American Psychological Association Internship 2027–2028: How to Apply

Last updated: November 2026

The American Psychological Association (APA) hires students through its own APA Internal Internship Program (IIP), and it says it "offers year-round (spring, summer, fall, winter) internships" on its internships page. Each office posts its own openings about one and a half to two months before the term starts, so the next door isn't summer. As of November 10, 2026, four intern postings are live on APA's board, and two of them are for spring 2027 (January to June). Summer 2027 postings haven't appeared yet. This page is about working at APA's central office. It isn't about APA-accredited doctoral internships, which are clinical training years at hospitals and counseling centers that APA accredits but doesn't run.

Quick Facts

Spring 2027 is the open cohort today: the Advocacy Office and a Film Editing role are posted now with no closing date. Summer 2027 postings are expected in spring 2027, office by office.

Externships are short, remote projects for real companies, usually 4 to 11 weeks. They aren't the clinical practicum placements some psychology doctoral programs also call externships. If you want policy or research work to show alongside an APA application, the Juvenile Justice Policy Analyst Externship with CIYJ and Health Research & Data Analytics with ARCeH both fit. Neither is affiliated with APA. Explore all Externships.

What Is an American Psychological Association Internship?

An American Psychological Association internship is a remote, office-based placement with the APA Internal Internship Program (IIP), which sits in APA's Education Directorate in Washington, DC. Interns work on policy, research, communications, operations, publishing or education projects. APA describes itself as a non-profit membership association "with over 157,000+ members", and its internships page says plainly: "The APA IIP is not an accredited program, nor is it facility treatment-based." That's the key distinction. Most Reddit threads about an "APA internship" mean an APA-accredited doctoral internship, the clinical year PhD and PsyD students complete at outside training sites. Those are applied for through the doctoral match, not through APA's job board. APA's 2023 interns, profiled in Psychology Student Network, worked in the General Counsel's office, the Advocacy Office, digital strategy and the Public Interest Directorate. APA Corporation, the oil and gas company, is unrelated.

When Do American Psychological Association Internship Applications Open for 2027–2028?

APA doesn't recruit in one wave. Each office posts its own requisition shortly before the term it needs: the Advocacy Office posted on October 30, 2026 for a January through June term, and the Film Editing role posted on November 9, 2026 for spring 2027. That's a lead time of about 1.5 to 2 months from posting to start. Applications for summer 2027 aren't posted yet; on that pattern, expect them around March to May 2027. Treat that as a low-confidence projection, because we couldn't recover a dated summer wave from earlier years, only scattered single postings. Two postings (APA Publishing and Course Adoption Marketing) stay up all year as standing pools.

How to read this page: our dates come from tracking previous recruiting cycles and daily posting data. Treat them as informed estimates based on historical patterns, not confirmed dates. The company's official careers page is always the most current source. If a role is posted there, go by that, even if this page suggests the window hasn't opened yet.

Why You Must Apply the Week Applications Open

APA's postings are rolling. None of the four live postings states a closing date, and hiring managers contact only the applicants they pick for an interview. The APA Publishing posting shows how fast a seat can go: it says the role "has been filled for the time being" while it keeps taking applications for future seasons. A posting that's still visible isn't proof that a seat is still free.

The short lead time adds pressure. A spring posting that goes up in early November starts in January, so a slow application can land after the team has already chosen. If you need academic credit, the institution letter usually takes longest, so request it from your school the same week you apply.

Which American Psychological Association Internship Programs Should You Target?

APA runs one internship program, but each office posts its own openings. These are the four live postings on November 10, 2026.

APA says it has positions across "policy, research, communications, operations, publishing, education", and past postings came from the graduate student association (APAGS), the Minority Fellowship Program and the Introductory Psychology Initiative. Watch the intern board for new offices.

What Are the Eligibility Requirements?

APA's rules are short but strict, and the state rule catches many applicants. None of APA's pages or postings states a GPA minimum.

• Enrollment: academic-credit interns must be "enrolled at least part-time in an academic institution". Recent graduates can take paid roles only.

• Level: undergraduate and graduate students; high school students occasionally, with a D.C. work permit if they're under 18.

• Work authorization: you must be eligible to work in the US, verified through E-Verify. APA's page says "international applications will not be considered."

• Where you live: remote interns can't work from Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Guam, Hawaii, Iowa, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Washington or Wyoming.

• Limit: up to three internship applications, each submitted separately.

• Background check: finalists for the current postings must pass one.

Do You Need to Be a Psychology Major?

No. APA says the program is for students "passionate about psychology and applying psychological knowledge to benefit society", but the postings ask for skills, not a major. The Advocacy posting wants an "interest in psychology, political science, and/or public policy", and the Film Editing role is about video software. Pick postings where your skills match the work.

What Skills Does the American Psychological Association Look For, and How Do You Build Them?

