Serving the Graduate Psychology Community since 2003

  • Executive Committee Leaders
    Contact us to know more about how to get involved!
  • Join us for our events.
    See our calendar for meetings and CE/CEU events!
  • Bringing a Sense of Community
    We are dedicated to the training community and are here to help with the externship process.
  • ACEPT Conference
    2020 Conference details to be announced.
< >

Welcome to ACEPT!

The Association of Chicagoland Externship and Practicum Training Sites (ACEPT) was formed in November 2003 by psychology graduate programs and training sites seeking to improve the structure and ethical standards of the practicum application process for graduate students. The graduate programs and training sites that have agreed to adhere to the following standards have committed themselves to abiding not only to the letter of the guidelines, but also the spirit as well.


ACEPT promotes ethical and respectful conduct throughout the practicum application process. Constructed in an atmosphere of mutual collaboration between schools, sites, and students, these guidelines clarify the responsibilities and roles of all parties, specify acceptable and unacceptable conduct, and promote professional courtesy.

COVID-19 UPDATES:

Given the unpredictability of the year ahead, ACEPT has been working on options for virtual meetings, etc, in order to continue our tradition and commitment to a sense of community.  We feel that even though we may not be able to be together in person, we can still create and maintain a solid connection with one another.  Please check for updates regarding upcoming meetings as well as this year's practicum fair.  We hope everyone is staying healthy and safe during this unpredictable time.  

Posting Open Externship Positions (Fall 2020):
ACEPT acknowledges the especially challenging landscape of COVID19 and its impact on clinical training. When reviewing student applications for practicum or for internship, we ask that you keep in mind that student training has been disrupted. Please consider this with regards to direct clinical hours in particular. ACEPT also asks that training sites put trainee safety and health first and follow the CDC/IDPF guidelines in accordance with exposure to COVID, following protocol if/when trainees fall ill or are exposed to COVID. It is important to note that trainees are a vulnerable population as many do not have access to health care due to their role as students.

We also acknowledge that some students have been displaced from their practicum sites due to various concerns that have arisen in relation to the health crisis. We ask for flexibility and understanding due to these unusual circumstances. If any sites have additional flexibility to offer training, please fill out the form below. We will be posting lists of practicum openings on our website over the next few weeks.


**To search open positions by site name click here**

Thank you to all who joined us at the 2019 Practicum Fair!


We very much hope you enjoyed meeting others in the community, prospective trainees, and learning more about our field in the CE presentation.  We appreciate everyone's attendance and support, but we always strive to make this event better.  To give us feedback on this event please click here if you attended as a site, and click here if you attended as a student.  

ACEPT membership benefits your training programs in a number of ways.  A one-year membership as a clinical training site includes a table for your site at the Annual Practicum Fair to network with sites and meet prospective applicants; quarterly meetings with CE/U speakers and events pertinent to clinical training; a forum to discuss and problem solve issues related to training; a venue to network with training directors and supervisors from the schools and clinical sites; and use of the ACEPT website and google group to post information and advertise services. 


ACEPT provides guidelines around the practicum match process; supports students, graduate programs, and sites in this process; and promotes a welcoming training community emphasizing togetherness and belonging.  ACEPT does not oversee the appropriateness of sites for students or graduate programs.  For more information, please visit our Membership Tab above.  


Questions about membership may be directed to ACEPT Secretary listed under Executive Committee. Member registration form and schedule of dues are listed above in Membership Renewal.

The ACEPT 8th Annual Conference has been cancelled; however, we are hoping to have the following schedule and presentations in May 2021.  

Agenda:
8:15 - 8:45am: Check in and refreshments
9 - 12:15pm: 3 credit CE/CEU Presentation on Ethics (title TBA)
12:15 - 1:15pm: Lunch and Student Poster Presentations
1:15 - 1:30pm: Poster Presentation Winner announcement/Conference Closing
1:30 - 2:30pm: ACEPT General Meeting

Location:
Loyola University, Water Tower Campus
111 E. Pearson St.
Chicago, IL 60611

Presenter Information:

Keith Baird, PhD. ABPP and Licensed Clinical Psychologist

President, Heritage Professional Associates

Fellow, the Academy of Clinical Psychology and the Illinois Psychological Association

Former Member & Chair, Ethics Committee, Illinois Psychological Association


William Carroll, JD & PhD, and Licensed Clinical Psychologist

Professor, John Marshall Law School (retired)

Former Member, APA Committee on Legal Issues

Former Legal/Clinical Consultant, Ethics Committee, Illinois Psychological Association


William Gorman, PhD. ABPP and Licensed Clinical Psychologist

Staff Psychologist, Heartland  Alliance / Marjorie Kovler Center

Clinical Associate Professor, Depts. of Psychology & Psychiatry (retired), and 

Clinical & Training Director, Counseling Center, Univ. of Illinois at Chicago (retired)

Former Member & Chair, Ethics Committee, Illinois Psychological Association


Save the Dates

When we can we do our best to offer two sites for our meeting dates in order to accommodate our community's work locations and schedules.  All meetings with two locations have web-meeting capabilities.  

2020-2021 Meeting Dates


- August 7 - 

Virtual Meeting


- November 6 - 
Virtual Open Forum

- December 4 - 
PRACTICUM FAIR location TBD or Virtual

- February 5 - 
Location TBD or Virtual 

- May 14 - 
ACEPT CONFERENCE at Loyola University in Chicago or Virtual


2020-2021 Practicum Guideline Dates


Coming Soon!

Match/Directory Committee Recommendations

The Match/Directory Committee compiled the feedback from the ACEPT community about the potential to develop a practicum, match process and/or a universal site directory, and discussed the benefits and drawbacks of both options. See the committee's recommendations below:


Match/Directory Committee Recommendation to the ACEPT Executive Committee

 



ACEPT Application Guidelines  Dates 

 

Renew your membership for 2017-18 here