Career Center

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. 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 specialization program (including documentation of an approved internship completed as part of the 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. Staff Psychologist, GS-12 (Developmental Level) Experience. 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. Staff Psychologist, GS-13 (Full Performance, Level) Experience. At least two years of experience as a professional psychologist, with at least one year equivalent to the GS-12 grade level. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13. The actual grade at which an applicant is selected is a GS-13. References: A Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G18: The basic requirements for employment as a VHA psychologist are prescribed by: Public Law 96-151 codified in Title 38, U.S.C. § 7402. To qualify for appointment, all applicants for the position of psychologist in VHA must meet the following: 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). ["Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: - Knowledge of and ability to apply advanced professional psychological theories and techniques to the full range of patient populations in a culturally sensitive manner. - Ability to provide professional advice and consultation in areas related to professional psychology and behavioral health. - Knowledge of clinical research literature. - Ability to develop coherent treatment strategies for veterans with primary and comorbid substance abuse disorder - Ability to incorporate new clinical procedures, in particular evidence-based therapeutic practices. 3 - Ability to administer, score and interpret objective and subjective personality measures, as well as standardized intelligence and achievement test. - Ability to incorporate psychological test findings into a thorough comprehensive report that includes a diagnostic summary and treatment recommendations. - For clinical supervision assignments: - Ability to provide fair, principled and decisive leadership for a work environment that promotes shared accountability. - Ability to provide clinical supervision to non-licensed staff, interns, and practicum students in the areas of psychological assessment, consultation, treatment planning, and best practice psychotherapeutic interventions to address various mental health related disorders. Clinical Responsibilities (80% of time) - Independently provides specialized psychological services at all levels of complexity for patients with primary or comorbid substance abuse disorders, with service delivery to include intake evaluation, diagnostic assessments, psychotherapy and patient education. - Performs clinically indicated evaluations for outpatient and inpatient populations. Forensic evaluations are generally not required with the exception of Compensation & Pension (C&P) examinations requested as part of the determination of service-connected disability ratings and related VA functions. - Determine when clinician-administered psychometric testing is necessary and integrate the results of such testing into the report of the examination. - Provides a full range of psycho-diagnostic services including the use of psychological testing for patients within VHFNC in areas of special interest/expertise. - Provides a full range of therapeutic interventions including individual therapy, group therapy, and psycho-education classes. Best practices, practice guidelines and Evidence-Based Treatment (EBT) protocols are utilized to the extent feasible in all therapeutic interventions. - Consults with medical center staff on a wide variety of patient care issues to include patient's decision-making capacity regarding health care. - Develops person-centered, culturally sensitive treatment plans to address mental health needs of patients. - Conducts evaluations to aid in the differential diagnosis of complex cases. - Complies with national and local performance measures, including timely health care screening and completion of clinical reminders for all patients. Administrative responsibilities: (5% of time) - Attends and participates in administrative and informational meetings held by the Chief of Service, Chief of Staff and Director (or duly appointed designees). - Attends monthly Psychological Service staff meetings and complies with Psychology Service peer review procedures. - Completes assigned Performance Improvement activities at the program, service line, and medical center level. 4 - Attends regularly scheduled treatment team meetings to ensure efficiency and continuity of service delivery to specialized patient population. Case Management Responsibilities: (10% of time) - Timely completion of all clinical charting and documentation required by the Medical Center or healthcare system, as appropriate. - Respond to patients request for release of records; return telephone calls, linking of services, and appropriate referrals as needed in a timely fashion. - With permission from patient, collateral consultation with significant others/ support systems to aid in the facilitation of patients' treatment. Additional Responsibilities: (5 % of time) - Attends annual training programs sponsored by the VISN, VAMC and other APA recognized training programs to enhance knowledge, skills, and abilities in area of specialization. - Participates on selection panels for Staff Psychologist position vacancies or other positions as assigned by Assistant Chief of Psychology; Chief of Psychology; and/or Chief of Behavioral Health Services. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: Available EDRP Authorized: Contact Cheryl Lahair at cheryl.lahair@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more"]

Return to Search Results