Fresh Listing

Posted: February 20, 2026 (0 days ago)

This job was posted recently. Fresh listings typically have less competition.

Psychologist - Outpatient Mental Health (OPMH)

Veterans Health Administration

Department of Veterans Affairs

Fresh

Salary

$123,658 - $160,757

per year

Closes

March 2, 2026More VA jobs →

GS-12 Pay Grade

Base salary range: $74,441 - $96,770

Typical requirements: 1 year specialized experience at GS-11. Advanced degree + significant experience.

Note: Actual salary includes locality pay (15-40%+ depending on location).

Job Description

Summary

This job involves providing mental health therapy and support to veterans in an outpatient clinic, helping them manage issues like anxiety, depression, and trauma through counseling and consultations.

It's a good fit for licensed psychologists with experience in evidence-based treatments who want to serve veterans and potentially benefit from student loan repayment up to $200,000.

The role requires strong skills in patient care and working in a team setting at a VA facility in Owensboro, Kentucky.

Key Requirements

  • Doctoral degree in psychology from an APA-accredited program
  • Completed APA-accredited professional psychology internship (or approved exceptions)
  • Full, current, and unrestricted license to practice psychology at the doctorate level
  • At least two years of experience as a professional psychologist, including one year at GS-12 level
  • Knowledge and ability to apply professional psychological treatments to diverse patient populations
  • Ability to provide advice and consultation in psychology and behavioral health
  • U.S. citizenship and English language proficiency

Full Job Description

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program.

You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment.

Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.

English Language Proficiency required Education: Have a doctoral degree in psychology from a graduation program in psychology accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA).

The specialty area of the degree must be consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed.

Internship: Have successfully completed a professional psychology internship training program that has been accredited by APA Exceptions: (1) new VHA psychology internship programs that are in the process of applying for APA accreditation are acceptable in fulfillment of the internship requirement, provided that such programs were sanctioned by the VHA Central Office Program Director for Psychology and the VHA Central Office of Academic Affiliations at the time that the individual was an intern AND (2) VHA facilities who offered full one-year pre-doctoral internships prior to PL 96-151 (pre-1979) are considered to be acceptable in fulfillment of the internship requirement.

Licensure: Hold a full, current, and unrestricted license to practice psychology at the doctorate level in a State, Territory, Commonwealth of the United States (e.g., Puerto Rico), or the District of Columbia.

Exception.

The Secretary may waive the requirement of licensure for an individual psychologist for a period not to exceed 2 years from the date of employment on the condition that such a psychologist provide care only under the supervision of a psychologist who is so licensed.

Non-licensed psychologists who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements may be given a temporary appointment as a graduate psychologist under the authority of 38 U.S.C § 7405 (a) (1) (D).

Failure to obtain licensure during that period is justification for termination of the temporary appointment. This may result in termination of employment.

Experience: At least two years of experience as a professional psychologist, with at least one year equivalent to the GS-12 grade level May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).

Grade Determinations GS-13 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 7 psychology and behavioral health.

Knowledge of clinical research literature Preferred Experience: Minimum 2 years of two years of experience providing psychotherapy utilizing Evidenced Based Practices Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

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

Physical Requirements: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation and would generally not require a pre-placement examination. Major Duties:

VA Careers - Psychologist: https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/77qHlLw9Xck Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional The incumbent is assigned to Outpatient Mental Health Clinic (OPMH) within Behavioral Medicine Service (BMS) at the Owensboro, KY Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) and surrounding VA locations.

Services include clinical assessment and treatment including individual, group or family psychotherapy, crisis intervention, advocacy, and coordination of linkages to other VA or community service providers/agencies as needed by the Veteran.

The incumbent will complete thorough psychosocial assessments and include pertinent information in all the required areas of functioning in order to determine the appropriate diagnoses and other treatment-related conclusions.

The incumbent will provide DSM diagnoses to determine the appropriate treatment needs of the Veterans and/or their families.

The incumbent will provide emergency/crisis interventions that are provided to Veterans in an effort to stabilize.

The incumbent will provide psychotherapy as individual, group &/or family interventions when clinically indicated/appropriate and when of therapeutic benefit to the recipients.

The incumbent will provide consultation to other treatment team and staff members regarding the psychosocial needs of Veterans and/or their families and the impact of the identified psychosocial problems on the Veteran's health care planning, compliance with treatment, and discharge planning.

The incumbent will perform psychological testing and/or exempt testing (based on hospital privileges or scope of practice) when it is clinically appropriate to a treatment question as part of an assessment.

The incumbent will document direct Veteran care at a minimum of 80% of the time allotted to direct care in the clinician's weekly profile.

The incumbent will establish and maintain effective therapeutic relationships with Veterans and/or their families.

The incumbent must possess a thorough knowledge in use of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities, and treatment procedures, including acute, chronic and traumatic illnesses, common medications and their effects/side effects, and medical terminology.

The incumbent will facilitate discharge planning through collaboration with Veterans and their families as well as interdisciplinary treatment team members to ensure that appropriate discharge plans are executed in a timely manner.

The incumbent will provide consultation and education to Veterans and their families regarding community resources, VA benefits and specialty programs, and advance directives.

The incumbent will maintain knowledge of Veteran's benefits and services, community resources, and process for making appropriate referrals to community and other governmental programs or agencies.

The incumbent will provide case management services to Veterans and their families throughout the continuum of care.

The incumbent will possess and demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with people from varied backgrounds.

The incumbent may be responsible for a tour of duty that includes early morning, evenings and/or weekends and participation in the On-Call rotation schedule to accommodate Veteran care needs during weekends, holidays, evenings and nights.

Work Schedule: 8am - 4:30pm, Monday - Friday Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.

Contact ???????VISN15EDRP@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases.

When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade).

Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience.

Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.

Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66.

Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Check your resume before applying to catch common mistakes

Browse Similar Jobs

Posted on USAJOBS: 2/20/2026 | Added to FreshGovJobs: 2/21/2026

Source: USAJOBS | ID: CBSS-12891567-26-AB