Postdoctoral Residency in Aviation Psychology

The University of North Dakota University Counseling Center (UCC) Postdoctoral Residency in Aviation Psychology maintains a full set of written policies and procedures that govern the training program. These include but are not limited to: recruitment and selection procedures, eligibility requirements, expectations for successful residency performance, resident evaluation and feedback processes, due process and grievance procedures, remediation and termination policies, supervision requirements, maintenance of training records, and non-discrimination policies.

These policies are available to all current interns at the start of the training year through UND’s Policy Stat system.

During orientation, the Training Director reviews these policies in detail and residents sign an acknowledgment of receipt and understanding. Copies of relevant policies are also available to prospective applicants upon request from the Training Director.

The UCC residency program is participating in the APPIC Psychology Post Doctoral Application (APPA CAS) Program. Our site adheres strictly to APPIC Postdoctoral Selection Standards and Common Hold Date (CHD) policies and timelines.

At this time, our residency program is not accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA).

Clinical and Professional Activities

• Individual Therapy: 10–15 hours/week
• Group Therapy: 0–2 hours/week
• Crisis Intervention: 0–4 hours/week
• Psychological Assessment: 4–8 hours/week (includes aviation assessments)
• Outreach & Consultation: Suicide prevention, psychoeducation, etc.
• Supervision of Practicum Students: 1 hour/week with supervision-of-supervision
• Research: Time provided based on clinical load

Supervision & Training Structure

• Individual Supervision: 2 hours/week with a licensed psychologist
  • Supervisors will be psychologists licensed in the state of ND and be employed by the UND UCC. Supervisors will be available for in-person or virtual consultation or supervision during the resident’s time on-site.
• Didactic Seminars: 2–3 hours/week on topics such as:
  • Aviation culture, operations, and human factors
  • FAA regulations, aeromedical certification, and mental health
  • Aviation psychological and neuropsychological assessment
  • Psychotherapy and mental health treatment of aviation professionals
  • Peer support and critical incident response
  • Ethics and professional roles in aviation psychology
  • Interdisciplinary collaboration

Training Model

Our General Practitioner Training Model rests in an educational philosophy grounded in scientific principles and evidence-based practices supporting profession-wide competencies residents develop and integrate into their professional identity. It is our aim that residents develop a strong professional identity grounded in science, ethical practice, integrity, and a commitment to lifelong learning. The training team is committed to providing flexible, challenging, supportive, developmentally appropriate, and respectful supervision and mentorship.

Residents refine advanced clinical and professional skills, develop expertise in aviation mental health and FAA-related psychological services, and strengthen their professional identity as independent psychologists prepared for specialized practice, leadership, and consultation within aerospace and behavioral health environments.

Aviation and aerospace components will supplement the resident's clinical training through specialized assessment, intervention, consultation, interdisciplinary, and experiential educational opportunities. Planned experiences reflected in the current curriculum include exposure to general and professional aviation, air traffic control, FAA regulatory processes, aviation medical certification, aeromedical issues, human factors, HIMS, aviation-specific psychotherapy and assessment, and collaboration with aviation and medical professionals.

Competencies

The UCC is aware that professional growth and personal development are intertwined and consequently is supportive of opportunities for the resident's own personal growth. Upon completion of the residency, the developing professional should have sufficient experience in a university counseling center as well as general and specialized aviation psychology practices to confidently and competently carry out the responsibilities of a specialized psychologist in specialized aviation settings. Our training is focused on the following advanced competencies:

1. Integration of Science and Practice
2. Individual and Cultural Diversity
3. Ethical, Legal, and Professional Practice
4. Knowledge of Aviation Client Milieu
5. Aviation Psychological Assessments
6. Aviation Psychological Interventions
7. Interdisciplinary Consultation within Aviation Settings

Eligibility & Stipend

All course work, practicum experiences, and completion of qualifying exams required for the doctorate should be completed by the beginning of the internship year.

• The internship year begins on July 1 and ends on June 30 of the following year.
• Applications are due by November 15.
• The stipend for the 12-month internship is $40,000. Benefits include holidays (approximately 10); health insurance (shared cost); 12 days of personal leave without change to stipend; 12 days of sick leave; 3 days of release for dissertation defense, licensing exam, and/or job interviews; and use of university libraries (including access to scientific journals) and facilities as a staff member.
• Students from accredited clinical or counseling psychology programs are eligible. A background check is required post-match.

