Career Center

This is an open continuous announcement for the following specialties: Psycho-Social Rehabilitation & Recovery Center Substance Use Disorders Inpatient Psychology Outpatient Psychology (BHIP or PTSD) Neuropsychology Primary Care Mental Health Integration Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis and qualified candidates will be considered as vacancies become available. This announcement can be used to fill additional vacancies. Applications will remain on file until 8/31/2023. Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. English Language Proficiency Requirement: Per VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, Section A, Paragraph 3j: No person will be appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C., chapter 73 or 74, to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA who is not proficient in written and spoken English. Education Requirement: (1) Have a doctoral degree in psychology from a graduate program in psychology accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA), the Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System (PCSAS), or the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) at the time the program was completed. The specialty area of the degree must be consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed. For the purpose of meeting this requirement, the term "specialty area" refers to the specific specialty areas recognized by the accrediting body and not to specific job duties that might require special skills. Currently, APA accredits doctoral programs in the specialty areas of clinical psychology, counseling psychology, school psychology, or combinations of two or more of those areas. PCSAS accredits doctoral programs in psychological clinical science. CPA accredits doctoral programs in clinical psychology, counseling psychology, clinical neuropsychology, and school psychology. There are no job assignments in VHA that require the skills of a school psychologist; therefore, an applicant with a degree in the specialty area of school psychology is not eligible for appointment. Strictly for the purpose of determining eligibility for appointment as a psychologist in VHA, there is no distinction between the specialty areas (with the exception of school psychology). OR (2) Have a doctoral degree in any area of psychology and, in addition, successfully complete a re-specialization program (including documentation of an approved internship completed as part of the re-specialization program) meeting both of the following conditions: (a) The re-specialization program must be completed in an APA or a CPA accredited doctoral program; and, (b) the specialty in which the applicant is retrained must be consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed. NOTE: The applicant must provide an official transcript and/or certificate documenting the completion of the re-specialization program, which includes completion of an APA or CPA internship. Psychologists who have successfully completed a re-specialization program as described above and who were employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs prior to the implementation of this standard are considered to have fully met the educational requirements of these qualification standards. OR (3) Have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally accredited institution, with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature. AND Internship Requirement: (a) Have successfully completed a professional psychology internship training program that was accredited by APA or CPA at the time the program was completed and that is consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed. OR (b) New VHA psychology internship programs that are in the process of applying for APA accreditation are acceptable in fulfillment of the internship requirement, provided that such programs were sanctioned by the VHA Central Office Program Director for Psychology and the VHA Office of Academic Affiliations at the time that the individual was an intern; OR (c) VHA facilities that offered full-time, one-year pre-doctoral internships prior to PL 96-151 (pre-1979) are considered to be acceptable in fulfillment of the internship requirement; OR (d) Applicants who completed an internship that was not accredited by APA or CPA at the time the program was completed may be considered eligible for hire only if they are currently board certified by the American Board of Professional Psychology in a specialty area that is consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed. (NOTE: Once board certified, the employee is required to maintain board certification.) OR (e) Applicants who have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally accredited institution with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature may fulfill this internship requirement by having the equivalent of a one-year supervised internship experience in a site specifically acceptable to the candidate's doctoral program. If the internship experience is not noted on the applicant's official transcript, the applicant must provide a statement from the doctoral program verifying that the equivalent of a one-year supervised internship experience was completed in a site acceptable to the doctoral program. NOTE: Psychologists who meet the requirements of this revision and who were employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs prior to the implementation of this standard are considered to have fully met the requirements of this qualification standard. Licensure: Hold a full, current, and unrestricted license to practice psychology at the doctoral level in a State, Territory or Commonwealth of the United States, or the District of Columbia. Exception: Non-licensed applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements may be given a temporary appointment as a "graduate psychologist" at the GS-11 or GS-12 grade under the authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405 (c)(2)(B) for a period not to