Psychologist (Primary Care Mental Health) - EDRP Authorized

Summary

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. Program 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.

Qualifications

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 - You must 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
• OR - have a doctoral degree in any area of psychology and - in addition - successfully completed a 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 you were retrained is consistent with the assignment you are am applying for
• OR - have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution - with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature
• Internship Requirement - You must 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 - 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 - 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 - 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)
• NOTE: 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
• Licensure: Candidates must 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
• Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019
• May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation)
• Grade Determinations: GS-11 Staff Psychologist (Entry Level): Experience
• None beyond the basic requirements
• GS-12 Staff Psychologist (Developmental Level): Experience
• At least 1 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
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: a
• Knowledge of and ability to apply a wide range of professional psychological treatments or assessment methods to a variety of patient populations
• b
• Ability to design and implement effective treatment strategies
• c
• Ability to incorporate new clinical procedures
• d
• Ability to conduct research activities - such as designing and implementing clinical research projects (staff psychologists with specified research job duties)
• e
• Ability to perform basic research tasks of scholarship and research execution within the context of an established research team - including research participant relations - research documentation - data acquisition - maintenance - and collaboration
• GS-13 Staff Psychologist (Full Performance Level): Experience
• At least 2 years of experience as a professional psychologist - with at least one year equivalent to the GS-12 level
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs a
• Knowledge of - and ability to apply - professional psychological treatments to the full range of patient populations
• b
• Ability to provide professional advice and consultation in areas related to professional psychology and behavioral health
• c
• Knowledge of clinical research literature
• *Experience is only creditable if it is post-doctoral degree experience as a professional psychologist directly related to the duties performed
• Post-Doctoral Degree Fellowships
• Postdoctoral fellowships or residencies are training programs in an advanced area of clinical practice
• Training as a fellow or resident is considered to be creditable experience on a year-for-year basis
• Preferred Experience: GS-12 PE 1
• Experience working on interdisciplinary teams or in a large medical center
• PE 2
• Experience working with veteran and diverse populations
• PE 3
• Experience/training in evidence-based psychotherapies GS-13 Experience working on interdisciplinary teams or in a large medical center
• Experience working with veteran and diverse populations
• Experience/training in evidence-based psychotherapies
• Completion of an APA-accredited postdoctoral fellowship
• Administrative or process improvement experience Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-11 to GS-13
• Physical Requirements: Light lifting - under 15 pounds Light carrying - under 15 pounds Use of fingers Both hands required Hearing (aid may be permitted) Ability to perform privileges Ability to independently perform physical exam Emotional & Mental stability

Duties

• This vacancy will remain open until filled
• The first cut-off date is April 16 - 2026
• Additional applications will be referred as needed
• VA Careers - Psychologist: Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional GS-11 - Staff Psychologist Major Duties Conducts diagnostic interviews - psychological evaluations - and suicide risk assessments Provides brief - evidence-based individual and group interventions for behavioral health conditions Delivers consultation to primary care providers to support treatment planning Provides patient and family education Supports continuity of care within primary care setting Participates in program development and interdisciplinary collaboration Administrative / Program Role Limited involvement in program operations and quality improvement May assist with program implementation and coordination Participates in meetings - documentation - and performance measures GS-12 - Staff Psychologist Major Duties Independently performs comprehensive psychological evaluations and treatment planning Provides a full range of evidence-based interventions in primary care Serves as a consultant to PACT teams and other providers Supports training of interns - fellows - and other staff Provides clinical supervision (as appropriate) Participates in research - education - and staff development activities Administrative / Program Role Assists with program design - implementation - and evaluation Supports quality improvement and outcome monitoring Coordinates care across programs and disciplines May serve as first-line supervisor for lower-graded staff GS-13 - Staff Psychologist Major Duties Provides advanced diagnostic - evaluation - and treatment services for complex cases Leads consultation efforts across interdisciplinary teams Oversees or directs elements of PCMHI or related programs Supervises psychologists - trainees - and multidisciplinary staff Leads program development - implementation - and evaluation initiatives Contributes to system-wide policy - clinical standards - and service delivery improvements Administrative / Program Role Manages clinical programs and associated staff/resources Oversees quality improvement and data-driven performance initiatives Coordinates across service lines and disciplines Represents Psychology Service on committees and leadership groups Establishes policies and procedures impacting care delivery Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 8:00am to 4:30pm Telework: Available - ad-hoc only - in accordance with agency policies
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 54079 - 54080 - 54081 Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact [email protected] - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
• Learn more Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases
• When setting pay - a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade)
• Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year)
• Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual - based on prior [work experience] or military service experience
• Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment - up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth - adoption - or foster care placement of a child
• Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment - full time employees with a total family income below $144 -000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)

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The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,321 health care facilities, including 172 VA Medical Centers and 1,138 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics) to over 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program. VHA Medical Centers provide a wide range of services including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy. In addition, most of our medical centers offer additional medical and surgical specialty services including audiology & speech pathology, dermatology, dental, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, podiatry, prosthetics, urology, and vision care. Some medical centers also offer advanced services such as organ transplants and plastic surgery.

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