UND Holidays

Application

The University Counseling Center (UCC) is participating in the APPIC Psychology Post Doctoral Application (APPA CAS) Program. The site adheres strictly to APPIC Postdoctoral Selection Standards and Common Hold Date (CHD) policies and timelines. Applicants must submit a complete application by the deadline noted in the APPIC directory listing. No person at this training facility will (1) solicit, accept, or use any rank-related information from any applicant, (2) attempt to gauge the likelihood of an applicant accepting an offer, (3) pressure an applicant to hasten the decision-making prior to the CHD.

Requirements

To be considered for the residency, applicants must submit the following materials via the APPIC APPA CAS Online portal by November 15:

• A completed APPIC Psychology Postdoctoral Application (APPA)
• Current Curriculum Vitae (as part of APPA)
• 1 page Cover Letter (as part of APPA) that provides a summary of how the applicant’s goals and experience match the opportunities available at UND UCC.
• Official transcripts of all graduate coursework
• Three (3) Letters of Recommendation using the APPA Standardized Reference Form (SRF), two of which must be from persons who have directly supervised the applicant’s clinical work. Please submit no more than three SRFs.

Minimum Qualifications

• Must have completed all requirements for their doctoral degree before beginning their postdoctoral training
• Must have received a doctoral degree from an APA/CPA accredited program or from a regionally accredited institution of higher education
• Must have completed an APA/CPA-accredited internship or an internship meeting APPIC standards
• Internship training in psychological assessment
• Strong assessment, diagnostic, and report-writing skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Diverse clinical experiences
• Internship and/or practicum experience working with college populations
• Interest in psychology within aviation or other safety-sensitive careers

Selection Process

• Application Review: All complete applications received by the deadline will be reviewed by the UCC Training Committee. Applications are evaluated based on fit with the generalist training model, diversity of clinical experiences, stated training goals, and alignment with the UCC mission.
• Interview Offers: Selected applicants will be contacted by phone or email by mid-December to schedule a virtual interview. Those not selected will be notified via email.
• Interviews: All interviews are conducted virtually via Zoom and typically occur in early January. Interviews provide an opportunity for applicants to speak with training staff, current trainees, and learn more about the center's culture and expectations.

Providing residents with on-going formative feedback and evaluation is key to facilitating an resident’s personal and professional growth. Residents receive on-going informal evaluation and feedback throughout the year as well as formal written evaluations based on the advanced competencies at the mid-year and year-end points of the training year (i.e., January and June).

Initial Evaluation

In August, resident’s skill levels and experience to date are informally assessed by the Training Director, direct supervisor, and senior staff. This initial assessment is to provide a view of the resident’s strengths as well as areas for further development. Residents, after familiarization with program aims, goals, and competencies of focus for their training year, will be asked to engage in self-assessment. This is done through discussion and completing a written evaluation based on their estimation of their current knowledge and skill. This discussion will support identifying initial training goals.

Evaluation & Minimum Levels of Achievement (MLAs)

Residents are evaluated formally at mid-year and end-of-year. Each resident receives written feedback from their primary supervisor using a structured evaluation form based on the Advanced Competency Areas (ACAs).

Evaluation draws from multiple data sources, including:

• Clinical documentation
• Supervision discussions
• Direct observation (e.g., video review or co-facilitation)
• Feedback from other staff (as appropriate)

Evaluations are reviewed with each resident in a face-to-face meeting and the residents receive a copy of their evaluation.

To successfully complete the residency and demonstrate readiness for independent practice, residents must meet the following Minimum Level Achievements (MLAs):

• Score of 3 or higher (on a 5-point scale) on each learning element within the three APA ACAs and the four Program Specific Competencies (PSCs) by the mid-year evaluation.
• Score of 4 or higher (on a 5-point scale) on each learning element within the three APA ACAs and the four PSCs by the mid-year evaluation.
• No unresolved problematic behaviors that interfere with clinical work, professional conduct, or supervision.

Resident Feedback

Residents are expected to provide written evaluations of their:

• Primary and secondary supervisors (at mid-year and end-of-year)
• Didactic seminars
• Overall training program

Maintenance of Training Records

As part of the University of North Dakota’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and professional development, the University Counseling Center (UCC) maintains complete and accurate records of all training activities, evaluations, and residents’ documentation. These training records include, but are not limited to:

• Supervision hours
• Evaluations and feedback forms
• Training goals and plans
• Documentation of due process procedures (if applicable)
• Resident participation in outreach, assessment, and supervision activities

These records are maintained in a secure, confidential location in accordance with university policy and APA/APPIC standards. Records of training experiences, evaluations, and certificate of completion are retained indefinitely. Residents may request copies of their evaluation forms or supervision documentation for licensure or employment verification at any time, even after residency completion.