Psychology Internship Director
California State Personnel Board Specification
Schematic Code: XL48
Class Code: 9842
Established: 04/15/1970
Revised: 01/19/1983
Title Changed: --
Definition
Under general direction, to plan, organize, and direct an accredited clinical psychology internship program at a health facility; to select and supervise Clinical Psychology Interns employed in the internship program; to coordinate the involvement of psychology and other clinical staff in the internship program; and to do other related work.
Typical Tasks
Plans, organizes, and develops an accredited clinical psychology internship program; selects the Clinical Psychology Interns employed in the program, developing and using selection standards which meet the requirements of the American Psychological Association, National Institute of Mental Health, and the health facility; supervises the interns; communicates with each intern's faculty advisor to deter mine the university's evaluation of the intern's level of development and the university's recommendations concerning training areas of emphasis and prepares progress reports for the intern's university; adapts the program to each intern's level of educational development and needs; assigns preceptors from various psychology specialties to each intern; arranges diversified training situations with the intern preceptors so that at the end of training each in tern is equipped to function independently in a variety of clinical settings; arranges for and coordinates training experiences for interns in the various clinical services of the facility; establishes liaison with other programs in the area and arranges for complementary extramural training opportunities for the interns; organizes seminars, workshops and symposia to meet the training needs of the interns; prepares brochures and other expository material describing the training program for prospective interns and interested universities; prepares annual progress reports on internship training for the American Psychological Association, National Institute of Mental Health and the health facility; may participate in training programs for Psychiatric Technicians, Medical Residents (Various Specialties), other professional staff, and graduate students, and may develop and teach seminars in psychology; maintains close familiarity with professional developments in articles for presentation or publication.
Minimum Qualifications
Possession of a valid license as a Psychologist issued by the Psychology Examining Committee of the California Board of Medical Quality Assurance. (Individuals who do not qualify for licensure by the California Board of Medical Quality Assurance may be admitted into the examination and may be appointed but must secure a valid license within two years of appointment; however, an individual can be employed only to the extent necessary to be eligible for licensure plus one year. The time duration for unlicensed employment does not apply to active doctoral candidates in social work, social welfare, or social service, until the completion of such training.)
(Unlicensed individuals who are recruited from outside the State of California and who qualify for a licensure may take the examination and may be appointed for a maximum of one year at which time licensure shall have been obtained or the employment shall be terminated. Additionally, they must take the licensure examination at the earliest possible date after the date of employment.) and Experience: Two years of postdoctoral, post-internship experience in the practice of clinical psychology involving assessment and treatment and either training, research, consultation or program planning in mental health services, one year of which must have been in one or a combination of the following types of experience:
1. Planning, organizing, and directing a clinical psychology internship program accredited by the American Psychological Association. or
2. Graduate level faculty teaching experience. and Education: Completion of all the requirements for a doctoral degree with specialization in clinical psychology from a recognized college or university. Graduates of foreign universities, except Canadian, must meet the education requirements for State licensure as a psychologist as evidenced by a written statement from the Psychology Examining Committee of the Board of Medical Quality Assurance. and Completion of a university-approved internship or field or research experience in clinical psychology, equivalent to one full year of supervised training (1800 hours). This training must be in addition to practicum work associated with specific academic courses or dissertation research. (One year of experience in the practice of psychology under the close supervision of a Ph.D. level psychologist may be substituted for the required training provided it follows two years of graduate study in psychology.)
Knowledge and Abilities
Knowledge of: Principles, techniques and problems in teaching psychology students; principles, techniques and trends in clinical psychology with particular reference to normal and disordered behavior, human development, motivation, personality learning, individual differences, adaptation and social interaction; methods for the assessment and modification of human behavior, characteristics and social aspects of mental and developmental disabilities; research methodology and program evaluation; institutional and social process; group dynamics; functions of psychologist in various mental health services; current trends in the field of mental health; professional training; principles of supervision; State and departmental equal employment opportunity and affirmative action policies.
Ability to: Plan, organize, and direct a clinical psychology internship program; provide professional consultation and program leadership; supervise Clinical Psychology Interns; recognize situations requiring the creative application of technical skills; develop and evaluate creative approaches to the assessment and treatment of mental and developmental disabilities, and to the development and direction of a psychology program; plan, organize, and conduct research, data analysis and program evaluation; secure the cooperation of professional and lay groups; analyze situations accurately and take effective action; speak and write effectively; understand and effectively carry out State and departmental equal employment opportunity and affirmative action policies.
Special Personal Characteristics
Scientific and professional integrity, emotional stability, patience, alertness and tact; demonstrated ability to teach and direct the work of others.
