- Position Title
- Chaplain
- Agency
- Veterans Health Administration
- Announcement Number
- CBTD-12709876-25-CB Opens in new window
- Open Period
- Thursday, March 13, 2025 to Friday, March 28, 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?
2.
Are you a current/past/upcoming VHA Health Professions Trainee (HPT) Graduate?
An HPT may be VA-paid, Without Compensation (WOC), or a participant of the VA Health Professional Scholarship Program that has been appointed to a temporary position in one or more VHA medical facilities performing clinical or research training experience to satisfy program or degree requirements.
To verify your standing as a current/past/upcoming HPT graduate, you must submit a copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50), the FL-294 (or a WOC appointment letter).
An HPT may be VA-paid, Without Compensation (WOC), or a participant of the VA Health Professional Scholarship Program that has been appointed to a temporary position in one or more VHA medical facilities performing clinical or research training experience to satisfy program or degree requirements.
To verify your standing as a current/past/upcoming HPT graduate, you must submit a copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50), the FL-294 (or a WOC appointment letter).
Preferences
1.
Select the location(s) you want to be considered for. You must choose at least one location.
2.
Select the lowest grade you are willing to accept for this position.
3.
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.
If you responded yes to any of the items below, you will need to include a SF-50 specifying your prior service.
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.
In order to receive appropriate consideration, you should submit proper documentation if you are claiming eligibility for Veterans' Preference, which includes a copy of your DD-214 (member copy 4 or earlier version that shows character of service). Applicant's claiming 10-Point preference should also submit an SF-15, Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference along with the required documentation listed on the form (such as verification of service-connected disability percentage).
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).
Assessment 1
We will evaluate your resume and responses to this questionnaire to determine if you are among the best qualified for this position. Your responses are subject to verification and must be fully supported by your resume and supporting documents.
NOTE: Health Professions Trainee (HPT) upcoming graduates 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. HPT includes interns, residents, fellows, VA advanced fellows, and pre- and post-doctoral fellows who spend all or part of their clinical training experiences at VA facilities. Health Professions Trainee is a general term used to describe individuals appointed to temporary positions in one or more VHA medical facilities performing clinical or research training experiences to satisfy program or degree requirements. HPTs can be either VA-paid or Without Compensation (WOC). Trainee academic levels include undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate students, interns, residents, fellows, and VA advanced fellows; and pre- and post-doctoral fellows.
NOTE: Health Professions Trainee (HPT) upcoming graduates 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. HPT includes interns, residents, fellows, VA advanced fellows, and pre- and post-doctoral fellows who spend all or part of their clinical training experiences at VA facilities. Health Professions Trainee is a general term used to describe individuals appointed to temporary positions in one or more VHA medical facilities performing clinical or research training experiences to satisfy program or degree requirements. HPTs can be either VA-paid or Without Compensation (WOC). Trainee academic levels include undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate students, interns, residents, fellows, and VA advanced fellows; and pre- and post-doctoral fellows.
Basic Requirements for the position of Chaplain GS-0060
To qualify for this position, you must meet the basic requirements as well as any additional requirements (if applicable) listed in the job announcement.
1.
Are you proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d)?
2.
EDUCATION: Applicants must possess a Master of Divinity degree or equivalent educational qualifications as evidenced by a graduate-level theological degree from a college, university or theological school accredited by a member of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or Association of Theological Schools (ATS) and recognized by the U.S. Department of Education at the time the degree was conferred.
NOTE: For applicants who do not possess a Master of Divinity degree or equivalent educational degree, an approved educational equivalency review from a nationally recognized board certification body for chaplains is acceptable such as the Board of Chaplaincy Certification Inc. (BCCI) or a nationally recognized certification body that utilizes the BCCI Common Qualifications and Competencies for professional Chaplaincy or a certifying organization that has a reciprocity agreement with BCCI.
Foreign Education. To be creditable, theological or related education completed outside the U.S. must be submitted to a current affiliate agency of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) listed at https://www.naces.org/members.
NOTE: For applicants who do not possess a Master of Divinity degree or equivalent educational degree, an approved educational equivalency review from a nationally recognized board certification body for chaplains is acceptable such as the Board of Chaplaincy Certification Inc. (BCCI) or a nationally recognized certification body that utilizes the BCCI Common Qualifications and Competencies for professional Chaplaincy or a certifying organization that has a reciprocity agreement with BCCI.
Foreign Education. To be creditable, theological or related education completed outside the U.S. must be submitted to a current affiliate agency of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) listed at https://www.naces.org/members.
3.
Provide the following information regarding the academic institution from which you received your degree:
Name of Institution
City and State
Degree
Major/Program
Month and Year conferred
Name of Institution
City and State
Degree
Major/Program
Month and Year conferred
4.
CLINICAL PASTORAL EDUCATION (CPE): Applicants must have completed four units of CPE from a CPE center that is accredited by an organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
-Please select the appropriate response below. Documentation to support meeting this requirement must be submitted with your application. NOTE: Listing of currently accredited CPE Centers is available here: ACPE - AccreditedCPEDirectory. For centers which are no longer accredited but were accredited at the time candidate may submit an ACPE Transcript Request (acpe.edu) or contact ACPE to confirm their unit was from an accredited center (404) 320-1472.
-Please select the appropriate response below. Documentation to support meeting this requirement must be submitted with your application. NOTE: Listing of currently accredited CPE Centers is available here: ACPE - AccreditedCPEDirectory. For centers which are no longer accredited but were accredited at the time candidate may submit an ACPE Transcript Request (acpe.edu) or contact ACPE to confirm their unit was from an accredited center (404) 320-1472.
