Full-Time Permanent Staff Psychologists

A recruitment/relocation incentive may be offered to highly qualified candidate(s).*

The Staff Psychologist may be assigned to any location within the BPVAHCS Mental Health & Behavioral Sciences Service (MH&BSS) continuum of care. The incumbent is expected to provide psychological services and consultation with supervisors and peers, as appropriate.

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program.

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Accepting applications
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Yes-as determined by the agency policy.


* Travel Required

Relocation expenses reimbursed

Permanent -


* Full-time -


* Service

0180 Psychology


* Security clearance

Position sensitivity and risk

Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk


* Credentialing

Suitability/Fitness


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The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be 8 calendar days from opening of announcement, with subsequent cut-off dates. Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis until positions are filled. Videos

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The Bay Pines VA Healthcare System (BPVAHCS) Mental Health & Behavioral Sciences Service (MH&BSS) is a group of caring, supportive, and collegial professionals who value cultural diversity and Inclusion within our staff and training programs. We are focused on creating an enduring, vibrant, and supportive community for Veterans, staff, and students through education, and advocacy for all people, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, age, class, religion, or ability. We strive to uphold values of diversity and inclusion and welcome interested applicants from underrepresented groups who are also committed to cultural competence and humility.

Ability to diagnose mental health disorders, conduct psychological and/or neuropsychological assessments.
* Ability to treat mental health disorders through a variety of modalities, with an emphasis on Evidence Based Psychotherapies, and provide adjunctive interventions for treatment of medical disorders.
* Provides a full range of psycho-diagnostic services, including assessment and using the most appropriate psychotherapeutic techniques in providing quality care.
* Upon direction from BPVAHCS leadership, and in support of the VA patient care mission, conducts patient care services through face-to-face, and telehealth mediums, to include, but not limited to video and telephonic means.
* If unlicensed, practice is under the supervision of a licensed psychologist.
* Adheres to operational policies and procedures for the treatment team, established by the Service Chief, MH&BSS.
* Facilitates liaisons with other health care programs to effectively coordinate services.
* The licensed psychologist may be involved in the Psychology Training Programs and Training Committee and present at internship didactic training and Mental Health Grand Rounds.
* The unlicensed Graduate Psychologist may present at internship didactic training and Mental Health Grand Rounds, but is considered an Ad Hoc, and not a full member of the Psychology Training Programs and Training Committee.
* Assists/advises other staff in processes and procedures related to VHA, BPVAHCS, or program specific performance measures and/or program outcome and evaluation.
* Experience assessing, diagnosing, and treating Veterans presenting with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Substance Use Disorders, and Co-Occurring Disorders.
* Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 08:00 AM - 04:30 PM (although must be amenable to work outside normal tour of duty as a manager/supervisor to address emergent needs of Veterans/programs/facility)

Available - As determined by Facility/Agency

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized - As determined by Facility/Agency

Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required

Learn about our Psychology Enrichment Program here: Bay Pines Mental Health Psychologist Enrichment Program - YouTube.

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All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
* Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
* Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
* Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
* Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

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. 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: Internship
* 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.


* 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.
* 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.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.


* 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.

Staff Psychologist GS-11 (Entry Level)

* Staff Psychologist GS-12 (Developmental Level)

* 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)

* The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13.

Physical demands are generally minor, and the work is primarily sedentary in nature and usually occurs within climate controlled clinical and administrative settings. There may be occasional light lifting/carrying (15 pounds or less) requirements to relocate boxed materials from one area to another, equipment and room set-up, and ambulation related to physical inspections of facilities. working independently and at times closely with others, moving about the campus for appointments and/or meetings) for the position, with or without adaptive devices, technology, or reasonable accommodations that are more thoroughly evaluated in the current version of Certificate of Medical Examination, U.Office of Personnel Management Optional Form 178 (OF178). Use of fingers may be required to operate computers.

A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. 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.

01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Your application, resume, C.V., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., spiritual; community; Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.