Why are psychology interns called “residents”?
Answer 2 The UW Psychology Internship Program changed the official title from “Psychology Interns” to “Psychology Residents” on 03/01/99. Within medical settings, the title of “Intern” traditionally refers to a junior trainee who recently received his/her M.D. and is beginning their specialized training, whereas the title of “Resident” traditionally refers to a more advanced trainee. Given that the majority of the rotations take place in medical settings, the title change was instituted to reflect the level of training and experience the psychology residents bring to the various rotation sites.
