Internship Admission, Support, and Initial Placement Data

Date Program Table updated: 9/2/2025

Program Disclosures

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?

_____ Yes

__x___ No

If yes, provide website link (or content from brochure) where this specific information is presented:

N/A

Internship Program Admissions

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:

Intern selection is based primarily on degree of fit. We seek interns who have interests and goals that are compatible with our training philosophy and aims of the training program. The following qualities are often indicators of a good fit with the MSU CAPS training program:

Interest and commitment to multiculturalism, diversity, and social justice
Interest in working in an integrated mental health setting
Passion for variety of clinical training experiences

Does the program require that applicants have received a minimum number of hours of the following at the time of application? If yes, indicate how many:
Total Direct Contact Intervention Hours			Y	400
Total Direct Contact Assessment Hours			Y	30
Describe any other required minimum criteria used to screen applicants:
To qualify for consideration the applicant must: Be enrolled for a minimum of three years in an APA accredited psychology training program. Have completed all coursework (by the application deadline). Be certified as ready for internship by the program’s DCT. Have a minimum of 400 hours of supervised direct service (individual and group treatment) at the doctoral level. Have a minimum of 30 hours Assessment experience at the doctoral level. Passed comprehensive exams (by the application deadline). Successfully proposed their dissertation (by the application deadline). Be able to pass a criminal background check. Participate in the APPI-online as administered by the National Matching Service. Demonstrate interest or experience in university counseling center work.
Financial and Other Benefit Support for Upcoming Training Year*
Annual Stipend/Salary for Full-time Interns				$34,500
Annual Stipend/Salary for Half-time Interns				N/A
Does the program provide access to medical insurance for an intern?				Yes

If access to medical insurance is provided
	Trainee contribution to cost required?			Yes
	Coverage of family member(s) available?			Yes
	Coverage of legally married partner available?			Yes
	Coverage of domestic partner available?			Yes
	Hours of Annual Paid Personal Time Off (PTO and/or Vacation)			80
	Hours of Annual Paid Sick Leave			N/A
	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: University Holidays (11); Professional development time/funds to assist with counseling conference; Faculty/staff library privileges; Faculty/staff parking (Monthly fee).
*Note: Programs are not required by the Commission on Accreditation to provide all benefits listed in this table

Initial Post-Internship Positions
				2020-2023
Total # of interns who were in the 3 cohorts				12
Total # of interns who did not seek employment because they returned to their doctoral program/are completing a doctoral degree				0
		PD		EP

Academic teaching		0		0
Community mental health center		0		0
Consortium		0		0
University counseling center		2		2
Hospital Medical Center		1		0
Veterans Affairs Health Care System		0		0
Psychiatric facility		0		0
Correctional facility		0		0
Health maintenance organization		0		0
School district/system		0		0
Independent practice setting		0		7
Other		0		1
Note: “PD” = Post-doctoral residency position; “EP” = Employed Position. Each individual represented in this table should be counted only one time. For former trainees working in more than one setting, select the setting that represents their primary position.

Policy Regarding Academic Programs Requesting Additional Evaluation Materials:

MSU CAPS evaluations are comprehensive in nature, based on our program’s training model, aims and the national benchmarks established by our profession. Twice per year, the MSU CAPS Training Director sends an email to your DCT summarizing performance to date along with a copy of the completed evaluation. MSU CAPS will not complete additional contracts or evaluations. Your program may choose to use the data from our evaluations to complete their own forms. You are strongly encouraged to consult with your DCT and/or the MSU CAPS Training Director if you have any questions about this policy

Application Psychology Internship August 2025-August 2026

Our application deadline is November 10, 2025.

Please use the National Matching Services web tools to send your completed application file to Michigan State University Counseling Center (136911).

Application Instructions

To be considered for internship at MSU CAPS, your online application must include the following:

Completed APPIC Application for Psychology Internship (AAPI) form.
A cover letter describing your qualifications, professional experience and how you believe the MSU CAPS training program would be a good fit with your training goals.
Current vita
Official transcripts of all graduate work.
Three letters of recommendation, with at least two from clinical supervisors familiar with your clinical work.

Selection Process Summary

The selection committee reviews and rates your materials then meet as a committee to identify those who will be invited to interview.
You will be sent an email notifying you of your status by December 11.
Applicants who are invited to interview are sent directions on how to schedule their interview. This year will offer virtual interviews and an opportunity for an optional open house.
There will be two interviews 1. A team interview that involves a member of the training committee and a current trainee and 2. A meeting with the Training Director.
Team interviews last about 90 minutes and are structured as follows:
- Brief introductions followed by you sharing your hopes for the internship year and describing your learning style.
- You will present a brief clinical case.
- You will respond to an ethical scenario that we provide.
- Then you have the opportunity to ask us questions.
In late January, the committee meets to discuss interview ratings and impressions and to make recommendations related to the rank list.

Our selection process follows all Association of Psychology Post-Doctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC) guidelines. In particular, 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 intern applicant.

If you have any questions about our program or the application process, please feel free to contact the Training Director, Dr. Joshua Turchan, Ph.D., ABPP at (517) 355-8270 or turchanj@msu.edu.

Post-Match Requirement

In compliance with the Michigan Mental Health Code, after matching, but before securing employment with Michigan State University, the doctoral intern must pass a criminal background check conducted by the university at no charge to the doctoral intern.

Applicants who match to our program but do not successfully pass this background check will be dismissed from the internship (see APPIC Match Policy 4a).

In compliance with health and building codes, Doctoral Interns must provide evidence of immunization and asked to receive an annual flu vaccine. If immunization records are not readily available, titers can be measured through a simple blood test. Flu shots will be given on-site. Any health team employee who refuses an annual flu shot will be requested to wear a protective mask while in the building.

Doctoral interns must be in “good standing” in their academic program prior to and during the internship. It is the intern’s responsibility to inform the MSU CAPS Training Director if such standing is in question or if it changes.

Admission Data

	2022-2023	2023-2024	2024-2025	2025-2026
Applicants to program:	69	51	65	56
Applicants Submitted on APPIC rank order list:	42	42	38	40
Interns who Entered the Program as Full-Time:	4	4	4	4
Interns who Were Funded:	4	4	4	4

*Indicates applications in both phase I & II

Intern Demographic Data

NUMBER OF INTERNS ENTERING EACH YEAR WHO IDENTIFY THEMSELVES AS:		2022-2023	2023-2024	2024-2025
African-American/Black		2	2
American Indian-Alaska Native		-	-
Asian		-	-	3
Hispanic-Latino		1	1	1
Native Hawaiian – Other Pacific Islander		-	-
White		1	1
Non-Hispanic Multi-Ethnic		-	1
Not Reported		-	-	-
TOTAL NUMBER (above rows only)	F	4	3	4
	M	-	-	-
	O		1	-
Disability self-identification		-	1	-
LBGTQ self-identification		1	2	-
Foreign Nationals		-	1	1