VA provides Internships, Postdoctoral Fellowships, and Practicum Training in many sites across the U.S. With about 440 internship positions and 200 postdoctoral fellowship positions funded each year, VA is the largest provider of training in Psychology in the nation.

We have continued to expand our training opportunities and added 160 additional positions for the 2008-2009 academic year. These positions included additional internship and postdoctoral positions within existing training programs and the development of new internship programs in Anchorage AK, Asheville NC, Iowa City IA, and Richmond VA. Those programs graduated their first classes in 2009 and have now begun their second year. While these four programs do not yet have APA accreditation, they have begun the process of becoming accredited. In the interim, graduates of these programs will be eligible for employment as psychologists within the Department of Veterans Affairs just as are graduates from accredited programs. All existing VA Internship and many Postdoctoral Psychology training programs hold APA accreditation status.

The VA Psychology Training Council (VAPTC) has recently been formed and charged with the mission of representing VA on matters of training in national forums and to shape the future of professional psychology training within the VA.

Career Opportunities 

Veterans’ mental health is a top priority at VA. After returning from combat, many veterans struggle to readjust to life at home. Our mental health care providers play a critical role in helping these veterans reclaim their lives by providing cutting-edge care. VA supports this mission by ensuring that our mental health professionals have the most innovative technologies, facilities, and training at their fingertips. When you join VA, you will be a core member of our interdisciplinary care team structure, collaborating with both primary care and other mental health professionals to establish the right course of treatment for patients.