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Match Overview

Introduction and General Information about the APPIC Match

Updated July 31, 2024

INTRODUCTION TO THE APPIC MATCH


The APPIC Match is an orderly process to help applicants obtain positions in doctoral internships of their choice, and to help internship programs obtain applicants of their choice. Please note that the APPIC Match is for doctoral internship positions only; information about postdoctoral positions may be found here.

An introduction to the APPIC Match, including a discussion of how the Match works and how it benefits applicants and programs, can be found in these FAQs.


THE TWO-PHASE MATCH PROCESS


The 2025 APPIC Match will be conducted in two "phases," with each phase involving the submission of Rank Order Lists by programs and applicants to determine the placement of applicants into positions.

In Phase I of the Match, applicants and programs submit Rank Order Lists and a matching process will be carried out using those Rank Order Lists. The results of Phase I of the Match will then be distributed.

Phase II of the Match is a second selection process that begins immediately upon the conclusion of Phase I, with the goal of placing applicants who did not obtain a position in Phase I into positions that remain available after Phase I. Programs with available positions, including positions left unfilled in Phase I, will offer those positions to applicants in Phase II of the Match. Applicants who did not obtain a position in Phase I will be eligible to participate in Phase II. Applicants and programs will submit new Rank Order Lists for Phase II of the Match. A second matching process will then be carried out using those Rank Order Lists, and the results of Phase II of the Match will then be distributed.

APPIC also operates a "Post-Match Vacancy Service" that begins upon the conclusion of Phase II and allows programs to announce unfilled positions as well as newly-funded positions that become available into the Spring and Summer.

2025 MATCH ELIGIBILITY


IMPORTANT NOTE: The applicant eligibility information in this section applies to both phases of the 2025 APPIC Match. Please see the following section for eligibility information for the APPIC Post-Match Vacancy Service.

Students: A student is eligible to participate in the APPIC Match if he/she meets ALL of the following requirements:

  1. Is matriculating through a doctoral program that is eligible to participate in the APPIC Match. Applicants who have already graduated from their doctoral programs are not eligible. An eligible doctoral program meets one of the following criteria:

    1. The doctoral program is accredited by an eligible accrediting organization (as defined here). Regional or state accreditation or designation by any other entity is insufficient to meet this criterion.

    2. The doctoral program is not accredited but has been granted an initial accreditation site visit by an eligible accrediting organization.

    3. The doctoral program is a re-specialization program in which the underlying doctoral program is accredited by an eligible accrediting organization or in the process of gaining such accreditation, as outlined in the preceding two paragraphs.
    In addition to meeting one of the criteria listed above, an eligible doctoral program must be an APPIC Doctoral Program Associate (DPA) which requires approval by APPIC and the payment of an annual fee.

    A list of doctoral programs that are eligible for the Match and/or the Post-Match Vacancy Service (PMVS) can be found here (click on "Eligible Doctoral Programs"). Please note that this list includes doctoral programs that are eligible for participation in the APPIC Match and PMVS, along with doctoral programs that are eligible ONLY for the PMVS (as described in the following section). You should also note that there may be both eligible and ineligible doctoral programs at the same school or university.

    While an applicant must be matriculating through an eligible doctoral program, there is NO requirement to be registered or paying tuition for any particular semester in order to be eligible to participate in the Match.

    Students who attend Universities outside of the U.S. and Canada should consult the Intern Applicant Policy for participation requirements.

  2. Has not been placed into a position by the APPIC Match and has not accepted or committed to any other internship position.

  3. Has been authorized to participate by their doctoral program.

Applicants who meet all three of these requirements are eligible to participate in the APPIC Match. Applicants who do not satisfy these requirements may not register for or participate in the APPIC Match. Students who wish to consult about these requirements may contact the APPIC Match Coordinator, Dr. Greg Keilin, at gkeilin@gmail.com or (512) 410-0002.

Students who are seeking postdoctoral positions may not participate in the APPIC Match, as the Match is for placement into psychology internship positions only.

More information about these requirements may be found in the APPIC Policy on Doctoral Program Associates, the APPIC Intern Applicant Policy, and this FAQ.

Internship Programs: All APPIC-member programs are eligible for, and required to participate in, the APPIC Match. Non-member programs are not eligible. Non-accredited programs that have been Full APPIC Members for three years are not permitted to participate in the APPIC Match unless they have met the criteria described here; these programs are only allowed to use the Post-Match Vacancy Service.


