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:

• Citizenship
• Citizen of the United States
• After a determination is made that it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens, necessary personnel may be appointed on a temporary basis under authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405 without regard to the citizenship requirements of 38 U.S.C. 7402 or any other law prohibiting the employment of or payment of compensation to a person who is not a citizen of the United States
• 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 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
• 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
• Creditable Experience Knowledge of Acupuncture Practices
• To be creditable, the experience must demonstrate possession of Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA) associated with current professional acupuncture practice
• The experience must be post-master's degree or above
• Quality of Experience
• Experience is only creditable if it is obtained following graduation with a certificate, masters or doctoral degree in Acupuncture or Oriental Medicine from an accredited training program
• Creditable experience must include work as a professional licensed acupuncturist
• Qualifying experience must also be at a level comparable to acupuncture experience at the next lower grade level
• For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher level duties must consist of significantly larger scope, administrative independence, difficulty and range of variety and described in this standard at the specified grade level and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time
• Grade Determinations: Acupuncturist, GS-12 (Advanced Level): Experience
• In addition to the basic requirements, completion of a minimum of one year of performing progressively complex experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level and meet the KSAs at the GS-11 level
• Ability to screen referrals and direct veterans to other services as appropriate
• Ability to formulate an appropriate differential diagnosis
• Ability to formulate an acupuncture treatment plan independently or with other health care professionals
• 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
• Skill in the selection and use of the appropriate acupuncture tools and supplies based on needs of the patient
• AND, Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA)
• In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Skill and ability to perform safe and effective advanced acupuncture techniques
• Knowledge of complex issues surrounding the delivery of care as it relates to acupuncture services, such as evidence based and cost effectiveness
• Ability to apply and adapt acupuncture to new and changing programs
• Knowledge of research strategies, methodologies and principles
• Ability to problem solve issues surrounding delivery of acupuncture
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS12
• Physical Requirements: Sitting, Standing, Light lifting ( 20lbs).