done by Human Resources themselves.
Finally, Applicants should be aware that as a “Covered Individual” under University Policy 100.3.1, you will be required to receive a COVID-19 vaccination. The university is mandating COVID-19 vaccination for those employees covered under the newly revised Immunization Policy for Covered Individuals, University Policy 100.3.1. For these covered individuals, who are certain employees who work in health care and public safety positions (see the policy for more information on who is covered), the university is requiring them to upload their vaccination information to the Rutgers Vaccination Portal. For additional, up-to-date information on Rutgers policies related to COVID19 (as they are subject to change as circumstances changes or new knowledge comes to light), please visit the web at https://coronavirus.rutgers.edu/.
Updated 8/15/2023