All groups of qualified individuals Excepted Service Permanent Full Time Vacancy Identification Number (VIN) 1403869
**OUR MISSION:**To fulfill President Lincoln's promise – "To care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan" – by serving and honoring the men and women who are America's Veterans.
As a VA professional, your opportunities are endless. With many openings in the multiple functions of VA, you will have a wide range of opportunities and leadership positions at your fingertips. Not only is it the largest, most technologically advanced integrated health care system in the Nation, but we also provide many other services to Veterans through the Benefits Administration and National Cemeteries. VA professionals feel good about their careers and their ability to balance work and home life. VA offers generous paid time off and a variety of predictable and flexible scheduling opportunities. For more information on the Department of Veterans Affairs, go to http://www.vacareers.va.gov/.**
VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.**
**NOTE:** The Professional Standards Board (a peer-review group) will review the selected candidate’s education and experience and recommend the step at which the candidate will be placed in that specific grade. The salary is based on the grade and step approved for the selected candidate.
**NOTE:** Appointments to any hybrid title 38 occupations identified in 38 U.S.C § 7401(3) or approved for hybrid status by the Assistant Secretary for Human Resources and Administration, under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7401(3) or 7405, applicants must be referred in accordance with the provisions of 5 CFR 302.304(b)(5). Once all eligible and qualified applicants have been determined, Veterans who are eligible for preference will be given first consideration. These procedures do not apply to internal (e.g. merit promotion) selections. Must pass pre-employment examination Must be proficient in written and spoken English Designated and-or Random Drug Testing required Background and-or Security Investigation required Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
These positions are located at the Tomball, Lake Jackson, Richmond, Katy, and Galveston/Texas City Community Based Outpatient Clinics of the Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center (MEDVAMC) and in coordination with the Mental Health Care Line (MHCL) and General Mental Health Clinic (GMHC). Note: One full-time Psychologist position will be a shared position between the Lake Jackson and Richmond outpatient clinics.
The Psychologist will provide a full range of psycho diagnostic services including assessment and using the most appropriate psychotherapeutic techniques in providing quality care. Provides direct patient contact including psychological assessment and treatment planning, individual psychotherapy/assessment sessions, family/caregiver stress therapy sessions; Perform evaluations for patients with a variety of psychological disorders; Provide psychological assessments and individual and group psychotherapy; Provide a full range of therapeutic interventions including evidence based treatments; Provide supervision of trainees conducting direct clinical care; Consults with medical center staff on a wide variety of patient care issues; May be involved in program evaluation and/or research activities.
The Psychologist may provide clinical supervision to various disciplines and levels of training, including trainees seeking licensure in psychology. If unlicensed, the individual will be supervised by a licensed psychologist and the experience and supervision must meet the standards for psychology licensure.
**Work Schedule:** Monday-Friday; 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. May be required to work evenings or weekends.**Functional Statement Title/#:** Psychologist
**BASIC REQUIREMENTS.** The basic requirements for employment as a VHA psychologist are prescribed by: Public Law 96-151 codified in Title 38, U.S.C. § 7402. To qualify for appointment, all applicants for the position of psychologist in VHA must meet the following:
**Citizenship.** Citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g, this part.)
**Education.** Have a doctoral degree in psychology from a graduate program in psychology accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA). The specialty area of the degree must be consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed.
**AND**
Have successfully completed a professional psychology internship training program that has been accredited by APA. Exceptions: (1) 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 Central Office of Academic Affiliations at the time that the individual was an intern and (2) VHA facilities who offered full one-year pre-doctoral internships prior to PL 96-151 (pre-1979) are considered to be acceptable in fulfillment of the internship requirement.
**Licensure.** Hold a full, current, and unrestricted license to practice psychology at the doctoral level in a State, Territory, Commonwealth of the United States (e.g., Puerto Rico), or the District of Columbia. **Exception.** The Secretary may waive the requirement of licensure for an individual psychologist for a period not to exceed 2 years from the date of employment on the condition that such a psychologist provide care only under the supervision of a psychologist who is so licensed. Non-licensed psychologists who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements may be given a temporary appointment as a graduate psychologist under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405 (a) (1) (D). Failure to obtain licensure during that period is justification for termination of the temporary appointment. This may result in termination of employment.
**English Language Proficiency.** Psychologists must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part.
**Note:** Regular supervision and oversight is required for a psychologist assuming this position at the GS-11 level. At the GS-12 level, involved supervision and oversight is still required, but at a less frequent and thorough level. The GS-13 level psychologist exercises independent judgment in the practice and provision of psychological services, with full clinical privileges, and requires minimal supervision and oversight.
**GRADE REQUIREMENTS**
**Current Professional Psychology Practice.** To be creditable, the experience must be post-doctoral degree and must have required the use of knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics associated with current professional psychology practice. Creditable post-doctoral degree experience can be obtained through employment as a psychologist or through participating in a supervised post-doctoral psychology training program. This may be evidenced by one or both of the following:
1. Active professional practice. Active professional practice means paid/non-paid employment as a professional psychologist.
