BHIP Champion

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• Education
  (1) 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).
• AND
  (4) 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.
• c. 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.
• d. Board Certification and Loss of Credential
  (1) Board Certification. Persons hired to psychology positions in the VHA who completed an
  internship that was not accredited at the time the program was completed must be 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. The board certificate must be current and the applicant must
  abide by the certifying body's requirement for continuing education.

May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).

Grade Determinations: Staff Psychologist, GS-13 (Full Performance, Level)
(a) Experience. At least two years of experience as a professional psychologist, with at least one year equivalent to the GS-12 grade level. (b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
1. Knowledge of, and ability to apply, professional psychological treatments to the full range of patient populations.
2. Ability to provide professional advice and consultation in areas related to professional psychology and behavioral health.
3. Knowledge of clinical research literature.
(c) Assignment. This is 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. They may be assigned to any VHA program and setting, such as inpatient or outpatient medicine, primary care, surgery, mental health, neurology, rehabilitation medicine, geriatrics, Compensation and Pension, Vet Centers, and the VHA National Center for Organization Development. Psychologists diagnose mental disorders, conduct psychological or neuropsychological assessments, treat mental disorders through a variety of modalities, and provide adjunctive interventions for treatment of medical disorders. Among the modalities provided are individual, family, and group psychotherapies and other interventions such as behavioral health and community interventions. Psychologists consult with medical center staff on a wide variety of patient care issues. Staff psychologists may be involved in program evaluation, teaching, training, and research activities.

References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/103 PART II APPENDIX G18 II-G18-1 [APPENDIX G18. PSYCHOLOGIST QUALIFICATION STANDARD GS-0180

The full performance level of this vacancy is 13. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is 13.

Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.