Chaplain

Duties include but not limited to:

Serves as a Chaplain professional providing comprehensive religious ministry services to Veteran patients according to their specific needs and desires. Carries out a ministry which is highly integrated into VHAs Chaplain program. Provides thorough guidance and advice to Chaplain Service management staff other Chaplains and other stakeholders.

May serve at a facility in a clinical setting or a small healthcare system satellite outpatient clinic other federal agency or Community Based Out-patient Clinic (CBOC) where there is limited access to onsite supervision.

Provides extended and intensive pastoral counseling as an integral part of the treatment program with patients facing complex ethical moral and spiritual issues.

Works with a full understanding of Chaplains relationships to the objectives of VHA to successfully integrate the work of the medical facilitys staff. Collaborates with and advises the other members of the IDT in the provision of comprehensive healthcare services to Veterans.

Engages as a spiritual leader a compassionate listener and counselor especially during times of crisis. Provides emotional support and counseling using empathy and strong interpersonal skills to effectively connect with people of all ages. Ensures various complex assignments are carried out in a pluralistic environment which encompasses sensitivity to the religious needs of many separate religious denominations and faith groups.

Serves as professional clinical Chaplain in specialty clinics such as Inpatient/Outpatient Mental Health Inpatient/Outpatient Substance Use Disorder Clinics Hospice and Palliative Care Grief and Bereavement Clinics Womens Health Clinics Cancer Treatment Centers Spinal Cord/Polytrauma units Pain clinics Infectious Disease Clinics Whole Health Clinics/Programs etc.

Engages in group consultative discussions or conferences with these professionals to provide Chaplain related input to collaborate on the evaluation and review of the patients progress. Collaborates with treatment team professionals to discuss the recommended course of action and other informed advice to attain the necessary therapeutic goals for the patient.

Provides guidance and support for patients to express values through processes such as life review oral history and end of life preparation and documentation. Maintains records and appropriately documents chaplaincy care services in the Electronic Health Record Management (EHRM) system/Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS) through either service approved template or Subjective Objective Assessment and Plan (SOAP) note format.

Provides pastoral counseling on medical and ethical matters including moral injury problems of conscience family or marital difficulties justice or confinement matters terminal diagnoses or crises. Addresses fears that patients have when facing surgery and answers questions regarding the meaning of life when confronted with the reality of pain illness permanent disfigurement crippling or death.

Counsels patients with long term health illness to aid in developing and maintaining patience determination and perseverance. Provides advice to mental health patients with deeply troubling concerns of anxiety depression obsession and fear. Provides referrals for continuity of spiritual care.

Engages community resources to meet the religious needs of patients that cannot be met by chaplain staff. Serves as a vital communication link between the individual patient and the outside community and between the VHA medical facility and the outside community.

Provides all necessary religious worship services and instruction on an individual or group basis for major faith groups. Establishes periods for public worship seasonal and occasional services and individual devotions.

Administers ordinances rites or sacraments; prepares and delivers sermons; arranges for the atmosphere and symbolism of worship; and conducts funeral services when needed.

Uses significant religious expression groups such as veteran choirs and such aids as devotional literature films and bedside broadcasts. Provides religious instruction for patients through various means such as individual or group discussion Bible classes instructional classes and tutoring for courses completed by correspondence.

Possesses skills to educate and equip healthcare staff and trainees. Screens for spiritual and religious needs and provides referrals to chaplains for complex spiritual distress.

Spends minimally 70% of time in patient care

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:30 am to 4:00 pm with additional on call hours. Weekend duties as needed.
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements ( Effective May 7 2025 drivers licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the Required Documents section of this announcement.

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

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.
• 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. You must submit a copy of your transcripts.
• 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. You must submit a copy showing completion.
• Ecclesiastical 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 applicants/employees 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 applicants 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: You must submit a copy of your endorsement.
• Board Certification: Applicants must be a Board-Certified Chaplain certified by BCCI or a U.S. certifying body that has a reciprocity agreement with BCCI . Board Certification that requires 4 units of CPE is qualifying. You must submit a copy of your board certification.
• Loss of Credential. Management officials in collaboration with HR Office staff must immediately relieve employees who fail to maintain any of the required certifications (board certification ecclesiastical endorsement or when applicable a specialty certification) of the duties and responsibilities associated with this occupation which may also result in separation from employment.
• Foreign Education. To be creditable education completed outside the U.S. must be submitted to a current affiliate agency of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) at and be deemed at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. program.
• English Language Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7403(f)
• 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).

• Experience: One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade.
• AND
• Specialty Certification. Specialty certification is demonstrated advanced practice and/or specialization in chaplaincy beyond the board certification and is required for the GS-12 grade level. Specialty certification from a professional chaplain certifying body that is directly related to the assignment is qualifying for a senior chaplain assignment.
• AND
• Demonstrated Knowledge Skills and Abilities: In addition to the experience or education above the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs
• Ability to apply relevant theories and methodologies to their ministry specialty.
• Ability to integrate specialized psychological and sociological theory with an advanced approach to spiritual care.
• Skill to seek out primary research and research literature that informs the ministry specialty and ones spiritual care practice.
• Skill in developing and implementing methods for measuring effectiveness of chaplain practice and services in the specialty area utilizing outcome evaluations to improve treatment services and to design system changes.
• Ability to mediate conflict hold various emotions and diffuse moral distress among staff and complex crisis situations.
• Ability to provide specialized consultation teaching and mentoring to colleagues and students on advanced spiritual care interventions in the service delivery area.
• Ability to apply advanced clinical knowledge to write policies procedures and/or practice guidelines pertaining to the service delivery area.