Staff Psychologist (BHIP) - EDRP, Recruitment/Relocation Incentive Authorized

Qualifications

VA HPT's pending the completion of education or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Applicants pending license requirements may be given a temporary appointment as a graduate psychologist not to exceed 2 years at the GS‑11 or GS‑12 grade levels – depending on years of creditable experience.

Basic Requirements

• United States Citizenship – must be a U.S. citizen.
• English language proficiency – proficient in spoken and written English.

Education

To be qualified for a GS‑0180 Psychologist you must possess one of the following:

• 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.
• A doctoral degree in any area of psychology and, in addition, successfully complete a re‑specialization program (including documentation of an approved internship) that (a) is completed in an APA or CPA accredited doctoral program, and (b) the specialty is consistent with the assignment.
• A doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally‑accredited institution with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature.

Internship Requirement

• Successful completion of a professional psychology internship training program accredited by APA or CPA at the time it was completed and consistent with the assignment.
• 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 of the internship.
• VHA facilities that offered full‑time, one‑year pre‑doctoral internships prior to PL 96‑151 (pre‑1979) are acceptable.
• Applicants whose internship was not APA/CPA accredited may be hired only if they are currently board certified by the American Board of Professional Psychology in a specialty consistent with the assignment (board certification must be maintained).
• Applicants with a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 may fulfill the internship requirement by having the equivalent of a one‑year supervised internship experience at a site acceptable to the doctoral program, with a statement from the program if not on the transcript.

Licensure

• Must hold a full, current, unrestricted license to practice psychology at the doctoral level in a State, Territory, Commonwealth, or the District of Columbia.
• Non‑licensed applicants who meet all other eligibility may receive a temporary “graduate psychologist” appointment at GS‑11 or GS‑12 for up to two years, provided they practice only under supervision of a licensed psychologist. Failure to obtain licensure within that period may result in termination.

Grade Determinations

• GS‑11 (Entry Level): No experience beyond the basic requirements.
• GS‑12 (Development