exceed two years from the date of employment on the condition that such a psychologist provide care only under the supervision of a psychologist who is licensed. Failure to obtain licensure during that period is justification for termination of the temporary appointment. Grade Determinations: Staff Psychologist, GS-11 (Entry Level): Experience. None beyond the basic requirements. Assignment. Staff psychologists at this level diagnose mental disorders, conduct psychologicalor neuropsychological assessments, treat mental disorders through a variety of modalities, provideadjunctive interventions for treatment of medical disorders, and may conduct research. Staff Psychologist, GS-12 (Developmental Level): At least one year of experience as a professional psychologist equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-11). Psychologists who are not licensed must practice under the supervision of a licensed psychologist but with less intense supervision than at the GS-11 grade level. Assignment. Staff psychologists at this level diagnose mental disorders, conduct psychological or neuropsychological assessments, treat mental disorders through a variety of modalities, provide adjunctive interventions for treatment of medical disorders, and may conduct research. Staff Psychologist, GS-13 (Full Performance Level): At least 2 additional years of experience, with at least one year equivalent to the GS-12 level. Assignment. This is the full performance level for staff psychologists. References: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G18 Psychologist Qualification Standard. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-13. Physical Requirements: Light lifting, under 15 lbs.; Light carrying, under 15 lbs.; Reaching above shoulder; Use of fingers; Both hands required; Walking, Standing; Both legs required; Hearing (aid permitted). ["This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application. Learn more The following are requirements for appointment as a psychologist in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Psychologists engage in professional and scientific work which relates to behavior, capacities, traits, interests, and emotions. These requirements apply to all VHA psychologists in the GS-180 series, including those assigned to VA Medical Centers, Community-based Outpatient Clinical (CBOCs), Vet Centers, Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) offices, the VHA National Center for Organizational Development and VHA Central Office. This work may include any one or a combination of the following: providing professional clinical services, conducting research, carrying out education and training activities, clinical consultation, supervision, and administration. Duties include, but are not limited to: This work may include any one or a combination of the following: providing professional clinical services, conducting research, carrying out education and training activities, clinical consultation, supervision, and administration. Responsible for providing Veteran care and for meeting quality, efficiency, satisfaction, and other standards. Effectively uses the following clinical modalities as delineated in their privileges, which may include but are not limited to: evidenced-based therapies (e.g., Prolonged Exposure, Cognitive Processing Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, etc.), supportive therapies, couples/family therapy, group therapy, psychological assessment/evaluation and recommendations, and crisis intervention when needed. Interactions with others may be face-to- face and/or via tele mental health. Serve as a role model in recovery-oriented care for the interdisciplinary treatment team. Work Schedule: Will be determined at time of selection Telework: Ad Hoc, at discretion of Supervisor Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be authorized for highly qualified applicants. EDRP Authorized: Contact Onnie D. Green, Onnie.Green@va.gov, 828-298-7911, ext. 5415, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Preferred Experience: Inpatient Leading group therapies Brief Psychological testing Working in an interdisciplinary team Outpatient BHIP group and individual psychotherapy experience with a broad variety of presenting problems such as depression, anxiety, trauma, and life stressors. ability to work within a team environment to support a shared panel of Veterans collaboratively and flexibly recent experience with psycho-diagnostics assessment strongly preferred Outpatient NEURO Specialized training in neuropsychological assessment and/or completion of 2-year neuropsychology fellowship Experience with assessment of Veterans, older adults, complicated neuropsychological presentations Ability to write comprehensive reports and skillfully integrate feedback into existing treatment options Outpatient (PTSD Clinical Team) Group and/or individual psychotherapy experience with cognitive processing therapy, prolonged exposure, skills training in affective and interpersonal regulation, and other evidence-based practices for the treatment of military-acquired trauma (TRM, EMDR, Seeking Safety, etc.) Ability to manage referrals and provision of evidence-based therapies within a specialized clinic that focuses on an episodes of care model that quickly returns Veterans to their routine mental health providers after conclusion of the specialized treatment VA EBP certification in CPT or PE is strongly preferred PCMHI Prior Primary Care-Mental Health Integrated (PCMHI) experience Experience with brief assessment and therapy Health psychology PRRC Experience serving as part of an interdisciplinary team and providing recovery-oriented care to Veterans with serious mental illness (SMI). Proficient in using psychiatric rehabilitation model to treat Veterans diagnosed with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and chronic PTSD. Familiar with evidence-based therapies for SMI, assessment, individual and group psychotherapy in a milieu-based treatment program."]

Return to Search Results