Summary

This position is eligible for EDRP - a student loan payment reimbursement program. The incentive approval is dependent on further facility leadership approval and available remaining funds. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy. Final program approval - award amount (up to $200 -000) and eligibility period are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services office. Former participants are ineligible to apply for the EDRP incentive.

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. 09/26/2025

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Must be US Citizen
• Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
• English Language Proficiency: Psychologists must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA policy
• No person will be appointed to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA who is not proficient in written and spoken English
• Education - must have ONE of the following: 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
• 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
• and - the specialty in which the applicant is retrained must be consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed
• OR Have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution - with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature
• Internship- must have ONE of the following: 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
• OR 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
• OR 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
• OR 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
• (NOTE: Once board certified - the employee is required to maintain board certification.) OR 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
• 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
• GS11 and GS12 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 [(c)(2)(B)] 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 psychologist who is licensed
• Failure to obtain licensure during that period is justification for termination of the temporary appointment
• Grandfathering Provision
• All persons employed in VHA as a psychologist on the effective date of this qualification standard 2/2018 are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title - series and grade held - including positive education (i.e. - degree and internship requirements) and licensure/certification that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation
• Employees grandfathered under this provision for this revision may be reassigned - promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level - or changed to lower grade within the occupation - but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions or beyond the assignment currently held for those being grandfathered to assignments above FPL
• Psychologists who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard
• Psychologists initially grandfathered into this occupation who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure that meet all of the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation
• NOTE: If psychologists who are grandfathered under this provision leave the occupation - the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation
• Grade Determinations: In addition to meeting the basic requirements stated above - the following qualifications criteria must be met in determining the appropriate grade assignment of candidates
• Staff Psychologist GS-11 (Entry Level) Experience: None beyond the basic requirements
• Staff Psychologist GS-12 (Developmental Level) Experience: At least one (1) year of experience 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
• Staff Psychologist GS-13 (Full Performance Level) Experience: At least two (2) years of experience as a professional psychologist - with at least one (1) year equivalent to the GS-12 grade level
• References: VA Regulations - specifically VA Handbook 5005/103 Part II Appendix G18 Psychologist Qualification Standard - dated Feb 7 - 2018
• For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-11 to GS-13
• Physical Requirements: The work requires patience and emotional regulation
• The work may require using appropriate techniques to physically restrain patients who present a danger to self or others
• The work may also require assisting physically disabled Veterans
• Day-to-day work involves sitting - walking - standing and carrying light objects
• Some of the work is performed in a setting away from the office - where the environment cannot be controlled
• Incumbent must have a valid driver's license and pass Occupational Health screening as position will require driving a government vehicle
• Incumbent must be able to climb stairs and walk short distances.

Duties

• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Staff Psychologists diagnose mental disorders - conduct psychological and/or neuropsychological assessments - treat mental disorders through a variety of modalities and provide adjunctive interventions for treatment of medical disorders
• They consult with medical center staff on a wide variety of patient care issues
• Staff psychologists may be involved in program evaluation and/or research activities
• The incumbent is a Licensed Independent Provider who engages in professional and scientific work which relates to behavior - capacities - personality - interests - emotions and mental disorders for Veterans presenting in a home based primary care setting located within the North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System - located at the Gainesville VA facility
• Major duties include: Applies a wide range of professional psychological treatments and assessment methods to a variety of patient populations
• Provides a full range of therapeutic interventions for Veterans and other eligible patients through a variety of modalities including evidence-based practices and adjunctive interventions including but not necessarily limited to individual and group psychotherapy - family therapy - consultation - rehabilitation - and psycho-education
• Diagnoses mental disorders - and conducts psychological and/or cognitive function assessments and neuropsychological screenings
• Designs and implements effective treatment strategies
• Incorporates new clinical procedures when appropriate
• Provides professional advice and consultation in areas related to professional psychology and behavioral health
• Participates in evaluation of peers as part of the FPPE and OPPE review process
• Is responsible for timely completion of all clinical charting and documentation required by the Medical Center or healthcare system - as appropriate
• Provides regular supervision to trainees and unlicensed staff if approved by their supervisor - service chief and (for trainees) the Psychology Training Director or Associate Training Director
• Serves as a consultant to other medical center staff and trainees and assist in their formulation of the psychological characteristics and appropriate treatment expectations regarding their patients
• **Travel to patient homes and outreach sites is required via government vehicle so a valid driver's license is required for this position.** Work Schedule: Monday to Friday 8am-4:30pm Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 51981F - 51982F - 51983F- Staff Psychologist EDRP Authorized: May be authorized for a highly qualified candidate subject to further facility leadership approval - available funding - and in accordance with agency policy
• Once selected and approved - contact VISN8CCOE@va.gov - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
• Learn more Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not authorized Travel: You may be expected to travel up to 75% of the time - Valid Driver's License required Additional Benefits Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment - full time employees with a total family income below $144 -000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment - up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth - adoption - or foster care placement of a child.