A primary benefit of completing an APA-accredited internship program is that it will be approved by the state licensing board. Most states require psychologists to complete one year of supervised internship prior to receiving a doctorate and one year of internship after the doctorate in order to be licensed. The majority of jurisdictions have rigorous criteria for internship sites, supervisor's qualifications and the type and extent of supervision. These criteria are met by APA-accredited internship programs. The licensing board does not approve internships at all institutions and students might find they cannot take the licensing exam if their site does not qualify.
An APA-approved internship is a benefit when a psychologist applies to be licensed. Psychologists must be licensed in order to have an independent practice in Canada or the U.S. ASPPB (the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards) oversees licensing of psychologists. The Board reviews the educational background and internship experience of a candidate before allowing the candidate to take the licensing exam. ASPPB requires candidates for licensure to have a doctorate from an accredited institution and to have completed 3,000 hours of supervised work in an approved setting. APA-approved internship sites are accepted by state boards. The best way to guarantee that an internship site meets the requirements is to complete an internship in an APA-accredited site.
Graduation from an APA-accredited institution and having an internship at an APA accredited program will not assure a psychologist will get a job; however, it does make it easier for the job applicant. An APA accredited internship program is viewed by people in the field as superior, as it indicates the program meets national standards in the profession. Many universities, institutions and agencies rely on APA accreditation as an indication of professional quality and only hire graduates of those programs.
APA-approved internships are highly sought after because psychology graduate students realize they will have an advantage in getting licensed and finding a job with an APA-accredited internship. APAGS (the American Psychological Association of Graduate Students) reports there is a crisis in the acceptance of graduate psychology students for internship positions. This crisis entails a large differential between the number of internships and the number of applications for them. This crisis is increasing over time and the discrepancy is particularly large between the number of applicants and the number of APA-accredited internships available. As of February, 2010, 23 percent of applicants were not matched with an internship program.