CHA Career Center

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 of the Psychologist: United States Citizenship English Language Proficiency Education-must 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 completed a respecialization program meeting both of the following conditions: a) the respecialization program must be completed in an APA or a CPA accredited doctoral program; and b) the specialty in which you were retrained is consistent with the assignment you are am applying for; OR, have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution, with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature. and, Internship-must 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). NOTE: 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: Candidates must 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 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. Experience: In additional to meeting the basic requirements as stated above: GS-11 Level: no additional experience beyond the basic requirement GS-12 Level: at least 1 full year of experience as a professional psychologist equivalent to the GS-11 level GS-13 Level: at least 2 addition years of experience, with at least one year equivalent to the GS-12 level, as a professional psychologist that was obtained through employment as a psychologist or through participating in a supervised post-doctoral psychology training program that demonstrates 1) active professional practice that was paid/non-paid employment and/or 2) a full, current and unrestricted license. *Experience is only creditable for the Psychologist if it is post-doctoral degree experience as a professional psychologist directly related to the duties performed. Preferred Experience: Primary Care Mental Health experience and/or behavioral medicine experience is preferred. The full performance level of this position if selected as Psychologist 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 Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level. Reference: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G18 Physical Requirements: Walking, standing, bending, lifting, periods of sitting ["The Primary Care Mental Health Integration (PCMHI) psychologist functions as part of an interdisciplinary primary care team, serving primary care providers, and allied Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) members. The PCMHI psychologist will provide services for a wide range of concerns, resolving problems within the primary care service context, and visits are provided in the primary care practice area, so that the patient views meeting with the team psychologist as a routine primary care service. Duties of the PCMHI Psychologist are to include, but not limited to: Brief functional assessments using assigned templates, brief intervention, education, and consultative services regarding a wide range of mental health and behavioral medicine concerns, upon referral from primary care providers and allied PACT members.\nBrief, time limited mental health and behavioral interventions face-to-face, via telephone and via telehealth.\nSeeing patients for an average of 2 to 4 sessions for a broad range of concerns including, but not limited to, mild to moderate depression and anxiety, grief/bereavement, pain, tobacco cessation, alcohol misuse, weight management, coping with chronic illness, stress management, sleep, relaxation training, non-adherence to treatment and other interventions will be provided as clinically appropriate, based on patient need.\nUsing population based practice management strategies to include conducting brief assessments, based on 30-minute appointments, referring to Mental Health care services as appropriate, and using brief screening tools to track progress and inform care routinely (e.g., PHQ-9, PCL, AUDIT C, etc.).\nProviding education to PACT members on behavioral health issues as well as consultation on tips for successful care management, even when there is no direct patient contact. Typical shift will match the primary care clinic's hours (e.g., 0730-1600 or 0800-1630), though occasional evening and Saturday hours (0800 to noon) may be required. When properly credentialed and licensed, the incumbent will operate independently in all areas, consulting with peers and supervisors when warranted.\nServing as a consultant to other medical center staff and trainees and assist in their formulation of the psychological characteristics and appropriate treatment expectation regarding her/his patients. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, Day Shift (07:30a-4:00pmor 08:00a-4:30pm)\nCompressed/Flexible: Not Available\nTelework: Available\nVirtual: This is not a virtual position.\nRelocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required"]