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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 BASIC REQUIREMENTS. The basic requirements for employment as a VHA psychologist are prescribed by Public Law 96-151 codified in 38 U.S.C. § 7402. To qualify for appointment, all applicants for the position of psychologist in VHA must meet the following: a. 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.) b. Education (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. 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, 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 (4) Internships (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. [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. 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.] c. 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. (1) Exception. Non-licensed applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements may begiven 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. (2) 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. At the discretion of the appointing official, an employee may be reassigned to another occupation if qualified and if a placement opportunity exists. d. Board Certification and Loss of Credential (1) Board Certification. Persons hired to psychology positions in the 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. (2) Loss of Credential. Once board certified, psychologist must maintain a full, valid and 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. English Language Proficiency. Psychologists must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j. Staff Psychologist, GS-13 (Full Performance, Level) (a) Experience. At least two years of experience as a professional psychologist, with at least one year equivalent to the GS-12 grade level. Assignment. This is the full performance level for staff psychologists. Preferred Experience: Preferred applicants will have interest and experience in supervision and training of psychology interns and/or practicum students References: 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 in the range of GS 11 to GS 13. Physical Requirements: The incumbent must be able to exercise a high degree of emotional and mental discipline at all times in order to continue to carry out duties effectively. This is especially necessary during time periods when the incumbent encounters significant or extreme duress as a result of interactions with patients. ["The goals of the PC-MHI are: To provide immediate access to clinical assessment and appropriate collaborative care and treatment for those experiencing mental health symptoms (either ad hoc or in response to screening). To practice collaborative, stepped and measurement-based care, including appropriate longitudinal follow-up, to address common mental health conditions for the primary care population. To enable optimal functioning of PACT teams through collaborative decision support and interdisciplinary consultation with co-located mental health providers. To prevent the development of more severe symptoms through early recognition and intervention. The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) began implementation of the patient centered medical home model now known as PACT (Patient Aligned Care Team) in the beginning of FY10. PACT focuses on: Partnerships with Veterans Access to care using diverse methods Coordinated care among team members Team-based care with Veterans as the center of their PACT In the PACTs, Veterans work together with health care professionals to plan for whole-person care and life-long health and wellness. The care team considers all aspects of patient health, with an emphasis on prevention and health promotion. Care is coordinated through collaboration. All members of the team have clearly defined roles with a focus is on forging trusted personal relationships, and the result is coordination of all aspects of health care. PACT uses a team-based approach. The patient is the center of the care team that includes family members, caregivers and health care professionals primary care provider, nurse care manager, clinical associate, psychologist, and administrative clerk. When other services are needed to meet patient goals and needs, the PACT oversees and coordinates that care. General Description: This is the full performance level for staff psychologists. At this level, psychologists are licensed at the doctoral level to practice independently in the provision of psychological services, consulting with peers and supervisors as appropriate. This co-located, collaborative care (CCC) psychologist position is administratively within the Mental and Behavioral Health Service Line, with the primary assignment to Primary Care- Mental Health Integration (PC-MHI) program. The CCC Psychologist functions as part of multidisciplinary primary care teams, and delivers brief, consultation-based services to Veterans, primary care providers, and allied PACT members. The focus is on general service delivery for a wide range of concerns and resolving problems within the primary care service context. Behavioral health visits are brief (generally 20-30 minutes), limited in number (1-6 visits), and are provided in the primary care practice area, structured so that the patient views meeting with the PC-MHI Psychologist as a routine primary care service. The staff psychologist holds a state license to practice psychology and has at least one year pre-doctoral work experience and two years postdoctoral work experience as a psychologist in the VHA or a comparable professional setting. The psychologist applies advanced professional psychological diagnostic methods and evidence-based intervention strategies to a full range of patient problems in her/his work setting. S/he has advanced knowledge of psychological diagnosis, intervention, and behavioral health that qualifies her/him to provide advice and consultation to professionals representing a variety of disciplines. The primary job functions of psychologists at this level include the provision of direct psychological patient care, consultation services on difficult or complex cases, and education of staff and trainee supervision. However, some psychologists functioning at this level also have research obligations, associated with a university faculty appointment, limited collateral supervisory responsibilities, and limited administrative/managerial duties. The psychologist for whom this functional statement applies is assigned to Psychology within the Mental and Behavioral Health Service Line. In addition to providing direct patient care, this psychologist may have limited administrative duties, as described below. Functions: Clinical Responsibilities: (This list is not all inclusive) Provides functional assessment, triage, brief intervention, and education for a wide range of mental health and behavioral medicine concerns, on referral from primary care providers and allied PACT members. Provides education to patients, family members, and significant others. Provides evidence-based psychotherapeutic interventions, including individual and group psychotherapy Work Schedule: Mon - Fri, 0800-1630 Telework: Ad Hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. EDRP Authorized: Authorized Recruitment/Relocation Incentive: Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]

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