Staff Psychologist

Join the Department of Veterans Affairs as a Psychologist, providing essential mental health services. We are seeking dedicated professionals at the GS-11, GS-12, or GS-13 levels, with the full performance level being GS-13.

• *Key Responsibilities (Depending on Grade Level):**
• Apply professional psychological treatments and assessment methods across diverse patient populations.
• Design and implement effective treatment strategies.
• Incorporate new clinical procedures and advancements.
• Conduct research activities, including designing projects or supporting research teams (for specific roles).
• Provide professional advice and consultation in psychology and behavioral health (GS-13).
• *Qualifications & Requirements:**
• *Basic Requirements:**
• U.S. Citizenship and English Language Proficiency are required.
• Applicants nearing completion of educational or licensure requirements may be tentatively selected but must fully meet all requirements prior to hire.
• *Education:**
• A doctoral degree in psychology from an APA, PCSAS, or CPA-accredited program at the time of completion.
• or A doctoral degree in any area of psychology plus successful completion of an APA or CPA-accredited re-specialization program (including an approved internship) consistent with the assignment.
• or A doctoral degree awarded between 1951-1978 from a regionally-accredited institution with a primarily psychological dissertation.
• *Internship:**
• Successful completion of an APA or CPA-accredited professional psychology internship program consistent with the assignment.
• or Completion of new VHA psychology internship programs sanctioned by the VHA Central Office Program Director for Psychology and the VHA Office of Academic Affiliations.
• or Completion of full-time, one-year pre-doctoral internships offered by VHA facilities prior to 1979.
• or Current board certification by the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP) in a specialty consistent with the assignment (for non-APA/CPA accredited internships).
• or For doctoral degrees awarded 1951-1978, the equivalent of a one-year supervised internship experience acceptable to the doctoral program.
• *Licensure:**
• Hold a full, current, and unrestricted license to practice psychology at the doctoral level in a U.S. State, Territory, Commonwealth, or the District of Columbia.
• **Exception:** Non-licensed applicants meeting other eligibility criteria may receive a temporary “graduate psychologist” appointment (GS-11 or GS-12) for up to two years. During this period, care must be provided under the supervision of a licensed psychologist, and failure to obtain licensure will result in termination.
• *Experience Levels:**
• **Psychologist, GS-11 (Entry Level):** No experience beyond basic requirements.
• **Psychologist, GS-12 (Developmental Level):**

* At least one year of professional psychology experience equivalent to the GS-11 level. * **Key Skills:** Ability to apply a wide range of professional psychological treatments/assessments, design/implement effective treatment strategies, incorporate new clinical procedures. Ability to conduct research (if applicable to role), perform basic research tasks.

• **Psychologist, GS-13 (Full Performance Level):**

* At least two years of professional psychology experience, with one year equivalent to the GS-12 level. * **Key Skills:** Ability to apply professional psychological treatments to the full range of patient populations, provide professional advice and consultation in psychology/behavioral health, knowledge of clinical research literature.

• *Reference:** For more details, visit: https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/