Staff Psychologist - Geropsychology

Summary

The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this occupational series. For more information - refer to Required Documents below. This is an open continuous announcement that will remain open until filled. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis. Eligible applicants will be referred for consideration on the first cut-off 04/10/2026 - and every 2-weeks thereafter until a selection is made.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position - you must meet the basic requirements as well as the grade requirements listed in the job announcement. Applicants pending the completion of training or license requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Basic Requirements:

• United States 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 VA Handbook 5005 - Part II - Chapter 3 - section A - paragraph 3g
• 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
• 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
• -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: The re-specialization program must be completed in an APA or a CPA accredited doctoral program
• -AND- - the specialty in which the applicant is retrained must be consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed
• -OR- Have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution - with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature
• Internship 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
• 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
• 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 (2) 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
• Failure to obtain licensure during that period is justification for termination of the temporary appointment
• Applicants may qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Psychologist Qualification Standard - GS-0180 (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria)
• Please see the referenced qualification standard for specific details regarding this Grandfathering Provision
• GRADE REQUIREMENTS: In addition to meeting the Basic Requirements stated above - the following qualifications criteria must be met to qualify at the following Grade Levels: Staff Psychologist - GS-11 (Entry Level) Experience - None beyond basic requirements Psychologists who are NOT licensed must practice under the supervision of a licensed psychologist
• Staff Psychologist - GS-12 (Developmental Level) Experience - At least one (1) year of experience as a professional psychologist equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-11) Psychologists who are NOT licensed must practice under the supervision of a licensed psychologist - but with less intense supervision than at the GS-11 grade level
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSAs) - In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Knowledge of and ability to apply a wide range of professional psychological treatments or assessment methods to a variety of patient populations
• Ability to design and implement effective treatment strategies
• Ability to incorporate new clinical procedures
• Ability to conduct research activities - such as designing and implementing clinical research projects (staff psychologists with specified research job duties)
• Ability to perform basic research tasks of scholarship and research execution within the context of an established research team - including research participant relations - research documentation - data acquisition - maintenance - and collaboration
• Staff Psychologist - GS-13 (Full Performance Level) Experience - At least two (2) years of experience as a professional psychologist - with at least one (1) year equivalent to the GS-12 grade level
• Licensed to practice independently
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSAs) - In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Knowledge of - and ability to apply - professional psychological treatments to the full range of patient populations
• Ability to provide professional advice and consultation in areas related to professional psychology and behavioral health
• Knowledge of clinical research literature
• PLEASE NOTE: Psychological work experience (paid or non-paid employment) must have occurred AFTER the doctoral degree was obtained and must have required the use of KSA's and other characteristics associated with current professional psychology practice
• Preferred Experience: Geropsychology experience and experience working in a setting similar to a VA Community Living Center (memory care - long-term/short-term rehab - and hospice inpatient units)
• References: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit and access the VA Psychologist Qualification Standard - GS-0180
• 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: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

Duties

• 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
• Staff Psychologists are Licensed Independent Providers who engage in professional and scientific work which relates to behavior - capacities - personality - interests - emotions and mental disorders
• This work may include any of the following: providing professional clinical services - conducting research - carrying out education and training activities - carrying out program evaluation activities - clinical consultation - supervision and administration
• Staff psychologists at the GS-11/GS-12 level diagnose mental disorders - conduct psychological or neuropsychological assessments - treat mental disorders through a variety of modalities - provide adjunctive interventions for treatment of medical disorders - and may conduct research
• They may be assigned to any program area
• Psychologists who are not licensed must practice under the close supervision of a licensed psychologist
• Staff psychologists at the GS-13 level are at 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.Among the modalities provided are individual - family - and group psychotherapies and other interventions such as behavioral health and community interventions
• Duties at ALL levels include but are not limited to: Clinical Responsibilities (80% of time) Applies a wide range of professional psychological treatments and assessment methods to a variety of patient populations
• Provides a full range of therapeutic interventions for Veterans and other eligible patients through a variety of modalities including evidence-based practices and adjunctive interventions including but not necessarily limited to individual and group psychotherapy - family therapy - consultation - rehabilitation - and psycho-education
• Diagnoses mental disorders - and conducts psychological and/or cognitive function assessments and neuropsychological screenings
• Designs and implements effective treatment strategies
• Incorporates new clinical procedures when appropriate
• Is responsible for timely completion of all clinical charting and documentation required by the Medical Center or healthcare system - as appropriate
• Other Responsibilities (20% of time) May serve as a consultant to other medical center staff and trainees and assist in their formulation of the psychological characteristics and appropriate treatment expectations regarding their patients
• May conduct research activities - such as designing and implementing clinical research projects (staff psychologists with specified research job duties)
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 8:00 am - 4:30 pm 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 View email address on careers.biausa.org - 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: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: PD55742F - PD55743F - and PD55744F Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,321 health care facilities, including 172 VA Medical Centers and 1,138 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics) to over 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program. VHA Medical Centers provide a wide range of services including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy. In addition, most of our medical centers offer additional medical and surgical specialty services including audiology & speech pathology, dermatology, dental, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, podiatry, prosthetics, urology, and vision care. Some medical centers also offer advanced services such as organ transplants and plastic surgery.