Staff Psychologist

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Perry Point (MD); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is looking for licensed psychologists to join the Mental Health Clinical Center. Responsibilities include providing psychological services, conducting treatment strategies, and collaborating within multidisciplinary teams. This position offers a competitive salary and the chance to work in a supportive environment focused on veterans’ mental health.

Benefits

Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP)

Qualifications

• Must possess a doctoral degree in psychology from an accredited program.
• Hold a current unrestricted license to practice psychology.

Responsibilities

• Provide psychological services at various VA sites.
• Apply a range of psychological treatments and design treatment strategies.

Skills

Psychological treatments

Multidisciplinary teamwork

Education

Doctoral degree in psychology

Job description

This position is assigned to the Mental Health Clinical Center, VA Maryland Health Care System (VAMHCS). The position is based at the Perry Point Division but may require providing psychological services at other VAMHCS sites.

Duties

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. Applicants must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit their EDRP application within four months of appointment. The program offers awards up to $200,000 with an eligibility period of one to five years, determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the application. Former EDRP participants are ineligible to apply.

Requirements

Qualifications

Applicants pending completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be tentatively selected but cannot be hired until all requirements are met.

Basic Requirements

• United States Citizenship: 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, per VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j.
• Education:

Have a doctoral degree in psychology from an APA, PCSAS, or CPA accredited graduate program. The specialty area must align with the employment assignment. Currently, APA accredits doctoral programs in clinical psychology, counseling psychology, school psychology, or combinations thereof. PCSAS accredits programs in psychological clinical science. CPA accredits programs in clinical psychology, counseling psychology, clinical neuropsychology, and school psychology. Note that there are no roles requiring school psychology skills, so degrees in that specialty are not eligible.

OR

• Have a doctoral degree in any psychology area and complete a re-specialization program (including an APA or CPA internship), with documentation showing completion. The specialty must match the employment assignment. The applicant must provide official transcripts or certificates.
• Have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution, with a primarily psychological dissertation, and have completed an APA or CPA accredited internship or equivalent supervised experience, or be board certified by the ABPP in a compatible specialty.

Licensure

Hold a full, current, unrestricted license to practice psychology at the doctoral level in the U.S. or D.C.

Board Certification

If the internship was not accredited at the time of completion, must be board certified by the ABPP in a relevant specialty.

Grade Determinations

GS-11 (Entry Level):

• Experience: None beyond basic requirements.

GS-12 (Developmental Level):

• Experience: At least one year as a professional psychologist at GS-11 or equivalent.
• Skills: Ability to apply a range of psychological treatments, design treatment strategies, incorporate new procedures, and conduct research activities.

GS-13 (Full Performance):

• Experience: At least two years as a professional psychologist, including one year at GS-12 level or equivalent.
• Skills: Ability to treat the full range of patient populations, provide professional advice, and understand clinical research literature.

Preferred Experience: Evidence-based psychotherapeutic interventions; experience working with multidisciplinary teams.

For more information, visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

The full performance level is GS-13. The appointment range is GS-11 to GS-13.