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DOJ Pathways Internship Program - Bureau of Prisons (Psychology Doctoral Intern)

Department of Justice
Justice, Bureau of Prisons/Federal Prison System
This job announcement has closed

Summary

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: http://www.opm.gov/HiringReform/Pathways/program/interns/.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
07/23/2025 to 07/30/2025
Salary
$65,942 to - $85,085 per year
Pay scale & grade
GL 09
Location
Butner Federal Correctional Complex, NC
2 vacancies
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Not required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Internships - TEMPORARY - NTE 1 YEAR
Work schedule
Full-time - Hours of work can be Full-Time or Part-Time based on Participant Agreement.
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
09
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
Yes
Announcement number
CO-2025-0234
Control number
841431600

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

• OPEN TO INDIVIDUALS CURRENTLY ACCEPTED FOR ENROLLMENT OR CURRENTLY ENROLLED STUDENTS IN A QUALIFYING EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION ON A FULL OR HALF-TIME BASIS. • 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. • Duty Location: FCC Butner, NC

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Duties

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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

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Conditions of employment

  • 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.

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, please visit: http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-authorities/students-recent-graduates/#url=Program-Fact-Sheets

Qualifications

To be considered for the position, you must meet the following qualification requirements:

Education:

Completion of 2 academic years of graduate level education, or a master's degree or equivalent graduate degree.

One full academic year of undergraduate; graduate; vocational; trades; technical or high school education is the number of credit hours determined by the college, university or school to represent 1 year of full-time study. The high school curriculum must be approved by a State or local governing body. All education beyond high school must be accredited by an accrediting body or organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Special Provisions/or Interns with Previous Related Education or Experience. Previous education and/or experience may be evaluated to determine the highest grade level for which the individual is qualified.

Applicants must also provide documentation from the educational institution verifying current enrollment with at least a half time or full time course load in an accredited business or technical school, junior college, or university. This documentation MAY be a Current Enrollment Verification Certificate or a statement of current enrollment or acceptance letter from the college or university (which verifies all of the required information).

Student Trainee work schedule may vary from minimum requirement of 12 hours per week up to 40 hours depending on school schedule and needs of agency.

Applicant must have a minimum of 2.5 GPA and maintain this GPA while in trainee position.

AND

Selective Placement Factor:

Applicants applying for this position MUST also possess the following Selective Factor. In the event you do not possess the Selective Factor, you will be found ineligible for the position.

Applicant must submit one of the following:

  • A statement from the Training Director presiding over the doctoral program validating completion of the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship (AAPI) and matriculation at a clinical or counseling doctoral program.

OR

  • A copy of confirmation of completion of the AAPI and registration for the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC) Match (i.e. proof of payment or APPIC Match ID number).

If applicable, credit will be given for paid and unpaid experience. To receive proper credit, you must show the actual time (such as the number of hours worked per week) spent in activities.

**Your eligibility for consideration will be based on your responses to the questions in the application.**

Education

See Qualifications Section for education requirements, if applicable.

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.

If you are selected for this position and qualified based on education (i.e. basic education requirement and/or substitution of education), you will be required to provide an OFFICIAL transcript prior to your first day on duty.

Additional information

Special Conditions of Employment Section:

Appointment is subject to satisfactory completion of a pre-employment and panel interview, urinalysis, physical, and background investigation.  

All applicants are subject to, and must satisfactorily pass all screening requirements in relation to National Crime Information Center (NCIC) and credit check.

The Core Value Assessment (CVA) is an in-person assessment that must be facilitated at a Bureau of Prisons Human Resource Servicing office.  The purpose of this assessment is to ensure that new employees possess the core values and behaviors required for success at BOP.  On the day of the scheduled interview, a CVA will be administered.  The applicant assessment must be completed within a 70 minute time period and a passing score must be obtained.  Further employment consideration will not be extended if the applicant fails to complete the examination or fails to achieve a passing score.  Note: The Core Value Assessment will not be administered to current BOP employees.

Conversion to the Competitive Service: Interns may be converted to a permanent position (or, in some limited circumstances, to a term position lasting 1-4 years) within 120 days of successful completion of the program.

This position has a basic educational requirement. Individuals applying for this position must be enrolled in a degree program directly related to the position. In order to be eligible for conversion into the competitive service, the incumbent must meet the degree requirements, as governed by the Office of Personnel Management, for this position.

To be eligible for conversion, Interns must: Complete at least 480 hours of work experience acquired through the Internship Program; Complete their degree or certificate requirements; Meet the qualification standards for the position to which the Intern will be converted; Meet agency-specific requirements as specified in the Participant's Agreement, and perform their job successfully.

Agencies may waive up to 320 of the required 480 hours of work for Interns who demonstrate high potential as evidenced by outstanding academic achievement and exceptional job performance.

In addition, students working in agencies through third-party intern providers may count up to 320 of the hours they work toward the 480 hour requirement. Time spent under previous Internship Program appointments may count towards required work experience hours. Applicants will be required to provide supporting documentation to support participation in previous programs.

Conditions of Employment: Upon conversion into a permanent position, the intern must attend and successfully complete the Introduction to Correctional Techniques, a 3-week training course in Glynco, GA. 

Additional selections may be made if vacancies occur within the life of the certificate.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Your application will be evaluated and rated under DOJ's Category Rating and Selection Procedures. Based upon your self-reported 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 questionnaire.

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 veterans 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.

In addition, qualified veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 10% or more are placed at the top of the highest qualified category as defined by category rating procedures.

What Competencies/Knowledge, Skills and Abilities are Required for this Position?

The following Competencies/Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA's) are required:

  • Psychological Assessment
  • Intervention
  • Interdisciplinary Communication
  • Professional Development

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