ACEPT Practicum Application and Selection Guidelines

Uniform Application and Notification Guidelines 2012- 2013

The Uniform Notification Guidelines apply only to doctoral level practica.

Master’s Students may mail applications the same  day as doctoral students; however, there is a rolling acceptance for Master’s Students.

Responsibilities and Expectations of Students

  • Psy.D. and M.A. students may begin submitting practicum applications on Monday February 4, 2013.
  • Students may withdraw their application from a particular site at any time. Students are encouraged to do so if they are certain they would not accept an offer from that site.
  • When a student receives an offer for a position they may hold the offer for up to 24 hours, but may accept or decline the offer at any time prior to the 24 hour deadline. If a student has not accepted or
    declined an offer by 24 hours after it is received, the offer becomes void and is assumed to be declined.
  • Students may only hold one offer at a time.
  • If a training site has made an offer to a student and that student declines the offer, the training site may immediately make another offer to a different candidate. That candidate then has 24 hours
    from the time that the e-mail is sent to make a decision. As stated above, the student then has 24 hours to accept or decline and it is assumed that if they do not respond within 24 hours that the offer is declined.
  • Once a student accepts an offer, they must contact all of the other sites where they have interviewed to let them know that they should be removed from consideration of the position.
  • Students will not be allowed to apply for or accept offers between Friday, March 22 at 9 am and Monday, March 25 at 9 am. The clearing house process will begin at 9 am on Monday, March 25.

Responsibilities and Expectations of Schools

  • Schools are responsible for educating their students about the ACEPT guidelines. Schools should review with their students the rules governing students, schools, and sites alike.
  • Schools should provide their students with a database of practicum sites from which the students may select where to apply.
  • Schools should facilitate matching their students with sites that fit their training needs.
  • Schools should provide official transcripts, letters of recommendation, and evaluation materials to the sites.
  • Schools should confirm that their students are “in good standing” at their institution throughout the application process and during the student’s practicum year. Schools should alert training sites when a student’s status changes.
  • Schools should respect the request of sites to limit students’ applications in number and date of submission.
  • Schools should utilize professional judgment regarding student comportment issues during the application and selection process.

Responsibilities and Expectations of Training Sites

  • Training sites can begin receiving practicum applications on Monday, February 4, 2013
  • Training sites may limit the number of applications they accept from any one school. Sites may also restrict the amount of time during which they will consider applicants (e.g., applications will be accepted between). It is the responsibility of the site to inform schools about any such restrictions.
  • Sites are encouraged to notify students by 2/25/13  if they will be granted an interview.
  • If a student has been eliminated from consideration by a site prior to the Match Process, the site should call the student and inform him/her of the site’s decision.
  • Sites may initiate contact with students prior to Match Process in order to:
    1. schedule an interview
    2. request missing application materials
    3. request additional information
    4. return students’ phone calls
    5. inform the student that they are no longer under consideration
    6. Send the ACEPT Rolling Offer Week email if applicable
    7. If a site trains both M.A. and Psy.D. students, the site may choose to hold a uniform Notification Day for both M.A. and Psy.D. students. Alternatively, the site may offer M.A. placements on a rolling basis, as long as Psy.D. placements are offered on the Notification D
  • Sites must notify all applicants (by e-mail) on starting with Match Process on, Monday, March 18 of the status of their application. All applicants must be formally told if they are
    1) getting an offer from the site,
  •          2) being considered as an alternate should a position become available and the student has not yet accepted a position, or that
  •          3) the student is no longer being considered for a position.
  • Sites should report student comportment issues and/or concerns to the school’s Director of Training.