Municipal Internship Program – Apply to be an intern

The intention of the program is to provide an opportunity for recent post-secondary graduates to enter employment in municipal government.

To be eligible to apply to the 2026 Municipal Internship Program in the Administrator stream you must:

• have finished or will finish an eligible program of 60 or more credits between January 1, 2024, and April 30, 2026
• be legally eligible to work in Canada
• not be employed as a permanent staff member of an Alberta municipality

The Administrator stream accepts graduates from disciplines that support policy development, governance, community development, economic development, and communications.

Eligible programs:

• agriculture
• architecture
• arts and social sciences (for example: anthropology, archeology, economics, political science, psychology, sociology)
• arts and sciences
• business administration or management
• commerce, human resources, marketing
• communications
• environment and sustainability
• finance and accounting
• geographic information systems (GIS)
• land use planning (for example: planning, urban studies, geography, urban land economics, community design)
• paralegal and justice studies
• public administration, public policy, public service
• social work
   

Ineligible programs:

• biological sciences, mathematical sciences, physical sciences (for example: chemistry, physics), kinesiology
• data management
• education
• engineering
• entrepreneurship, operations and supply chain management
• health
• information technology, computer sciences (programming, security)

Note: The program list is comprehensive, but not exhaustive. If your program is not listed above, email us to verify your eligibility prior to applying.

The intention of the program is to provide an opportunity for recent post-secondary graduates to enter employment in municipal government.

To be eligible to apply to the 2026 Municipal Internship Program in the Finance officer stream you must:

• have finished or will finish an eligible program of 60 or more credits between January 1, 2024, and April 30, 2026
• be legally eligible to work in Canada
• not be employed as a permanent staff member of an Alberta municipality

The Finance Officer stream accepts graduates of finance or accounting programs with either a major in accounting or finance, or a business-related program with a minor in accounting or finance.

The intention of the program is to provide an opportunity for recent post-secondary graduates to enter employment in municipal government.
To be eligible to apply to the 2026 Municipal Internship Program in the Land Use Planning stream you must:

• have finished or will finish an eligible program of 60 or more credits between January 1, 2024, and April 30, 2026
• be legally eligible to work in Canada
• not be employed as a permanent staff member of an Alberta municipality

The Land Use Planning stream accepts graduates from disciplines that support land use planning, environmental design, urban and regional planning, geography, and related fields focused on the development of communities.

Eligible programs:

• Canadian Institute of Planners Accredited Land Use Planning degree
• Environmental Science and Technology (Land and Water Resources) diploma (60 credits or more) from Olds College
• GIS and Urban Planning diploma from Fanshawe College (60 credits or more)
• Land Use Planning-Related degree with 2 or more senior-level classes (third year, fourth year or graduate level) in:
  • environmental planning
  • GIS
  • planning law
  • planning theory
  • transportation planning
  • urban design
  • urban or regional planning
  • other foundational land use planning courses may be considered
• Urban and Regional Planning Technician-Geographic Information Systems degree (60 credits or more) from Mohawk College

Note: The program list is comprehensive, but not exhaustive. If your planning program is not listed, email us to verify your eligibility prior to applying.

1. Completed most-recent program before January 1, 2024.

You are not eligible to apply. The Municipal Internship Program is designed for new and recent post-secondary graduates to gain experience and training in municipal government.

2. Completed or will complete the course work for a program with 60 or more credits between January 1, 2024, and April 30, 2026.

You are eligible to apply. The completion date is the date when you have finished all of your exams and coursework, not your convocation date.

3. Completing course work for the program after April 30, 2026.

You are not eligible to apply if you still have outstanding exams and coursework to complete on or after April 30, 2026.

1. Completed or will complete a program with fewer than 60 credits between January 1, 2024, and April 30, 2026.

You are not eligible to apply. If you completed a program with more than 60 credits between January 1, 2024, and April 30, 2026, in addition to the program with fewer than 60 credits, then you are eligible to apply.

