Veterans Health Administration Logo
Position Title
Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor - Suicide Prevention Case Manager
Agency
Veterans Health Administration
Announcement Number
CBSZ-12707215-25-AK Opens in new window
Open Period
Wednesday, March 12, 2025 to Monday, March 24, 2025
For preview purposes only. To apply, please return to the USAJOBS announcement and click the Apply button.
Eligibilities
1. Do you claim Veterans’ Preference? (limit characters)
Preferences
1. Which of the following items describes your current or recent (within the last five years) political appointee service?

If you responded yes to any of the items below, you will need to include a SF-50 specifying your prior service.
(limit characters)
Your resume must be submitted in English and include the following information for each job listed:
  • Job title Duties (be as detailed as possible)
  • Month & year start/end dates (e.g. June 2007 to April 2008)
  • Full-time or part-time status (include hours worked per week)
  • Series and Grade, if applicable, for all Federal positions you have held
  • Please be aware that your answers will be verified against information provided on your resume. Be sure that your resume clearly supports your responses to all of the questions by addressing your work experience in detail.
Recommended: Even though we do not require a specific resume format, your resume must be clear so that we are able to fully evaluate your qualifications. To ensure you receive appropriate consideration, please list the duties you performed under each individual job title. If we are unable to match your experiences with the positions held, you may lose consideration for this vacancy. We cannot make assumptions regarding your qualifications. Do not include a photograph or video of yourself, or any sensitive information (age, date of birth, marital status, protected health information, religious affiliation, social security number, etc.) on your resume or cover letter. We will not access web pages or encrypted, and digitally signed documents linked on your resume or cover letter to determine your qualifications.
(limit characters)
By submitting your application, you are certifying, to the best of your knowledge and belief, all the information submitted by you with your application for employment is true, complete, and made in good faith, and that you have truthfully and accurately represented your work experience, knowledge, skills, abilities and education (degrees, accomplishments, etc.). The information you provide as part of your application may be investigated. You are also certifying, and acknowledging, that misrepresenting your experience or education, or providing false or fraudulent information in, or with your application, may affect your eligibility for appointment and/or continued employment. False or fraudulent statements may be punishable by fine or imprisonment (18 U.S.C. 1001). (limit characters)
If you are basing your qualifications on education (or a combination of education and experience) or if the position requires a college education to qualify, you must submit a copy of your transcripts with your application. (limit characters)
2. What is the highest grade you have held on a non-temporary basis in the federal service? If you have never held a federal position, please type "N/A". (limit characters)
3. What was the start and end (if applicable) date of promotion/appointment for the highest grade held above? Your response will assist in verifying the time in grade requirement if applicable to this position. If you have never held a federal position, please type "N/A". (limit characters)
Assessment 1
Thank you for your interest in a Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor position with the Department of Veterans Affairs. The basic requirements for employment as a VHA Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor are prescribed by Public Law 96-151 codified in 38 U.S.C. 7402. To qualify for appointment, all applicants for the position of Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor in VHA must meet the following requirements: (limit characters)
The following questions will address basic eligibility requirements for the Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor position. Please select "Yes" or "No" to the following question(s). (limit characters)
1. Are you proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d)? (limit characters)
2. Candidates must hold a master's or doctoral degree in:
  • Clinical Mental Health Counseling
  • Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling
  • Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling
  • Or a related field, from a program accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).
Examples of related mental health counseling fields include, but are not limited to:
  • Addiction Counseling; Community Counseling
  • Gerontology Counseling
  • Marital, Couple, and Family Counseling.

CACREP defines the date when graduates are considered to have graduated from a CACREP accredited program. Additional information may be obtained from http://www.cacrep.org/directory/. NOTE: Traditional Rehabilitation counseling programs that are accredited by CACREP do not meet the LPMHC qualification standards as Traditional Rehabilitation counseling differs from Clinical Rehabilitation counseling.

Do you meet these requirements?
(limit characters)
3. Please provide the following information regarding the academic institution from which you received your education.

