Internship Admissions, Support, and Initial Placement Data

Does the program or institution require students, trainees, and/or staff (faculty) to comply with specific policies or practices related to the institution’s affiliation or purpose? Such policies or practices may include, but are not limited to, admissions, hiring, retention policies, and/or requirements for completion that express mission and values.

NO

Briefly describe in narrative form important information to assist potential applicants in assessing their likely fit with your program. This description must be consistent with the program’s policies on intern selection and practicum and academic preparation requirements:

The Medical College of Georgia (MCG)/Augusta University and the Charlie Norwood Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) are organized as partners in offering a 12-month, full-time Internship in Clinical Psychology. The program begins July 1st with an annual stipend of $33,469 (MCG/AU-paid tracks) and $33,891 (VA-paid tracks). We currently fund ten Interns (6-VA; 4-MCG/AU). The Internship combines a solid grounding in clinical skills with access to a wide range of mental health and medical settings through which an Intern can develop general foundational skills as well as emphasis training. Our training model focuses on three primary facets of training in the development of professional psychologists: (1) Training in the implementation of essential practice skills in key field settings; (2) Training in an empirical approach to practice, and; (3) Training in the provision of care for underserved populations. Our hospitals/clinics are large regional treatment and training centers with more than 1000 combined inpatient beds and a multitude of specialty treatment programs and clinics. Our program partners with East Central Georgia Regional Hospital (ECRH) - a state funded psychiatric hospital that provides care for individuals with serious and chronic mental health disorders. ECRH consists of three primary inpatient units: Adult Mental Health, General Mental Health, and Forensics. Across training experiences, Interns work collaboratively with a variety of physicians, specialists, and other allied health professionals to develop skills in providing interdisciplinary health care.

The AU-paid interns will complete 3 4-month Rotations (General, Integrated Health, and Emphasis Rotations) while the VA-paid interns will be complete 2 6-month Rotations (General and Emphasis Rotations) as most rotations include integrated health care teams and opportunities for brief assessment/treatment and consultation liaison work can be completed across general and/or emphasis training.

Rotation Requirements:

• The General Practice Rotation: This rotation focuses on psychological assessment skills, skills pertaining to rapid assessment, and triaging in individuals with acute psychiatric conditions, evidence-based psychotherapy groups and, individual, and possibly couple and family psychotherapy.
• The Integrated Health Psychology Rotation: Training offered in many medical settings focused on acquiring skills that will enable interns to apply fundamental psychological principles to health care settings with a goal of training interns to function independently in interdisciplinary settings.

In addition to the generalist training opportunities available, emphasis training is provided through the selection of one of six tracks: Child and Family (AU), Forensic Psychology (AU), Clinical Health Psychology (AU), HIV & LGBTQ Health Disparities Track (AU), Clinical Health, Rehabilitation Medicine and Behavioral Sleep Medicine (VA-2 slots), Women's Health (VA-2 slots) and Trauma Psychology (VA-2 slots).

There are required seminars at each site: AU and VA interns presently complete didactic and seminar training separately at the site at which they are paid.

AU holds weekly seminars including: Diagnostic/Treatment Seminar using a Problem Based Learning model, Psychotherapy Process and Group Supervision, and Professional Issues Seminar.

VA holds weekly seminars including: Assessment Seminar, General Diagnosis and Treatment Seminar, Group Supervision with Supervision of Supervision and Case Conceptualization,  and Professional Issues and Development Seminar. 

Please see respective websites/brochures for further information.

Other Educational Opportunities Include: Grand Rounds, Workshops, half-day dedicated time for research for AU-tracks and 2-hours for VA-tracks.

 *The consortium has notified APA/CoA/OAA in May 2022 of intent to dissolve the consortium agreement. We are fully committed to maintaining accreditation as a consortium until we achieve independent accreditation during this transitional period. We are available to discuss any questions or concerns with regards to this process. Despite the expected changes, we are committed to having high-quality training for the upcoming year. The VA has submitted their self-study for independent accreditation and as of April 2024 was approved for a Spring/Summer 2025 site visit.

