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Student Counseling Services

Eligibility & Application

Thank you for your interest in the Doctoral Internship Program. Before applying, please take a moment to review the application criteria.

Application Instructions

Our site participates in the APPIC Internship Matching Program and requires submission through the AAPI Online system.

To apply for the 2026-2027 training year, please submit the following materials via AAPI Online by midnight on November 10, 2025:

  • A completed AAPI Online application
  • Three letters of recommendation from individuals familiar with your academic and professional performance
    • At least one letter must be from a current or recent practicum supervisor
  • A current curriculum vitae (CV)
  • Official graduate transcripts

Please Note:
We fully abide by APPIC training guidelines and do not enter into separate or additional training contracts with academic programs. Our program conducts four formal evaluations of intern progress throughout the year and provides written feedback to each intern’s graduate program. However, we do not complete individualized or program-specific evaluations required by academic institutions outside of our own training procedures.

If you have questions about the application process, please feel free to contact Dr. Thanh Nguyen at tmnguy1@ilstu.edu.

Applications for 2026-2027 are due by midnight November 10, 2025.

Training Site Address & Contact:

Thanh Nguyen, Psy.D.
Student Counseling Services
Campus Box 2420
Illinois State University
Normal, IL 61790-2420
Phone: (309) 438-3655
Fax: (309) 438-3004
tmnguy1@ilstu.edu

Eligibility

Applicants for our internship must be degree-seeking candidates in an APA-accredited doctoral program in Counseling Psychology or Clinical Psychology. Applicants should have completed the appropriate coursework and supervised practicum experiences and be certified as ready for internship by their academic program.

We expect a minimum of 300 hours of supervised direct clinical service hours. In addition, applicants are expected to have their dissertation proposal completed by the ranking deadline. We accept applications only from students enrolled in APA-accredited doctoral programs and require that each applicant be registered with the National Matching Service (NMS). The program code for Illinois State University is 127911.

Please Note: Employment at Illinois State University is contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background check. This process is initiated after the APPIC Match and may impact final appointment decisions in accordance with APPIC Match Policy. For additional details, please refer to the Illinois State University Employee Policy .

Selection

All application and selection procedures are conducted in accordance with guidelines established by the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC) and the National Matching Service (NMS).

Intern selection is carried out by a committee composed of the Training Director, members of the Training Committee and professional staff, and current interns. Applications are reviewed based on the applicant’s educational background, clinical training experiences, and stated goals for internship.

Finalist interviews are conducted via Zoom (or telephone if necessary) in January. We do not offer on-site interviews. Virtual interviews are provided in the interest of equity among applicants, to reduce travel-related financial burdens, and to accommodate for inclement winter weather.

We recognize that some applicants may wish to visit our site prior to ranking. While informal visits may be accommodated upon request, no preference is given to applicants who choose to visit in person.

Final selection decisions are based on a holistic evaluation, including:

  • Accreditation status of the doctoral program
  • Educational and clinical background
  • Quality of the interview
  • Alignment between the applicant’s goals and what our training site offers