Skip to main content
          Skip to FDA Search
          Skip to in this section menu
          Skip to footer links


U.S. flagAn official website of the United States government

					Here’s how you know
          			Dot gov**The .gov means it’s official.**Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you're on a federal government site.
							      SSL**The site is secure.** The **https://** ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely. 
			U.S. Food and Drug Administration
				
        Search
            Menu
							
						Search FDA
									
									Submit search 
		Featured
							Contact FDA
	                FDA Guidance Documents
	                Recalls, Market Withdrawals and Safety Alerts
	                Press Announcements
	                Warning Letters
	                Advisory Committees
	                En Español

					Products
            Food
							Drugs
							Medical Devices
							Radiation-Emitting Products
							Vaccines, Blood, and Biologics
							Animal and Veterinary
							Cosmetics
							Tobacco ProductsTopics
            About FDA
							Combination Products
							Regulatory Information
							Safety
							Emergency Preparedness
							International Programs
							News and Events
							Training and Continuing Education
							Inspections and Compliance
							Science and ResearchInformation For
            Consumers
	            Patients
	            Industry
	            Health Professionals
	            Federal, State and Local Officials 
 In this section:

        Scientific Internships, Fellowships / Trainees and Non-U.S. Citizens

Office of Policy Internships Home
          About FDA
          Jobs and Training at FDA
          Scientific Internships, Fellowships / Trainees and Non-U.S. Citizens
          Office of Policy InternshipsScientific Internships, Fellowships / Trainees and Non-U.S. Citizens Office of Policy Internships
  	
        Share
    Post
    Linkedin

    Email
    PrintThe FDA Office of Policy Internship program is temporarily suspended until further notice.

We will post an updated status when circumstances change.

Thank you for your interest.

The Office of Policy offers unpaid internships for interested graduate (including  masters, law, and other doctoral programs) and undergraduate students.  Office of Policy interns have had diverse educational interests, such as law, public health, public policy, pharmacy, government, economics, and management. Our interns have worked on a broad range of issues including human subject protection, food safety, nanotechnology, drug importation, novel disease outbreak issues, legislative analysis, regulation and guidance drafting, and briefings for senior agency officials. An Office of Policy intern can expect to work on substantive policy and legal projects, develop additional professional skills, improve research skills, and benefit from the personal attention of a mentor.  The Office of Policy has a limited number of internships.

Purpose of Internship Program

The primary purpose of the Office of Policy internship program is to give students an opportunity to learn about federal programs, public policy, and regulatory and governmental practices first-hand.  We do work with interns to help them earn educational credits, if available through their educational institution.  By the end of the internship, each student should have the skills and knowledge necessary to allow her or him to make a significant contribution to public health.

How To Apply For An Internship

The FDA Office of Policy Internship program is temporarily suspended until further notice.

We have not made a decision at this time if we will be interviewing or onboarding interns for the Fall 2021 session.

We will post an updated status when available.

Thank you for your interest.

To apply for an internship, you must submit:

A current resume and cover letter through email at FDA.Policy.Internships@fda.hhs.gov.
	Expected date of graduation.
	The names of three references including name, title, relationship to applicant, telephone number, and email address of each reference.If you do not submit a current resume, expected date of graduation, cover letter, and reference information, you will not be considered.

Minimum Intern Qualifications

Before the first day of an internship, if selected, an intern must:

Be a current undergraduate or graduate student attending a college or university or have recently graduated (within three months) of the start of the internship.
	Have completed at least two years (four full semesters) of college/university education.
	Be at least 18 years of age.Interview Process

The Office of Policy has a limited number of internships and often receives a significant number of resumes.  We are unable to interview all applicants.
	Applicants who submit the above required documents and meet the minimum qualifications will be considered for an interview; we will notify an applicant if s/he is selected for an interview.
	All interviews are conducted only by phone.
	We may ask for additional information/documentation before or after the interview.Selection Process

As a general matter, the Office of Policy interviews potential interns three times a year:

**Summer Internships**
	We interview usually in January or February of each year and expect applications by the end of the previous calendar year in December.
	**Fall Internships**
	We interview usually in May or June of each year and expect applications by the end of April.
	**Spring Internships**
	We interview usually in September or October of each year and expect applications by the end of August.If an internship is desired for a different time frame, we will consider those on a case-by-case, and on a very limited, basis.

Interns will be selected for an internship based on the application, interview, and demonstrated interest in public service. The documents and factors considered may include:

Resume.
	Cover Letter.
	Academic excellence.
	Reference recommendation.
	Demonstrated interest in and knowledge of government, policy, and current events.
	Evidence of the skills needed to work with the FDA Office of Policy.
	Personal and professional maturity.
	The candidate’s potential contribution to the Office of Policy and FDA.
	The anticipated benefits for the candidate.Upon acceptance, candidates must consent to the following:

Undergoing security clearance review prior to the anticipated start date, including fingerprinting and background checks
	Potential random drug testIf the security clearance and background check reveal information that requires cancellation of the offer of an internship, this will be conveyed to the candidate prior to the anticipated start date.

All security measures are confidential and intended to protect the applicant as well as FDA.

                                                                                  Content current as of:
      01/21/2022Office of Policy Internships
 
 Footer Links
    FDA Archive
          About FDA
          Accessibility
      Visitor Information
          Website Policies / Privacy
          No FEAR Act
          Vulnerability Disclosure Policy
      FOIA
          HHS.gov
          USA.gov
    Contact FDA
      Follow FDA on Facebook
      Follow FDA on X
      Follow FDA on Instagram
      Follow FDA on LinkedIn
      View FDA videos on YouTube
      Subscribe to FDA RSS feeds
    FDA Homepage
    Contact Number
      1-888-INFO-FDA (1-888-463-6332) Back toTop