Staff Psychologist - Behavioral Health

Qualifications

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.

• Citizenship: Must be a United States citizen. Non‑citizens may be appointed only when recruitment of qualified citizens is not possible, per VHA policy.
• 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: Doctoral degree in psychology from an APA‑, PCSAS‑, or CPA‑accredited program, or a doctoral degree awarded between 1951‑1978 from a regionally‑accredited institution with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature. The specialty must match the assignment, or the applicant must complete a re‑specialization program meeting specific accreditation and specialty‑consistency requirements.
• Internship: Successful completion of a professional psychology internship accredited by APA or CPA and consistent with the assignment. Acceptable alternatives include VHA‑sanctioned pre‑accreditation internships, pre‑1979 one‑year pre‑doctoral internships, board‑certified psychologists with non‑accredited internships, or equivalent supervised experience verified by the doctoral program.
• Licensure: Full, current, unrestricted license to practice psychology at the doctoral level in a U.S. State, Territory, Commonwealth, or the District of Columbia. Non‑licensed applicants may receive a temporary “graduate psychologist” appointment (GS‑11 or GS‑12) for up to two years, provided they practice under supervision and obtain licensure within that period.
• Grade determinations:
  • GS‑11 Staff Psychologist (Entry Level) – no experience beyond basic requirements.
  • GS‑12 Staff Psychologist (Developmental Level) – at least 1 year of professional psychologist experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS‑11). Non‑licensed psychologists practice under supervision with less intense supervision than at GS‑11.
  • GS‑13 Staff Psychologist (Full Performance Level) – at least 2 years of professional psychologist experience, including at least 1 year equivalent to GS‑12.
• Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs):
  • Ability to apply a wide range of professional psychological treatments and assessment methods to diverse patient populations.
  • Design and implement effective treatment strategies and incorporate new clinical procedures.
  • Conduct and support clinical research activities, including project design, participant relations, documentation, data acquisition, and collaboration within an established research team.
  • Provide professional advice and consultation related to psychology and behavioral health.
  • Knowledge of clinical research literature and evidence‑based therapies.