Below are the most frequently asked questions related to the Material Control and Accountability (MC&A) Academy.

1. Do I have to be a U.S. citizen to apply? 
   Yes, the security clearance levels for this internship require U.S. citizenship.
2. Do we get to choose the site we work at?
   Interns’ academic background and experience are taken into consideration for site placements. Site placements are based on site availability in different MC&A areas.
3. Is the internship paid? Does it cover housing, relocation, or travel?
   Yes, this internship is paid. Interns also receive stipends for housing, local travel, and relocation costs while at their site and costs to attend and travel to the academy are covered. Stipends are graded on the basis of education level (bachelor's, master's, or doctoral).
4. What type of classes or training sessions are offered?
   Each intern completes a Basics of Accountability course. Additional courses vary from year to year and encompass areas such as nuclear material measurements, operations, accountability, and program management.
5. Who do we work with during the internship?
   The Material Control and Accountability Academy partners with numerous national laboratories and production sites within the national security complex. Interns are partnered with MC&A and operations professionals at their host site.
6. How long does the program last?
   The duration of the summer internship ranges from 8 to 12 weeks, depending on summer availability between university schedules. The summer internship ends before the student begins new classes in the fall. If interns are successful in their summer internships, they may be offered an academic year internship, which requires a time commitment of ~10 hours per week and may be remote or on-site, depending on the proximity of the intern's college/university to an NNSA site. Academic year internships are also paid internships and may also include a housing stipend depending on the nature of the internship.  
7. What majors are accepted?
   A wide range of degree majors, including technical and business majors, are accepted. Common majors include engineering, physics, chemistry, computer science, accounting, mathematics, statistics, and business.
8. What’s the main goal of the Academy?
   The Material Control and Accountability Academy was designed to educate the next generation of national security professionals and serve as an employment pipeline into the field of material control and accountability.
9. What’s the application timeline?
   Applications for the summer internship are accepted from October through January. Interns must reapply for subsequent academic year and summer internships.
10. How competitive is it?
    Positions are limited to 20 per year for new participants.
11. What kind of security clearance or background check is required?
    Applicants must have the ability to obtain a Department of Energy Q-clearance (Top Secret/Sensitive Controlled Information equivalent).
12. Can international students participate?
    The internship requires applicants to be U.S. citizens because of the classified nature of the work.  
13. What is a typical day like at the MC&A Academy or during the internship?
    Daily schedules vary among sites, but during the 2.5-week group training event, expect a mix of classes, hands-on exercises, tours, and presentations from experts.
14. Will I get hands-on experience with real equipment or data?
    Yes, the NNSA MC&A Academy was designed to provide real work experience in the area of MC&A.  
15. Is there an opportunity to present research or findings?
    Yes, although these opportunities are provided in limited fashion because of the classified nature of the work.
16. Will interns be working with just other interns?
    Interns are all partnered with MC&A and operations professionals but may also work with other interns.
17. Can participation lead to future employment or career opportunities?
    Yes, the NNSA MC&A Academy was created to provide a pipeline for future career and employment opportunities in the MC&A field.
18. What’s the difference between the Academy and the internship?
    The internship is an 8-week assignment to a host facility within the national security complex where interns work with MC&A and operations professionals. The Academy encompasses both this internship and a 2.5-week training event where interns meet the rest of their cohort at a single host site for classes, hands-on exercises, tours, and presentations from experts in a group setting.
19. How are mentors assigned, and how often do we meet with them?
    The host site assigns site mentors to interns on the basis of area of need, and interns work with their mentors daily.
20. Do we need prior nuclear or security experience to apply?
    Not at all! The Academy was designed with students in mind.