WA State DOH Paid Internship Program (Summer 2025)

Applications must be received by February 16, 2025, we will begin application review on February 17.

The Washington State Department of Health’s (DOH) Paid Summer 2025 Internship Program is open to all qualified Washington college and university students as a learning and professional development opportunity to support your career growth!

The Summer Internship Program is offered through DOH’s Workforce Pathways Program. The Workforce Pathways Program is an intentional investment to establish, expand, train, and sustain a public health workforce to meet current and future workforce needs.

The Summer Internship Program is offered through DOH’s Workforce Pathways Program (WFP). The Workforce Pathways Program is an intentional investment to establish, expand, train, and sustain a public health workforce that can respond to the needs of communities disproportionally impacted by social determinants of health and health inequities. In doing so, the WFP Program supports agency efforts towards building a diverse workforce reflective of all lived and professional experiences, cultures, ethnicities, languages, abilities, and geographic regions across the state of Washington. 

Our Summer Internship Program is designed for currently enrolled post-secondary students to apply their classroom knowledge to applied, professional, on-the-job learning experience.  DOH’s summer interns have opportunities to gain experience and exposure to a wide range of activities and programs at DOH.  Selected interns may have opportunities to work on projects with one or more of DOH’s many offices and divisions. 

Depending upon the intern’s interests and experience, and the needs of the agency, this may include supporting data analysis and evaluation; conducting research; creating public health education and promotion campaigns; supporting new public health program development; supporting community engagement efforts and activities; supporting DOH epidemiologists and other public health subject matter experts; leveraging new tools for public health informatics, innovation, and technology; supporting the broad activities in DOH’s prevention, health, and safety division; working on environmental public health and climate and health related programs activities; supporting DOH’s IT, HR, and fiscal teams; engaging in strategic planning, project management, or other administrative or programmatic roles; and much more. 

Intern applicants selected for an interview will have an opportunity to share what types of work, across DOH’s many divisions, would be of greatest interest to you. In our summer internship program, we will try to assign interns to teams and projects that are a good fit in terms of the intern’s areas of interest and level of professional and educational experience. 

Summer interns will be part of a cohort of 15 student interns and have opportunities to build a professional network with fellow interns and DOH staff across the agency.  Opportunities for collaboration and learning will be a key part of the intern experience.

Participation in the Pathway Program internship is contingent upon the availability of federal funding. The Washington State Department of Health reserves the right to modify, suspend, or cancel the internship program at any time due to changes in funding allocations or other unforeseen circumstances. Selection for the internship does not guarantee placement if funding becomes unavailable.

Work Setting and Paid Internship Duration

For the 10-week summer internship experience, we offer a remote work schedule (with some potential in-person internship opportunities at the state Public Health Lab in Shoreline, WA). We look forward to your contributions to our team!

The DOH Summer 2025 Internship Program runs from June 16, 2025, to August 22, 2025. The anticipated 35-hour-per-week schedule will generally be 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday, or a modified schedule as approved by each intern’s supervisor.  Interns are not authorized to work holidays or overtime. In Summer 2025, the interns will not work or be paid on Thursday, June 19, 2025, Juneteenth, or Friday, July 4, 2025, Independence Day. As an intern you will not be eligible for any medical or retirement benefits.

We invite you to visualize doing meaningful work as part of our team and making a difference in the communities we serve in the state of Washington! 

Who Should Apply for the Paid Summer Internship Program

We encourage you to apply if you are currently enrolled student in good standing in a post-secondary college, university, or specialized technical or trade school in Washington State with evidence of continued good standing for the upcoming academic year, and full-time (35 hours/per week) availability during the summer. Students graduating in or prior to Spring 2025 are not eligible.

• Ability to provide accurate and clear communication, both written and verbal.
• Strong organizational and collaboration skills with the ability to multi-task and meet established deadlines.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, critical, and innovative thinking skills
• Ability to work well independently in a fast-paced team environment.
• Good judgment, discretion, and ability to manage sensitive situations.
• Networking/relationship-building skills.
• Willingness to learn new programs and engage with others.
• Ability to work cross-functionally, as an enthusiastic, reliable, self-starter.
• Interest in learning about the functions of a state governmental public health agency.
• Commitment to serving the public, in a state agency serving all people in Washington State.

• Commitment to serving the public, particularly underserved and under-resourced communities, and advancing the intersection of equity and racial justice in public health.

What Opportunities will be Offered to Summer Interns?

We are looking for students who are team-focused, flexible, and eager to learn and apply their developing skill sets in a state public health agency. 

Interns will receive training and professional development opportunities and will be assigned productive tasks, projects, and assignments that promote learning and professional development.

To learn more about the internship opportunities click here to view the WA DOH Summer 2025 Paid Internship Program flyer. Students may also learn more on the DOH Student Engagement webpage.

Required Qualifications 

Application Process 

Click "Apply" to submit your detailed application profile along with the following: 

1. A cover letter. In your cover letter, we encourage you to reflect upon why you are interested in an internship opportunity with our state public health department and how it might help to advance your professional development and career goals. You may wish to review DOH’s Transformational Plan and DOH’s cornerstone values which are central to all that we do. These may inform your reflections about your interest in an internship opportunity with DOH.
2. Your current resume. In addition to any current or past work and volunteer experience, and your academic/educational studies, students are encouraged to include reference to any project-based learning that might be relevant (such as capstone or practicum projects), as well as any community service experience or student leadership experience.

1. Documentation showing current enrollment in good standing at an accredited post-secondary college, university, or specialized technical or trade school in Washington State. Acceptable types of documentation include a current transcript or a letter from an academic or career advisor from your institution stating that you are a student in good academic standing.  Enrollment in your educational program is not required for the summer term.  However, students need to continue their enrollment in Autumn 2025 term to be eligible for the Summer 2025 intern cohort. Students graduating prior to or in Spring 2025 are not eligible. Students may be at the associate degree, Undergraduate degree, master’s degree, or Doctoral degree level of study.
2. Three references with current contact information.  References may include faculty or staff members from your current or past academic studies; professionals who have supervised your past or current work or volunteer experience; or other individuals familiar with your work, academic studies, volunteer, or leadership experience, and/or career interests.

Attachments: ONLY attach documents that have been requested. Please ensure that any documents that are attached do not include photos and that private information has been redacted (private information includes social security number, date of birth, etc.). 

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion  

We regard diversity as the foundation of our strength, recognizing that differing insights and abilities enable us to reflect the unique needs of the communities we serve.  

DOH is an equal opportunity employer. We prohibit discrimination based on race/ethnicity/color, creed, sex, pregnancy, age, religion, national origin, marital status, the presence or perception of a disability, veteran’s status, military status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender expression, or gender identity. 

If you have questions, need accommodation in the application or selection process, or need information in an alternative format, contact Growth@doh.wa.gov . For persons with disabilities, this document is available in other formats, please call 800-525-0127 (TDD/TTY 711) or email doh.information@doh.wa.gov. NEOGOV provides technical support at 1-855-524-5627 (can't log in, password or email issues, error messages). 

Summer interns are NOT benefit-eligible.

Only applicants who follow the directions and complete the Application Process in full will have their responses reviewed for consideration. 

Experience and education selected, listed, and detailed in the Supplemental Questions must be verifiable on the submitted applicant profile or attachments.

Salary : $17 - $23