5.
ENDORSEMENT: In accordance with 38 C.F.R. 17.655, ecclesiastical endorsement is a condition of employment as a VA chaplain. An individual must possess and maintain a full and active ecclesiastical endorsement to be employed as a VA chaplain. Applicants must have an ecclesiastical endorsement, dated within the past 12 months. Ecclesiastical endorsements must be from the official national endorsing authority of the applicant's/employee's faith group or denomination. Ecclesiastical endorsement is a written official statement, by the official national endorsing body of the faith group or denomination, certifying that the applicant is in good standing with the applicant's faith group or denomination; and stating that the individual is, in the opinion of the endorsing body, qualified to perform the full range of ministry required in the VA pluralistic setting. Loss of endorsement will result in removal from the GS-0060 Chaplain series and may result in termination of employment. The National Chaplain Service maintains a list of approved endorsing organizations that can be found here:https://www.patientcare.va.gov/chaplain/Employment_Information_and_Resources.asp
Do you possess an Ecclesiastical Endorsement dated within the last 12 months from the official national endorsing authority of your faith group or denomination?
Do you possess an Ecclesiastical Endorsement dated within the last 12 months from the official national endorsing authority of your faith group or denomination?
6.
Please provide the date of your endorsement and endorsing authority. If you answered B or C, indicate "N/A".
7.
CERTIFICATION: Applicants must be a Board-Certified Chaplain by the Board of Chaplaincy Certifications Inc. (BCCI) or nationally recognized certification body that utilizes the BCCI Common Qualifications and Competencies for Professional Chaplaincy or a certifying organization that has a reciprocity agreement with BCCI.
Please select the appropriate response below.
Please select the appropriate response below.
Grade Determinations. In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates:
8.
GS-9 - To qualify at the GS-9 level, you must meet the basic requirements and must demonstrate that you have the following Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs):
- Knowledge of spiritual assessments to identify patient strengths and needs and documenting services provided.
- Ability to use the information of the spiritual assessment to create care plans in all dimensions of pastoral care.
- Ability to provide crisis intervention and stabilization.
- Skill in healthcare team collaboration to create and update treatment plans to address spiritual issues.
- Ability to ensure free exercise of religion for patients and staff.
- Knowledge of individual and group interventions to address spiritual and emotional needs of patients and families, providing referrals for continuity of spiritual care.
- Skill in the coordination of religious services respecting the faith tradition of individual patients.
- Ability to communicate verbally and in writing with persons of varied backgrounds
- Knowledge of spiritual assessments to identify patient strengths and needs and documenting services provided.
- Ability to use the information of the spiritual assessment to create care plans in all dimensions of pastoral care.
- Ability to provide crisis intervention and stabilization.
- Skill in healthcare team collaboration to create and update treatment plans to address spiritual issues.
- Ability to ensure free exercise of religion for patients and staff.
- Knowledge of individual and group interventions to address spiritual and emotional needs of patients and families, providing referrals for continuity of spiritual care.
- Skill in the coordination of religious services respecting the faith tradition of individual patients.
- Ability to communicate verbally and in writing with persons of varied backgrounds
9.
GS-11 - To qualify at the GS-11 level you must meet the basic requirements plus at least one year of creditable experience equivalent to at least the GS-9 level that is directly related to the position to be filled such as conducting spiritual assessments to identify patient strengths and needs; creating plans for care in response to moral injuries and/or spiritual distress of patients; providing crisis intervention and stabilization; collaborating with healthcare teams, and using a variety of intervention methods (individual and group).
Your experience must demonstrate that you meet the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs):
- Knowledge of advance care planning to educate, inform, and counsel patients and families.
- Skill in guiding patients in verbalizing and expressing values through life review, oral history, and end of life preparation and documentation.
- Ability to develop pastoral care programs that are measurable, outcome-driven and evidenced based within the department guidelines.
- Skill in counseling on medical and ethical issues, terminal diagnoses or crises, moral injury, problems of conscience, family or marital difficulties and justice or confinement matters.
- Ability to support the development of staff resiliency and develop programs for staff development and wellness by providing spiritual and emotional support.
- Ability to educate and equip healthcare staff and trainees screening for spiritual and religious needs of patients and the importance of appropriate referrals to chaplains for complex spiritual distress.
- Knowledge of community needs to coordinate with community organizations to provide comprehensive spiritual care, utilizing outside community resources to meet the religious needs of patients that cannot be met by chaplain staff.
Do you meet the experience and KSA requirements for the GS-11?
Your experience must demonstrate that you meet the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs):
- Knowledge of advance care planning to educate, inform, and counsel patients and families.
- Skill in guiding patients in verbalizing and expressing values through life review, oral history, and end of life preparation and documentation.
- Ability to develop pastoral care programs that are measurable, outcome-driven and evidenced based within the department guidelines.
- Skill in counseling on medical and ethical issues, terminal diagnoses or crises, moral injury, problems of conscience, family or marital difficulties and justice or confinement matters.
- Ability to support the development of staff resiliency and develop programs for staff development and wellness by providing spiritual and emotional support.
- Ability to educate and equip healthcare staff and trainees screening for spiritual and religious needs of patients and the importance of appropriate referrals to chaplains for complex spiritual distress.
- Knowledge of community needs to coordinate with community organizations to provide comprehensive spiritual care, utilizing outside community resources to meet the religious needs of patients that cannot be met by chaplain staff.
Do you meet the experience and KSA requirements for the GS-11?