Staff Psychologist

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.

Citizenship: Be a citizen of the United States

(Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3 - section A - paragraph 3.g - this part.)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

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

OR 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 Have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 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 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.) OR 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

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 and meet the criteria)

Grade Determinations: GS-13 Staff Psychologist Experience: At least two years of experience as a professional psychologist - with at least one year equivalent to the GS-12 grade level

Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities: In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: 1

Knowledge of - and ability to apply - professional psychological treatments to the full range of patient populations

2

Ability to provide professional advice and consultation in areas related to professional psychology and behavioral health

3

Knowledge of clinical research literature

Assignment: This is the full performance level for staff psychologists

At this level - psychologists are licensed to practice independently in the provision of psychological services - consulting with peers and supervisors as appropriate

They may be assigned to any VHA program and setting - such as inpatient or outpatient medicine - primary care - surgery - mental health - neurology - rehabilitation medicine - geriatrics - Compensation and Pension - Vet Centers - and the VHA National Center for Organization Development

Psychologists diagnose mental disorders - conduct psychological or neuropsychological assessments - treat mental disorders through a variety of modalities - and provide adjunctive interventions for treatment of medical disorders

Among the modalities provided are individual - family - and group psychotherapies and other interventions such as behavioral health and community interventions

Psychologists consult with medical center staff on a wide variety of patient care issues

Staff psychologists may be involved in program evaluation - teaching - training - and research activities

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13

Physical Requirements: Physical demands of the work are generally minor and are generally sedentary in nature but may require occasional travel

Physical activity involves sitting - standing - walking - bending - stooping - climbing stairs - and carrying light items such as papers - books or other supplies

The incumbent uses a computer and standard office equipment to complete tasks

The emotional demands can be stressful in working with the Veteran/Patient population and their families/caregivers

A level of self-awareness is essential.

Duties

Selections will be made without regard to Veterans preference in accordance with Office of the Chief Human Capital Office Bulletin dated 9/25/2025

VA Careers - Psychologist: https://youtube.com/embed/77qHlLw9Xck Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional The Home-Based Primary Care (HBPC) Psychologist functions as the primary mental health care provider in the HBPC interdisciplinary care team by providing mental health prevention - assessment - treatment management - and professional consultation services

Serve as the primary mental health provider of the HBPC team - providing mental health prevention - assessment - treatment - management - and professional consultation services in the Veteran's residential setting

Provide screening - assessment - diagnosis - and treatment of depression - anxiety-related disorders - and mental health conditions - with an emphasis on the application of time-limited - evidence-based approaches

Assess and provide treatments for subclinical symptoms of dysphoria and anxiety - adjustment difficulties - and excessive use or misuse of alcohol or other drugs

Provide psychological prevention services to Veterans at significant risk for psychological problems

Provide services to the families of Veterans with neurocognitive disorders

Provide screening for cognitive deficits to address specific functional questions or to determine if a referral for a complete neuropsychological evaluation or more extensive cognitive assessment

Perform capacity assessments when there are questions about a Veteran's ability to make medical decisions - perform other specific functions - or live independently

Assess Veterans' understanding of advanced directives and other forms of consent and assisting staff in determining how to present treatment options and other such material to Veterans in a format they can understand

Provide individual and group interventions to support Veterans that are coping with feelings of grief and loss associated with disability and other life transitions

Provide psychoeducational and supportive interventions - in conjunction with the Veteran - for spouses - family members/caregivers - and others that are crucial to keeping the Veteran at home

Provide effective interventions with couples or families - when appropriate - to relieve relationship difficulties - provide support to caregivers of Veterans with neurocognitive disorders or other significant frailty - and/or promote collaboration with the HBPC team - for the benefit of the Veteran

Facilitate transition and adjustment to new living situations - and provide seamless intervention services - as appropriate

Provide behavioral medicine interventions to manage pain - disability - address sleep problems - facilitate weight loss - promote smoking cessation - and enhance medical compliance

Promote communication/interactions between medical team members - Veterans - and their families to facilitate the medical treatment process

Provides training and clinical supervision to psychology trainees - psychology technicians and unlicensed psychologists

Creates - monitors - and analyzes program monitors and outcome measurements within programs assigned using a data-driven quality assurance processes - as assigned

Work Schedule: 7:30am - 4:00pm - Monday - Friday

Alternate tours will be considered

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 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) Telework: Ad-Hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position

Functional Statement #: 70922F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized

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