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Health Professionals Scholarship Program (HPSP) - PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT

Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Health Administration
This job announcement has closed

Summary

***THIS IS A SCHOLARSHIP ANNOUNCEMENT***

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS SET UP TO RECEIVE APPLICATIONS FOR A SCHOLARSHIP FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS AND UPON COMPLETION OF THE APPROVED EDUCATION PROGRAM, YOU WILL BE PLACED IN A POSITION FOR WHICH THE EDUCATION RECEIVED HAS PREPARED YOU. 

***THIS IS NOT AN ANNOUNCEMENT TO OBTAIN A JOB WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.***

The purpose of this program is to provide financial assistance to individuals pursuing a program of study leading to a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies.  This program will help alleviate the health care workforce shortages in VA by obligating scholarship recipients to complete a minimum of 2 year service obligation at a VA health care facility after graduation and licensure/certification.

OUR MISSION: To fulfill President Lincoln's promise – "To care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan" – by serving and honoring the men and women who are America's Veterans. How would you like to become a part of a team providing compassionate care to Veterans?

As a VA professional, your opportunities are endless. With many openings in the multiple functions of VA, you will have a wide range of opportunities and leadership positions at your fingertips. For more information on the Department of Veterans Affairs, go to http://www.vacareers.va.gov/

Students with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
02/27/2017 to 05/01/2017
Salary
$0 to - $0 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 00
Location
Many vacancies in the following location:
Location Negotiable After Selection, United States
Many vacancies
Travel Required
Not required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Internships - Other Student
Work schedule
Full-time - Full Time
Service
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Announcement number
AIG-17-SMH-1919450
Control number
464812100

This job is open to

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Duties

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The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is providing scholarship opportunities for U.S. citizens seeking degrees in Physician Assistant Studies. 

The Health Professionals Scholarship Program (HPSP) awards scholarships to students pursuing a program of study leading to a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies in order to increase the supply of Physician Assistants for VA and the Nation.

Awards of scholarships under the HPSP are subject to the availability of funds, and VA may award a full-time student a scholarship a maximum of 4 years. VA may also award a part-time student a scholarship a maximum of 6 years.

VA will give priority consideration to applicants entering their final year of education or training and will consider Veterans first among all equally qualified candidates.

After completion of their education, participants must serve as a full-time clinical VA employee for a minimum of two years in medical services of the participant's discipline in an assignment or location determined by VA while participating in the HPSP. This obligated service would begin on the date on which the participant obtains any required applicable credentials and when appointed as a full-time clinical VA employee in a position for which the degree prepared the participant.

Other terms and conditions apply. For more information on this program, please see the HPSP Applicant Information Bulletin or visit VA Careers at http://www.vacareers.va.gov 

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this scholarship
  • Subject to a background/suitability investigation
  • Unconditionally accepted or currently enrolled in qualifying degree program
  • You must sign a service obligation agreement upon accepting the scholarship
  • You must sign a mobility agreement upon accepting the scholarship

Veterans' Preference: Eligible veterans should claim preference on the Occupational Questionnaire in the section provided and provide a legible copy of DD-214(s) showing all dates of service as well as character of service (honorable, general, etc.). Additionally, veterans with service-connected disability of 10% or more must also submit a copy of their official statement from the Department of Veterans Affairs, or from a branch of the Armed Forces, certifying their service-connected disability and/or their receipt of compensation for service-connected disability. If the military member is within 120 days of separation and does not yet have a DD214, the member may instead submit any written document from the armed forces that certifies the service member is expected to be discharged or released from active duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date the certification is signed.
Veterans with service-connected disability of less than 10%, non service-connected disability, and Purple Heart recipients, as-well-as those claiming derived preference for a spouse, widow or widower, or natural mother, should refer to and submit a completed " SF15, "Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference," (go to http://www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/SF15.pdf) and required documentation with your application materials.

For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit http://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/vetpref/index.aspx.

Qualifications

In order to qualify for this Scholarship Program, you must be a U.S. citizen, unconditionally accepted for enrollment or currently enrolled in a program of study leading to a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies. After completion of your education, you must serve as a full-time clinical VA employee for a minimum of two years. If you are under a service obligation to serve at another entity or obligated under any other Federal program, you will be ineligible for the HPSP Scholarship Award.

Education

For the purposes of the HPSP, VA recognizes a master's that meets the core curriculum and supervised practice requirements in Physician Assistant Studies.

PLEASE NOTE: Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications (particularly positions with a positive education requirement.) Therefore, applicants must report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website: http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html. All education claimed by applicants will be verified by the appointing agency accordingly. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education.

Additional information

Mobility Requirement: Completing the service obligation may require relocation at the applicant's expense if there is not a suitable vacancy, or they are not selected for employment at a nearby VA facility. Applicants must sign a mobility agreement upon accepting the scholarship. Applicants uncertain of a commitment to their current health care speciality or relocation requirements based on the needs of the VA are advised not to participate in the program.

Under the acceptance agreement, the individual is required to stay enrolled in school and maintain acceptable academic standing.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

VA will give priority consideration to applicants entering their final year of education or training, in order to achieve our goal of recruiting new healthcare practitioners on an expedited basis through the HPSP. If there are more applicants to the HPSP than there are available funds, VA will select the participants based on random method of selection, considering Veterans first among all equally qualified candidates. Selection criteria includes academic performance, work experience, faculty and employer recommendations, or career goals.

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