University of Idaho's Counseling and Testing Center Internship Program First in Idaho to Receive APA Accreditation
Wednesday, October 10 2007
Oct. 10, 2007 University of Idaho's Counseling and Testing Center Internship Program First in Idaho to Receive APA Accreditation MOSCOW, Idaho – The University of Idaho Counseling and Testing Center has received accreditation from the American Psychological Association for its pre-doctoral internship training program in professional psychology. It is the first educational institution in the state to have an APA-accredited internship program. A pre-doctoral internship is an organized professional training program with the goal of providing high-quality training in professional psychology. Doctoral students who have completed all their coursework must complete a full-time supervised internship equivalent to one year to fulfill the requirements for receiving their doctoral degree and professional license. “There is a current shortage of internship opportunities for doctoral-level students in psychology," said Martha Kitzrow, director of the Internship Training Program, professor and licensed psychologist in the Counseling and Testing Center. "The internship application process is highly competitive and draws applicants from doctoral programs all over the country. Last year, a total of 3,698 students applied for internship positions, but only 2,588 were matched to an internship slot." Kitzrow said that in addition to the shortage of internship opportunities, there also is a shortage of psychologists in Idaho, making this accreditation important to the state. Accredited internships are the most highly sought after. Many employers require completion of an APA-accredited internship as a prerequisite for employment. Accredited programs must meet a rigorous set of criteria prescribed by the American Psychological Association. Kitzrow said the road to accreditation was a long one, but well worth the work. "We started the application process in 2004, submitted a detailed self-study in 2005, had the site visit in 2006 and received accreditation this year," she said. Joan Pulakos, director of the Counseling and Testing Center, professor and licensed psychologist, said accreditation is important because it makes a statement about the quality of the university’s program. "It's the gold standard. We are held to and adhere to that standard," she said. "In the short time that we've been providing training to future psychologists, we've already gained a reputation for the quality of our program." "With accreditation, the number and quality of applicants improves," said Pulakos. "We've been attracting outstanding students; this accreditation will allow us to continue to attract those top applicants." Thomas Roe, a doctoral-level intern from Argosy University in Seattle, Wash., said he was attracted to the program because of the small-town atmosphere, the comprehensive nature of the program, and its structure and organization. He's pleased with the program's accreditation. "It means that it will be easier in the future to get a job," said Roe. "It means that the faculty at this site work very hard to ensure a quality learning experience for the interns." The University of Idaho Counseling Center and Testing Center, which is part of the Division of Student Affairs, provides students with psychological and career counseling services. Students come to the center with a broad range of concerns, ranging from adjustment and developmental issues to complex psychological problems. They vary in age from late adolescence to mid-life and beyond. The interns provide counseling, crisis intervention, testing, assessment, outreach and consultation services to students and the university community. Testing Center faculty members serve as supervisors and appropriate professional role models for the interns, and have primary responsibility for all cases handled by the interns. Kitzrow said the interns also are training to become clinical supervisors. "They provide supervision to master's level practicum students, but are supervised while doing so," she said. The internship program, now in its sixth year, trains interns in clinical competencies, as well as ethical and multicultural competencies. "It's a rigorous training program," said Kitzrow. Funding for the program comes from a University of Idaho dedicated student fee that was implemented during the 2005-06 fiscal year. The fees provide funding for four interns per year who receive stipends during the internship year. The fee received support from both students and administrators. "The broad support for the program makes sense, since the services provided directly address the mental health needs of students and are a benefit to the university community," said Kitzrow. "We are very pleased to offer the first APA accredited pre-doctoral internship program in the state of Idaho," she said. "The internship provides a much needed training opportunity to prepare future psychologists for the practice of professional psychology at the same time that it enhances the services that the Counseling and Testing Center is able to offer to students and the university community." For additional information about the APA accreditation program, visit www.apa.org/ed/accreditation/doctoral.html. Or visit the Counseling and Testing Center Web site at www.ctc.uidaho.edu and select the pre-doctoral internship link. # # # About the University of Idaho Founded in 1889, the University of Idaho is the state’s flagship higher-education institution and its principal graduate education and research university, bringing insight and innovation to the state, the nation and the world. University researchers attract nearly $100 million in research grants and contracts each year; the University of Idaho is the only institution in the state to earn the prestigious Carnegie Foundation ranking for high research activity. The university’s student population includes first-generation college students and ethnically diverse scholars. Offering more than 150 degree options in 10 colleges, the university combines the strengths of a large university with the intimacy of small learning communities. For information, visit www.uidaho.edu. Contact: Joni Kirk, University Communications, (208) 885-7725, joni@uidaho.edu JK-10/10/07-CTC
About the University of Idaho
The University of Idaho helps students to succeed and become leaders. Its land-grant mission furthers innovative scholarly and creative research to grow Idaho's economy and serve a statewide community. From its main campus in Moscow, Idaho, to 70 research and academic locations statewide, U-Idaho emphasizes real-world application as part of its student experience. U-Idaho combines the strength of a large university with the intimacy of small learning communities. It is home to the Vandals. For information, visit www.uidaho.edu.