Clinical Psychologist

About the role

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.

Qualifications

• 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.
  • 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:
  • The re-specialization program must be completed in an APA or 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 AND Internships
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.

  Grade Determinations

  Staff Psychologist - GS-11 (Entry Level)

  • No experience beyond the basic requirements.

  Staff Psychologist - GS-12 (Developmental Level)

  • At least one year of experience as a professional psychologist equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-11).

  Staff Psychologist - GS-13 (Full Performance - Level)

  • At least two years of experience as a professional psychologist - with at least one year equivalent to the GS-12 grade level.

  Duties

  The incumbent is assigned as a Psychologist with the Mental Health Service with primary assignment as a clinical psychologist and serves as a Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) team member. Duties include but not limited to:

  • Provides clinical care management to an assigned cohort of patients.
  • Provides a full range of psychological services to typical and atypical.
  • Maintains productivity and documentation standards as indicated by maintaining casework loads in compliance with established service policies and response to requests for patient treatment services in a timely manner.
  • Complies with guidelines published for ethical standards of psychologists by the American Psychological Association and maintains professional knowledge and skills by receiving continuing education that satisfies state licensing requirements.
  • Informs treatment teams with whom the psychologist works (i.e. BHIP - PC-MHI - CBOC - MH Specialty Programs - C&P - etc.) regarding the availability - coverage - limits of competence - and professional issues affecting the delivery of psychologist services to these teams.
  • Actively participates in the supervision of pre-doctoral - post-doctoral - and practicum Psychology trainees - and may participate in the supervision of trainees in other disciplines - including medical and psychiatric residents assigned to the MHS for rotations.

  Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

  • Knowledge of and ability to apply a wide range of professional psychological treatments or assessment methods to a variety of patient populations.
  • Ability to design and implement effective treatment strategies.
  • Incorporate new clinical procedures.
  • Conduct research activities - such as designing and implementing clinical research projects (staff psychologists with specified research job duties).
  • Perform basic research tasks of scholarship and research execution within the context of an established research team - including research participant relations - research documentation - data acquisition - maintenance - and collaboration.
  • Knowledge of - and ability to apply - professional psychological treatments to the full range of patient populations.
  • Provide professional advice and consultation in areas related to professional psychology and behavioral health.
  • Knowledge of clinical research literature.

  Preferred Experience

  • None.

  Physical Requirements

  See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

  Total Rewards

  The incumbent is assigned as a Psychologist with the Mental Health Service with primary assignment as a clinical psychologist and serves as a Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) team member. Duties include but not limited to:

  • Provides clinical care management to an assigned cohort of patients.
  • Provides a full range of psychological services to typical and atypical.
  • Maintains productivity and documentation standards as indicated by maintaining casework loads in compliance with established service policies and response to requests for patient treatment services in a timely manner.
  • Complies with guidelines published for ethical standards of psychologists by the American Psychological Association and maintains professional knowledge and skills by receiving continuing education that satisfies state licensing requirements.
  • Informs treatment teams with whom the psychologist works (i.e. BHIP - PC-MHI - CBOC - MH Specialty Programs - C&P - etc.) regarding the availability - coverage - limits of competence - and professional issues affecting the delivery of psychologist services to these teams.
  • Actively participates in the supervision of pre-doctoral - post-doctoral - and practicum Psychology trainees - and may participate in the supervision of trainees in other disciplines - including medical and psychiatric residents assigned to the MHS for rotations.