Supporting Veterans on the Path to Recovery: Becoming an Addictions Psychiatrist in Fredericksburg, VA

The medical community faces a rising call to action in the realm of mental health and addiction medicine. For physicians specializing in psychiatry, few callings are as noble—or as deeply impactful—as serving the brave men and women of the United States Armed Forces. The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is actively seeking a qualified, compassionate, and skilled Physician - Addictions Psychiatrist to join the clinical team at the brand-new Fredericksburg Health Care Center in Fredericksburg, Virginia.

This position is not merely an employment opportunity; it is a clinical leadership pathway within a highly sophisticated, interdisciplinary mental health environment. Offering a competitive salary range of $260,000 to $315,000 per year, world-class federal benefits, and up to $200,000 in student loan repayment program (EDRP) assistance, this career choice balances premier compensation with an unmatched clinical purpose. If you are passionate about addiction medicine, trauma-informed care, and system-wide clinical excellence, this outpatient role in the heart of Virginia offers the perfect setting to thrive.

About the Agency: The Veterans Health Administration

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) operates under a historic and sacred mission first articulated by President Abraham Lincoln: "To care for those who have served in our nation's military and for their families, caregivers, and survivors." As the largest integrated healthcare system in the United States, the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) serves millions of Veterans across thousands of clinical sites nationwide.

At the forefront of modern medical advancements, the VHA has pioneered comprehensive, "whole health" care paradigms. Rather than treating diseases or symptoms in isolation, VA clinicians are empowered to support the overall well-being of the patient—integrating physical, mental, social, and spiritual health.

The Fredericksburg Health Care Center is a state-of-the-art facility operating under the Central Virginia VA Health Care System. This modern facility was established to dramatically expand healthcare access for Veterans residing in Northern and Central Virginia. By offering comprehensive primary care and mental health services close to home, the center serves as a critical community hub where Veterans receive top-tier, specialized medical care.

Job Responsibilities: Clinical Impact and Leadership

As an Addictions Psychiatrist at the Fredericksburg Health Care Center, you will function as a vital member of a highly collaborative, interdisciplinary mental health treatment team. This clinic specializes in providing outpatient psychiatric management to a diverse Veteran population, including geriatric Veterans and post-deployment combat Veterans who are navigating the transition to civilian life.

Your primary clinical home will be the Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Clinic. In this specialty care setting, you will use your expertise to guide patients through recovery from substance dependencies, co-occurring mental health disorders (such as PTSD, major depression, and anxiety), chronic pain, and opioid use disorders.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

Comprehensive Evaluations: Perform psychiatric intake evaluations, comprehensive substance use disorder assessments, suicide risk screenings, and mental status examinations to establish precise diagnoses.
Medication Management: Deliver cutting-edge medication management services, specifically administering and monitoring advanced pharmacological interventions such as buprenorphine, naltrexone, and other medications tailored for substance use disorders.
Interdisciplinary Liaison: Serve as a clinical bridge and liaison between the specialty SUD clinic, primary care teams, and the general outpatient mental health clinics to ensure seamless, coordinated care.
Treatment Planning: Collaborate closely with psychologists, social workers, addiction counselors, and nurse practitioners during multidisciplinary conferences to craft, review, and optimize individualized patient treatment plans.
Educational Leadership: Provide clinical in-service training and educational sessions for the SUD Clinic staff to promote the adoption of evidence-based practices and national clinical guidelines.
Quality & Compliance: Maintain administrative and clinical documentation in full compliance with the standards of The Joint Commission (TJC), HIPAA, VA national policies, and federal regulations.

With a predictable work schedule of Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, you can dedicate yourself fully to patient care during the day while enjoying your evenings, weekends, and holidays with family and friends.

Comprehensive Qualification Requirements

To ensure our nation’s heroes receive the highest standard of care, applicants must meet rigorous educational, clinical, and licensing benchmarks. The basic requirements for this position include:

U.S. Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed in rare circumstances when no qualified U.S. citizens are available.
Medical Degree: A Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) degree from an approved school of allopathic or osteopathic medicine accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) or the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA).
Residency Training: Completion of a residency program approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in an accredited core specialty training program (such as General Psychiatry) leading to board eligibility.
Professional Licensure: A current, active, full, and unrestricted license to practice medicine or surgery in any U.S. State, Territory, Commonwealth, or the District of Columbia.
Language Proficiency: Candidates must be fully proficient in written and spoken English.
Physical Standards: Ability to pass a pre-employment physical examination. The role is primarily sedentary but requires sitting, standing, walking, and bending within an office or clinic environment.

Preferred Qualifications:

Board certification in General Adult Psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN), with added subspecialty qualifications in Addiction Psychiatry.
Extensive clinical experience working within military or Veteran health systems.