2025 POST-MATCH VACANCY SERVICE (PMVS) ELIGIBILITY


IMPORTANT NOTE: The APPIC Board has established limitations as to how long non-accredited doctoral programs may continue to use the APPIC PMVS without becoming accredited. Effective with the 2025 PMVS, students from doctoral programs that have been "PMVS-Only" for two selection cycles without becoming accredited will no longer be allowed to participate in the PMVS. More information about these limitations may be found in the APPIC Policy on Doctoral Program Associates.

Applicants: Doctoral programs that are eligible to participate in the 2025 APPIC Match are also eligible for the 2025 PMVS.

With regard to doctoral programs that are not eligible to participate in the 2025 APPIC Match, some of these programs MAY be eligible to participate in the 2025 PMVS as outlined below. This is called "PMVS-Only" status, which means that students who attend these doctoral programs ARE eligible for the 2025 APPIC PMVS but are NOT eligible for either Phase of the 2025 APPIC Match.

"PMVS-only" participation will be permitted in 2025 for students from doctoral programs that meet the criteria outlined in paragraph 2 of APPIC's Policy on Doctoral Program Associates and are approved by APPIC. PLEASE NOTE that "PMVS-only" participation by these students is for the 2025 PMVS only and may not be extended to future years. Starting with the 2025 PMVS, doctoral programs that have been in "PMVS Only" status for two full selection cycles without achieving accreditation are no longer eligible to participate in the PMVS.

A list of doctoral programs that are eligible for the 2025 Match and/or the PMVS can be found here (click on "Eligible Doctoral Programs"). Please note that this list includes doctoral programs that are eligible for participation in the APPIC Match and PMVS, along with doctoral programs that are eligible ONLY for the PMVS. You should also note that there may be both eligible and ineligible doctoral programs at the same school or university.

Students who are not eligible for the APPIC Match or PMVS may not apply to or attend APPIC-member internship programs.

Internship Programs: Any APPIC-member internship program that has not filled its positions in the Match, or has new positions that become available after the Match, is welcome to use the PMVS. Internship programs must be Full or Provisional members of APPIC in order to participate in the PMVS, and non-members are not eligible.


MATCH REGISTRATION


Registration for the APPIC Match typically begins by the end of July.

Applicants: Applicants are REQUIRED to register for the Match prior to submitting an application to any internship site. Applicants receive a five digit "Match Code Number" upon Match registration that must be included in their AAPIs. Applicants who do not register during Phase I are permitted to register during Phase II, but, as noted above, must register before submitting an application.

Internship applicants register for the APPIC Match via an online registration process. Registration procedures are provided on the National Matching Services (NMS) web site.

Internship Programs: Internship programs register for the APPIC Match via an online registration process. Internship programs that are APPIC Members will be sent an e-mail by early August with registration information and instructions.


MATCH POLICIES


The APPIC Match Policies govern the behavior of applicants and programs that participate in the APPIC Match and Post-Match Vacancy Service. It is imperative that all participants read and understand these policies early in the process.

NEWS AND INFORMATION ABOUT THE MATCH


APPIC operates a free e-mail list service, called "MATCH-NEWS," that provides participants with up-to-date news and information about the Match. It is strongly recommended that all Match participants (including applicants, internship Training Directors, and academic Directors of Clinical Training) subscribe as early as possible in the selection process.

Students who are not yet ready to apply for internship may also benefit from subscribing in order to familiarize themselves with the process. If you subscribe, you will receive occasional e-mails (usually no more than 4 to 5 per month) that provide hints, tips, and news about the APPIC Match along with "late-breaking news" items posted by internship Training Directors. Many applicants and training programs have told us that these e-mails have been extremely helpful in guiding them through the Matching Program. Please see this page for instructions on subscribing to the MATCH-NEWS list.

MATCH DATES


The schedule of dates for the APPIC Match is available here.

FEES FOR THE 2025 MATCH


Internship applicants pay $130 to register for the 2025 APPIC Match.

APPIC-Member internship programs pay a Match fee of $175, collected along with the program's annual dues.

APPIC Doctoral Program Associates (DPAs) pay a Match fee that ranges from $350 to $750, depending upon the number of students who participate in the Match, collected along with the program's annual DPA fee.

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE MATCH


In addition to the information available on this web site, you may obtain information about the APPIC Match from the following sources:

  1. The MATCH-NEWS e-mail list, described above, is a free e-mail list that provides up-to-date news and information about the APPIC Match.

  2. The "Frequently Asked Questions" pages on this web site provide extensive information about the Match.
     
  3. The National Matching Services web site contains extensive information about the APPIC Match. You may also contact NMS directly at (800) 461-6322 or via e-mail at psychint@natmatch.com.
     
  4. You may direct any questions or concerns about the Match to the APPIC Match Coordinator, Dr. Greg Keilin, at gkeilin@gmail.com or (512) 410-0002.