- Position Title
- Addiction Therapist
- Agency
- Veterans Health Administration
- Announcement Number
- CBSV-12717627-25-DAL Opens in new window
- Open Period
- Thursday, March 27, 2025 to Wednesday, April 30, 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?
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.
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.
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).
2.
I authorize my application information being shared with hiring managers for similar positions. I understand this option may not result in further consideration for additional positions nor will it impact my application for this announcement.
Assessment 1
BASIC REQUIREMENTS: The following section is used to determine your eligibility for this vacancy. Your application must provide acceptable proof of your status. Please choose an answer for each of the following items to identify which of the following descriptions applies to you.
Select “Yes” or “No” to the following question(s).
1.
English Language Proficiency Requirement: Per VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, Section A, Paragraph 3j: No person will be appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C., chapter 73 or 74, to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA who is not proficient in written and spoken English.
Are you proficient in spoken and written English?
Are you proficient in spoken and written English?
2.
Education Requirement: Applicant MUST hold a bachelor's degree in drug and alcohol studies or a related behavioral health field from an accredited college or university. NOTE: In some jurisdictions, individuals may not be required to hold a bachelor's degree to be licensed in Alcohol and Drug Treatment. VHA will not waive education requirements even if the candidate has a license/certification that does not require a bachelor's degree.
Do you meet the education requirement?
Do you meet the education requirement?
3.
Licensure: Individuals appointed or reassigned to an Addiction Therapist position in the GS-0101 series must:
Hold a full, current, and unrestricted license/certification in a state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia to practice in the field of Alcohol and Drug Treatment; AND
Complete one of the following:
International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium, Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor Certification; or
National Association for Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors, National Certified Addiction Counselor Level 1.
Do you meet the licensure requirement as described above?
Hold a full, current, and unrestricted license/certification in a state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia to practice in the field of Alcohol and Drug Treatment; AND
Complete one of the following:
International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium, Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor Certification; or
National Association for Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors, National Certified Addiction Counselor Level 1.
Do you meet the licensure requirement as described above?
4.
In addition to the basic requirements outlined above, the following criteria must be met when determining the qualification of candidates for the specified assignment:
5.
Addiction Therapist (Bachelor's Level) GS-07.
(1) Experience. In addition to the basic requirements, at least one year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade; OR
(2) Education (Advanced Entry Level Placement). Applicants who meet the GS-05 grade level may be appointed at the GS-07 grade level if they possess a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in a major field of study in a drug and alcohol studies or a related behavioral health field with an exemplary academic record as demonstrated by:
(a) 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) as recorded on their official transcript, or as computed based on four years of education or as computed based on courses completed during the final two years of the curriculum; OR
(b) 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B+" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final two years of the curriculum; OR
(c) Class Standing: Applicants must be in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university or major subdivision based on completed courses.
(3) Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience/education requirements, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs.
(a) Knowledge of principles, concepts and methods of counseling and therapies used in treatment of individuals with SUDs.
(b) Knowledge of appropriate documentation of substance use history and treatment.
(c) Ability to identify patients who are in psychological distress.
Do you meet the experience requirements and are you able to demonstrate the specified KSAs?
(1) Experience. In addition to the basic requirements, at least one year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade; OR
(2) Education (Advanced Entry Level Placement). Applicants who meet the GS-05 grade level may be appointed at the GS-07 grade level if they possess a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in a major field of study in a drug and alcohol studies or a related behavioral health field with an exemplary academic record as demonstrated by:
(a) 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) as recorded on their official transcript, or as computed based on four years of education or as computed based on courses completed during the final two years of the curriculum; OR
(b) 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B+" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final two years of the curriculum; OR
(c) Class Standing: Applicants must be in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university or major subdivision based on completed courses.
(3) Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience/education requirements, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs.
(a) Knowledge of principles, concepts and methods of counseling and therapies used in treatment of individuals with SUDs.
(b) Knowledge of appropriate documentation of substance use history and treatment.
(c) Ability to identify patients who are in psychological distress.
Do you meet the experience requirements and are you able to demonstrate the specified KSAs?
6.
Addiction Therapist (Bachelor's Level) GS-09.
(1) Experience. One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade.
(2) Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
(a) Knowledge of coexisting medical or other mental health disorders as interrelated to SUDs.
(b) Ability to complete assessments of substance use disorders, treatment planning and continued care planning.
(c) Ability to develop and maintain effective working or therapeutic relationships with multidisciplinary staff, Veterans, and their families, from various backgrounds and community resources to ensure appropriate refer
Do you meet the experience requirements and are you able to demonstrate the specified KSAs?
(1) Experience. One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade.
(2) Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
(a) Knowledge of coexisting medical or other mental health disorders as interrelated to SUDs.
(b) Ability to complete assessments of substance use disorders, treatment planning and continued care planning.
(c) Ability to develop and maintain effective working or therapeutic relationships with multidisciplinary staff, Veterans, and their families, from various backgrounds and community resources to ensure appropriate refer
Do you meet the experience requirements and are you able to demonstrate the specified KSAs?
Grandfathering Provision: Applicants 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). All persons employed in VHA in this occupational series or another occupational series and performing the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held, including positive education, credential or certification that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: Employees in an occupation that does not require a licensure, certification, or registration, may be reassigned, promoted, or demoted within the occupation. Employees in an occupation that requires licensure, certification, or registration may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance level, or demoted within the occupation but may not be promoted beyond the full performance level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. Employees in an occupation that require a licensure, certification, or registration only at higher grade levels must meet the licensure, certification, or registration requirement before being promoted to those higher grade levels. Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure, certification, or registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard, must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation. Employees retained in an occupation listed in 38 U.S.C. 7401(3) under this provision who leave that occupation or employment with the VA, lose protected status, and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation and/or VA.
Resume Reminder- Your resume must 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 the questions by addressing your work experience in detail. 5 Tips for Writing a Federal Resume - FederalPay.org (https://www.federalpay.org/articles/5-tips-for-writing-a-federal-resum)
Transcript Reminder: 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.