Clarification from the agency

ALL US CITIZENS DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY: This position is being filled using Direct-Hire Authority (5 CFR 337.201) for this occupation.

Major duties include, but are not limited to:

• Monitoring, for compliance and timely update, the expiration of time-limited credentials.
• Serving as subject matter expert (SME) in the field of credentialing.
• Receiving and reviews VetPro reports detecting problem areas requiring further investigation.
• Managing provider applications (initial) for Non-LIPs credentialing within the VAMC.
• Assuring application packages and other documents meet technical requirements per specialty of provider and assures application folder and database account (VetPro or other internal databases and spreadsheets) meet technical requirements.
• Determining processes for coordination of incoming data and documents from a variety of sources.
• Analyzing and managing issues related to documents that do not meet expected requirements, regulations or guidelines such as adverse actions against licensures, certifications, and NPDB) CQ reports.
• Conducting final appointment into the VetPro database, after thoroughly researching, analyzing and validating all data, information, documents and signature authorities.
• Developing and providing routine and special reports as requested by the C&P manager/Analyst.
• Possessing a credit card and responsible for maintaining records, reconciling monthly charge statements and verifying legitimacy of requests for NPDB Single and CQ enrollments/ renewals, licensure verification (if applicable), National Student Clearing House, Work Number and certifications (if applicable).
• Reconciling transactions and resolving discrepancies with Fiscal Service.
• Performing other credentialing duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm
Position Description Title/PD#: Program Support Assistant (Credentialing Specialist)/PD99868A
Physical Requirements: The work is mostly sedentary. Occasionally, light physical effort may be required, such as that involved with walking, stair climbing, and carrying of light office items.
Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position
Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• 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.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary 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 probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 02/06/2026.

Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-06 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-05. For a GS-07 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-06. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment.

GS-06 grade level: One year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-05 grade level in the federal service); experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities (KSA's) and other characteristics to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled, in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience includes:

• Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities and meet deadlines.
• Attention to detail is required to analyze applications, documents, files and other material pertaining to the credentialing program.
• Skill in using software applications such as word processing and data bases and internet database applications for data entry, file maintenance and data retrieval.
• Ability to communicate in writing to prepare emails, letters, and reports.
• Knowledge of medical terminology to assure competence/appropriateness of credentials requested.
• Knowledge of the contacts required for verification of information in health care provider files.
• Ability to communicate orally technical information to a diverse group of individuals with varying levels of understanding.
• Comprehensive knowledge of VetPro policies, including but not limited to, VetPro Data Integrity, VAMC level access control, mandatory annual VetPro security and confidentiality training, and mandatory annual privacy act training.
• Considerable working knowledge and understanding of accreditation standards and principles, provisions and practices of credentialing and regulatory procedures such as TJC and Office of Inspector General/Combined Healthcare Inspection Program (OIG/CHIP), which affect the use of program related support resources in the area of credentialing;
• Comprehensive knowledge of complex pertinent laws, regulations, policies and precedents, VHA Handbooks, Directives, Memos, and Notices, and local medical center procedures related to the principles, practices and program goals of the credentialing program.

GS-07 grade level: One year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-06 grade level in the federal service); experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities (KSA's) and other characteristics to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled, in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience includes, but is not limited to:

• Verifying of information in health care provider files
• Maintaining confidentiality of information in accordance with the Privacy Act
• Provides quality control checks on data
• Managing multiple projects and priorities and meets deadlines
• Using software applications such as word processing and data bases and internet database applications for data entry, file maintenance and data retrieval
• Researching reference materials, regulations, and standards to identify appropriate action necessary to correct problems or issues

There is no educational substitution for the GS-06/07 level.

Best Qualified:

• Experience in applying credentialing rules, regulations, policies, procedures, and compliance requirements.
• Skill in analyzing credentialing database systems and processes to achieve data integrity.
• Skill in utilizing various databases and electronic systems.
• Experience communicating and working with staff at various managerial levels.
• Administrative experience within healthcare.

You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:

• Administration and Management
• Attention to Detail
• Customer Service (Clerical/Technical)
• Database Management Systems
• Financial Management

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.

Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

Physical Requirements:
The work is mostly sedentary. Occasionally, light physical effort may be required, such as that involved with walking, stair climbing, and carrying of light office items.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

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 WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Applicants will be referred in the order in which they were received.

Documents Accepted:

• Cover Letter
• DD-214/ Statement of Service
• Disability Letter (Schedule A)
• Disability Letter (VA)
• PCS Orders
• Performance Appraisal
• Resume
• Separation Notice (RIF)
• SF-15
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action

Documents Required:

• Resume

Please review the above list(s) to ensure you have included all necessary documents required for your application.Not every applicant will require the same documents, therefore it is the applicants responsibility to ensure that their application package includes all necessary documents to determine qualifications and eligibility for appointment, such as a copy of your SF-50, transcript, ICTAP/CTAP documentation (for displaced Federal employees).You will not be contacted for additional information. Applicants will be deemed ineligible if supporting documentation is not submitted.

Veterans' Preference: Since the Direct-Hire Recruitment Authority is being used, traditional Veterans' Preference rules do not apply. Qualified veterans will, however, be given full consideration for this position.

Applications are accepted online. Applying online will allow you to review and track the status of your application.

Next steps