2. Completed or will complete a professional designation (for example, Chartered Professional Accountant or CPA) between January 1, 2024, and April 30, 2026.

You are not eligible to apply. If you completed a program with 60 or more credits between January 1, 2024, and April 30, 2026, in addition to the professional designation, then you are eligible to apply.

3. Completed a program with 60 or more credits outside of Canada.

You are eligible to apply. We recommend that your program be reviewed by International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS) to assess and compare educational credentials to educational standards in Canada.

4. Need to complete a co-op term or internship after April 30, 2026, to meet the requirements of your program.

You are not eligible to apply for the 2026 program using the merit of that program.

5. Currently working on a second or third program.

You are eligible to apply if your previous program was completed between January 1, 2024, and April 30, 2026. Eligibility is based on the most-recently completed program of 60 or more credits and not the program currently underway. Note, the 18-month internship is full-time employment.

6. Need to finish a research paper or project, thesis or other academic project after April 30, 2026, to complete your program.

You are not eligible to apply if you still need to complete outstanding research or thesis projects, co-op, or work placement on or after April 30, 2026.

1. As of April 27, 2026, employed with an Albertan municipality in a permanent (that is, without a defined end date) position.

You are not eligible to apply.

2. As of April 27, 2026, employed with an Alberta municipality in a temporary (that is, summer, co-op or contract) or casual (that is, work on irregular or call-in basis) position.

You are eligible to apply for intern positions located in other host municipalities.

3. As of April 27, 2026, no longer employed with an Alberta municipality in a temporary (that is, summer, co-op or contract) or casual (that is, work on irregular or call-in basis) position.

You are eligible to apply.

1. Unable or unwilling to live in or commute to the host municipality.

You are not eligible to apply. Although each host organization has its own policy on work arrangements, municipalities expect candidates to live in or commute to the host municipality.

2. Cannot start employment between April 27 and June 5, 2026.

You are not eligible to apply. Candidates who wish to participate in the 2026 Municipal Internship Program must be able to start work between April 27 and June 5, 2026.

If you are unable to commence employment during this period, you may apply in a subsequent year (if eligible).

Address your cover letter to "Dear Hiring Manager”. Your cover letter will be sent with your other application documents to each of the host organizations you select on the application form.

Do not customize your letter to specific host locations.

No address information is required as your application will be sent electronically to the host organizations.

The resume is a maximum of 2 pages.

Ensure your resume contains your phone number and email address.

Ensure your resume clearly states the title of your degree/diploma and when you completed (or will complete) your post-secondary program (month and year).

Do not include your photo, social insurance number, other government-issued, or tax identification numbers.

The candidate profile is your opportunity to demonstrate why you would like to participate in this program and why you believe you should be selected as an intern. Your candidate profile allows you to add more than you could in just your cover letter.

The candidate profile is a maximum of 2 pages. Any additional pages will not be sent to the host organizations.

Put the title “Candidate Profile” at the top of the document.

In your profile you can share, but are not limited to, the following:

• Why you are applying to the Internship Program.
• How your education is applicable to working in the public service at the municipal level.
• How the work of municipal government aligns with your values, motivations, and interests.
• What you are hoping to get out the Internship Program experience.
• Remember to be creative with your profile.

Acceptable document formats

The candidate profile can be written in any format you choose, such as essay, bullets, mini portfolio, etc.

Acceptable file formats

• PDF

• Transcripts must be in English.
• The transcript must have the watermark of your post-secondary institution.
• The transcript must be unlocked.
• Both official and unofficial transcripts are acceptable. Only one version needs to be submitted (your choice).
• Transcripts are used to verify completion of your diploma or degree no earlier than January 1, 2024, and by April 30, 2026 (the 2-year period of eligibility for the May 2026 program).
• If you have attended more than one post-secondary institution, submit the transcript of the completed diploma or degree program that falls within the eligibility period of January 1, 2024 and April 30, 2026.
• If you are currently completing your diploma or degree program, submit the unofficial transcript that includes information up to the academic term ending in December 2025.