Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this occupational series. For more information, refer to Required Documents below. Although hybrid title 38 occupations follow title 5 Veterans' preference rules, 38 U.S.C. 7412, effective 10/1/2024 waives the requirement to apply Veterans' preference to external applicants applying for this position as identified by VHA as outlined in OCHCO Bulletin 9/25/2025.

The Neuropsychologist will function as the Program Coordinator of the Neuropsychology Program, located within the Behavioral Health Service at the VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System (VASNHS). Veterans referred to the Neuropsychology Clinic come from a wide geographic area. Their healthcare, psychosocial problems, and needs are complex and require a high degree of clinical oversight and creative problem solving.

The Neuropsychologist is a credentialed and privileged Licensed Independent Practitioner with specialized training and expertise in neuropsychological and psychological assessment procedures.

Duties may include but are not limited to:

• Perform insightful assessments of serious and complicated cases involving psychiatric illness, catastrophic medical conditions, dementia, and other high-risk diagnoses.
• Responsible for coordinating responses to all consultation requests for psychological and neuropsychological evaluations.
• Coordination scheduling of all referred Veterans and has oversight of assessments, evaluation of test results, monitoring of test interpretation, and appropriate communication of results to referral sources. In addition, maintenance of all testing equipment, forms, manuals, and materials are under the purview of the incumbent.
• Ensures the correct administration, scoring, and interpretation of psychological and neuropsychological measures. In addition, the accurate presentation of resulting data is entered into the Veteran's electronic medical record.
• Participates in the assignment of Veterans to treatment teams and programs and consults with other specialists in planning treatment for Veterans with co-morbidities.
• Offers expertise in professional governance to appropriate committees and organizations within VHA.
• Responsible for all entries in the Veteran's medical record (CPRS) and timely completion of patient notes, encounters, and reports.
• Participates actively in Performance Improvement (PI) activities.
• Adheres to HIPAA, privacy regulations, and VHA Directives related to release of information.
• Responsible for completion of all assigned clinical reminders and performance measures assigned to the Care Line for patients under their care.
• Participates fully in peer review, assessing the quality of professional psychology and neuropsychology standards provided in the organization.
• Consultant, liaison, and point of contact for programs within Behavioral Health services, throughout the hospital, and within the community.
• Oversee the day-to-day operations of the Neuropsychology Program staff. The incumbent collects data, keeps administrative records, and monitors Veteran and program clinical indicators, thresholds, and performance measures.
• Prepares reports and statistics for VASNHS, VISN, and national use, as well as drafting responses to Congressional inquiries.
• Evaluates the quality of the professional services provided. The incumbent devises methods of obtaining and evaluating data to determine the effectiveness of treatment and identifies consistent qualities of successful and non-successful interventions within the Neuropsychology Program.
• Responsible for oversight of required clinical records as well as assisting and coordinating clinical and support program development across disciplines and with other Service Lines.
• Participates in local, VISN, and national committees/community networking activities as requested by BHS or facility leadership.
• Participates actively in Performance Improvement (PI) activities.
• Participate in research, as appropriate, through case findings and referral of patients to clinical investigators engaged in research or through participating in research studies.
• Apply new approaches to patient care through integration of approved investigative and research methods in clinical practice, basing interventions on evidence of effectiveness.
• Participates in education/CME lectures, research, specialty care programs, and/or clinics as assigned by the Chief of Behavioral Health.
• Participates in educational development through standard section meetings and assumes responsibility for professional development by attending relevant training and regularly reviewing the literature to improve clinical competencies.
• Involved in Psychology and Behavioral Health Service training programs, the training of social work interns, psychiatric residents, medical students, and nursing students, as appropriate.

Work Schedule: Full-Time, Monday-Friday - Schedule to be discussed during interview
Compressed/Flexible:Available
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 0000
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact, susan.bengel@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• 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. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• 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. For the purpose of meeting this requirement, the term "specialty area" refers to the specific specialty areas recognized by the accrediting body and not to specific job duties that might require special skills. Currently, APA accredits doctoral programs in the specialty areas of clinical psychology, counseling psychology, school psychology, or combinations of two or more of those areas. PCSAS accredits doctoral programs in psychological clinical science. CPA accredits doctoral programs in clinical psychology, counseling psychology, clinical neuropsychology, and school psychology. There are no job assignments in VHA that require the skills of a school psychologist; therefore, an applicant with a degree in the specialty area of school psychology is not eligible for appointment. Strictly for the purpose of determining eligibility for appointment as a psychologist in VHA, there is no distinction between the specialty areas (with the exception of school psychology). 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
• Experience. At least two years of experience as a professional psychologist, with at least one year equivalent to the GS-12 grade level
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
  • Knowledge of, and ability to apply, professional psychological treatments to the full range of patient populations.
  • Ability to provide professional advice and consultation in areas related to professional psychology and behavioral health.
  • Knowledge of clinical research literature.
• Assignment. This is the full performance level for staff psychologists. At this level, psychologists 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, such as inpatient or outpatient medicine, primary care, surgery, mental health, neurology, rehabilitation medicine, geriatrics, Compensation and Pension, Vet Centers, and the VHA National Center for Organization Development. Psychologists diagnose mental disorders, conduct psychological or neuropsychological assessments, treat mental disorders through a variety of modalities, and provide adjunctive interventions for treatment of medical disorders. Among the modalities provided are individual, family, and group psychotherapies and other interventions such as behavioral health and community interventions. Psychologists consult with medical center staff on a wide variety of patient care issues. Staff psychologists may be involved in program evaluation, teaching, training, and research activities.
• 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.
• 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.
• Board Certification. Persons hired to psychology positions in the VHA who completed an internship that was not accredited at the time the program was completed must be 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. The board certificate must be current, and the applicant must abide by the certifying body's requirement for continuing education.
• Grandfathering Provision. [All people employed in VHA as a psychologist on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education (i.e., degree and internship requirements) and licensure/certification that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. (1) Employees grandfathered under this provision for this revision may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions or beyond the assignment currently held for those being grandfathered to assignments above FPL.] (2) Psychologists 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. (3) Psychologists initially grandfathered into this occupation who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure that meet all of the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation.

Preferred Experience: Neuropsychological Testing; Neuropsychological report writing; Previous Program Coordinator experience.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.Physical Requirements: In accordance with VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

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

Physical Requirements: In accordance with VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

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., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

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.

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

• License
• Resume

Special Note for Applications: To complete your application, please use the following link https://vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Resume.docx to download the standard Clinical Resume Document. This one-page document does not need to be modified and must be uploaded into the two-page restricted 'Resume' document upload field.

Your full resume/CV may be uploaded without page limitation into the 'Other' document upload field.

The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), etc.

• Cover Letter
• DD-214/ Statement of Service
• Disability Letter (Schedule A)
• Disability Letter (VA)
• License
• PCS Orders
• Professional Certification
• Proof of Marriage Status
• Resume
• Separation Notice (RIF)
• SF-15
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

Veterans' preference does not apply for internal, current permanent Federal agency employees, and Direct Hire Authority.

Next steps