Nebraska Mental Health Centers

Internship Selection and Academic Preparation

Application Process

NMHC-PIP currently offers 3 full-time internship positions. Students interested in applying for the internship program should submit an online application through the APPIC website (www.appic.org). The NMHC-PIP APPIC program code 1781.

A complete application consists of the following materials:

• A completed Online AAPI (APPIC’s standard application)
• Cover letter (as part of AAPI)
• A current Curriculum Vitae (as part of AAPI)
• Three Standard Reference Forms, two of which must be from persons who have directly supervised your clinical work (as part of AAPI). Please submit no more than three SRFs.
• Official transcripts of all graduate coursework

All application materials must be received by the date noted in the current APPIC directory listing in order to be considered.

NMHC-PIP abides by all rules and regulations set forth by APPIC and APA in regard to application for internship as well as the entire conduct of the internship program. Please be aware that all training time credited to internship is post-practicum.

Application Screening and Interview Processes

Selection of applicants for admission is based on several factors. These factors include goodness of fit between the student and those of the training program, including an interest in providing clinical interventions to rural population and individual psychotherapy experience, educational background and interests consistent with our scientist-practitioner model, the quality of a student’s education at the graduate and undergraduate levels, the quality and diversity of practicum experiences, letters of recommendation, and personal qualities reflected in the application materials and in the interview. NMHC-PIP prefers applicants who have had child/adolescent clinical experience and psychological testing experience; coursework and experience administering child and adult psychological assessments.

The internship program values individual and cultural diversity and strongly encourages qualified candidates from all backgrounds to apply. In keeping with our commitment to diversity, we seek an internship class that represents a wide range of backgrounds, interests, talents, and life experiences.

It is the policy of NMHC-PIP to provide equal opportunity in employment for all qualified applicants, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, transgender status, sexual orientation, and pregnancy), age, disability, genetic information, marital status, and parental status.

NMHC-PIP bases its selection process on the entire application package noted above; however, applicants who have met the following qualifications prior to beginning internship will be considered preferred:

• A minimum of 500 intervention hours
• A minimum of 100 assessment hours
• All doctoral class course work completed
• Dissertation proposal defended
• Have demonstrated experience and interest in community-based general outpatient practice and interest in providing interventions to rural population
• Experience providing clinical services to children/adolescents
• Experience in psychological assessment of children and adolescents
• Hold a master’s degree or equivalent (with coursework/training content primarily in therapeutic mental health from a Council of Higher Education Accreditation approved institution) and eligible for licensure as a Licensed or Provisionally Licensed Mental Health Practitioner and as a Psychological Assistant in the State of Nebraska.
• Applicants are expected to have an affirming stance towards all diversity, including, but not limited to, race, ethnicity, culture, sexual orientation, gender identities and religion. This should be seen in the applicant’s cover letter and/or responses to the essay questions.
• Current enrollment and good standing in an APA-accredited doctoral program.

All applications are screened by the designated members of the NMHC-PIP’s Training Committee using the Applicant Rating Form and evaluated for potential goodness of fit with the internship program.

The NMHC-PIP Training Committee holds a selection meeting to determine which applicants to invite for interviews based upon the results of this screening process. Basic qualifications and characteristics of each applicant are reviewed and screened to determine appropriateness for an interview. These qualifications and characteristics include the accreditation of their doctoral program, degree the applicant is pursuing, experience providing clinical interventions and assessment courses, any factors that would interfere with obtaining Nebraska State licensure and intern’s professional goals as stated in their cover letter.

If applicants are invited to interview, they will be notified by email. Interviews will be scheduled in early January and will occur virtually via Zoom with the entire Training Committee. Interviews will be conducted using a standard set of interview questions, although members of the Training Committee may ask additional interview questions of applicants as appropriate.

Participation in the APPIC Match

The Training Committee will hold a meeting within two weeks of the final interviews being completed in order to determine applicant rankings. The full application package and information gleaned from the interview process will be utilized in determining applicant rankings. As a member of APPIC, NMHC-PIP will participate in the national internship matching process by submitting its applicant rankings to the National Matching Service. NMHC-PIP 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.

Questions regarding any part of the selection process or NMHC-PIP’s academic preparation requirements may be directed to the Internship Training Director.

All interns who match to NMHC-PIP must provide proof of citizenship or legal residency. Instructions for providing this information will be sent out to all who match after the match process is complete.

Licensure and Credentialing

In order to see clients for sessions and achieve the goal of at least 1,000 clinical hours, interns who have matched with the NMHC-PIP and are slated to join our agency for the upcoming academic year will be required to obtain licensure or provisional licensure in the State of Nebraska. Some insurance payers will also require credentialing. Our administrative staff will begin those processes prior to the beginning of the academic year, but may reach out to ask questions and/or request paperwork. To learn more about licensure as a Provisionally-Licensed Mental Health Practitioner (PLMHP), please CLICK HERE.