Personnel Matters
Intern Qualifications
Psychology Interns are graduate students who have advanced to candidacy in their doctoral programs, and who are eligible to accumulate supervised clinical doctoral hours toward licensure.
University Of San Francisco Equal Opportunity And Non-discrimination Policy
The University is an equal opportunity institution of higher education. The University does not discriminate in employment, educational services and academic programs on the basis of an individual's race, color, religion, religious creed, ancestry, national origin, age (except minors), sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, medical condition (cancer-related and genetic-related) and disability, and the other bases prohibited by law. The University reasonably accommodates qualified individuals with disabilities under the law.
University Of San Francisco Background Check Policy
The University conducts background checks on all new interns.All candidates for full-time and part-time assignments with the University must authorize a lawful background check as part of the application packet. An offer of an internship is contingent upon verifying the accuracy of the information provided by the candidate and the background check results will determine their suitability for an internship at the University.
Length Of Contract
CAPS is a full-time, 12-month internship from August 1st, 2021 through July 31st, 2022. Many graduate programs and Boards of Psychology (in states other than California) require 2000 hours of internship training which has become a standard for most 12 month, APA-accredited and APPIC member full-time internships. Hence, we have structured the training schedule to allow for the completion of 2000 hours. The California Board of Psychology permits a maximum of 44 hours of SPE (Supervised Professional Experience) per week and we have included 4 weekly hours of Professional Development in addition to the intern’s regularly scheduled 40 on-site hours at CAPS.This schedule will provide ample opportunity to complete 2000 hours as we expect interns will have sick days, medical appointments, and other limited requests for time off. Request for time off, including that designated for professional development, must be approved by both the Training Director and your Primary Supervisor.
The minimum number of hours required to complete the internship is 1850 and a minimum of 25% of your total hours must be direct service hours per the APPIC requirement. Holidays, vacation, and sick leave are granted with the understanding that the contracted hours will be met. It is the Intern’s responsibility to research the requirements for states for which they intend to pursue licensure. The state of California requires a minimum of 1500 internship level hours for licensure.
Pay And Benefits
Interns will receive $30,400 for the training year paid on a bimonthly basis (24 pay periods over the 12 month contract). Interns are eligible for University health care and other benefits. Interns accrue sick leave and vacation days (12), and receive University holidays. Interns are expected to take 5 days of vacation during the last week of the training year: Monday, July 27th through Friday, July 31st, 2021.
The following University holidays will be observed during the 2021-2022 training year:
| Monday, September 6, 2021 | Labor Day |
| Thursday, November 25, 2021 | Thanksgiving Day |
| Friday,November 26, 2021 | Day after Thanksgiving |
| Friday, December 24, 2021 | Christmas Eve Observed |
| Monday, December 27, 2021 (observed) | Christmas Day Observed |
| Tuesday, December 28, 2021 | University Holiday Closure |
| Wednesday, December 29, 2021 | University Holiday Closure |
| Thursday, December 30, 2021 | University Holiday Closure |
| Friday, December 31, 2021 | New Year's Eve Observed |
| Monday, January 3, 2022 | New Year's Day Observed |
| Monday, January 17, 2022 | Martin Luther King, Jr. Day |
| Monday, February 21, 2022 | President's Day |
| Friday, April 15, 2022 | Good Friday |
| Monday, May 30, 2022 | Memorial Day |
| Monday, July 4, 2022 | Independence Day |
Please be mindful that holidays, vacation, and sick leave hours are not included in your contracted “supervised professional experience” hours. The Intern has contracted with the CA Board of Psychology and/or their graduate program to complete the contracted hours of training, exclusive of holidays, vacation, or sick leave, and our policies are compatible with that contract.
CAPS employs a full time program assistant and office assistant who are available during office hours to provide limited clerical support for staff and interns. Intern offices are each equipped with a computer that hosts Titanium, an electronic scheduling and charting program, as well as providing access to email, Microsoft Office software, and the internet.
Interns also each have their own digital web camera to record video sessions for use in supervision and training.
