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Part of Municipal Internship Program

Host a municipal intern

Develop and train new professionals in your municipality or planning agency by participating in the Municipal Internship Program.

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Municipal Internship Program

Applications to host an intern in 2026 are now closed. Instructions on how to apply will be posted once the 2027 intake period opens.

Overview

The Municipal Internship Program is Canada’s longest running program of its kind. It provides support to municipalities and planning service agencies to build capacity in the municipal sector by developing recent post-secondary graduates to become future leaders in municipal government.

Through hands-on, real life work experience, professional development and mentoring over an 18-month period, interns receive a solid foundation for careers in municipal administration, finance or land use planning. Since the Municipal Internship Program was reintroduced in 2002, almost 400 interns and over 100 municipalities have participated. More than two-thirds of these program alumni continue to work in Alberta’s municipal sector and in other public sector careers.

Funding and support

We provide funding to municipalities and planning service agencies to recruit, train and develop new and recent graduates as municipal interns who may pursue careers in municipal administration, finance or land-use planning.

Host organizations are supported by a grant from the Alberta Community Partnership program to assist with the costs of hosting an intern. For the 2026 Municipal Internship Program, the funding for each host municipality is $62,500, which is allocated as follows:

  • $55,000 for intern compensation (salary, benefits and payroll deductions)
  • $7,000 for expenses which includes recruitment, relocation, professional development, safety equipment, association membership fees, electronic equipment and travel costs for supervisors to attend in-person internship workshops.

Read the Alberta Community Partnership Program Guidelines for details on applying for the grant.
Municipalities are expected to financially contribute to the cost of hosting an intern through top-ups to intern compensation and/or contributions to expenses for the intern.

In addition to funding, we provide extensive recruitment, training, coaching and mentorship support to interns and supervisors.

Benefits of hosting an intern

Interns bring knowledge, skills, and enthusiasm that build capacity and rejuvenate the municipal government sector. Interns bring numerous benefits to a municipality, including:

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Fresh perspectives

Bring new ideas and creative problem-solving.

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Future ambassadors

Help promote careers in municipal government.

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Strong skills

Offer valuable skills in communication, technology and research.

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Driven to contribute

Bring energy, initiative and a strong desire to grow in the field.

Program streams

The Municipal Internship Program offers 3 stream options to match different interests and areas of study.

  • Administrator

    What this stream offers 

    This stream of the program offers interns a wide range of experiences in municipal policy, management and operations, along with professional development opportunities, over an 18-month period. The goal is to gain knowledge and understanding of multiple areas of municipal administration that can be built upon as the intern’s career progresses beyond the internship. 

    What interns will do 

    Interns in the Administrator stream will rotate through the departments in their host municipality, learning key aspects of the work carried out in each area and how that work supports the municipality overall. 

    Responsibilities and activities in this role include, but are not limited to: 

    • conducting research on issues and topics in support of bylaws, policies, and other projects 
    • developing requests for decision packages and present to council and/or committees 
    • developing and reviewing bylaws and policies 
    • supporting public engagement initiatives and the municipality’s communication with the community and stakeholders 
    • participating in management team and stakeholder meetings 

  • Finance Officer

    What this stream offers

    This stream of the program offers participants hands-on, intensive learning in municipal finance and accounting, along with professional development opportunities and a general understanding of municipal government. The goal is to provide a strong foundation in municipal finance while also providing exposure to key departments within the municipality during an 18-month period.

    Graduates looking to obtain their Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) designation are welcome to apply. Host municipalities can offer experience and support for education modules to help interns progress towards their CPA designation. For more information on how your internship experience can help you build foundational knowledge and practical skills toward your CPA designation, visit CPA Alberta.

    What interns will do

    Finance officer interns work primarily in the finance department, with the goal of learning key aspects of the finance department and how finance interacts with the rest of the municipality.  Interns will also have the opportunity to experience other areas of the municipality to understand the financial priorities and requirements of these departments.

    Responsibilities and activities in this role include, but are not limited to:

    • budget forecast and participate in discussions with council and management
    • preparing payroll
    • processing accounts payable and accounts receivable
    • producing financial reports
    • preparing financial records for audit and for borrowing
    • leading and supporting implementation of asset management systems and practices
    • supporting procurement initiatives

  • Land Use Planner

    What this stream offers 

    This stream of the program offers participants with a specific interest in land use planning the opportunity to gain a variety of planning experiences and professional development over an 18-month period. The goal is to provide a strong foundation in both current and long-range planning. Interns in this stream will focus on building skills and knowledge in planning and development. 

    Interns may pursue their Registered Professional Planner designation during their internship. Host organizations may be required to offer work and responsibilities to meet the logbook requirements for the Professional Standards Boards for the Planning Profession in Canada. For more information on how the Municipal Internship Program can support you to get foundational knowledge and experience towards your RPP designation, visit the APPI website.

    What interns will do 

    Land use planner interns work primarily in the planning department, with the goal of learning key aspects of planning and development, and how planning interacts with the rest of the municipality. Planning interns will gain experience through involvement in a variety of planning projects in their host organization. 

    Interns in this stream focus on developing competency as a land use planner, becoming familiar with other key departments and functional areas in the municipality, participating in a wide variety of tasks and projects, and exploring potential areas of specialization in the planning field. 

    Responsibilities and activities in this role can include, but are not limited to: 

    • participating in reviews and amendments to the municipality's land use bylaw 
    • reviewing existing or develop new statutory plans including municipal development plans and area structure plans 
    • reviewing development and/or subdivision applications 
    • planning and conducting community consultations or engagements for development proposals 
    • participating in subdivision and development appeal board hearings 
    • implementing stop orders and other compliance mechanisms 

Eligibility

Municipalities and planning services agencies interested in hosting an intern should consider the following before applying to host an intern.

