Clarification from the agency

All qualified candidates encourage to apply. Open to US Citizens but non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position.

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Major duties, include but are not limited to:

• Provides individualized acupuncture treatment by utilizing standard medical evaluation procedures and East Asian Medicine evaluation to formulate a differential diagnosis and develop an acupuncture treatment plan.
• Formulates acupuncture treatment plans independently or in collaboration with other health care professionals, incorporating techniques taught within East Asian Medicine and acupuncture training.
• Selects and uses appropriate acupuncture tools and supplies based on individual patient needs.
• Educates patients on healthy lifestyle changes, including nutrition, exercise, sleeping habits, stress management, mind-body techniques, and other matters related to acupuncture care.
• Provides group acupuncture services as determined by clinical needs.
• Documents and codes patient care information in the VA electronic health record system in a timely manner, in accordance with VHA policy.
• Communicates with other health care providers regarding patient care, as appropriate.
• Reviews referrals and screens for appropriateness of care, directing Veterans to other services when necessary.
• Serves as the subject matter expert on acupuncture and East Asian Medicine services, providing guidance on purchased care when requested.
• Maintains up-to-date VHA and professional training requirements and attends required meetings.
• Provides leadership on acupuncture best practices and serves as a liaison between patients, staff, and management.
• Educates Veterans on self-care techniques such as acupressure.
• May teach Tai Chi and QiGong as wellness and/or therapeutic classes.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Full-time, Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm
Telework: Not Available.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 75081-F
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.
• 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.
• English Language Proficiency: Candidates will not be appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C. chapters 73 or 74, to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA who are not proficient in written and spoken English. See Chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part.
• 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).
     • Foreign Graduates: Graduates of foreign acupuncture programs meet the requirements in subparagraph 3b if they have a full unrestricted and current license to practice acupuncture in a State, Territory or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia
• Certification: Acupuncturists hired in the VHA must be board certified through the National 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.

Grandfathering Provision: All persons employed in VHA in this occupational series or in another occupational series that are performing the duties as described in this qualification standard on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education and certification that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following apply:

1. Such employees may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journeyman) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journeyman level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions.
2. Acupuncturists 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.
3. Acupuncturists who are converted to title 38 hybrid status under this provision and subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry as an acupuncturist.

Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates:

1. Acupuncturist, GS-11 (Full Performance Level): Experience or Education: Individual must meet at least one of the requirements below:
   • (a). 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. Examples of creditable experience include but are not limited to: experience gained as a licensed, certified acupuncturist providing acupuncture treatment as part of an interdisciplinary team, analyzing medical histories and physical findings to formulate a differential diagnosis based on Oriental and Western medicine paradigms, designing and overseeing acupuncture treatment plans, monitoring the accuracy of needle placement during treatment, and advising patients regarding lifestyle changes such as nutrition, exercise, stress management, and mind body techniques. OR,
   • (b). Education: Doctoral degree or equivalent degree from an accredited college or university in an acupuncture or oriental medicine.
2. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA): In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
   • (a). Ability to screen referrals and direct veterans to other services as appropriate
   • (b). Ability to formulate an appropriate differential diagnosis.
   • (c). Ability to formulate an acupuncture treatment plan independently or with other health care professionals.
   • (d). Ability to educate patients on health lifestyle changes including nutrition, exercise, sleeping habits, stress management, mind body techniques and other matters related to acupuncture care. This includes the ability to communicate with individuals of varying backgrounds.
   • (e). Skill in the selection and use of the appropriate acupuncture tools and supplies based on needs of the patient.

Preferred Experience: At least five (5) years of professional experience as a licensed and certified acupuncturist with demonstrated ability to independently evaluate patients, formulate differential diagnoses using both Oriental/East Asian and Western medicine paradigms, and develop and manage individualized acupuncture treatment plans.

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

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.

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.

Area of Consideration - eligible applications will be reviewed and referred based on Veterans' Preference.