Staff Psychologist; Icmhr-Range - EDRP​/Authorized

Summary

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.

• United States Citizenship
  :
  You must be a U.S. Citizen.
• English language proficiency
  :
  Psychologists must be proficient in spoken and written English.
• Education
  :
  To be qualified for a GS‑0180 Psychologist you must possess a doctoral degree in psychology from a graduate program 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;
  • the specialty in which the applicant is retrained must be consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed.
• Have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally‑accredited institution with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature.
• Internship Requirement
  :
  You must have successfully completed a professional psychology internship training program 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. Alternatives include:
  • New VHA psychology internship programs in the process of applying for APA accreditation are acceptable if 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.
  • VHA facilities that offered full‑time one‑year pre‑doctoral internships prior to PL 96‑151 (pre‑1979) are considered acceptable.
  • Applicants who completed an internship not accredited by APA or CPA may be considered eligible only if they are currently board certified by the American Board of Professional Psychology in a specialty area consistent with the assignment.
  • Board certified employees must maintain board certification.
• 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 (a)(1)(D) 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 licensed psychologist.
• Failure to obtain licensure during that period is justification for termination of the temporary appointment.
• Grade Determinations
  :
  • GS‑11 (Entry Level):
    
    Experience:
    
    None beyond the basic requirements.
  • GS‑12 (Developmental Level):
    
    Experience:
    
    At least one year 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.
  • GS‑13 (Full Performance – Level):
    
    Experience:
    
    At least two years as a professional psychologist – with at least one year equivalent to the GS‑12 grade level.
• Knowledge –
  
  Skills and Abilities
  
  (KSA's):
  Candidates must demonstrate the following: (KSAs listed below)
  • GS‑11:
    None beyond basic requirements.
  • GS‑12: 1. Knowledge of and ability to apply a wide range of professional psychological treatments or assessment methods to a variety of patient…