Step into a Purpose-Driven Career: Staff Psychologist at the VA Providence Healthcare System

Are you an accomplished clinical professional seeking a high-impact career that blends clinical autonomy with a profound sense of purpose? The Department of Veterans Affairs is offering a unique opportunity to join the VA Providence Healthcare System (VAPHS) as a Staff Psychologist. Located in Providence, Rhode Island, this position allows you to directly support the mental wellness, recovery, and resilience of our nation's heroes.

Operating within the Mental Health & Behavioral Science Service (MHBSS) line, you will deliver comprehensive psychological care to Veterans navigating life transitions, trauma, and complex mental health conditions. Offering a competitive annual salary of $92,803 to $171,951 and a robust federal benefits package, this is an unmatched opportunity to achieve professional satisfaction, work-life balance, and make an active difference in a system built on clinical excellence and compassion.

About the Agency: The Veterans Health Administration

The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest and most advanced integrated healthcare system in the United States. Spanning hundreds of medical centers and outpatient clinics, the VHA is built on a sacred mission: to fulfill President Lincoln's promise "To care for those who have served in our nation's military and for their families, caregivers, and survivors."

At the heart of the VHA is its "I CARE" value system—representing Integrity, Commitment, Advocacy, Respect, and Excellence. At the VA Providence Healthcare System, you will find a collaborative, multidisciplinary culture dedicated to whole-health care. By placing the Veteran at the center of the care model, the VHA empowers its staff to collaborate on cutting-edge treatments, continuous education, and research that advances clinical practice globally.

Job Responsibilities: Impacting Veterans' Lives Daily

As a Staff Psychologist, you will assume full clinical responsibility for the mental health care of Veterans, serving as an independent member of the VAPHCS Medical Staff. The role is heavily integrated into the Primary Care Mental Health Integration (PCMHI) program, ensuring seamless, coordinated care.

Your core daily responsibilities will include:

Comprehensive Psychological Assessments: Conducting complex clinical diagnostic evaluations and behavioral assessments for Veterans with diverse backgrounds and mental health histories.
Evidence-Based Psychotherapies: Utilizing individual, group, and family therapies to treat conditions such as PTSD, substance use disorders, anxiety, depression, and adjustment disorders.
Interdisciplinary Consultation: Collaborating with primary care physicians, psychiatrists, social workers, and allied health staff to design and refine holistic, coordinated treatment strategies.
Education and Family Advocacy: Providing clinical guidance, psychoeducation, and supportive outreach to Veterans, their family members, and caregivers.
Mentorship and Supervision: Supervising clinical psychology interns, doctoral fellows, and resident trainees when available, contributing to the development of the next generation of mental health professionals.
Program Development: Participating in clinical research, program evaluation, and clinical quality improvement initiatives to advance service delivery within the VAPHS network.

Requirements and Qualifications

To ensure our Veterans receive world-class care, applicants must meet rigorous academic, training, and licensing benchmarks.

Basic Requirements

Citizenship: Candidates must be United States citizens. Non-citizens may only be considered when no qualified citizens are available.
English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be fully proficient in written and spoken English in accordance with VA standards.
Education: Candidates must hold a doctoral degree in clinical, counseling, or combined professional psychology from a graduate program accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA), the Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System (PCSAS), or the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) at the time of completion. School psychology programs do not qualify.
Internship: Successful completion of an APA- or CPA-accredited professional psychology internship (or an approved VHA-sanctioned pre-doctoral internship) is mandatory.
Licensure: You must hold an active, unrestricted license to practice psychology at the doctoral level in a U.S. State, Territory, Commonwealth, or the District of Columbia.
Note on Supervised Exceptions: Unlicensed graduate psychologists who meet academic and internship requirements may be given a temporary supervised appointment under 38 U.S.C. 7405(c)(2)(B) for up to two years from the date of employment. Licensing must be completed within this window to maintain employment.

Salary Overview and Grade Determinations

The position has a highly competitive salary range of $92,803 to $171,951 per year, depending on the General Schedule (GS) grade level and step at which you qualify. Higher steps within a grade may be negotiated for applicants possessing unique qualifications or specialized clinical expertise.

