Chaplain

Summary The Chaplain serves as a professional performing clinical assignments for the VHA - providing comprehensive religious - spiritual - and pastoral care to all persons that are commensurate with the needs - desires - and voluntary consent of the Veteran - caregiver - or staff. The Chaplain addresses the spiritual component of health and wellness in every patient care setting to ensure that pastoral care is fully integrated into all aspects of chaplain services. Summary The Chaplain serves as a professional performing clinical assignments for the VHA - providing comprehensive religious - spiritual - and pastoral care to all persons that are commensurate with the needs - desires - and voluntary consent of the Veteran - caregiver - or staff. The Chaplain addresses the spiritual component of health and wellness in every patient care setting to ensure that pastoral care is fully integrated into all aspects of chaplain services. Qualifications Chaplain Basic Requirements All Chaplains must meet the following Basic Requirements Citizenship - You must be a citizen of the United States English Language Proficiency - Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7403(f) Education: Master of Divinity degree or equivalent educational qualifications as evidenced by a graduate-level theological degree from a college - university or theological school accredited by a member of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) ( or Association of Theological Schools (ATS) ( and recognized by the U.S. Department of Education For applicants who do not possess a Master of Divinity degree or equivalent educational degree may meet this requirement with an approved educational equivalency review from a nationally recognized board certification body for chaplains This would include the Board of Chaplaincy Certification Inc (BCCI) or a U.S. certifying body that has a reciprocity agreement with BCCI Endorsement: Applicants must possess and maintain a full and active ecclesiastical endorsement and must be dated within the past 12 months A complete list of Ecclesiastical Organizations that the Department of Veterans Affairs recognizes as Ecclesiastical Endorsing Organizations is available here: Note: Current VA Chaplains do not have to get updated endorsements after they are hired Certification: Applicants must be a Board-Certified Chaplain by the Board of Chaplaincy Certifications Inc (BCCI) - or a U.S. certifying body that has a reciprocity agreement with BCCI Board Certification that requires four units of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) is qualifying Exception for Non-Board-Certified Chaplains (GS-9 Entry-Level Only): Applicants pending board certification may be given a temporary appointment not to exceed two years if they meet all other eligibility requirements and provide proof of completion of four units of CPE as required by an approved board certifying body Grandfathering Provision All Chaplains employed in VHA under permanent - appropriate - and legal placement on the effective date of the qualification standard (07/03/2025) - are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade and/assignment held - including positive education and certification - where applicable For employees who do not meet all the basic or assignment-specific requirements in this standard - but met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed - the following provisions apply Employees may be reassigned - promoted up to and including the FPL - or be changed to a lower grade within the occupation - but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or be newly placed in supervisory or managerial positions If an assignment above the FPL level requires an additional certification over and above the basic requirements - employees must meet the assignment-specific requirement before they can be reassigned or promoted Employees 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 Employees retained in this occupation under this provision who subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of re-entry to the occupation Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation - who subsequently obtain additional certification(s) that meets all the basic or assignment-specific qualification requirements of this standard must maintain the required credential(s) as a condition of employment in the occupation Grade Determinations: Chaplain - GS-12 In addition to meeting the basic requirements - to qualify at the GS-12 level you must possess at least one (1) year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-11) Specialty Certification: Specialty certification is demonstrated advanced practice and/or specialization in chaplaincy beyond the board certification You must possess a Specialty Certification from a professional chaplain certifying body that is directly related to the position being filled The list of Board Certifying Chaplain Organizations and Specialty Certifying Organization is located here: Knowledge - Skills and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the experience and specialty certification requirements above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs Ability to apply relevant theories and methodologies to their ministry specialty Ability to integrate specialized psychological and sociological theory with an advanced approach to spiritual care Skill to seek out primary research and research literature that informs the ministry specialty and one's spiritual care practice Skill in developing and implementing methods for measuring effectiveness of chaplain practice and