Get paid work experience through VA’s National Diversity Internship Program

Take a look inside a career at VA – and get paid to do it. If you’re a student interested in working at VA, or just looking for some real-world experience, consider our National Diversity Internship Program (NDIP).

This paid internship program lets undergraduate and graduate students from diverse backgrounds and cultures explore career options at VA. While you gain valuable work experience, you’ll be helping us with our ongoing mission of serving Veterans.

Program components

When you enter the NDIP, we’ll assess your career interests and skills, knowledge and abilities. We’ll then place you at one of our onsite mentoring facilities. Your tasks will include project assignments, seminars, workshops, training sessions and field trips.

NDIP sessions run year-round, beginning with a spring session from January to May, followed by a summer session from June through August, and a fall session from September through December. Spring and fall sessions run for 15 weeks, while the summer session lasts 10 weeks.

During that time, you’ll receive biweekly stipend payments, which vary and are based on education level. You may also be eligible for transportation to the facility or housing at the internship location.

Fields of study

While we are dedicated to providing medical care, there are countless other specialties within VA that help keep our mission on track, Students with a variety of career interests are welcome to participate in the NDIP. Internships may be available in:

• Clinical/medical specialties
• Communications
• Contracting
• Finance/business
• Human resources
• Human services
• Information technology
• Law

 Eligibility

To be considered for the NDIP, you must first and foremost be a U.S. citizen, or defined as a lawful permanent resident or one who is otherwise legally eligible to work in the United States.

You must be an undergraduate or graduate student currently enrolled in a degree-seeking program at an accredited post-secondary institution. Eligible institutions include, but are not limited to, those that traditionally serve minorities, including Black, Hispanic, Asian American Pacific Islander and Tribal colleges and universities, as well as disability communities.

You may be full-time or part-time but must be currently in good academic standing. Students who are Veterans are also encouraged to apply.

If you’re interested in participating in the NDIP, you must apply directly to the approved participating vendors:

• Wire 2 Net
• AKYTECH Consulting
• Business Staffing of America
• HN Consulting
• VARCOM

 Work at VA

We have a longstanding commitment to building a staff that reflects the diversity of our patients. Apply for the NDIP and see what makes VA special.

• READ more about the NDIP.
• DISCOVER our unique mission of Veteran care.
• LEARN about our commitment to diversity.
• EXPLORE more opportunities for students.