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Student Trainee (Administrative/Office Management)

Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Health Administration
Veterans Health Administration

Summary

The Pathways Internship Program allows students to join VA in career positions that emphasize long-term training and development. As a Student Trainee (Administration and Office Management), the incumbent will be assigned to the Health Information Management (HIMS) Section at Harry S. Truman VA Medical Center.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
02/25/2026 to 03/02/2026
Salary
$35,749 to - $43,120 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 2
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Columbia, MO
1 vacancy
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Not required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Temporary - 1 year
Work schedule
Part-time - 8 Hours
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
None
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
CBSS-12896059-26-RG
Control number
858972400

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

To be eligible, you must also be enrolled in an accredited high school; college (including four-year colleges/universities, community colleges, and junior colleges); professional, technical, vocational, or trade school; advanced degree program; or other qualifying educational institution, pursuing a qualifying degree or certificate.

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Duties

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This position is being filled under the Pathways Internship Program. The program is designed to provide students enrolled in a wide variety of educational institutions, from high school to graduate level, with paid work opportunities in agencies to explore Federal careers while still in school. The Internship provides managers a ready source of student employees and potential permanent employees upon completion of the program requirements. It also provides the student with work experience directly related to the curriculum studies or career goals while offering eligibility for non-competitive conversion to permanent employment upon completion. For more information on Internship opportunities within the Department of Veterans Affairs, please visit: https://www.va.gov/EMPLOYEE/pathways-internship-program/.

Duties may include but are not limited to:

  • Scanning documents into CPRS. This position is responsible for carrying out a variety of health information functions.
  • Perform duties related to the receipt, indexing, scanning, and destruction of health and administrative information.
  • Interface with personal computer (PC) applications as well as numerous VistA applications.
  • Index each scanned document into a SQL database via CPRS (Computerized Patient Record System) and GUI tools, then associate each scanned document with the correct patient's CPRS record, the appropriate TIU document, assign the appropriate document-named nomenclature, and electronically "sign on chart" scanned documents.
  • Review and research medical reports from non-VA health care facilities, determining scanning requirements.
  • Ensure that all necessary health/administrative information is integrated into CPRS through the PC scanning software and hardware.
  • Index this information using PC/VistA Imaging application bridges.
  • Ensure quality control requirements are met for all documents scanned into CPRS.
  • Other duties in HIMS may be assigned as well to include but not limited to: Release of Information, Records Deficiency Program, etc.

Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level.

Work Schedule: Flexible schedule based on students class schedule, 16 Hours a pay period

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
  • You must be at least 16 years old (by closing date of this vacancy announcement)
  • All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
  • Selective Service Registration-required males (over 18) born after 12/31/59
  • Must be accepted for/currently enrolled in a qualified educational institution
  • Subject to background/security investigation
  • Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation and would generally not require a pre-placement examination.
  • Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification 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)
As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:
  • 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.
Upon completion of your probationary period or trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 03/02/2026.

Internship Program: To be eligible, applicants must be accepted for enrollment or currently enrolled and seeking a degree (diploma, certificate, etc.) in a qualifying educational institution, on a full or half-time basis as defined by the institution in which you are enrolled.

Internship Program: To be eligible applicants must:

  • Be accepted for enrollment or currently enrolled and seeking a degree (diploma, certificate, etc.) in a qualifying educational institution, on a full or half-time basis as defined by the institution in which you are enrolled.
  • Be seeking a degree that is relevant to this position.
  • Be able to work at least 8 hours per week.
  • Meet the grade qualifications prior to start date.

You may qualify based on education and/or experience as described below:
  • General Experience: You must have 3 months of general experience. OR,
  • Education: Completed High School or Equivalent OR,
  • Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level.
To qualify for the GS 2 grade level, you must:
  • Sign a Pathways Internship Program Participant Agreement,
  • Maintain status as a current student,
  • Maintain good academic standing, at least a 2.0 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 grading scale,
  • Adhere to an established work schedule approved by the supervisor,
  • Provide proof of enrollment in a qualifying educational institution and academic transcripts at the end of each academic period and upon request,
  • Perform, successfully, the duties and responsibilities in the assigned position description,
  • Observe all workplace rules, such as dress code, office conduct and behavior,
  • Participate in all VA mandatory training programs (either on-line or in the classroom),
  • Notify the supervisor of any changes in the completion of the educational program, such as graduation date, changes in the major degree requirements, or changes in the educational institution's accreditation.

You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:
  • Clerical
  • Information Assurance
  • Organizational Stewardship


Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Physical Requirements: Work is primarily sedentary. Some walking, standing, bending, and carrying of light items such as papers and files is required.

Education

A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.


Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. 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. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Additional information

You are excluded from health benefits coverage if you are expected to work less than 130 hours per month for at least 90 days.

Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

How you will be evaluated

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

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

Narrative responses are not required at this time. If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job related information, which may include, but not limited to; responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or contact for an interview. Your resume and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document.

Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

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