Staff Psychologist
Veterans Health Administration · Department of Veterans Affairs
This job in plain English
This is a Staff Psychologist job with the Veterans Health Administration, in the VA Northern California Health Care System's Primary Care Mental Health Integration program. It has one vacancy at Mather AFB, CA and one in Sonora, CA, and the psychologist works inside the primary care clinic, with some virtual care but not fully remote. The job is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program, which can repay student loans.
Can you apply?
Yes, if you are a U.S. citizen: this job is open to everyone.
- Open to everyoneAny U.S. citizen or national can apply. Some jobs also accept non-citizens; the announcement says so.
Only U.S. citizens can apply. The job is open to the public, including current employees of VA and other federal agencies, and current VA health professional trainees.
What you would do
- Provide psychological evaluations and focused cognitive screening in primary care.
- Deliver brief, evidence-based psychological treatment to primary care patients.
- Consult with primary care providers to support their patient care decisions.
- Educate staff, patients and families on mental and behavioral health issues.
- Supervise and train psychology practicum students, interns and postdoctoral fellows.
- Complete required clinical charting and documentation.
Do you qualify for GS-11 to GS-13?
With experience: No experience beyond the basic requirements is needed at GS-11. GS-12 needs 1 year as a professional psychologist at the GS-11 level, and GS-13 needs 2 years, with at least 1 year at the GS-12 level.
With education: A doctoral degree in psychology from an APA, PCSAS or CPA accredited program, with a specialty that matches the job, plus a professional psychology internship accredited by APA or CPA. Other paths are allowed, such as a respecialization program or a doctoral degree awarded from 1951 to 1978 with a psychology dissertation.
Licenses and certifications you need:
- Full, current, unrestricted license to practice psychology at the doctoral level in a U.S. state, territory, D.C. or Commonwealth
- Exception: non-licensed applicants may get a temporary 'graduate psychologist' appointment at GS-11 or GS-12 for up to 2 years, working only under a licensed psychologist's supervision
How to apply well
What to send:
- Long-form resume or curriculum vitae (CV) showing your experience in clear detail
- Transcript, required in the application package
- Statement of current licensure status and exam dates on your resume or cover letter if not yet licensed
- Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript if you use foreign education
- DD-214 if you claim veterans' preference
- SF-15 with proof if you claim 10-point veterans' preference
How you will be rated: You will be rated on how well you meet the qualifications, based on your application, resume, CV and supporting documents, which will be verified. Errors or omissions may affect consideration, and missing required information may result in an ineligible rating.
Tips for this job:
- Make your resume or CV long and specific, with dates and hours for each psychology job that matches the grade you want.
- Include your official transcript, since it is required and you need it to qualify through education.
- If you are not yet licensed, state your licensure status and exam dates clearly on your resume or cover letter.
- Submit the full application and all documents by 11:59 PM ET on 11/10/2026, because incomplete packages can be rated ineligible.
Good to know before you apply
Schedule: Full-time, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., subject to change to meet agency needs. Compressed or flexible schedules are not available.
Incentives and relocation: Relocation and recruitment incentives are authorized. The Education Debt Reduction Program can pay up to $200,000 in student loan repayment, and you must submit the EDRP application within four months of appointment. Former EDRP participants are not eligible.
Conditions of employment:
- U.S. citizenship required
- Drug test (urinalysis) before appointment
- Selective Service registration for males born after 12/31/1959
- Must be proficient in written and spoken English
- Background and security investigation
- Online onboarding with acceptable identification (REAL ID rules apply)
- Pre-employment physical examination
- Seasonal flu vaccination required, or an approved exemption
- 1 or 2-year trial period
- Must be able to hear (hearing aid permitted)
- May be tentatively selected while licensing is pending, but not hired until requirements are met
We wrote this summary automatically from the official announcement. The announcement on USAJOBS is the only one that counts: read it before you apply.
Job details
- Salary
- $116,445 – $215,758 per year
- Pay scale and grade
- GS-11 to GS-13 · General Schedule
- Locations
-
- Mather AFB, California
- Sonora, California
- Appointment
- Permanent
- Work schedule
- Full-time
- Service
- Excepted
- Security clearance
- Not Required
- Travel
- Not required
- Drug test
- Not required
- Supervisory
- No
- Occupation
- Psychology (0180)
- Announcement
- CBSW-13104906-27-LN
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