Chaplain

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Clarksburg (WV); On-site; USD 75,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs seeks a Chaplain to provide professional religious, spiritual, and pastoral care across patient care settings, ensuring pastoral care aligns with the needs of Veterans, caregivers, and staff. The Chaplain addresses spiritual health as part of overall wellness and care planning within the VHA system.

The role requires M.Div. or equivalent, ecclesiastical endorsement, and board certification (or equivalent pathways) with a focus on advanced chaplaincy

Qualifications

• Must have U.S. citizenship.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Master of Divinity or equivalent graduate theological degree from CHEA/ATS-accredited institution.
• Full Ecclesiastical Endorsement dated within the past 12 months.
• Board certification by BCCI or reciprocal body; 4 CPE units required for certification.
• Temporary appointment up to two years allowed for non-board-certified chaplains if conditions are met.

Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive religious, spiritual, and pastoral care to Veterans, caregivers, and staff.
• Integrate pastoral care into all aspects of patient care and clinical settings.
• Address spiritual health as part of overall wellness and care planning.

Skills

English language proficiency

Education

Master of Divinity (M.Div.) or equivalent

Ecclesiastical Endorsement (dated within 12 months)

Board Certification by BCCI or reciprocal body

Four units of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) required for board certification

Job description

The Chaplain serves as a professional performing clinical assignments for the VHA, providing comprehensive religious, spiritual, and pastoral care to all persons that are commensurate with the needs, desires, and voluntary consent of the Veteran, caregiver, or staff. The Chaplain addresses the spiritual component of health and wellness in every patient care setting to ensure that pastoral care is fully integrated into all aspects of chaplain services.

Chaplain Basic Requirements

All Chaplains must meet the following basic requirements:

1. Citizenship - You must be a citizen of the United States
2. English Language Proficiency - Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7403(f)
3. Education: Master of Divinity degree or equivalent educational qualifications as evidenced by a graduate-level theological degree from a college, university or theological school accredited by a member of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) (https://www.chea.org/) or Association of Theological Schools (ATS) (https://www.ats.edu/) and recognized by the U.S. Department of Education
   • For applicants who do not possess a Master of Divinity degree or equivalent educational degree may meet this requirement with an approved educational equivalency review from a nationally recognized board certification body for chaplains. This would include the Board of Chaplaincy Certification Inc. (BCCI) or a U.S. certifying body that has a reciprocity agreement with BCCI
4. Endorsement: Applicants must possess and maintain a full and active ecclesiastical endorsement and must be dated within the past 12 months. A complete list of Ecclesiastical Organizations that the Department of Veterans Affairs recognizes as Ecclesiastical Endorsing Organizations is available here: https://www.patientcare.va.gov/chaplain/Ecclesiastical_Endorsement.asp Note: Current VA Chaplains do not have to get updated endorsements after they are hired
5. Certification: Applicants must be a Board-Certified Chaplain by the Board of Chaplaincy Certifications Inc. (BCCI), or a U.S. certifying body that has a reciprocity agreement with BCCI. Board Certification that requires four units of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) is qualifying. https://www.apchaplains.org/bcci-site/
   • Exception for Non-Board-Certified Chaplains (GS-9 Entry-Level Only): Applicants pending board certification may be given a temporary appointment not to exceed two years if they meet all other eligibility requirements and provide proof of completion of four units of CPE as required by an approved board certifying body.

Grandfathering Provision

All Chaplains employed in VHA under permanent, appropriate, and legal placement on the effective date of the qualification standard (07/03/2025), are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade and/assignment held, including positive education and certification, where applicable. For employees who do not meet all the basic or assignment-specific requirements in this standard, but met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed, the following provisions apply:

• Employees may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the FPL, or be changed to a lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or be newly placed in supervisory or managerial positions
• If an assignment above the FPL level requires an additional certification over and above the basic requirements, employees must meet the assignment-specific requirement before they can be reassigned or promoted
• Employees 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
• Employees retained in this occupation under this provision who subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of re-entry to the occupation
• Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional certification(s) that meets all the basic or assignment-specific qualification requirements of this standard must maintain the required credential(s) as a condition of employment in the occupation.

Grade Determinations

Chaplain, GS-12

1. In addition to meeting the basic requirements, to qualify at the GS-12 level you must possess at least one (1) year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-11)
2. Specialty Certification: Specialty certification is demonstrated advanced practice and/or specialization in chaplaincy beyond the board certification. You must possess a Specialty Certification from a professional chaplain certifying body that is directly related to the position being filled. The list of Board Certifying Chaplain Organizations and Specialty Certifying Organization is located here: https://www.patientcare.va.gov/chaplain/Employment_Information_and_Resources.asp
3. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the experience and specialty certification requirements above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs
   • Ability to apply relevant theories and methodologies to their ministry specialty
   • Ability to integrate specialized psychological and sociological theory with an advanced approach to spiritual care
   • Skill to seek out primary research and research literature that informs the ministry specialty and one's spiritual care practice
   • Skill in developing and implementing methods for measuring effectiveness of chaplain practice and services in the specialty area, utilizing outcome evaluations to improve treatment services and to design system changes
   • Ability to mediate conflict, hold various emotions and diffuse moral distress among staff and complex crisis situations
   • Ability to provide specialized consultation, teaching and mentoring to colleagues and students on advanced spiritual care interventions in the service delivery area
   • Ability to apply advanced clinical knowledge to write policies, procedures and/or practice guidelines pertaining to the service delivery area.

Reference

For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-12.

Physical Requirements

This position requires the Chaplain to meaningfully engage with Veteran patients and family members by walking and moving within the healthcare setting or with the incumbent using an assistive device. The Chaplain is required to speak, hear (hearing aid permitted) and work closely with others.