FAQ – Psychology Department Internships and Clerkships

There are three types of internships offered in psychology and neuropsychology at the Pinel Institute for students from Quebec universities:

• Observation clerkship for students enrolled in a bachelor’s program in psychology
• Internship for doctoral students in psychology and clinical neuropsychology
• Advanced internship for candidates for the title of psychologist awaiting recognition of equivalence from the Ordre des psychologues du Québec

Students from other countries can consult the Clerkship for International Students section for detailed information on the opportunities available to them.

No. Practicums and post-graduate pre-clerkships are not offered at the Institute.

High school or college students cannot obtain one-day observation or student placements.

Clerkships and internships offered at the Institute are exclusively for undergraduate and postgraduate psychology students. Therefore, you must be enrolled in either an accredited bachelor’s or doctoral program in psychology to be eligible. The types of clerkships and internships are described in the section: Internships.

A minor in clinical psychology for neuropsychology students is not offered at the Institute.

Internship requirements for doctoral students in clinical psychology are described in the section: Internship program in psychology and neuropsychology for students from a Quebec university.

The clinical psychology internship at the Pinel Institute can be completed with an adolescent or an adult clientele, but not with both clienteles simultaneously. You must choose the population you wish to work with.

On the other hand, the clinical neuropsychology internship focuses on adolescent, adult and geriatric patients.

You can only visit the Institute during the annual “Open House for Interns.”

You won’t be at a disadvantage regarding the quality of your application. However, you won’t be able to see where you will spend a few months of training or have the opportunity to meet with supervising psychologists.

It is not appropriate to contact the psychologists directly.

Instead, go to psycho.ippm@ssss.gouv.qc.ca to make any requests for information related to programs, clerkships and internships.

The Institute does not offer remuneration to students or interns.

However, since this is a provincial health care institution, interns who come to do their internship can benefit from the FIDEP remuneration agreement, the details of which are explained on the FIDEP website and on Facebook.

I’m a doctoral student in clinical neuropsychology at the Université du Québec en Outaouais. I would like to apply for my first internship at your institute.

In both neuropsychology and psychology, we ask students to first complete placements and/or do their first internship in a general psychiatric setting before applying for an internship at the Pinel Institute. The requirements for neuropsychology interns are described here.

I’m interested in two other programs at the IPPM: the treatment program (Unit D1) and the forensic program. Can you forward my application to the psychologists in charge of these programs?

Completed applications must be sent to psycho.ippm@ssss.gouv.qc.ca before the deadline. When completing the application form, you must first determine which population you would like to work with (adolescent or adult), and then you can check off up to three program options. The psychologists involved will review your file and may invite you to an interview, if appropriate.

Send this type of request to psycho.ippm@ssss.gouv.qc.ca.

The application deadline is indicated for each program. It is important that you meet it, as applications submitted after that date will not be accepted.

French students who wish to apply for a placement must be enrolled in a 1st year Master’s program at the time of application, and be pursuing a 2nd year Master’s program at the time of the proposed internship.

For example, a Master 1 student would submit their application by December 8, 2016, for an internship that would begin in September 2017, at which time they would be enrolled in Master 2.

We cannot accommodate people on a sabbatical or study break, as an inter-university agreement is required.

A description of the work environment, prerequisites, supervision arrangements and key dates can be found in the section: Internship in psychology and clinical neuropsychology for foreign students.

Note that students must have already completed a placement and/or their first clerkship in general psychiatry before applying. Functional English knowledge is also required.

The Institute offers placements, called internships here, to French students who will, at a minimum, be enrolled in a Master 2 program after completion of the internship.

A description of the work environment, prerequisites, supervision arrangements and key dates can be found in the section: Internship in psychology and clinical neuropsychology for foreign students.

Note that students must have already completed a placement and/or their first internship in general psychiatry before applying. Functional English knowledge is also required.

The Institute offers advanced internships to those with a university degree. This provides access to the protected title of psychologist to those currently obtaining OPQ equivalence for a licence to practice.

Advanced internships involve at least 300 hours of practice. Detailed information and application procedures can be found in the section: Psychology internship –  equivalency process.

Note that the deadline to apply for a fall or winter internship is December of the previous year.