Salary and Benefits Comparison

Working for the federal government offers financial stability, premium healthcare plans, and unique incentives that outmatch private-sector clinical employment. Below is a comparison highlighting how the VA’s total compensation package stacks up against traditional private practice or private hospital groups:

Benefit Category	VA Addictions Psychiatrist Package	Private Sector Average
Annual Base Salary	$260,000 to $315,000 (with annual bonuses)	Highly variable; often dependent on billings
Student Loan Support	Up to $200,000 tax-free via EDRP	Rarely offered, or capped at minimal amounts
Paid Time Off (PTO)	50 to 55 Days (26 annual, 13 sick, 11 holidays, 5 CME)	Average of 15 to 25 days combined
Malpractice Protection	100% Free full liability with tail coverage	Costly premiums; complex tail negotiations
Retirement Structure	Pension (vested in 5 years) + 5% matching 401k	Simple 401k matching only; no pension
Employment Contracts	No corporate contracts or non-competes	Heavy non-compete clauses and productivity quotas

Premium Federal Benefits Explained

The Veterans Health Administration is committed to offering a "Total Rewards" package designed to support your life, health, family, and future. Key benefits include:

Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP): This role is fully authorized for EDRP. Eligible physicians can apply for up to $200,000 in student loan reimbursement, making it easier to eliminate medical school debt rapidly.
Sign-On Incentives: Highly qualified candidates may be authorized to receive recruitment or relocation incentives (sign-on bonuses).
Unrivaled Paid Leave: You will accrue 26 days of annual leave and 13 days of sick leave each year, in addition to enjoying 11 paid federal holidays. Board-certified physicians may also receive up to 5 days of paid administrative leave for continuing medical education (CME) activities.
Retirement Security: Rest easy knowing you are building a secure future. Your retirement plan includes a traditional, guaranteed federal pension (FERS) vested after only 5 years, plus the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) with a generous 5% employer match.
Health and Life Insurance: Choose from a wide selection of federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance programs, all of which can be carried over into your retirement.
Malpractice Peace of Mind: Enjoy your clinical practice without the stress of insurance premiums. The VA provides comprehensive malpractice liability protection with lifetime tail coverage at absolutely zero cost to you.

Step-by-Step Application Guide & Pro-Tips

Navigating the federal hiring process requires attention to detail. Follow these steps to ensure your application is successful:

Step 1: Create Your USAJobs Account

Visit USAJobs to set up a personal profile. Build or upload a detailed professional resume.

Step 2: Complete the Custom Clinical Resume Requirement

Important Formatting Rule: The VA requires a specific, standardized one-page Clinical Resume Document to bypass restrictive upload filters. Download this document using the link in the application instructions.
The Strategy: Upload this unmodified, single-page document directly into the designated "Resume" field on USAJobs.
Upload Your Full C.V.: Upload your comprehensive, unlimited-page professional Curriculum Vitae (C.V.) into the "Other" document field. This ensures the hiring managers see your full academic, research, and clinical history without getting flagged by automated page limiters.

Step 3: Complete the Occupational Questionnaire

When prompted, answer the online assessment questions thoroughly. Ensure that every clinical skill or experience level you claim in the questionnaire is explicitly detailed and supported by written descriptions in your uploaded C.V.

Step 4: Submit Prior to the Closing Date

Submit your final package before the official closing date on September 30, 2026. Keep in mind that highly competitive positions may close early if qualified candidates are referred and selected, so early application is highly encouraged.

Q: Can I practice at this VA clinic with an out-of-state medical license?

Yes! As a federal medical officer, you can practice at the Fredericksburg, Virginia facility using any active, current, and unrestricted license issued by any U.S. State, Territory, Commonwealth, or the District of Columbia.

Q: What clinical conditions will I treat in the SUD Clinic?

Our clinicians manage patients navigating substance use disorders (alcohol, stimulants, opioids, etc.) often paired with complex co-occurring mental health conditions. This includes post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injuries, major depression, anxiety disorders, and chronic pain management.

Q: Is there assistance for my student loans?

Yes, this position is fully eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP). Qualified candidates can receive up to $200,000 in loan repayments over a period of one to five years. You must submit your EDRP application within four months of your appointment date.

If you are a psychiatrist looking to align your clinical expertise with a higher purpose, the Physician - Addictions Psychiatrist role at the Fredericksburg Health Care Center represents an extraordinary career path. With an outstanding annual salary, robust federal retirement benefits, and a supportive, collaborative team, you can build a stable and fulfilling career in beautiful Fredericksburg, Virginia.

Step forward and make a lasting impact on the lives of those who stood on the front lines for our country. Apply today and join the elite clinical team at the Veterans Health Administration.

