Postdoctoral Internship Program
in
Clinical Psychology

Eligibility Requirements

  1. Completion of all requirements for a doctoral degree from an APA accredited program in Clinical or Counseling Psychology from an accredited institution.
  2. Completion of an APPIC member or APA accredited doctoral psychology internship. Preference will be given to applicants who have completed an APA accredited doctoral internship and to those who have experience working in correctional and inpatient psychiatric facilities.
  3. Demonstration of interests and aptitudes that are appropriate for our postdoctoral residency program's goals and objectives and interest in working as a psychologist in a correctional setting upon completion of their training.
  4. We are a law enforcement agency. As such, employment is contingent upon a security clearance and full disclosure in your application of any criminal charges, arrests, or convictions. Individuals with Felony arrests may not be eligible.
    a) Note: If you are offered a position and do not pass the requisite background clearance, your residency offer will be withdrawn. Full disclosure of all potential concerns at the outset of the application process will minimize this possibility
  5. Submission of all required materials by January 20th.

To Apply Please Submit the Following:

  1. A cover letter describing your interest in the program, your career goals, and how the FDC Residency will advance them. Highlight your training experiences relevant to this position including assessment experience and your experience in the provision of individual and group therapy using evidence-based treatments. Any experiences in the provision of supervision to other professionals as well as experience in program development and program evaluation should be included.
  2. Your Vita updated to include your internship site along with start and end(ing) dates.
  3. A diversity statement delineating your experience and commitment to providing evidence-based psychotherapy and assessment that is informed and sensitive to individuality and diversity of background.
  4. Three letters of recommendation from psychologists familiar with your clinical work. Include at least one supervisor from your pre-doctoral internship. If your graduate program DCT, your dissertation chair, or internship TD submit a letter of recommendation, they may also address your status in the program and anticipated completion date.
  5. A comprehensive psychological evaluation that you have written. Please be sure it is de-identified to meet HIPPA standards.
  6. Graduate transcripts. Unofficial copies are sufficient for application.
    a) Official transcripts will be required if you are selected.
  7. A copy of your doctoral diploma. If you have not yet graduated from your doctoral program, two letters are required:
    • A letter from your graduate program DCT or dissertation chair, addressing the status of and anticipated (or achieved) completion date of all program requirements to include dissertation or similar project
    • A letter from your internship TD addressing your status in the program and anticipated (or achieved) internship completion date.
    • Anticipated completion dates for all doctoral requirements should be prior to June 15th except for internships with an end date between June 15th and August 31st
    • If you are offered a position as our resident, you will be required to provide, evidence that you have completed all requirements for your doctoral degree, by June 15th. This can take the form of a copy of your diploma or a written attestation from your doctoral program DCT
    • If you have not completed all requirements by June 15th, you may request an extension. For example, if you have not yet defended your dissertation, we may accept documentation from your dissertation chair confirming an acceptable defense date. If we do not agree to the extension, or at the end of the extension you have not completed all requirements, then the offer of a position as our resident is withdrawn and considered null and void.
      • Applicants with internships ending between June 15th and August 31st will be asked to confirm, no later than July 1st that they remain in good standing within the internship and are on track to complete this requirement by August 31st. We cannot delay the start of residency beyond Sept. 1st. Failure to meet this deadline will result in forfeiture of your residency position

Note: Residents have raised the issue of a doctoral graduation date that occurs after September 1st. Our policy is that the completion of all clinical (including internship), academic (including defense, final submission and acceptance of your dissertation or similar project), and administrative (including departmental chair approval) requirements for the doctoral degree qualifies the candidate to begin our residency. In other words, it is fine if your graduation date occurs after September 1st, as long as you provide documentation that you have completed all academic, clinical and administrative requirements as noted above on or before August 31st.

Application Submission Procedures:

  1. All application materials are required by the close of the application cycle which is January 20th of each application year
  2. Application materials may be emailed to the TD at Thomas.Culbreath@fdc.myflorida.com Please start the subject line with "Postdoctoral Residency" followed by your last name then first name.
  3. We will accept applications through the APPACAS system. However, in the past applicants preferred to save the cost involved and opt to email their application materials directly to us.
  4. Any materials that cannot be emailed may be shipped directly to the address below:
    Thomas Culbreath, Psy.D. Training Director
    Florida Department of Corrections
    Zephyrhills C.I. MHU
    2739 Gall Blvd.
    Zephyrhills, FL 33541-9701
    Phone: (813) 780-3195

Interviews and Offers

  1. Following receipt and review of all submitted materials applicants are contacted via email, no later than January 31st, to schedule an interview or to advise that they are no longer in consideration for a position,
  2. The interview process is conducted virtually, and phone interviews are also acceptable. To ensure flexibility in scheduling, multiple time slots are offered during the first two (2) weeks of February to accommodate individual applicant needs.
  3. The FDC has agreed to follow APPIC guidance regarding Postdoctoral Selection Standards and the Common Hold Date, (CHD).
    • The CHD changes annually and in general is the last Tuesday in February.
    • We will be making offers following the conclusion of our interview process in mid-February
    • Applicants may hold offers for a period of four (4) hours once they are extended.
  4. We notify applicants when they are no longer under consideration and when all position are filled.
  5. Following acceptance of an offer, a formal offer letter, signed by the residency president will be electronically forwarded with a signature request indicating acceptance of the offer.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact our Training Director by phone or e-mail at:

Thomas Culbreath, Psy.D.
(813) 780-3196
Thomas.Culbreath@fdc.myflorida.com

Selection Criteria

We review applications and offer interviews to applicants who appear to be a good fit with our program. Academic performance, publications, statements of interest, letters, and references will all be utilized to determine the applicant’s readiness for residency and goodness-of-fit to our program. Comparable internship settings, populations served, as well as specific psychological assessment and therapeutic experience are important considerations. Graduates of clinical psychology programs are likely to be a better match with our program, but applicants from counseling psychology programs who have relevant backgrounds and interests are encouraged to apply and have been successful in our program’s history.

Our psychology residents will be selected based on their responses to interview questions, their cover letters, recommendations, clinical experiences, and training. We will be looking for evidence of experience, interests, aptitudes, and attitudes that are appropriate for our training program’s goals and objectives, as well as a clear understanding of our program’s philosophy, model, and goals.

The Florida Department of Corrections is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and the Department’s residency program makes a concerted effort to, and has been successful in, recruiting individuals who represent the cultural and individual diversity of our organization and our population served. The program values consideration, awareness and sensitivity to individual, cultural, and practical differences which may impact an applicant’s training trajectory, experiences, professional goals, and opportunities. During the screening, interview, and selection process, our selection committee acknowledges and reflects on the fact that access to resources and privilege has an unequal impact on individuals engaged in psychological training based on factors beyond their control. This leads to the consideration of multiple factors beyond those described above when reviewing applications to include lived experiences, non-traditional educational and training opportunities, and individual professional and personal motivations to pursue training.

Our program was designed to meet the American Psychological Association Commission on Accreditation’s Standards of Accreditation for Health Service Psychology. Our program achieved initial accreditation in October 2018 with our next scheduled site visit expected in 2027. For further information about American Psychological Association accreditation and standards, please see the Commission on Accreditation website at http://www.apa.org/ed/accreditation/accreditation-roadmap.aspx or contact them at the American Psychological Association Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation 750 First Street, NE Washington, DC 20002-4242 Phone: 202-336-5979.

We Never Walk Alone