Student Trainee (Psychology) - Psychology Predoctoral Intern

About the role

PATHWAY PROGRAM OVERVIEW: The Pathways Internship Program is designed to provide students enrolled in a variety of educational institutions, from high school to graduate level, with paid work opportunities in agencies to explore Federal careers while still in school.

Provides students with work experience related to the career goals while offering eligibility to permanent employment upon completion. To learn more, visit: Students & Recent Graduates.

What you will do

• This position is part of the Pathways Internship Program and is located at an institution within the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
• The Psychology Intern works under the close supervision of the Internship Program Coordinator, who is a licensed Psychologist, and/or other doctoral level psychologists employed by the Bureau of Prisons.
• Initial intern selection is made by the Internship Program Coordinator at the internship site.
• As a member of an interdisciplinary team, the incumbent provides professional psychological services: diagnostics or assessments, therapy or treatment, research, and in-service training.
• The incumbent aids staff in formulating programs for inmates.

Requirements

• The United States government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service or other non-merit factor.
• More information can be found here: ***
• Key Requirements: U.S. Citizenship is Required.
• Must sign a Pathways Internship Program Participant Agreement Be at least 16 years of age Maintain a GPA of 2.5 and above with no grade below a "C" Maintain at least a half-time course load at the collegiate level.

Education

ONLY if education is a requirement/substitution for specialized experience, applicant MUST upload legible transcripts as verification of educational requirement. Transcripts MUST be uploaded and electronically linked from USAJOBS at the time you apply and MUST include identifying information to include School Name, Student Name, Degree and Date Awarded (if applicable).

All academic degrees and coursework must be completed at a college or university that has obtained accreditation or pre-accreditation status from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools that meet this criteria, Click Here.

Foreign Education: For information regarding foreign education requirements, please see Foreign Diploma and Credit Recognition at the U.S. Department of Education website: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position.

You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics): Accountability Attention to Detail Customer Service Decision Making Flexibility Integrity/Honesty Interpersonal Skills Learning Reading Comprehension Self-Management Stress Tolerance Teamwork Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration.

Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration. Your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the job qualifications listed in this announcement. If you are found qualified for this job, your resume and supporting documentation will be compared to the responses you provided on the online assessment.

Your application will be evaluated and rated under DOJ's Category Rating and Selection Procedures. Based upon your responses to the assessment questions during the application process, your application will be placed into one of three categories: Best Qualified, Highly Qualified, or Qualified. Applications will be reviewed from the top quality category.

Your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the job qualifications listed in this announcement. If you are found qualified for this job, your resume and supporting documentation will be compared to the responses you provided on the online assessment.

NOTE: Candidates within the top-quality category and who are eligible for veterans' preference will receive selection priority over non-veteran preference eligibles. If you are entitled to veterans' preference, you should indicate the type of veteran's preference you are claiming on your resume.

Although veterans' preference points are not assigned under the category rating procedures described under "How You Will Be Evaluated", veterans preference eligibles are listed ahead of non-veterans within each category for which they are qualified.

Preference eligibles who meet the minimum qualification requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent must be listed in the highest quality category (except in the case of scientific or professional positions at the GS-9 level or higher).

As noted above, an agency may not select a non-preference eligible in lieu of a preference eligible in the same category unless there are grounds for a passover and the agency has complied with the passover procedures at 5 U.S.C. § 3318(b). To preview the application questionnaire, click the following link: ***

