Graduate Trainee Stipend Program
The Graduate Trainee Stipend Program financially supports master's-level students during their advanced practicum or internship experiences that serve rural, public sector, or justice-involved communities. To be eligible to apply, students must have confirmed practicum or internship experiences, be in good academic standing, and intend to practice in Nebraska after graduation.
Student Eligibility Requirements
Students must meet the following four requirements to be eligible:
Master’s-level students must be enrolled in one of the following programs:
- Bellevue University MS Clinical Mental Health
- Chadron State College MAE Clinical Mental Health Counseling
- Crown College MA in Counseling
- Doane MA in Counseling w/a specialty in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
- Nebraska Wesleyan University Master of Social Work
- UNK MS Clinical Mental Health Counseling
- UNL MA Counseling Psychology - Community Counseling Track
- UNL MS Marriage & Family Therapy
- UNMC MS Applied Behavior Analysis
- UNO Grace Abbott School of Social Work Master of Social Work
- UNO MS Applied Behavior Analysis
- UNO MS in Counseling with a Concentration in CMHC
- Wayne State College MSE Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Many academic programs require students to complete a practicum, internship, or similar hands-on training as part of their coursework. The GTSP is designed to support students during their final required training experience before graduation, whether referred to as a practicum (for social work students) or an internship (for others). This final placement typically occurs in the last semester(s) and involves a higher number of required hours—often 500 or more. To participate, students should apply in the semester before they begin their final experience. For example, if a student starts their internship in the fall, they should apply in the summer. If you have any questions about when to apply, please reach out to your academic advisor for guidance.
Students are responsible for developing their practicum or internship experience and ensuring the experience is confirmed before applying for this program. Eligible sites and experiences must serve one or more of the following populations in Nebraska.
Rural Workforce Shortage Areas
Experiences in this category should be in or serving communities in rural mental health professional shortage areas.
Public sector
Experiences in this category should be at the following facility types:
- Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics
- Community Mental Health Centers
- Federally Qualified Health Centers
- Nonprofit Social Services Agencies
- Veterans Affairs Clinics
Justice-Involved
Experiences in this category must be at one of the following facilities types:
To align with BHECN’s mission, students applying to this program must intend to practice in Nebraska after graduating from their academic program.
Payments
Students accepted into this program will receive $15,000 over the length of their experience. The $15,000 payment will be divided equally based on the amount of months your experience lasts and will be deposited into your account on a monthly basis over the course of your experience. Please see FAQ below for important information about the tax implications of this program.
Supervisors of students may be eligible for a $5,000 payment upon the completion of the student's experience. This payment is allocated per student to support the supervisor(s). If a student completes their practicum or internship at multiple locations or has more than one supervisor, the $5,000 will be divided between the supervisors accordingly. Supervisors will receive their payment once the student's experience is completed and after submitting a brief survey to confirm the completion of the experience. Please see FAQ below for important information about the tax implications of this payment.
Applying for the Program
Applications for this program are accepted three times a year. Applications submitted outside of the designated application cycle will not be considered. Students should apply for this program during the academic term immediately preceding the term in which they will begin their final practicum or internship experience. Students currently enrolled in practicum or internship courses who have already started completing hours are not eligible to apply.
Application Periods:
March 10 - April 10 (For experiences starting in the Summer)
June 10 - July 10 (For experiences starting in the Fall)
October 10 - November 10 (For experiences starting in the Spring)
Interested students are encouraged to review the Application Questions Guide before applying.
Access the application and FAQs
Click here to access the application.
Read answers to some frequently asked questions about the Graduate Trainee Stipend Program below.
Your payments are considered taxable income and are not subjected to automatic tax withholding, meaning no taxes will be deducted from your payment. For a U.S. taxpayer student, if the total payments equal or exceed $600 in a calendar year, they will be reported as 1099-NEC income to both you and the IRS. You will receive the 1099-NEC form at the end of the year for tax reporting purposes. This income is classified as payment for services performed as an independent contractor, not as an employee. We recommend consulting a tax professional to understand the potential impact on your tax return and financial aid status. Please note that BHECN cannot provide tax advice.