General eligibility requirements for all streams

  • Organizational capacity

    • Ensure your organization can train an intern in all areas, including those listed in the Intern Workplan. More details about your commitment to support interns are provided in the accordion below.
    • You may partner with a neighbouring organization to meet training requirements.

  • Commitment to support

    • Be prepared to commit time and resources (funding and staff) to support an intern.
    • Help the intern pursue a career in local government.

  • Supervision requirements

    • Senior management must have professional, supervisory and mentoring skills.
    • A qualified alternate supervisor must be available if the primary supervisor is unavailable (for example: vacation or departure).

  • Council and administration support

    • Full support from both council and administration is required to host an intern.

  • Intern hiring restrictions

    • Host municipalities and planning service agencies cannot hire existing or recent employees as interns.
    • Exceptions include:
      • Summer students
      • Casual employees (call-in basis or irregular hours)
      • Co-op students
    • All intern candidates, including those under exceptions, must submit an application package and be shortlisted to be eligible.

Stream-specific eligibility

  • Administrator

    • The municipality has a population between 700 and 75,000.
    • There is an ability to provide training in a wide range of municipal functions.
    • The CAO or a senior manager agrees to serve as the intern supervisor for the duration of the program.

  • Finance Officer

    • The municipality has a population between 2,500 and 125,000.
    • There is an ability to provide in-depth training in municipal finance and exposure to other departments within the municipality.
    • A senior level finance officer (if possible, someone with CPA accreditation) agrees to serve as the intern supervisor for the duration of the program.

  • Land Use Planner

    • The municipality has a population between 5,000 and 125,000.
    • The host has a planning department that undertakes in-house the full range of planning services outlined in the Intern Workplan or partners with a neighbouring municipality to be able to do so.
    • A senior planner agrees to serve as the intern supervisor for the duration for the program.
    • The intern has access to a planner with an RPP designation to be able to sign off the intern’s Logbook requirements for accreditation.
    • A strong relationship exists between the administration and planning department and there is strong commitment from CAO or Director, council, board, and management team to host an intern.

Municipal partnerships and co-hosts

Municipalities can partner with one or more other municipalities to host an intern, either formally or informally.

  • Formal partnerships

    In a formal partnership, the municipalities indicate which municipality will be the Managing Partner for the internship. The Managing Partner:

    • must have a population that falls within the population range specified for the program
    • will be responsible for all administrative requirements of the program and ensuring the intern completes the Internship Workplan
    • submits the grant application on behalf of the partnering municipalities – the application should clearly outline what role each of the municipalities would play in hosting an intern

  • Informal partnerships

    Informal partnerships are also a valuable arrangement for interns. If your municipality is selected to host an intern, you are encouraged to make arrangements for your intern to spend time in other municipalities to gain a broader understanding of local government. 

    You do not need to submit a joint proposal with another municipality for an informal partnership. However, your plans could be outlined in your application.

How to apply

Applications to host an intern in 2026 are now closed.  
Instructions on how to apply will be posted once the 2027 intake period opens.

Host recruitment timeline 

Dates are subject to change. Check back often for the latest schedule

  • Applications open

    The 2026 Municipal Internship Program host application begins. 

    January 2026
  • Application deadline

    Submit your application by 12 am (MST). Late submissions will not be accepted.

    February 17, 2026
  • Initial screening

    Program staff review applications. If eligible, your application is forwarded to selected host municipalities.

    Feb 18–27, 2026

Roles and responsibilities

Hosting an intern is a significant commitment requiring municipal finance and staff resources, time, and a focus on learning and development. The program is not considered a temporary employment opportunity, rather it is an opportunity to help build the administrative capacity of local governments in Alberta. 

Municipalities and planning services agencies have 4 main responsibilities in fulfilling their role as a host.

  • Appreciation

    The focus of the program is for the intern to gain an understanding and appreciation of municipal government and, depending on the stream of the program, the roles and responsibilities related to the chief administrative officer, finance officer, or planner. 

    Interns are also expected to learn about the relationship between the different departments and functions of the municipality and how each contributes to the municipality as a whole. 

    Interns are not expected to become experts in any one area of municipal administration, finance, or planning during their internship. Therefore, interns rotate to various functional areas in the organization to help develop a broad understanding of municipal government.

  • Workplan

    The internship workplan is designed to help plan and guide an intern’s activities and professional development.

    A detailed, customizable workplan document will be provided to the host organizations selected to participate in the program. Host organizations will need to complete this workplan and submit it to the Municipal Internship Program.

  • Experiential learning

    Interns appreciate and benefit from hands-on work opportunities participating in projects, and contributing their skills to assist their host organizations to achieve priorities and meet community needs. 

    When determining the intern’s activities, it is important to remember that while taking part in specific hands-on activities is an effective method of teaching the intern the 'what' and 'how' of municipal operations. It is also essential interns have the opportunity to learn why things are done and the impact of them on the organization as a whole. 

    Having time to reflect on experiences through conversations with the supervisor, other staff members, and mentors is as important as the work experiences.

  • Professional development

    Interns should be coached and mentored in areas such as building competencies, networking, and career development. They should be encouraged to pursue learning and development in areas of interest that would also benefit the municipality. 

    Learning and development opportunities can help build capacity and develop networks. Interns are required to attend a minimum of either the Alberta Municipalities convention or the Rural Municipalities of Alberta convention, one other professional or municipal association conference, and one education course or workshop.

Contact

Connect with the Municipal Internship Program:

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