Georgia County Internship Program Frequently Asked Questions for Students

What is the Georgia County Internship Program?

The Georgia County Internship Program (GCIP) offers first-hand internship experiences in county government to high school, undergraduate and graduate level college students, and recent college graduates. Funding for these internships is provided through the ACCG Civic Affairs Foundation.

Who is eligible to participate?

The program is open to undergraduate and graduate students, recent college graduates (within one year of graduation), and high school students dually enrolled in a college program who are 16 years of age or older.

When are internships available?

GCIP is a summer internship program. Internships must be completed between May 1 and September 1.

Where can I find internships?

Positions are posted in February on this website, but also may be posted on participating county websites, job recruitment platforms (Indeed, Glassdoor), college internship platforms (Handshake, Simplicity), etc.

How do I apply for an internship?

Instructions for each individual county internship are included on this website. Applications need to be made directly to the county that is hosting the internship. Most counties require applications be submitted to their Human Resources Department, but others may require applications to be submitted directly to the department hiring the intern.

Are GCIP internships paid?

Yes. GCIP interns are paid a minimum of $15/hr. Depending on the county and the department, hourly rates typically range from $15/hr.-$20/hr. The Foundation provides counties with grant funding to cover a $15/hr. internship, but counties can choose to supplement the hourly rate.

Can I receive academic credit for my internship?

Yes, if it meets the requirements for your school. All academic credit requirements should be discussed with the county hosting your internship and your school.

How long is the internship?

GCIP pays for a 200-hour internship. The daily/ weekly hours are determined by the student and participating county. Counties may extend the internship beyond the 200 hours provided through the GCIP grant, but this varies by position.

Do I have to live in the county where the internship is being provided?

No.

What type of majors are eligible to participate in GCIP?

All majors. Counties may specify the types of majors/skills they need for a particular project, but there are a wide variety of internships available. Popular majors include communications/public relations/marketing, accounting/finance/business, law, public administration/policy, criminal justice, human resources, parks and recreation, engineering, planning, GIS, IT, and health. Counties have had previous projects for which they used diverse majors such as art, archaeology, sociology, and forensics as well.

What if I want to intern for a county that is not listed on your website?

GCIP funds approximately 40 grants per year, covering 25-30 counties. Not every county that applies receives a grant for our program. If you want to work for a specific county that is not listed, we suggest checking the human resources website for that county to see if they have any internships being offered.