Staff Psychologist (PCMHI) - EDRP - Recruitment / Relocation Incentive Authorized

Overview

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

HPT's pending the completion of educational or certification / licensure requirements may be referred & tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. All applicants pending license requirements may be hired as a temporary graduate psychologist.

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

Education : 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 & 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 & 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

OR Have a doctoral degree in any area of psychology & 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 : Re-specialization program must be completed in an APA or a CPA accredited doctoral program & 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 & / or certificate documenting completion of re-specialization program - which includes completion of an APA or CPA internship

Psychologists who have successfully completed a re-specialization program as described above & who were employed by the Department of VA prior to implementation of this standard are considered to have fully met the educational requirements of these qualification standards

OR Have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 & 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution - with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature

AND Internships Have successfully completed a professional psychology internship training program that was accredited by APA or CPA at the time the program was completed & 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 & 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 - employee is required to maintain board certification.) OR Applicants who have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 & 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 VA prior to implementation of this standard are considered to have fully met the requirements of this qualification standard

Licensure : Hold a full - current & unrestricted license to practice psychology at the doctoral level in a State - Territory or Commonwealth of the United States or 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 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

Loss of Credential

A psychologist who fails to maintain the required licensure must be removed from the occupation - which may result in termination of employment

Board Certification and Loss of Credential Board Certification

Persons hired to psychology positions in VHA who completed an internship that was not accredited at the time the program was completed must be 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

Board certificate must be current & applicant must abide by the certifying body's requirement for continuing education

Loss of Credential

Once board certified - psychologist must maintain a full - valid & unrestricted board certification to remain qualified for employment

A psychologist who fails to maintain the required board certification must be removed from the occupation - which may result in termination of employment

Physical Requirements : See VA Directive & Handbook 5019

English Language Proficiency : Psychologists must be proficient in spoken & written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005 - Part II - Chapter 3 - section A - paragraph 3j

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 & meet the criteria)

Physical Requirements : Work is sedentary

Some work may require movement between offices - hospitals - warehouses & similar areas for meetings & to conduct work

Work may also require walking / standing - in conjunction with travel to & attendance at meetings & / or conferences away from the work site

Incumbent may carry & lift light items weighing less than 15 pounds

Grade Determinations : GS-11 Experience

None beyond the basic requirements

Qualification Information Continued Below - Additional Information

Duties

VA Careers - Psychologist : Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional This announcement will remain posted until filled

The first cutoff for consideration is : 10 / 9 / 2025

Duties include - but are not limited to : Administrative Assisting in coordinating programming within various mental health (MH) programs with psychology Program Managers as well as with discipline supervisors of affected staff assigned to these programs

Serving as representative for Psychology Service on various Psychology Service - MH Service Line - System or VISN administrative committees or work groups

Additional duties as assigned

Clinical Providing a full range of psycho-diagnostic services including the use of psychological testing for patients within VATVCBHCS in areas of specific interest / expertise - including specialized health psychology assessments such as pre-bariatric surgery & transplant psychological assessment / intervention

Performing psychological evaluations for individual with MH & medical disorders for purposes of diagnostic clarification & treatment planning recommendations

These evaluations employ a comprehensive diagnostic interview - review of available records - collateral contract when available - as well as objective & cognitive tests when indicated

Providing a range of psychological therapeutic interventions - including group & individual formats - with individuals with MH / medical disorders utilizing empirically supported modalities when indicated

Services may be delivered in a face-to-face & / or telehealth format

Consulting with & serving as resource for other professional personnel concerning the needs for - evaluation of & development of psychological services

Dealing effectively with individuals or groups representing widely divergent backgrounds - interests & points of view

Academic / Teaching / Research May be asked to prepare & teach seminars / workshops for VATVCBHCS trainees / staff on topics within interest / competency areas

May be asked to serve as a member of various VATVCBHCS MH - VATVCBHCS & / or VISN committees

Work Schedule : Fulltime - Monday thru Friday 8 : 00 a.m to 4 : 30 p.m

Relocation Incentive may be authorized for a Highly Qualified Individual : Relocation incentives may be authorized to full-time Federal employees who must change worksites & physically relocate to a different geographic area when the approving official determines that without the incentive - it would be difficult to fill the position with a high-quality candidate

Recruitment Incentive may be authorized for a Highly Qualified Individual : Recruitment incentives may be authorized to full-time - part time or intermittent individuals in their first appointment as a Federal employee or to a newly appointed former Federal employee with at least a 90-day break in service

EDRP Authorized : Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive

Contact VISN17EDRP2@VA.GOV - the EDRP Coordinator for questions / assistance

Learn more Pay : Competitive salary & 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) & 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)

Telework : Not available

Virtual : This is not a virtual position

Functional Statement # : 53928-F - 53929-F & 53930-F

Permanent Change of Station (PCS) : Not authorized

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