Clarification from the agency

This job is open to current permanent Department of Veteran Affairs Employees and current permanent Federal employees of other agencies. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

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The Acupuncturist is responsible for providing acupuncture modalities such as Traditional Chinese medicine approaches, Community Style Acupuncture, Auricular Acupuncture such as BFA/NADA that are used to treat a wide range of complex veteran conditions. They will assist in appropriate decision-making, referrals, and care coordination, including both in-house and community care and serve as the Clinical Subject Matter Expert to other Whole Health staff and clinical providers.

Clinical Duties:
- Assesses patients using Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) frameworks, while identifying contraindications to treatment (e.g., bleeding disorders, pregnancy considerations, pacemakers)
- Develops individualized treatment plans based on diagnosis indicated on the referral, and applies appropriate modalities.
- Educates patients from various backgrounds on whole health practice including healthy lifestyle changes including nutrition, exercise, sleeping habits, stress management, mind body techniques and other matters related to and in conjunction with acupuncture care.
- Inserts and manipulates needles at acupuncture points while maintaining sterile needle techniques.
- Monitors patient during treatment for adverse reactions (e.g. fainting, bruising, pneumothorax risk with certain points) and is able to manage minor adverse events.
- Maintains accurate & timely clinical records, including diagnosis, treatment provided, and patient response to treatment.
- Communicates and coordinates with other Whole Health providers when indicated and within their scope of practice.
- Monitors patient response to treatment, collects outcomes associated with care, adjusts the treatment plan accordingly, and ensures the successful completion of therapy with appropriate discharge planning.

Training & Program Development:
- Demonstrates effectiveness in teaching and monitors and coordinates educational activities in compliance with necessary trainee supervision requirements.
- Collaborates with affiliated academic institutions, training programs, or VA research offices to support scholarly activities.

Research Participation & Support:
- Supports clinical research initiatives related to acupuncture care as approved by the facility's Institutional Review Board.
- Assists in the collection, documentation, and reporting of data for research studies, quality improvement projects, and evidence-based practice initiatives.

Professionalism:
- Adheres to state and national certification standards (NCCAOM) & complies with continuing educational requirements.
- Demonstrates behaviors that reflect a commitment to continuous professional development, ethical practice, understanding and sensitivity to diversity, and a responsible attitude toward patients and the profession.
- Ensures compliance with Joint Commission standards, VHA Directives, and applicable federal, state, and local regulations.

Work Schedule: Monday through Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm
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

Conditions of employment

• 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 (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Valid current State Issued Driver's License
• 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.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 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 trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

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: Individual must meet one of the requirements below: (1) Master's degree in acupuncture or oriental medicine from a program accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM). OR (2) Advanced level degree in acupuncture or oriental medicine from a program accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM)
• Certification: Acupuncturists hired in the VHA must be board certified through the National 3 Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM). The board certification must be current and the acupuncturist must abide by the certifying body's requirements for continuing education.
• Licensure: Current, full, active, and unrestricted license to practice acupuncture in a State, Territory or Commonwealth (i.e. Puerto Rico) of the United States, or District of Columbia.

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).

Grade Determinations: Acupuncturist, GS-9 (Entry Level)
Experience. None beyond the basic requirements.

Assignments. Individuals at this grade level are considered to be entry level and are closely supervised. The employee works under the direction of a journey level or higher acupuncturist or other health care providers licensed to perform acupuncture. The acupuncturist provides professional services in accordance with the established treatment plan. Deviations from regular procedures, unanticipated problems, and unfamiliar situations are referred to more experienced staff for a decision or assistance.

Acupuncturist, GS-11 (Full Performance Level)
Experience or Education: Individual must meet at least one of the requirements below:
1. Experience. In addition to the basic requirements, must have one year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-9 grade level,
which is directly related to the position to be filled. OR
2. Education. Doctoral degree or equivalent degree from an accredited college or university in an Acupuncture or Oriental Medicine.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA) In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
1. Skill and ability to perform safe and effective advanced acupuncture techniques.
2. Knowledge of complex issues surrounding the delivery of care as it relates to acupuncture services, such as evidence based and cost effectiveness.
3. Ability to apply and adapt acupuncture to new and changing programs.
4. Knowledge of research strategies, methodologies and principles.
5. Ability to problem solve issues surrounding delivery of acupuncture.

Preferred Experience:
Safety certificates such as Basic Life Support (BLS) and First Aid
2-5 years experience delivering acupuncture/TMC in an integrative health clinical setting
Advanced training and certification in additional TCM modalities (e.g. NADA, BFA massage)
Proficient with Windows-style applications and strong computer skills required for data entry
Effective verbal and written communication skills and ability to present information clearly and professionally

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-9 to GS-11.

Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

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 MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

Area of Consideration: Eligible applicants will be reviewed and referred in the following order.
1. Current permanent VA Employees of the St. Louis VA Healthcare System.
2. All other permanent VA Employees.
3. Current permanent Federal employees of other agencies.

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.

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.

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.