Why This Physician - Addictions Psychiatrist Job Matters

Empower America's heroes on their journey to recovery. Join the Veterans Health Administration in Fredericksburg as an Addictions Psychiatrist and deliver state-of-the-art clinical care supported by up to $200,000 in student loan repayment and over 50 days of annual paid time off.

Physician - Addictions Psychiatrist Job Overview

The Veterans Health Administration is seeking a dedicated and skilled Physician - Addictions Psychiatrist to join the interdisciplinary mental health team at the Fredericksburg Health Care Center in Virginia. Operating within an outpatient clinical model, you will provide clinical expertise, diagnostic evaluations, and advanced medication management for Veterans facing complex substance use disorders and co-occurring psychiatric conditions.

Requirements for Physician - Addictions Psychiatrist

United States Citizenship (non-citizens may only be appointed when qualified citizens are unavailable).
Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) degree from an accredited, approved institution.
Successful completion of an ACGME- or AOA-accredited residency training program in a core specialty leading to board eligibility.
Active, current, full, and unrestricted license to practice medicine or surgery in any U.S. State, Territory, Commonwealth, or the District of Columbia.
Full proficiency in both spoken and written English.
Pass a pre-employment physical examination and a drug screening urinalysis.
Participation in the annual VA seasonal influenza vaccination program.
Successful completion of a background and security investigation.

Preferred Qualifications for Physician - Addictions Psychiatrist

Board Certification in General Adult Psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN).
Added qualifications or fellowship training in Addiction Psychiatry.
Demonstrated clinical experience caring for Veterans, active-duty military service members, or clinical populations with complex co-occurring disorders.

Federal Benefits & Perks

✓Competitive annual base salary from $260,000 to $315,000 with regular, structured increases.
✓Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) student loan reimbursement of up to $200,000 over five years.
✓Potential sign-on Recruitment or Relocation Incentives for highly qualified candidates.
✓Generous paid time off: 50 to 55 days annually (26 days of annual leave, 13 sick days, 11 Federal holidays, and 5 days for approved CME).
✓Traditional federal pension plan (vesting after just 5 years of service) plus the Thrift Savings Plan (401k) with up to 5% agency matching contributions.
✓Robust federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance options, which can be carried into retirement.
✓Full, free malpractice liability protection with tail coverage provided directly by the federal government.
✓Reimbursement of up to $1,000 annually for continuing medical education (CME) expenses for full-time, board-certified clinicians.
✓No restrictive covenants, non-compete clauses, or corporate contracts, with freedom to engage in approved outside moonlighting.

💡 How to Apply Physician - Addictions Psychiatrist Job & Insider Tips

Application Steps for Physician - Addictions Psychiatrist Job

Click the Apply Online button on the official USAJobs announcement to log into your account or build a candidate profile.
Select and attach your current Federal Resume or complete Curriculum Vitae.
Download the mandatory VA Standard Clinical Resume Document via the official link provided.
Upload the unmodified, completed standard Clinical Resume page directly into the designated two-page 'Resume' field.
Upload your detailed, unlimited-page professional Curriculum Vitae (C.V.) or full resume into the 'Other' document upload field.
Complete the occupational questionnaire to confirm your clinical qualifications.
Submit your comprehensive application package before the closing date of September 30, 2026.

💡 General Tips

Strictly follow the resume formatting instructions: place the standard single-page Clinical Resume document in the 'Resume' section, and use the 'Other' documents portal for your full, multi-page professional C.V.
Clearly highlight your clinical experience with Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT), detailing any work involving medications like buprenorphine and naltrexone.
When answering the online occupational questionnaire, ensure your resume provides explicit, matching evidence for every proficiency level you claim.
If claiming Veterans' Preference, submit a legible, official copy of your DD-214 or an SF-15 if you have a service-connected disability.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP)?

EDRP is a premier student loan reimbursement benefit provided by the Veterans Health Administration. Eligible clinicians can receive up to $200,000 in tax-free repayments over a one-to-five-year period to directly pay off their qualifying professional educational loans.

Do I need a Virginia medical license to work at the Fredericksburg facility?

No. Because this is a federal facility, you only need one active, full, and unrestricted medical license from any U.S. state, territory, or commonwealth to practice medicine here.

Is telework available for this position?

Yes, this position is eligible for partial telework. While the clinic is primarily in-person at the Fredericksburg Health Care Center, telework schedules can be authorized based on agency policy and clinic needs.

Are there on-call or weekend requirements?

The standard schedule for this outpatient role is Monday through Friday, from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, promoting an exceptional, predictable work-life balance.

Q: Who is eligible to apply for this role?

This position is open to the public. All qualified U.S. citizens who meet the educational, residency, licensing, and physical requirements are invited to apply. Veterans are given hiring preference when qualifications are approximately equal.