Step 1: Complete all parts of the on-line APPIC Standardized Internship Application Form.
Step 2: Using the on-line process request official transcripts of all graduate level courses.
Step 3: Arrange for a minimum of three supporting letters from your professors, program directors, supervisors or others familiar with your psychological skills, academic training, or supervised clinical experiences. General “character references” may supplement, but do not replace letters addressing your specific skills and training. If a letter is used to supplement the Certification by Program Director (Item 5), this may count as one of the three required letters. These letters should be completed using the on-line process.
Step 4: Submit Curriculum Vitae, listing honors, publications/research experience, clinical experiences, and other information relevant to your training and performance in psychology via the on-line application process.
Step 5: Submit a cover letter that, in addition to your introduction, also answers in bullet format the AF Psychology Applicant Questions (questions are available through your Health Professions recruiter, in the program brochure, or by contacting the program) via the on-line application process.
Step 6: IMPORTANT! In addition to the standard APPIC application process, applicants must work with a USAF Health Professions Recruiter to complete the military application. The Air Force Health Profession Recruiter must submit your complete recruiting package (including but not limited to, medical examination documents, credentials and background check information, etc.) to the USAF Accessions Selection Board. This process is highly involved and can take several months. Interested applicants are encouraged to contact BOTH an Internship Training Director AND an HP Recruiter as soon as possible. Be sure to check with your recruiter regarding specific due dates. A phone call to any Air Force recruiting station or 1-800-443-4690 will yield the exact location, phone number, etc., of the Health Professions recruiter you should contact. An on-line locator service is also available. The Health Professions recruiter is critical to the application process, providing information and assistance to you throughout the application process. The Health Professions recruiter’s job is to help you complete the screening process to determine your eligibility to serve as an Air Force officer. You must complete and pass the HP Recruiting Services screening process in order for the AF Psychology Internship Selection Board to consider you for an AF Psychology Internship.
Step 7: The entire application process usually takes at least 60-90 days and can take significantly longer. It is best to start as soon as possible. During this process, your recruiter should be in regular contact with you to ensure that all screening procedures, documents, etc. are processed in a timely manner. Do not let more than about 2 weeks go by without contact from your recruiter. Finally, if you encounter problems with this process, please contact one of the AF Internship Training Directors as soon as possible so that they can help you troubleshoot the difficulties.
Step 8: At the AF Accessions Selection Board in mid-January, you will be selected as eligible or ineligible for an AF psychology internship from an Air Force perspective. From the eligible list, each individual site Training Director will submit his/her own preferences in rank order through the APPIC Match. Selection at this Board does not constitute selection by the internship program, but rather means you will be eligible for consideration by the AF internship programs. You will only be notified of the results of the AF Internship Selection Board if you are determined to be ineligible for the AF. When submitting your Match list, you must list each AF site you are interested in (in order of preference) separately.
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