Documents you must provide

• Failure to provide legible required documents and/or follow the prescribed format often results in removal from consideration.
• If uploading documentation, do not identify/save your documents utilizing a special character such as %, #, @, etc. Documentation should be identified/saved as VA Letter, DD-214, or Transcripts.
• Veterans' Preference Documentation: Failure to submit all required documents at the time of application will result in the loss of claimed preference eligibility.
• DD-214: Veterans MUST provide a DD-214 demonstrating that they have been discharged or released from active duty under honorable conditions (i.e., the individual must have received either an honorable or general discharge).
• SF-15: If you are a disabled veteran, a Purple Heart recipient, widow/widower of a veteran, the spouse of a disabled veteran or the parent of a disabled or deceased veteran, you must submit: A completed Standard Form (SF) 15, "Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference" AND all required documentation identified on the SF-15.
• NOTE: A Department of Veterans Affairs letter must contain the Veteran's Name and Combined Service-Connected Evaluation.
• For a copy of the most current SF-15, Click Here.
• If you are on active duty and expect to be discharged or released from active duty service within 120 days, you may submit a Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty from the appropriate Branch Personnel Office containing the following information: The military service dates including the expected discharge or release date; and The character of service (must be an honorable or general discharge); and Any qualifying service/campaign/expeditionary medals.
• Resume (limited to 2 pages) must include your name, contact information, and relevant experience (cover letter optional).
• Experience that would not normally be part of the Federal employee's position is creditable when documented by satisfactory evidence of qualifying experience (e.g., a memorandum from the manager, Human Resource Manager, SF- 52, MOU, etc.).
• If providing a memorandum, it must follow the format below AND clearly cite the duties performed.
• To receive credit for experience, your resume and/or any satisfactory evidence must include: Start date and end date in month/year format (MM/YYYY) AND Number of hours worked per week.
• College transcript: includes the School Name, Student Name, Degree, and Date Awarded (if applicable).
• NOTE: If you are selected, official transcript(s) will be required prior to your first day.
• SF-50: If you are a current/former federal government employee, you must provide an unredacted copy of your latest SF-50.
• For more help, visit USAJOBS Help Center - How do I write a resume for a federal job?
• We cannot be held responsible for incompatible software, delays in mail service, applicant application errors, etc.

Benefits

Health and life insurance coverage for Federal employees depends on the type of appointment. Students hired under the Pathways Internship Program may be entitled to these benefits. If eligible, employees serving on temporary appointments will receive the same government contribution as full-time permanent employees.

Temporary employees are not eligible for coverage under the Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance Program. Students hired under the Pathways Internship Program are generally ineligible for retirement coverage. Applicants hired under the Pathways Internship Program on appointments for 90 days or more are eligible to earn annual and sick leave.

As provided in 5 U.S.C. 6303(b), employees whose appointments are limited to less than 90 days may be eligible for annual leave if they have previously served for a continuous period of 90 days under successive appointments.

What to expect next

We will notify you of the outcome after each step of the application process has been completed. Applicants will be notified via e-mail, to the e-mail address registered in USAJOBS. The referral certificate or list of eligibles will then be issued to the selecting official for further consideration.

The Human Resource Office may then contact you for an interview if they wish. We expect to make a final job offer within 80 days after the closing date of the announcement. Applicants referred on a certificate of eligibles may receive an inquiry of availability via e-mail, mail or a telephone inquiry from the local Human Resource Department.

Applicants MUST telephone the Human Resource Department during normal business hours to schedule an interview.

Failure to either return the form or contact the Human Resource Department may result in a loss of consideration for the position.

Additional information

GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION INFORMATION: In this announcement, you must select at least one preferred duty location. Your preference helps us understand your interest but cannot be guaranteed. Final assignments depend on the Bureau's staffing needs, available positions, and funding.

You may be offered employment at a duty station within an approved Bureau of Prisons worksite outside of your stated preference(s). By applying, you acknowledge that you may be assigned to any duty location required to support the Bureau's nationwide mission.

PATHWAY PROGRAM OVERVIEW: Allows students to be exposed to the work of the Government through Federal internships while pursuing their degree.

This position is being filled under the Pathways Internship Program which is designed to provide students enrolled in a wide variety of educational institutions, from high school to graduate level, with paid work opportunities in agencies to explore Federal careers while still in school.

The Internship provides managers a ready source of student employees and potential permanent employees upon completion of the program requirements. It also provides the student with work experience directly related to the curriculum studies or career goals. SPECIAL CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT SECTION: This position is included in the bargaining unit.

Appointment is subject to satisfactory completion of a pre-employment and panel interview, urinalysis, physical and background investigation. THIS IS A NON-CONVERSION POSITION: The selectee for this position will be serving in an excepted appointment of one year or less and will not be eligible for a non-competitive conversion appointment into the competitive service.

NOTE: This is a Student Internship opportunity under the Pathways Program. This is a temporary internship to complete project work that's temporary in nature. This is an excepted service appointment under the Pathways Internship Program.

OPEN UNTIL FILLED: This announcement will remain open through September 30, 2027, or until all positions have been filled. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis and will remain active for consideration while the announcement is open. Applications received by each established cutoff date will be reviewed for eligibility and qualifications.

Applicants who remain eligible may continue to receive consideration throughout the life of the announcement. Eligible and qualified applicants who have submitted a complete application package by the applicable cut-off date may be referred to selecting officials for consideration until all positions have been filled or the announcement closes.

Cut-Off Dates, 11:59pm EST: November 17, 2026 March 5, 2027 April 8, 2027 Additional cut-off dates may be established as needed throughout the open period of the announcement.