services in the specialty area - utilizing outcome evaluations to improve treatment services and to design system changes Ability to mediate conflict - hold various emotions and diffuse moral distress among staff and complex crisis situations Ability to provide specialized consultation - teaching and mentoring to colleagues and students on advanced spiritual care interventions in the service delivery area Ability to apply advanced clinical knowledge to write policies - procedures and/or practice guidelines pertaining to the service delivery area Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-12 Physical Requirements: This position requires the Chaplain to meaningfully engage with Veteran patients and family members by walking and moving within the healthcare setting or with the incumbent using an assistive device The Chaplain is required to speak - hear (hearing aid permitted) and work closely with others Duties Major duties include but may not be limited to the following: Providing comprehensive - religious ministry services to Veteran patients according to their specific needs and desires Carries out a ministry which is highly integrated into VHA's Chaplain program Provides thorough guidance and advice to Chaplain Service management staff - other Chaplains - and other stakeholders May serve at a facility in a clinical setting - or a small healthcare system - satellite outpatient clinic - other federal agency - or Community Based Out-patient Clinic (CBOC) where there is limited access to onsite supervision Provides extended and intensive pastoral counseling as an integral part of the treatment program with patients facing complex - ethical - moral - and spiritual issues Ensures program effectiveness and modification of service pattern - which includes research and leadership of clinical teams Practices typically in a specialized clinic/program area - that may include intensive and extended pastoral counseling as an integral part of the treatment program - with patients facing complex moral - ethical - or spiritual problems Serves as a Chaplain representative and a fully recognized member of an interdisciplinary treatment team (IDT) Advises and collaborates with other members of the IDT to provide comprehensive healthcare services to Veterans Works with a full understanding of Chaplains' relationships to the objectives of VHA to successfully integrate the work of the medical facility's staff Collaborates with and advises the other members of the IDT in the provision of comprehensive healthcare services to Veterans Maintains effective rapport with physicians - medical officers - psychologists - nurses - therapists - social workers - or others involved with the IDT Ensures equity of access - service - and benefits to Veterans and provides the highest quality of care Provides leadership - direction - orientation - coaching - in-service training - staff development - and continuing education programs Serves as a primary Chaplain resource - spiritual advisor - and liaison for the spiritual needs of patients - caregivers - and staff Conducts comprehensive religious services and worship - pastoral ministry - and administration of Chaplain services Engages as a spiritual leader - a compassionate listener - and counselor - especially during times of crisis Provides emotional support and counseling using empathy and strong interpersonal skills to effectively connect with people of all ages Provides thorough spiritual leadership - offers prayers - and provides overall religious services for Veteran patients - patient families - staff - and community Conducts rituals before groups of people - which requires effective leadership and public speaking skills Uses sound guidance and advice to lead prayer and religious services Addresses the religious - spiritual - moral - and ethical problems of patients and staff Provides effective counseling services to patients and staff Conducts regular rounds of hospital wards where patients are critically ill Ministers to newly admitted - pre- and post-operative patients - the critically ill - and the families of concerned Veteran patients Provides advance care planning education - information - and counsel for patients and their families Provides pastoral ministry to patients with respect to the patient's faith group - including conscientious attention during emergencies and crises Builds strong interpersonal relationships with patients and ensures all patients are provided opportunities for the free exercise of religion Ascertains Veterans are protected from proselytizing and coercing from any source Provides chaplain service expertise to exchange information relative to the background and current condition of patients Supervises - trains - and coaches volunteer groups who offer their services as assistants Provides expert guidance and advice to other VHA Chaplains as needed Serves as professional clinical Chaplain in specialty clinics such as Inpatient/Outpatient Mental Health - Inpatient/Outpatient Substance Use Disorder Clinics - Hospice - and Palliative Care - Grief and Bereavement Clinics - Women's Health Clinics - Cancer Treatment Centers - Spinal Cord/Polytrauma units - Pain clinics - Infectious Disease Clinics - Whole Health Clinics/Programs - etc Engages in group consultative discussions or conferences with these professionals to provide Chaplain related input to collaborate on the evaluation and review of the patient's progress Work Schedule: PRIMARY 8:00am - 4:30pm - Sunday-Thursday with rotation of on call for weekend/holidays 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 #J-18808-Ljbffr