Does the program require that applicants have received a minimum number of hours of the following at time of application? If Yes, indicate how many:
Total Direct Contact Intervention Hours: 400
Total Direct Contact Assessment Hours: 40

Describe any other required minimum criteria used to screen applicants:

Only applicants from APA approved doctoral programs in clinical or counseling psychology will be considered. Interns are expected to have completed at least three years of doctoral study with a minimum number of AAPI Intervention Hours of 400 and AAPI Assessment Hours of 40 before entering our program. Applicants must have completed their Masters Degree requirements prior to the application deadline (if applicable in their doctoral program), must have Comprehensive Exams passed by the ranking deadline, and must have their Dissertation Proposal approved by the start of the residency. To be considered for our program, applicants must have data-based doctoral dissertations. Examples of acceptable data-based doctoral dissertations include original data collection (quantitative and/or qualitative), use of secondary data/existing databases, meta-analyses. Examples of dissertations that do not qualify include reviews of the literature, narrative reviews, systematic reviews.

The following additional qualifications are applied based on requirements for training in all Veterans Affairs (VA) settings:

• U.S. citizenship. The VA is unable to consider applications from anyone who is not currently a U.S. citizen. Verification of citizenship is required following selection. All interns must complete a Certification of Citizenship in the United States prior to beginning VA training.
• A male applicant born after 12/31/1959 must have registered for the draft by age 26 to be eligible for any US government employment, including selection as a paid VA trainee. Male applicants must sign a pre-appointment Certification Statement for Selective Service Registration before they can be processed into a training program. Exceptions can be granted only by the US Office of Personnel Management; exceptions are very rarely granted.
• Interns are subject to fingerprinting and background checks. Match result and selection decisions are contingent on passing these screens.
• The VA conducts drug screening exams on randomly selected personnel as well as new employees. Interns are not required to be tested prior to beginning work, but once on staff they are subject to random selection for testing as are other employees.
• Additional information available here: VA Drug-Free Workplace Program Guide for Veterans Health Administration Health Professions Trainees

Health Professions Trainees (HPTs) are appointed as temporary employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs. As such, HPTs are subject to laws, policies, and guidelines posted for VA staff members.  There are infrequent times in which this guidance can change during a training year which may create new requirements or responsibilities for HPTs.  If employment requirements change during the course of a training year, HPTs will be notified of the change and impact as soon as possible and options provided. The VA Training Director will provide you with the information you need to understand the requirement and reasons for the requirement in timely manner.

Annual Stipend/Salary for Full-time Interns

$33,469

Annual Stipend/Salary for Half-time Interns

N/A

Program provides access to medical insurance for intern?

     If access to medical insurance is provided:
            Trainee contribution to cost required?
            Coverage of family member(s) available?
            Coverage of legally married partner available?
            Coverage of domestic partner available?

YES

YES
YES
YES
NO

Hours of Annual Paid Personal Time Off (PTO and/or Vacation)

80 (AU-Paid)/104 (VA-Paid)

Hours of Annual Paid Sick Leave

80 (AU-Paid)/104 (VA-Paid)

In the event of medical conditions and/or family needs that require extended leave, does the program allow reasonable unpaid leave to interns/residents in excess of personal time off and sick leave?

YES

Other Benefits (please describe):
     Up to 5 days of authorized leave for conference attendance/licensure/interviews/etc.
     AU-funded interns receive Spring Break during the first full week of April.

Total # of Interns who were in the 3 cohorts

          24          

Total # of Interns who did not seek employment because they returned to their doctoral program/are completing doctoral degree:

0

PD

EP

Academic teaching

1 

Community mental health center

Consortium

University Counseling Center

Hospital/Medical Center

11

Veterans Affairs Health Care System

2

1

Psychiatric facility

3

Correctional facility

Health maintenance organization

School district/system

Independent practice setting

5

1 

Other