Acupuncturist (Advanced)

Summary

The acupuncturist serves as a subject matter expert in acupuncture and East Asian Medicine within the healthcare setting. Assigned duties include providing direct patient care through the delivery of individualized and group acupuncture treatments, utilizing both standard medical and East Asian evaluation methods to develop comprehensive treatment plans.

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Duties

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Major duties include (but not limited to):

The acupuncturist integrates advanced techniques and evidence-based practices to ensure safe and effective care utilizing both standard medical and East Asian evaluation methods to develop comprehensive treatment plans.

Additional responsibilities include patient education on lifestyle modifications such as nutrition, exercise, sleep hygiene, stress management, and mind-body techniques relevant to acupuncture care. The acupuncturist meticulously documents patient encounters and procedural information in the VA's electronic health record system, adhering to VHA policies and consent requirements.

Ongoing professional development is maintained through regular participation in required training and meetings. The acupuncturist reviews referrals for appropriateness, coordinates care by directing veterans to other services when needed, and provides expert guidance concerning the delivery, evidence base, and cost-effectiveness of acupuncture services.

The acupuncturist also assumes leadership roles, contributing to the education of staff, students, and residents through teaching activities such as in-service training and journal clubs. In addition, they serve as mentors for new and less experienced staff, consult with leadership on acupuncture-related matters, and may participate in clinical research activities. Problem-solving and continuous quality improvement in the practice of acupuncture are integral components of this position.

The acupuncturist may treat a wide range of conditions and acupuncture may be used alone or as an adjunct to traditional medical care. The acupuncturist includes the stimulation of specific points along the skin of the body using thin needles with or without the addition of electric stimulation. The acupuncturist may use various techniques commonly taught in East Asian Medicine or Acupuncture schools. The acupuncturists may provide treatment in the outpatient clinic setting and inpatient setting with approved privileges.

The incumbent is directly responsible to the Whole Health Program Manager. The incumbent performs duties and responsibilities independently in the absence of direct supervisor. They must anticipate the needs of the patients and health care providers and respond appropriately. The employee must plan/prioritize his/her work and carry out assignments efficiently. They are required to use judgement in making on the spot decisions concerning patient care. The employee must have the knowledge and technical skills to adapt to complex situations.

Work Schedule : 10 hour shifts. Duty days and hours will be discussed with the supervisor.

Telework : Not available.

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement # : 000000

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives : Not authorized.

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements ( Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 11:59 PM (ET) on 07/10/2026.

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: Individual must meet one of the requirements below:
  • Master's degree in acupuncture or oriental medicine from a program accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM). OR
  • Advanced level degree in acupuncture or oriental medicine from a program accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM).
• Foreign Graduates: Graduates of foreign acupuncture programs meet the requirements in subparagraph 3b if they have a full unrestricted and current license to practice acupuncture in a State, Territory or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia.
• Certification: Acupuncturists hired in the VHA must be board certified through the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM). The board certification must be current and the acupuncturist must abide by the certifying body's requirements for continuing education.
• Loss of Certification: An acupuncturist who fails to maintain the required certificate 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.
• Licensure: Current, full, active, and unrestricted license to practice acupuncture in a State, Territory or Commonwealth (i.e. Puerto Rico) of the United States, or District of Columbia.
• Loss of licensure: An acupuncturist who fails to maintain the required license 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.
• Grandfathering Provision: All persons employed in VHA in this occupational series or in another occupational series that are performing the duties as described in this qualification standard on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education and certification that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following apply:
  • Such employees may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journeyman) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journeyman level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions.
  • Acupuncturists who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard.
  • Acupuncturists who are converted to title 38 hybrid status under this provision and subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry as an acupuncturist.
• Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.
• English Language Proficiency: Candidates will not be appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C. chapters 73 or 74, to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA who are not proficient in written and spoken English. See Chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part.

Grade Determinations :

• Creditable Experience:
  • Knowledge of Acupuncture Practices. To be creditable, the experience must demonstrate possession of Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA) associated with current professional acupuncture practice. The experience must be post-master's degree or above.
  • Quality of Experience. Experience is only creditable if it is obtained following graduation with a certificate, masters or doctoral degree in Acupuncture or Oriental Medicine from an accredited training program. Creditable experience must include work as a professional licensed acupuncturist. Qualifying experience must also be at a level comparable to acupuncture experience at the next lower grade level. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher level duties must consist of significantly larger scope, administrative independence, difficulty and range of variety and described in this standard at the specified grade level and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time.
• Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, candidates must possess the required specialized experience and be able to demonstrate all Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs) as summarized below.

GS-11 Grade Experience:

• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA). The candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
  1. Ability to screen referrals and direct veterans to other services as appropriate.
  2. Ability to formulate an appropriate differential diagnosis.
  3. Ability to formulate an acupuncture treatment plan independently or with other health care professionals.
  4. Ability to educate patients on health lifestyle changes including nutrition, exercise, sleeping habits, stress management, mind body techniques and other matters related to acupuncture care. This includes the ability to communicate with individuals of varying backgrounds.
  5. Skill in the selection and use of the appropriate acupuncture tools and supplies based on needs of the patient.

AND

GS-12 Grade Experience:

• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA). The candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
  1. Skill and ability to perform safe and effective advanced acupuncture techniques.
  2. Knowledge of complex issues surrounding the delivery of care as it relates to acupuncture services, such as evidence based and cost effectiveness.
  3. Ability to apply and adapt acupuncture to new and changing programs.
  4. Knowledge of research strategies, methodologies and principles.
  5. Ability to problem solve issues surrounding delivery of acupuncture.

Preferred Experience: Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (DAOM) or Doctor of Acupuncture (DAc) with unrestricted license. Preferred 5-years of acupuncture experience. Experience with outpatient clinic setting and consult management also preferred.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit Chief Human Capital Officer (OCHCO) website for VA specific qualification standards: VA Qualification Standards - Office of the Chief Human Capital Officer (OCHCO).

Physical Requirements: The position requires no special physical demands, but will require some physical effort such as standing, walking, bending, and sitting.

Education

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit:

Additional information

The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this occupational series. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

Area of Consideration - Eligible applications will be reviewed and referred in the following order:

• 1st Area of Consideration: Current permanent employees of the Fargo, ND Health Care System to include the Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs), and the Fargo HCS Veterans Canteen Service.

During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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