Name of Institution
City and State
Level of Education (diploma, degree, etc.)
Month and Year conferred
(limit characters)
CREDITABLE EXPERIENCE. Experience is only creditable if it is post- master's degree experience as a mental health counselor directly related to the position to be filled. Qualifying experience must be at a level comparable to LPMHC experience at the next lower grade level. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher level duties must consist of significant scope, administrative independence, complexity (difficulty) and range of variety as described in this standard at the specified grade level and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. (limit characters)
4. Persons hired or reassigned to LPMHC positions in the GS-0183 series in VHA must hold a full, current, and unrestricted license to independently practice as a Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor, which includes diagnosis and treatment; or be pending completion of state prerequisites for licensure.

Do you meet this requirement?
(limit characters)
5. Provide the following information regarding your licensure.

Name on License
Issuing state or territory
Complete license number
Expiration date
(limit characters)
Select “Yes” or “No” to the following question(s). (limit characters)
6. Do you have less than one year of experience (post-master's degree); or do you have a master's or doctoral level degree but are not yet licensed at the independent practice level? (limit characters)
7. GS-9 Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)
Candidates must be able to demonstrate the following KSAs:
  • Ability to engage in intake and assessment, problem identification, diagnosis, treatment planning and implementation, continuum of care, evaluation and follow-up.
  • Knowledge of current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) of Mental Disorders in formulation of treatment goals and application of appropriate clinical interventions using professional counseling practices.
  • Basic knowledge of professional counseling practice with emphasis on human development principles through cognitive, affective, behavioral or systemic interventions, and strategies that address high risk behaviors, wellness, personal growth, and career development across the life span.
  • Ability to use a wide variety of individual, group, or family counseling interventions; demonstrates sensitivity to diversity and possesses multicultural counseling skills.
  • Ability to serve on an interdisciplinary team with focus on the intrapersonal, interpersonal, and relational functioning of individuals, groups and families and on the counseling approaches, strategies, and techniques that will best help patients function effectively.
  • Basic skill in the use of computer software applications for drafting documents, data management, maintaining accurate, timely and thorough clinical documentation and delivery of services, such as Telehealth.
  • Ability to learn and utilize software programs in use by VHA.
  • Knowledge and understanding of existing relevant statutes, case laws, ethical codes, and regulations affecting professional practice of counseling.
  • Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with people from varied backgrounds.
Are you able to demonstrate these KSAs?
(limit characters)
8. Persons hired or reassigned to LPMHC positions in the GS-0183 series at the grade 11 in VHA must hold a full, current, and unrestricted license to independently practice as a Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor, which includes diagnosis and treatment. Do you meet this requirement? (limit characters)
9. Provide the following information regarding your licensure.

Name on License
Issuing state or territory
Complete license number
Expiration date
(limit characters)
10. GS-11 Experience, Education, and Licensure
In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must have the following:
  • At least one year of post-master's or post-doctoral degree mental health counseling experience (VA or non-VA experience)
  • Licensed to practice at the independent practice level and demonstrate the KSAs
Do you meet the requirements listed above?
(limit characters)
11. GS-11 Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)
Candidates must be able to demonstrate the following KSAs:
  • Ability to make professional evaluations, decisions, and recommendation for treatment planning and implementation.
  • Advanced knowledge and mastery of the fundamentals of the counseling process which includes defining patient/family problems and maintaining an effective counseling relationship.
  • Ability to provide subject matter consultation to colleagues and trainees on the counseling process within various specialty areas, build on the foundation of competence through regular meetings and discussions to explain assignments, review progress of cases and confer about the counseling perspectives and orientation.
  • Ability to provide complex crisis intervention and stabilization to patients who are in psychological distress. Requires independent judgment and skill.
  • Ability to establish goals/treatment through a collaborative process with the patient utilizing advanced counseling skills, including evidenced- based practices, screening, and psychosocial assessment.
  • Ability to use a wide variety of individual, group, or familial counseling interventions; demonstrates sensitivity to diversity and possesses multicultural counseling skills.
  • Ability to fully utilize the current DSM in making diagnoses and formulation of treatment goals and application of appropriate clinical intervention using professional counseling practices.
  • Ability to develop and facilitate psychotherapy and psycho-education groups that include life skills, family support, and community integration. This may include evidence based psychotherapy. 
Are you able to demonstrate these KSAs?
(limit characters)
Transcript Reminder - Due to the positive education requirement unofficial transcripts or an appropriate course listing must be submitted with your application. Applications will not be considered without appropriate transcripts. (limit characters)