The qualifications for each General Schedule grade are detailed in the table below:

General Schedule (GS) Grade	Experience Required	Key Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)	Licensure Status Required
GS-11	Meets basic requirements only	Foundational psychological assessment, clinical diagnostics, and standard intervention skills.	Supervised temporary status is acceptable.
GS-12	Basic requirements + 1 year of professional clinical experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade	Ability to implement clinical research, incorporate novel clinical procedures, and design advanced treatment programs.	Supervised temporary status is acceptable.
GS-13	Basic requirements + 2 years of professional clinical experience (with 1 year equivalent to the GS-12 grade)	Advanced clinical diagnostics, expert consultation, mastery of clinical research literature, and treatment of complex patient populations.	Full, current, and unrestricted state license is mandatory.

Premium Federal Benefits

Working for the Veterans Health Administration offers an outstanding total rewards package that supports both your career stability and personal well-being.

Exceptional Paid Leave: Benefit from 37 to 50 days of total annual paid time off. This includes 13 to 26 days of annual vacation leave (depending on prior work experience credit), 13 sick leave days, and 11 paid federal holidays.
Paid Parental Leave: Eligible employees receive up to 12 weeks of fully paid leave following the birth, adoption, or foster placement of a child.
Child Care Subsidy: Families with a total household income below $144,000 may qualify for a monthly subsidy covering up to 25% of child care expenses, capped at $416.66 per month.
Unrivaled Retirement Options: Secure your future with the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) pension plan and the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP/401k) with up to 5% agency matching contributions.
Comprehensive Healthcare Coverages: Select from premium federal health, dental, vision, life, and long-term care insurance programs, many of which can be carried directly into retirement.

Application Tips: How to Stand Out

To ensure your application successfully navigates the federal hiring process, follow these critical steps:

Submit the Clinical Resume Document: The VA utilizes a standard, one-page Clinical Resume Document to streamline review. Download this template from the official VA careers portal, fill it out, and upload it exclusively into the 'Resume' upload field on USAJobs.
Provide a Comprehensive CV: Do not limit your clinical history. Upload your full-length Curriculum Vitae into the 'Other' document upload field. Ensure it details start/end dates (month and year) and the exact hours worked per week for every clinical position.
Tailor to the KSAs: Align your resume’s bullet points with the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) specified under your target GS grade level. Be explicit about your experience with evidence-based psychotherapies, diagnostic test administration, and multidisciplinary consultations.
Verify Supporting Documents: Make sure all required materials—including transcripts, current psychologist licenses, recent SF-50 forms showing time-in-grade (for current/former federal employees), and military DD-214 papers—are completely uploaded. Incomplete packages will result in immediate disqualification.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Can I work remotely or telework in this role?

No, this position is located entirely on-site at the VA Providence Healthcare System. Telework and virtual work schedules are not available.

Q: Is relocation assistance provided?

No, recruitment/relocation incentives (sign-on bonuses) and Permanent Change of Station (PCS) assistance are not authorized for this specific vacancy.

Q: Are school psychology degrees accepted?

No. Because VHA clinical psychology roles do not require the specialized skills of a school psychologist, applicants with school psychology degrees are not eligible for appointment.

Q: Is there a trial period for this job?

Yes, newly appointed Staff Psychologists must serve a 1- or 2-year trial period to evaluate performance, conduct, and alignment with VHA agency goals.

Choosing a career as a Staff Psychologist at the VA Providence Healthcare System is a commitment to excellence, integrity, and honor. Through the Primary Care Mental Health Integration program, you will play a transformative role in ensuring the mental resilience and well-being of the Veterans who have dedicated their lives to defending ours.

With competitive pay, top-tier federal benefits, and a supportive, collaborative environment, VAPHS is the perfect place to build a meaningful professional legacy. Prepare your application materials today and submit your package on USAJobs before the application window closes on September 14, 2026.

Why This Staff Psychologist Job Matters

Step into a rewarding clinical role with the VA Providence Healthcare System and deliver transformative, evidence-based mental health care to America's Veterans.

Staff Psychologist Job Overview

The Veterans Health Administration is seeking a dedicated, full-time Staff Psychologist to join the Mental Health & Behavioral Science Service line at the VA Providence Healthcare System in Rhode Island. Operating within a collaborative Primary Care Mental Health Integration framework, this professional will provide evidence-based psychotherapy, psychological assessments, and clinical consultations. Offering a competitive annual salary of $92,803 to $171,951 and an exceptional federal benefits package, this role offers clinical independence and a profound opportunity to serve those who served.