Interns receive technical support from staff members when they have questions that we can answer, and otherwise are able to utilize the services of USF’s Information Technology Services. They are also able to attend University workshops offered through HR and ITS.
Professional Development
Interns receive funding and professional development time to attend the annual Northern California Counseling Center Training Directors Conference. Interns are also provided additional professional development time to attend the San Jose State University Multicultural Training Conference.
Interns receive 3 additional days or 24 total hours (to be arranged with the Training Director) for the purpose of working toward completion of your dissertation, and/or interviewing for a Post Doctoral fellowship or job. Professional development requests should be directed to your primary supervisor (in addition to notifying the Training Director).
Based on a 44-hour work week (per the CA Board of Psychology), 4 hours each week may be spent on dissertation-related research, post doctoral fellowship/residency applications and job pursuit, and other professional development activities after the intern’s regularly scheduled in office hours with the following exceptions: winter break (12/24/21 through 1/3/22), and July 25th through July 29th, 2022. This will result in approximately 196 additional hours of Professional Development time over the course of the training year.
Some other activities may qualify for use of Professional Development time. If you have questions about how a given activity fits Professional Development criteria, please direct them to the Training Director or your primary supervisor.
Liability Insurance
Doctoral Interns must provide evidence of malpractice insurance either through their graduate school or with an individual policy. Certificates of Insurance must be received by our office prior to the beginning of the internship.
Record Keeping
The Training Director maintains a file for each intern over the course of the internship year. Intern personnel files contain all employment documentation, certificates of internship completion, evaluation forms (e.g., mid-year and end-of-year evaluation forms, any remediation plan/due process documentation when applicable), and CA Board of Psychology required paperwork. Current intern evaluations, as well as all evaluative documentation related to the internship program, are stored in combined paper and electronic files. Electronic documentation is stored on the Training Director’s private computer account, which is part of the USF secure server and paper files are stored in a locked file cabinet in the office of the Training Director. Former intern files are maintained and secured in perpetuity (for the purposes of verifying successful completion of internship, providing future licensure information, etc.).
The California Board of Psychology passed a regulation, effective January 1, 1994 and revised August 27, 2005, requiring that Interns maintain a Weekly Log of Supervised Professional Experience towards licensure (Weekly SPE Log). This log is not to be submitted at the time of application for licensure, but should be available in the event the Board requests it. While the Board does not provide a sample log, it does specify the elements that a log should contain (BOP Guideline regarding SPE Log.) Here is an example of a Completed SPE Log and Guidelines for completion. Additionally, please utilize the monthly Direct Service Tracking Hours form to make sure you are maintaining your direct service hours at an overall rate of 25% of your total supervised professional experience.
Attach both to the form Supplemental Monthly Log which tracks vacation, sick leave, or other professional development leave taken.
After the Training Director approves your hours, your original Weekly SPE Log will be kept in your personnel file. As previously indicated, the log can then be certified as accurate by the Training Director. While you, as the Intern, will keep the original of the certified log at the end of the training year, it is crucial that we retain a copy of the completed log (see Intern Checklist for Leaving USF) for your file – in the event that you have future requests that require us to certify your hours.
Time Keeping
There are two considerations regarding our time keeping policies. First, in order for the center to run smoothly, we prefer Interns establish and maintain a weekly time schedule for the semester. If you anticipate an absence, please inform your Primary Supervisor, the Training Director, and the Program Assistant or Administrative Assistant ahead of time and block out the time in the titanium schedule database. If something unexpected arises, please inform the Program Assistant or Administrative Assistant as soon as possible, so your clients can be informed in a timely manner.
Dress Code
Interns are encouraged to develop their own judgment about what constitutes appropriate professional attire and to consider the potential messages being communicated to or interpreted by clients and the professional community through their choice of dress. If you are uncertain about your choice of clothing for the professional work environment, please consult with your supervisors or the Training Director.
Request For Leave
Interns must formally request time off for vacation, planned medical appointments and medical leave, and professional development. Requests should be discussed with and approved by your Primary Supervisor. Additionally, please send e-mail notification to the Training Director.