Smithsonian Internships - During Your Internship

You cannot be awarded an internship appointment without a background investigation. Interns are required to submit Office of Personnel Management Form 306 and are subject to a pre-appointment security investigation and fingerprinting through the Smithsonian’s Office of Protection Services. You may be interviewed by an investigator during this process. You will not be able to begin your internship until this process is successfully completed. Contact your Supervisor or Internship Coordinator for details.

This affects ALL Smithsonian Interns—U.S. Citizens or International—who:

Remain in-residence for 6 weeks or longer
Receive a Smithsonian ID Badge (ID Badges are not issued for less than 6 weeks.)
Meet the 18 years or older specifications (i.e. Minors are excepted)

Please take time to read through the Orientation Guide for Smithsonian Interns.

Before you begin, contact your Supervisor or Internship Coordinator. They will provide you with Internship Registration materials, and appropriate forms to make your transition to the Smithsonian. (You may receive the materials from your Program at the start of your internship.)

It is extremely important that you and your Supervisor fill out the Intern Registration forms and submit them to your Intern Coordinator or SCEMS. Failure to do so results in non-liability coverage and no record of your internship, or cancellation of your appointment. Your Program may require other specific forms. Check with your Coordinator or Supervisor. The SI-wide required forms are:

Intern Registration Form—includes Copyright Agreement & Photographic Release
http://siofg.si.edu/InternshipCouncil/
InternForms/InternRegistration.doc

Parental Consent to Treatment (for minors)
http://siofg.si.edu/InternshipCouncil/
InternForms/InternUnder18form.doc

Background Survey Form
http://siofg.si.edu/InternshipCouncil/
InternForms/Intern Background Survey Questionnaire.doc

Equal Opportunity: Rights and Responsibilities
Please read the Equal Opportunity: Rights and Responsibilities document.
Complete and return the acknowledgement form contained in the packet to your Coordinator or Supervisor.

If you do not receive any materials or forms, or have questions, send an e-mail to interninfo@si.edu, subject line: Intern Registration.

If you will be at a Smithsonian facility for more than 6 weeks, you will need to get a Smithsonian photo ID.

Your first badge is free.

Your Supervisor or Internship Coordinator will provide you with the appropriate form and instructions. You will not receive an ID until your investigation and fingerprinting are completed.

ID Forms for interns must have the appropriate signature from SCEMS in order to be valid.

SCEMS will not issue ID forms directly to Interns—you must go through your Internship Coordinator (or Supervisor) for the request.

If you do not receive a form after beginning your internship, or have a question, send an e-mail to interninfo@si.edu, subject line: Intern Credentials.

If you lose your ID Badge, check with your building’s Security Office.

Then, notify your Internship Coordinator (or Supervisor) to have a new badge form issued from SCEMS.

The cost to you is $5 to replace an ID at the ID Office.

SCEMS will not issue ID forms directly to Interns—you must go through your Internship Coordinator (or Supervisor) to get the proper form.

If you and your Supervisor agree to extend your internship appointment, notify your Intern Coordinator.

Your Intern Coordinator (or Supervisor) will notify SCEMS to make adjustments to your official paperwork, and issue you an ID badge extension form (if necessary).

IMPORTANT: At the end of your internship, you MUST turn in your ID Badge to the ID Office (or the location where your ID badge was issued).

You CANNOT keep your ID Badge as a “souvenir”.

Please do this to ensure that future interns can enjoy the benefits and privileges of Smithsonian IDs (discounts, ease of passage, etc…).

Please note that some links on this page are accessible only from within the SI network. You will have access to this information once your internship begins.