2. A full, current, and unrestricted license.
**Quality of Experience.** Experience is only creditable if it is post-doctoral degree experience as a professional psychologist directly related to the duties to be performed. Qualifying experience must also be at a level comparable to professional psychology experience at the next lower level.
**Part-time Experience.** Part-time experience is creditable according to its relationship to a full-time workweek. For example, a psychologist employed 20 hours per week, or on a ½ time basis, would receive 1 full-time workweek of credit for each 2 weeks of service.
**Post-Doctoral Degree Fellowships.** Post-doctoral degree fellowships are training programs in an advanced area of clinical practice. Training as a fellow may substitute for creditable experience on a year-for-year basis.
**Grade Determinations.** In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates:
**REQUIREMENTS FOR GS-11:** None beyond the basic requirements.
**REQUIREMENTS FOR GS-12:** Applicants must meet all of the basic requirements at the GS-11 level, at least one year of experience as a professional psychologist equivalent to the next lower grade level. Applicants must demonstrate the following characteristics: 1) Knowledge of, and ability to apply, a wide range of professional psychological theories and assessment methods to a variety of patient populations. 2) Ability to develop coherent treatment strategies. 3) Ability to incorporate new clinical procedures.
**REQUIREMENTS FOR GS-13:** Applicants must hold a full, current, and unrestricted license to practice psychology at the doctoral level in a State, Territory, Commonwealth of the United States, or the District of Columbia. In addition to the experience requirements at the GS-12 level, applicants must have at least one year additional experience as a psychologist equivalent to the next lower grade level. Applicants must also demonstrate the following characteristics: 1) Knowledge of, and ability to apply, advanced professional psychological theories and neuropsychological assessment techniques 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.
**Please Note:** The successful candidate grade and salary will be determined by a Professional Standards Board based on education and experience.
**TRANSCRIPTS MUST BE SUBMITTED IN ORDER FOR QUALIFICATIONS TO BE DETERMINED. INDIVIDUALS WHO DO NOT SUBMIT TRANSCRIPTS WILL BE RATED INELIGIBLE.**
All qualifications and specialized requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.
Individuals selected for the position of Psychologist are subject to completion of the credentialing and privileging process at the MEDVAMC.
**PLEASE NOTE:** Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. **Physical Requirements.** See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.
Your application, résumé and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.
**NOTE: ** The Professional Standards Board (a peer-review group) will recommend the grade and salary for new appointments.
**All applicants are encouraged to apply online.**
**To apply for this position**, you must complete the View Occupational Questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below.
The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on Friday, May 29, 2015 to receive consideration.
1. To begin, click **Apply Online** to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.
2. Click **Submit My Answers** to submit your application package.
*NOTE*: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.
To verify your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account, https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, select the Application Status link and then select the more information link for this position. The Details page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
To return to an incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete.
All applicants are _**required**_ to submit the following supporting document type(s):
* Resume
* Transcript
Applicants may also submit the following supporting document type(s),which may not be required for all applicants:
* Cover Letter
* DD-214
* OF-306
* Other (VA Form 10-2850c - Application for Associated Health Occupations)
* Other Veterans Document
* SF-15
* SF-50
**VA Form 10-2850c** - Application for Associated Health Occupations (Available at http://www.va.gov/vaforms/medical/pdf/vha-10-2850c-fill.pdf) **(required)**.**
**Please use this checklist__to make sure you have included other documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify),documentation to support Veterans Preference claims, or ICTAP/CTAP documentation (for displaced Federal employees). You will not be contacted for additional information.**
Veterans' Preference:** When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference on the Occupational Questionnaire in the section provided and provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) and/or documentation related to your active duty service which shows dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), or dates of impending separation. Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veterans Preference" with required proof as stated on the form. For more information, please review the information for disabled Veterans in the application checklist or visit http://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/vetpref/index.aspx.
**Faxing Applications or Supporting Documents:**
You are encouraged to apply online. Applying online will allow you to review and track the status of your application. If you are unable to apply online or unable to upload your supporting documents to your online application, follow the directions located at the following site: Fax Options. The Vacancy ID of the job opportunity announcement is 1403869.
*NOTE*: If you applied online and your application is complete, do not fax the paper application (1203-FX) as this will overwrite your prior online responses and may result in you being found ineligible.
After we receive your complete application package (including all required documents), your qualifications will be reviewed and assigned an initial rating.
We will also review your application to make sure that your résumé supports the answers given in the questionnaire. If your résumé does not support your questionnaire answers, we will adjust your rating accordingly. Based on your ranking or numerical score, you may be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration and possible interview. You will be notified when your rating is determined. VA offers a comprehensive benefits package. This link provides is an overview of the benefits currently offered:http://www.vacareers.va.gov/why-choose-va/benefits/index.asp.**
Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave:** Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employees credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.
This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.