Requirements for Staff Psychologist

Must be a United States citizen (non-citizens are considered only if no qualified citizens are available).
Must be fully proficient in written and spoken English.
Must hold a doctoral degree in clinical, counseling, or combined professional psychology from an APA, PCSAS, or CPA accredited graduate program (school psychology degrees are not qualifying).
Must have successfully completed an APA or CPA accredited professional psychology internship (or approved VHA equivalent).
Must hold a full, current, and unrestricted license to practice psychology at the doctoral level in a U.S. State, Territory, Commonwealth, or the District of Columbia (supervised temporary appointments are available for unlicensed graduate psychologists).
Must pass a pre-employment physical evaluation and a background/security investigation.
Must pass a pre-employment drug screening (urinalysis).
Must participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program annually or obtain an approved medical/religious exemption.
Must serve a 1- or 2-year trial period to evaluate clinical performance and conduct.

Preferred Qualifications for Staff Psychologist

Strong clinical expertise in delivering Evidence-Based Psychotherapies (EBPs) for various mental health conditions.
Experience implementing substance use treatments and employing harm reduction approaches.
Specialized training or prior experience delivering trauma-informed care.
Commitment to high ethical standards and professional practice guidelines.
Outstanding relational, interpersonal, and collaborative skills within multidisciplinary healthcare teams.
Prior experience providing Veteran-centered clinical services.

Federal Benefits & Perks

✓Generous Paid Time Off: 37 to 50 days of paid leave annually (includes 13 to 26 days of vacation, 13 sick days, and 11 paid federal holidays).
✓Paid Parental Leave: Up to 12 weeks of fully paid leave following the birth, adoption, or foster placement of a child (after 12 months of service).
✓Child Care Subsidy: Monthly assistance up to $416.66 (up to 25% of eligible costs) for employees with total family income below $144,000.
✓Robust Federal Pension: Traditional defined-benefit pension (vested after 5 years) and Thrift Savings Plan (TSP/401k) with up to 5% agency matching contributions.
✓Comprehensive Insurance Options: Premium federal health, dental, vision, life, and long-term care plans, many of which carry into retirement.
✓Service Credit: Potential to receive annual leave accrual credit based on prior professional non-federal or military experience.

💡 How to Apply Staff Psychologist Job & Insider Tips

Application Steps for Staff Psychologist Job

Download and complete the official standard Clinical Resume Document from the VA careers portal.
Prepare your comprehensive long-form CV or resume detailing job titles, start/end dates (month/year), full-time or part-time status, and average weekly hours worked for each position.
Gather supporting documents, including doctoral transcripts, active psychologist licenses, SF-50s (for current/former federal employees), and DD-214 (if applicable).
Navigate to USAJobs and log in or create an account.
Complete the occupational questionnaire and upload your documents, placing the one-page clinical template in the 'Resume' slot and your long-form CV in the 'Other' slot.
Review your application and submit before the closing deadline on September 14, 2026.

💡 General Tips

Address Grade-Specific KSAs: Ensure your long-form resume explicitly highlights accomplishments aligned with the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) for your target grade (GS-11, GS-12, or GS-13), as HR cannot make assumptions.
Observe Document Slot Rules: Always upload the unmodified standard Clinical Resume Document to the 'Resume' upload field, and place your full multi-page CV in the 'Other' document field to prevent automated processing errors.
Specify Hours Worked: To receive full credit for your clinical experience, explicitly state the start and end month/year and the average hours worked per week for every position listed on your resume.
Submit the Correct SF-50: If you are a current or former federal employee, submit an SF-50 that is at least one year old to prove your time-in-grade eligibility. Reward SF-50s are not acceptable for this purpose.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I apply if I am not currently licensed?

Yes. Unlicensed graduate psychologists who meet academic and internship requirements can be hired on a temporary, supervised appointment at the GS-11 or GS-12 level for up to two years, during which they must obtain an active state license.

What is the work schedule for this role?

This is a full-time, on-site position. The standard work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Flexible, compressed, or telework options are not available.

Is relocation assistance or a sign-on bonus available?

No, recruitment incentives (sign-on bonuses) and Permanent Change of Station (PCS) relocation assistance are not authorized for this vacancy.

Are there specific vaccination requirements?

Yes, all VHA healthcare personnel must participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program annually or obtain a formal medical or religious exemption.

What accredited degrees are accepted?

Applicants must hold a doctoral degree in clinical, counseling, or combined professional psychology from a program accredited by the APA, CPA, or PCSAS. Degrees in school psychology are not accepted for clinical roles in the VHA.