We read eight APA intern postings in full: the four live today and four archived ones from 2018 to 2025. Writing is the most common ask. The Advocacy posting wants "excellent writing, communication, and organizational skills", and Publishing asks interns to "write marketing copy and press releases". The second group is digital content: social media work and video editing in Adobe Premiere Pro. The third is research and event support, from "researching legislation or regulations" to conference planning. Course Adoption Marketing names its tools: Salesforce, Wrike, Sprout, Canva and Camtasia.

How Is Demand for Communications Interns Moving Right Now?

Build These Skills Before You Apply

Each skill below comes from APA's own postings and maps to a remote Externship you can start this month. None is affiliated with APA.

Several APA postings ask for a writing sample. A finished Externship brief or campaign gives you one that's recent and on topic.

What Is the American Psychological Association Application and Interview Process Like?

The process is simple, and APA's pages describe every step.

1. Choose up to three postings on the intern board. Each one is a separate application.

2. Pick your track. Paid roles need a cover letter, resume and sometimes a writing sample. Academic-credit roles need the same plus a letter on your school's letterhead (APA links a sample).

3. Upload one combined PDF with all your materials. APA doesn't accept applications by email.

4. Wait for the hiring manager. In APA's words, "only those applicants selected for an interview will be contacted by the hiring manager."

5. Background check. Finalists for the current postings must complete one before starting.

APA doesn't publish an interview format. Questions go to internship@apa.org.

What Past APA Interns Describe

We didn't find any Reddit thread about interning at APA's central office. Search results for "APA internship" are almost all about APA-accredited doctoral internships, the clinical year in psychology PhD and PsyD programs, which is a different thing. The closest first-hand accounts are the 2023 intern profiles APA published in Psychology Student Network, which describe amicus case summaries, congressional hearings, Instagram launch graphics and literature reviews.

How Do You Stand Out for an APA Internship?

APA doesn't publish applicant numbers, acceptance rates or how many interns it hires each term, so we can't tell you how selective it is.

Three moves help. First, apply early in a posting's life. The postings are rolling, and a spring role posted in November starts in January. Second, send a writing sample even when it's optional. Writing is the most common skill across the eight postings we read, and Publishing and Advocacy both ask for one. Third, connect your work to psychology in practice. APA says the program builds "an understanding of non-traditional career paths in psychology", so show you know APA's policy, publishing or education work. Interns also get a free one-year APA student affiliate membership and access to PsycINFO while interning.

What Other Companies Should You Consider?

Students looking at APA often weigh other health nonprofits and DC research organizations.

Our nonprofit and social impact internships guide for summer 2027 covers more associations, advocacy groups and public-interest employers, and our careers for psychology majors guide covers paths beyond clinical work.

FAQ

Can I still apply for a summer 2026 American Psychological Association internship?

No. Summer 2026 is over. What's open now is spring 2027: the Advocacy Office (January through June) and a Film Editing role, plus two standing postings in Publishing and Course Adoption Marketing. Summer 2027 postings aren't up yet and are expected around March to May 2027, office by office.

Is an APA internship the same as an APA-accredited doctoral internship?

No. APA's internship program is a remote office placement, and APA says it "is not an accredited program, nor is it facility treatment-based." Accredited doctoral internships are clinical training years for PhD and PsyD students at outside sites that APA accredits. You find those through the doctoral match, not APA's job board.

Are American Psychological Association internships paid?

Some are. APA runs a paid track and an unpaid academic-credit track. The Advocacy Office hires both kinds, while the spring 2027 Film Editing role is unpaid with academic credit available. APA doesn't publish pay rates on its own pages or postings. Recent graduates can apply for paid roles only.

Are APA internships remote?

Yes. APA's FAQ says all of its internships are remote. Interns who live in the DC area may get in-person opportunities, and the Advocacy Office prefers DMV residents for Capitol Hill work. You still have to live in a state where APA can employ remote staff, and 19 states and territories are excluded.

Can international students apply for an APA internship?

No. APA's internships page says applicants must be eligible to work in the US, verified through E-Verify, and that international applications won't be considered. Remote interns also have to live in an eligible state, so check APA's list of excluded states and territories before you apply. California and New York are both excluded.

How many APA internships can I apply for?

Up to three. Each one needs its own application through APA's intern board, with your cover letter, resume and any writing sample combined into one PDF. Academic-credit applicants also add a letter on school letterhead. APA doesn't accept applications by email, and only applicants picked for an interview are contacted.

Can high school students intern at APA?

Occasionally. APA's Psychology Student Network says high school students are sometimes accepted, and anyone under 18 needs a D.C. work permit. Most postings target undergraduate and graduate students. Academic-credit roles require enrollment at least part-time, and recent graduates are limited to paid roles.

What if I want psychology research experience instead?

Look at APA's separate SUPER fellowship, which places undergraduates in a university lab for at least nine summer weeks. It isn't an APA job. APA says 2027 applications are expected to open in late November or early December 2026, with a March 1, 2027 deadline, and up to 25 fellows are chosen.

APA's spring 2027 postings are open now, and summer postings will follow office by office. While you wait to hear back, a remote Externship gives you a finished policy, research or content project to point to.