National Council for Preservation Education - Internship Program

The National Council for Preservation Education (N C P E) offers paid internships in partnership with the U.S. National Park Service (NPS). Interns work at NPS sites - National Parks, National Monuments, National Historic Sites, and more - and at other Federal agencies that protect cultural properties and manage public lands across the United States.

Eligible applicants must be college students or recent graduates (within the past 12 months), U.S. citizens or permanent residents, 30 years of age or younger (or 35 if a veteran), with a GPA of 3.2 or higher.

Guidance and supervision are provided by an NPS staff person who is an expert in their respective field. Interns report directly to their supervisor, receiving regular feedback and evaluation of their performance during and after the internship. Mentorship and the opportunity to connect with other NPS professionals are features of this program. NCPE’s goal is to offer work experience, career exploration, professional development, and networking opportunities to undergraduate and graduate students and recent alumni.

Apply now for an Academic Year ‘26 internship! These positions begin in early 2026 and may continue into the summer, depending on the specific internship's duration. Students are encouraged to apply if they have coursework and/or experience with museums, cataloging, and collections management; historic preservation and cultural resource management; architecture and landscape architecture; GIS and geography; library science and archives; media studies and communication; archeology and anthropology; tribal and ethnographic studies; history (American, Indigenous peoples, African American, Chicano, other); computer science and GIS; and allied fields.

https://preservenet.org/ncpe-internships/ The website lists a dozen paid internship positions; others may be added. Each entry describes the work and qualifications, location, whether the position is remote, in-person, or hybrid, and if it includes a transportation stipend and/or housing allowance.

After completing a Universal Application that includes attaching your transcripts and a resume/CV, you finish the application process by submitting a brief essay specific to a particular position. There is no limit on how many positions you may apply for.