Psychology Externship Program

Psychology Externship Program

Academic Year 2025-2026

The Psychology Externship Program consists of year-long or semester-long rotations across several different programs at CHOP. Externs may participate in a variety of supervised activities including assessment, consultation, and evidenced based interventions for patients with various pediatric medical and mental health conditions. Activities may also include working with parents/caregivers and participating in parent training.

In addition, externs may be asked to assist with research projects and program development.

Externship students may also have the opportunity to attend educational presentations, such as lectures, grand rounds and seminars, relevant to pediatric conditions and professional development of healthcare providers. By providing such opportunities, we hope to contribute to the students’ professional growth, education and competence.

Application process

Students must be enrolled in a doctoral level psychology program and have an interest in working with children and families from culturally diverse backgrounds. Each of the Externship placements may also have additional application requirements listed in their descriptions.

How to apply

Interested individuals should send the following forms:

Please send applications through the PENDELDOT portal at pendeldot.apa.org. Send one set of application materials to each program you are applying to. The maximum number of programs that you may apply to within CHOP is six. New cover letters are not required for each submission, however, please indicate in your cover letter all of the programs you are applying to. Please note any hour requirements on your application. You may apply to two programs as one if the two programs combined meet your hour requirement.

Letters of recommendation

Letters of recommendation may be submitted directly by your supervisors through our online form. You should initiate the process by completing the online form and providing the names and email addresses of your letter writers. Once you submit this information, your supervisors will receive a link to upload their letters.  You will receive email confirmation once both letters have been submitted. Link for recommendation letters: https://redcap.link/externshiplor

Deadlines and important dates

CHOP will be participating in a uniform timeline with several graduate programs and externship sites in the Greater Philadelphia Area. The following guidelines apply to all programs participating in this uniform timeline:

  • Deadline for applications: Applications will not be accepted before Monday, January 6, 2025. All applications are due by Friday, January 17, 2025 by 5pm.
  • Notification for interviews: All applicants will be notified beginning Monday, January 22, 2025, whether or not they will receive an interview.
  • Dates of interviews: Interviews will take place between Monday, January 27, 2025 and Friday, February 21, 2025. Offers will not be made during this time.
  • Notification for placement: Match Day begins at 9am on Monday, March 3, 2025 and ends at 5pm see match guidelines at pendeldot website for more information (link below).

Uniform Timeline and Match Guidelines – PENDELDOT

Credentialing process

All applicants selected for externship placements will be required to complete the credentialing process once an offer has been accepted. The credentialing process includes:

  • Child abuse clearance
  • Criminal history clearance
  • Health and drug screening
  • Reference check
  • FBI finger printing

Students are responsible for the cost associated with the credentialing process.

COVID-19 Statement: CHOP is committed to keeping all staff and trainees safe during the pandemic. Psychology externs will have the same level of PPE available as other members of the care team, and their patients will undergo the same screening as any other patient entering the hospital system. Although this situation continues to evolve, psychology trainees may participate in both telehealth and in person training activities as appropriate. In addition, activities such as supervision and didactics may also be done through a virtual platform. We are very excited to recruit a new class of externs and we will continue to update our policies as the situation changes.

Other requirements

To carry out its mission, it is of critical importance for the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) to keep our patients, families and workforce safe and healthy and to support the health of our global community. In keeping with this, CHOP has mandated all workforce members (including trainees) on site at any CHOP location for any portion of their time be vaccinated for COVID-19 as a condition of employment.

This mandate also applies to workforce members or trainees performing work for CHOP at non-CHOP locations. Additionally, all workforce members based in or regularly scheduled to work at any New Jersey location are mandated to be both vaccinated and boosted for COVID-19, with booster timing consistent with applicable guidelines. The CHOP COVID-19 vaccine mandate is in alignment with applicable local, state and federal mandates. CHOP also requires all workforce members and trainees who work in patient care buildings or who provide patient care to receive an annual influenza vaccine. Employees may request exemption consideration for CHOP vaccine requirements for valid religious and medical reasons. Please note start dates may be delayed until candidates are fully immunized or valid exemption requests are reviewed. In addition, candidates other than those in positions with regularly scheduled hours in New Jersey, must attest to not using tobacco products.

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, religion, national or ethnic origin, disability, protected veteran status or any other protected category. CHOP is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor seeking priority referrals for protected veterans.

CHOP is committed to building an inclusive culture where employees feel a sense of belonging, connection, and community within their workplace. We are a team dedicated to fostering an environment that allows for all to be their authentic selves. We are focused on attracting, cultivating, and retaining diverse talent who can help us deliver on our mission to be a world leader in the advancement of healthcare for children.

We strongly encourage all candidates of diverse backgrounds and lived experiences to apply.

Specific externship opportunities

Externship opportunities available to graduate students in psychology span a variety of topics and specialties throughout Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Below are externship opportunities that have been offered at CHOP in recent years. Rotation availability is subject to change from year to year. Please go to our PENDELDOT site for the most updated list of available positions and their descriptions for the 2025-2026 academic year. 

  • ADHD Diagnostic Evaluation and Psychoeducational Testing
  • ADHD Group Intervention for Parents and Children
  • Anxiety Behaviors Clinic – Anxiety & OCD
  • Autism Spectrum Disorders Assessment and Intervention through the Center for Autism Research (CAR) and Autism Integrated Care (AIC)
  • Cardiac Center 
  • Early Head Start at CHOP Karabots Primary Care Center in West Philadelphia.
  • Eating Disorder Assessment and Treatment Program
    • Track 1: Outpatient Family Based Treatment/Intensive Outpatient Program/Partial Hospitalization Program 
    • Track 2: Outpatient Family Based Treatment/Inpatient Consultation Liaison with Adolescent Medicine 
  • Gender and Sexuality Development Program
  • Healthy Weight Program
  • Inpatient/Outpatient Pediatric Psychology Consultation and Brief Intervention Rotation
    • Track 1: Outpatient Pediatric Health and Behavior (PHAB) program 
    • Track 2: Inpatient Behavioral Health Integrated Program (BHIP)
    • Track 3: PHAB/BHIP combined
  • Inpatient Consultation and Liaison, King of Prussia Campus
  • Mood Disorders, Child and Adolescent Mood Disorders Program (CHAMP) and Mood Disorders Partial Hospitalization Program
  • Mood and Trauma Related Disorders, CHAMP 
  • Neuropsychology 
    • Track 1: Pediatric Neuropsychology- Broad Focus (special hybrid training in Neuropsychology/ASD or Neuropsychology/Oncology are sometimes available to interested applicants)
    • Track 2: Pediatric Neuropsychology- Oncology
    • Track 3: Advanced Neuropsychology Externship (only for 4th year students and above)
  • Oncology Pediatric Psychology Bone Marrow Transplant
  • Oncology Consultation and Intervention 
  • Outpatient Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition (GI)
  • Pediatric Epilepsy Program and Tic Disorders 
  • Pediatric Feeding and Swallowing Center
  • Pediatric Headache Program and Concussion Clinic 
  • Pediatric Pain in Center for Amplified Musculoskeletal Pain Syndrome (AMPS) or in Hematology at the Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center as well as the Comprehensive Bone Marrow Failure program.
  • Pediatric Pain - Anesthesiology Acquired Autonomic Dysfunction Program 
  • Safe Place Treatment and Support Program
  • Sleep Center
    • Track 1: Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) Program
    • Track 2: Behavioral Sleep Medicine Externship
  • Trauma-focused CBT Outpatient