Students
Start Your Professional Journey with NCPA
NCPA welcomes Psychology graduate students, interns and postdoctoral fellows, and undergraduate majors in Psychology.
We want you to get involved in NCPA as members, conference participants, and active committee volunteers.
You are the future of Psychology!
Studying Psychology in Graduate School
APA Graduate Study in Psychology
Resource from Dr. Mitch Prinstein and students at UNC for those interested in Clinical Psychology
Free APA video series Applying to Graduate School
Sayette & Norcross Insider's Guide to Graduate Programs Clinical and Counseling Psychology
Appalachian State University Program Links:
University of North Carolina Charlotte Program Links:
Appalachian State University - Program Links
Appalachian State University Program Links:
University of North Carolina Charlotte - Program Links
University of North Carolina Charlotte Program Links:
Barbara H. Wasik Student Travel Award
The Barbara H. Wasik Student Travel Award was established by a gift to the North Carolina Psychological Foundation from Barbara H. Wasik, PhD The award of $500 is given annually to support graduate student attendance at national meetings for the purpose of presenting his or her research. The conference can be in-person or virtual and both oral and/or poster presentations qualify. One of the Foundation’s goals is to support graduate student travel.
The award can be used for travel, registration, lodging, and/or meals, but not to prepare materials for presentations. Appropriate national meetings include ones sponsored by the American Psychological Association (APA), Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD), or the American Educational Research Association (AERA). Many other national conferences/conventions are also eligible but must be reviewed by the Foundation. The conference should have a focus on research enhancing the well-being of children and adults.
Applicants must be graduate students currently enrolled in an accredited psychology graduate program in North Carolina and members of the North Carolina Psychological Association. If the student is in an applied area that can be accredited by the American Psychological Association, then the student’s graduate program should be an APA-accredited program. Students may apply for the travel award once a presentation or poster session is accepted, prior to actual travel, or following his or her presentation. The award will go to a graduate student who is the first author on the presentation or poster session.
All applications are due by end of day, December 15 of each year.
To view eligibility requirements, submission details, and the application, please click here.
For questions, please contact Karen Gray.
John Daniel Searcy Fellowship
The John Daniel Searcy Fellowship will provide one year of support to an advanced psychology doctoral student who will earn a Ph.D., Psy.D., or Ed.D.; are members of the North Carolina Psychological Association (NCPA); and whose doctoral programs, or pre-doctoral internship sites, are located within the state of North Carolina. The award will be made to individuals who have demonstrated superior academic achievement and are committed to a career focused on working with individuals with severe and persistent mental illness (SPMI) and who also intend to work in the non-profit and/or public sector. The fellowship pays a stipend of $5,000.
The North Carolina Psychological Foundation (NCPF) has developed the award criteria. NCPF is dedicated to advocating for North Carolinians' mental health and access to mental health care through providing public education about mental health issues, helping those in need through our disaster response network, and supporting psychologists to continue to provide highly effective care for our citizens. The yearly award will be administered by the Scientific, Academic, and Student Affairs (SASA) Committee of NCPF; SASA is actively involved with academic and student programming, including student awards.
About Dr. John Daniel Searcy
Dr. John Daniel Searcy was a past president of the North Carolina Psychological Association (NCPA) and a long-time member of both NCPA and the former Division of Independent Professional Practice. He graduated from East Carolina University with a master’s in psychology and received his Ph.D. in clinical psychology from North Carolina State University. Dr. Searcy helped organize the NCPA legislative committee and served as its chair. During his time as chair of the legislative committee, the NCPA was able to ensure that psychologists could be credentialed to work in inpatient hospital settings. Dr. Searcy served on the Coalition, a committee composed of statewide organizations that are committed to assuring the availability of services and support for individuals who experience addictive diseases, mental illness, and developmental disabilities. A focus of Dr. Searcy’s career was advocating for services for persons with SPMI. One of his proudest accomplishments, during his tenure as director of the Johnston County Mental Health Center, was implementing programs in conjunction with Johnston Community College to assist persons with mental illness to find meaningful jobs. An example of that focus was the development of a Greenhouse Program that offered engaging and fulfilling work to many clients. Dr. Searcy also successfully worked to keep mental-health patients within the community for treatment through the use of local inpatient hospitalization and many other supportive mental-health services. Honoring his legacy is a great way for those who are the future of psychology to follow in his footsteps.
View the eligibility requirements and apply now.
