This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 08/20/2025. Basic Requirements: 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. 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. PCSAS accredits doctoral programs in psychological clinical science. CPA accredits doctoral programs in clinical psychology, counseling psychology, clinical neuropsychology, and school psychology. There are no job assignments in VHA that require the skills of a school psychologist; therefore, an applicant with a degree in the specialty area of school psychology is not eligible for appointment. Strictly for the purpose of determining eligibility for appointment as a psychologist in VHA, there is no distinction between the specialty areas (with the exception of school psychology). 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: (a.) The re-specialization program must be completed in an APA or a CPA accredited doctoral program; (b.) the specialty in which the applicant is retrained must be consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed. 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; Have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally accredited institution, with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature. 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; (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 (NOTE: Once board certified, the employee is required to maintain board certification.), 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. 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. 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. 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. Grade Determinations: GS-13 Staff Psychologist: In additional to meeting the basic requirements, you must also have at least 2 addition years of experience, with at least on 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. To be creditable, the experience must have required the use of knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics associated with current psychology practice: 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. Preferred Experience: APA-Accredited Internship in clinical psychology. Advanced Training in Health Psychology, Behavioral Medicine, or Behavioral Health at the internship and/or post-doctoral level or equivalent work experience. Prior professional experience in Health Psychology or Behavioral Medicine is highly desirable. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. 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-12 to GS-13. Physical Requirements: see VA Handbook 5019.
Duties include but are not limited to: Clinical Responsibilities: Provides direct clinical care including evidence-based treatments in the area of health psychology. This may include providing group and individual interventions for various health related concerns, (health behavior changes and coping with chronic medical conditions), working closely with and contributing to the MOVE! Weight Management Program, and specialty health psychology assessments (e.g., pre-surgical evaluations Bariatric Surgery, etc.) and interventions consistent with occupation specific licensure requirements. May supervise pre-doctoral and post-doctoral psychology trainees in the areas noted. Staff Training and Consultation Responsibilities: HBC will have a primary clinical consultant role in health behavior coaching and is likely to work with clinical supervisors in carrying out consultation with allied health staff. The incumbent will carry out appropriate consultation with discipline-specific leaders. Maintains awareness of, and provides consultation on, the evidence-base for health behavior interventions to promote health and prevent disease, and for use of effective health coaching methods by medical center staff. The incumbent will maintain awareness of current policy and clinical resources, and utilize training opportunities provided by the VHA National Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention (NCP) and other relevant VHA national program offices, including the Office of Mental Health Services, the Office of Public Health, and the Office of Patient Centered Care and Cultural Transformation. Leading, coordinating, and delivering NCP-supported Motivational Interviewing (MI) training programs and providing ongoing follow-up skills training to PACT clinicians, Whole Health Staff, and other clinical staff as needed. Collaborating with the VHEC & HPDP PM to deliver "TEACH for Success" training to PACT staff, Whole Health staff, and other clinical staff who provide health coaching and health behavior change counseling. Administrative/Program Evaluation/Outcome Measurement/Research: Assists HPDP PM in providing leadership and guidance in carrying out Whole Health and HPDP Program planning, outcome evaluation, and staff development activities. Co-Chair HPDP Committee with HPDP PM. In close collaboration with the HPDP Program Manager and other Whole Health staff, plans, develops, adapts, implements, and assesses efficacy of health behavior interventions for the promotion of health and to address health risk behaviors as part of disease prevention and chronic disease management (e.g., weight loss and management, tobacco use cessation, patient involvement in care and self-management, physical activity adoption, eating wisely, stress management, limiting unhealthy alcohol use, sleep hygiene). Other Responsibilities: May serve on Healthcare System (HCS), Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN), and/or National VA committees or task forces specifically relating to assessment and/or intervention issues associated with the HPDP. Represents Psychology, Primary Care, Behavioral Health or Prevention on decision-making committees within the HCS. Is involved in the development and on-going improvement of the Psychology Training Programs and actively participated in the Psychology Training Committee meetings. Additional duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30am - 4:00pm Telework: Ad hoc telework may be available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position.