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Congressional Internship
Details & Eligibility 

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OVERVIEW

APAICS Congressional Interns will receive:

  • Professional work experience in a Congressional Office

  • Benefits:

    • Grant payment:

      • The grant for the Summer Congressional Internship is $2,550 and payments are made in three installments.

      • The grant for the Fall Congressional Internship is $3,187.50. Payments are made in three installments.

      • For both Summer and Fall, the first payment is received at the beginning of the internship, the second payment is received at the midpoint of the program, and the third payment is received when all program requirements have been completed.

    • Metro stipend:

      • Summer: $200

      • Fall: $250

    • Housing:

      • Shared, dorm-style housing. Interns typically provide their own bedding, toiletries, and kitchen supplies.

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PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

APAICS Congressional Interns will:

  • Work 30-40 hours a week at a host office, subject to the needs of the host office

  • Attend an orientation prior to the start of the internship 

  • Participate in APAICS events and weekly professional development sessions

  • Submit a reflection and respond to questionnaires at the start and end of the internship

  • Submit a program evaluation at the end of the internship

  • Comply with APAICS policies regarding work performance and personal conduct

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ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

To be eligible to apply, applicants must:

  • Applicants must currently be undergraduate students enrolled in an accredited educational institution at the time of application.  ​

  • Applicants must have completed at least one semester of college to be eligible for the Congressional Internship program. Our youngest applicants are college freshmen at the time of application and rising sophomores during the time of the summer internship program.

  • APAICS Congressional interns cannot be full-time students during the time of the internship program; any course load they have cannot exceed 11 credits.

  • Be U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, or individuals who are legally authorized to work full-time without restriction for any U.S. employer and who possess lawful evidence of employment authorization. International students on F-1 or M-1 visas are not eligible.

    • Note: Individuals who are seeking consideration under the “Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival” (DACA) policy must possess an Employment Authorization Document at the time of application that is valid throughout the program.

  • Family members of the APAICS Board of Directors or National Advisory Council are prohibited from participating in any APAICS programs.

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APPLICATION GUIDELINES

Completed applications will include a(n):

  • Cover letter expressing interest in the program (No more than one page)

  • Resume (one page maximum)

  • Academic transcript

  • One letter of recommendation

  • Responses to the following three questions (Response to each question should be no more than one page, double-spaced, 12-point Times New Roman font):

    • Why should you be selected for this internship? 

    • How have you incorporated public service thus far and how will you incorporate public service in your career going forward?

    • Describe a challenging situation you personally experienced. How did you handle it and what did you learn from your experience?

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APPLICATION DEADLINES

Summer 2026: February 1, 2026, 11:59PM ET
Fall 2026: March 31, 2026 by 11:59PM ET

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SELECTION PROCESS

The APAICS Congressional Internship Program is a highly competitive program. Applications are reviewed by a selection committee made up of program alumni, staff, and board members. Top candidates receive an invitation to interview. Applications are scored based on several factors including, but not limited to: leadership and leadership potential, community involvement, commitment to public service, and ability to face challenges.

 

QUESTIONS?

Please visit the FAQ page or contact: programs@apaics.org.

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Please do not contact the office in regard to your application status. Only qualified candidates will be directly contacted by program supervisors. Due to the high volume of applications we receive, we regret that we are unable to respond to all applicants.

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