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This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application. Basic Requirements a. Citizenship. Be a 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 3.g, this part.) b. Education (1) 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. The specialty area of the degree must be consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed. OR (2) 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: (a) The re-specialization program must be completed in an APA or a CPA accredited doctoral program; and, (b) the specialty in which the applicant is retrained must be consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed. OR (3) Have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution, with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature.] AND (4) Internships (a) 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 (b) 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 (c) 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 (d) 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 (e) 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. c. 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. (1) 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. (2) Loss of Credential. A psychologist who fails to maintain the required licensure must be removed from the occupation, which may result in termination of employment. At the discretion of the appointing official, an employee may be reassigned to another occupation if qualified and if a placement opportunity exists. d. Physical Requirements. All applicants must meet the physical standards for the position. A physical examination with random drug testing prior to employment may be required. 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. Grade Determination: GS-13 Staff Psychologist (Full Performance Level). Experience. At least 2 years of experience as a professional psychologist, with at least one year equivalent to the GS-12 level. (b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 1. Knowledge of, and ability to apply, professional psychological treatments to a 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. (c) Assignment. At this level, psychologist are licensed to practice independently in the provision of psychological services, consulting with peers and supervisors as appropriate. They may be assigned to any VHA program and setting. PREFERRED EXPERIENCE: At least 2 years of postdoctoral training in clinical neuropsychology consistent with joint INS-APA Division 40 training guidelines. References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G18, Psychologist Qualification Standard GS-180, Veteran Health Administration. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office. ["The GS 13 Staff Psychologist is a position aligned under the Behavioral Health Care Line of the Syracuse VAMC. Clinical Duties Provide a full range of neuropsychological and psychological assessment services and diagnosis of mental disorders, particularly for complex or unusually difficult patients, providing education to patients, family members, and significant others. Provides consultation to professional staff within the VA Medical Center and to community providers as appropriate clinical assessment findings and appropriate treatment plans for patients. Provide a full range of neuropsychological evaluation services for diagnosis and treatment of head injury, stroke, neurological injury and disease, dementia, and cognitive impairment, provides cognitive remediation/rehabilitation services as appropriate; coordinates evaluations of inpatients and outpatients; manages the acquisition and maintenance of test materials. Provides consultation to VA service providers and services regarding the cognitive functioning and neuropsychological status of Veterans; offers constructive suggestions for psychotherapy and participate in interdisciplinary evaluation and treatment teams. Completes all clinical documentation as appropriate. Performs other related duties, as assigned. Provide clinical services through the use of telehealth technology Administration Participates fully in peer review, assessing the quality of professional psychology standards provided in the organization. Responsible for the identification of patient problems requiring consultation with other multidisciplinary medical center staff and making appropriate referrals. Assures that appropriate referrals to specialty programs, including community resources, are accomplished. This may include ordering the following consults: Mental Health Programs, (i.e.,Substance Abuse, PTSD, Mental Health Intensive Case Management, Compensated Work Therapy, Homeless, and Day Treatment) Vocational Rehabilitation and Long-Term Care. Fully accountable for practice, including entering patient visits, measuring outcomes to interventions, and meeting productivity standards. Academic/Teaching/Training May hold faculty appointment at affiliated university. Provides clinical supervision to various disciplines and levels of training. Involved in Psychology Training Program and Training Committee. Provides leadership guidance and consultation to staffs of units which assigned. Is involved in the training of medical students, medical and psychiatric residents. Nursing students, fellows and other graduate or post-graduate trainees, as appropriate. Serves as a consultant to other medical center staff and trainees and assist in their formulation of the psychological characteristics. D. Research /Program Evaluation Oversees the establishment of program monitors and outcome measurements within programs assigned using a data-driven quality assurance processes. Responsible for the timely completion of all clinical charting and documentation required by the medical center and service line.\\If applicable, plans and oversees the completion of personal research programs, designed to provide information regarding program planning and relevant treatment approaches. As appropriate, presents outcome data and research results at VA and regional or national scientific or professional meetings. Assists in preparation of RFP's and grant proposals, as assigned. Other Significant Responsibilities Serves on psychology, medical center, VISN, and/or national VA committees, task forces or rotations, as assigned.\\ Represents psychology and mental health on decision-making committees at the medical center, as assigned. Actively participates in leadership roles on local, state and national professional organizations. Work Schedule: 8AM-4:30PM, M-F Telework: The VA supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. Part-time telework (up to 6 days per pay period) may be authorized for a highly qualified candidate. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Financial Disclosure: Not Required"]

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