**Chaplain (Clinical Pastoral Education Supervisor) in the Department of
Veterans Affairs**

Board of Excepted Service Examiners Announcement BESE CPE-A

National VA Chaplain Center

Hampton, Virginia 23667

Issue Date: April 20, 1998

OCCUPATION: **Chaplain (Clinical Pastoral Education Supervisor)**

GRADE: **GS-12**

JOB LOCATIONS: **Veterans Affairs Medical Centers throughout the United
States**

This describes application procedures and qualification requirements for
employment as a Chaplain (CPE Supervisor) in the United States
Department of Veterans Affairs. Applications will be accepted
continuously until further notice. Applications will be kept on file for
one year

and considered for vacancies as they arise.

**Applications submitted for this announcement will NOT be considered
for the following:**

\(1\) Positions of Staff Chaplain. Refer to announcement number BESE A1
"Becoming a Chaplain in the Department of Veterans Affairs"

\(2\) CPE Supervisors utilized under contract or on a fee basis. These
types of utilization are NOT employment. Persons interested in contract
or fee basis work must contact individual VA Medical Centers at which
they wish to work.

\(3\) Persons appointed as temporary chaplains to meet short-term needs.
Individual VA Medical Centers recruit locally for temporary positions.
Persons given temporary appointments may **not** become permanent VA
chaplains without competing in accordance with the provisions of this
announcement.

\(4\) Positions with responsibility for supervising staff VA chaplains.
Supervisory chaplains are usually selected from within VA. When
recruitment from outside VA is desired, notice will be given on the VA
Chaplain Jobline (757) 728-3190.

**Duties of Chaplain (CPE Supervisor)**

Persons in these positions develop and coordinate accredited CPE
programs. They recruit, screen, and evaluate CPE participants and
faculty; evaluate and assess the work of the multidisciplinary CPE
Professional Consultation Committee, and serve as liaison with the
Association for Clinical Pastoral Education. In addition, many CPE
supervisors provide direct pastoral care to assigned patients, including
counseling, preaching, leading worship and sacraments/ordinances, and
education. They participate with other healthcare professionals as part
of interdisciplinary teams to plan and carry out patient care; develop
relationships with the larger community which support the Medical Center
mission; and respond to emergency calls from patients and family
members. This work is carried out in a pluralistic environment, with an
emphasis on an ecumenical, team approach to assignments. Each chaplain
is sensitive to the religious needs of many separate religious
denominations and faith groups.

**Appointment and Pay of Chaplains:**

Positions may be full time, part time, or intermittent. Intermittent
positions have no prescheduled workhours. All Chaplains appointed
through this announcement will be given permanent appointments in the
excepted civil service. Newly appointed chaplains serve a one-year trial
period. Persons appointed to full time and part time appointments
receive civil service benefits, including generous vacation and sick
leave, military leave, federal employee health benefits, federal
employee group life insurance, and coverage under the federal employee
retirement system which includes a tax-deferred investment plan.
Excepted service employees are not eligible to transfer to positions in
the competitive civil service. Federal pay rates vary by locality. When
warranted by extreme scarcity of applicants, VA facilities may pay some
relocation expenses and/or recruitment bonuses.

**Qualification Requirements:**

Applicants must meet all of the following requirements:

\(1\) Citizenship: Must be a citizen of the United States.

\(2\) Ecclesiastical Endorsement: Must possess ecclesiastical
endorsement, dated within the past 12 months, from the official national
endorsing authority of his/her faith group or denomination.
Ecclesiastical endorsement is the written official statement by the
endorsing body certifying that the applicant is in good standing with
the faith group or denomination, and that the individual is, in the
opinion of the endorsing body, qualified to provide the full range of
ministry required in the VA pluralistic setting.

\(3\) Education: All applicants must possess a Master of Divinity degree
or equivalent educational qualifications. Education must be from
college(s), university(ies), or theological institution(s) which are
accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of
Education. Equivalent educational qualifications means possession of a
bachelor's degree of at least 120 semester hours, plus completion of not
less than 70 semester hours of graduate course work which included all
of the following: 20 semester hours in pastoral ministry; 20 semester
hours in any combination of theology, ethics and philosophy of religion;
20 semester hours in the study of sacred writings, including the study
of languages in which sacred writings are/were written; 10 semester
hours in church history and/or world religions.

\(4\) Experience: At least three years of professional experience which
has demonstrated all of the following: (a) ability to serve as a
consultant or expert to a multidisciplinary treatment team; (b) in-depth
knowledge of related professional fields, particularly in the behavioral
sciences; (c) understanding of, and ability to respond to, the
particular concerns and issues pertaining to treatment of veterans; (d)
knowledge of the structure, regulations, practices, and programs of
healthcare delivery systems; (e) ability to interpret and apply a body
of rules, regulations, policies, and procedures in professional
practice; (f) ability to develop and maintain liaisons with a variety of
outside organizations. Completion of a doctoral degree directly related
to pastoral ministry may be substituted for one year of this experience.

\(5\) Certification: Must be certified as a Supervisor of CPE, or as an
Associate Supervisor of CPE, by either the Association for Clinical
Pastoral Education (ACPE), or the National Association of Catholic
Chaplains (NACC).

\(6\) English Language Competency: All applicants must be proficient in
written and spoken English.

\(7\) Selective Service Registration: By law, all males born after
December 31, 1959 must have registered with the selective service system
(the draft) or have a valid exemption.

**How to Apply**:

Submit the following material to the address given below:

\(1\) An application form or resume (federal forms OF-612 or SF-171 may
be used but are not mandatory)

\(2\) Optional Form 306 "Declaration for Federal Employment"

\(3\) Ecclesiastical endorsement dated within the past 12 months *(Most
ecclesiastical endorsers will send endorsements directly to the
Headquarters VA Chaplain Center, in Hampton, Virginia. Applicants cannot
be considered for positions until their endorsement is received at the
Headquarters VA Chaplain Center).*

\(4\) Veterans claiming preference should also submit a copy of each of
their military discharge forms (DD-214), and, if claiming 10-point
preference, \"Claim for 10-point Veterans Preference\" (SF-15) with
supporting documentation as specified in the instructions on that form

\(5\) Official transcripts of undergraduate and graduate education

\(6\) Copies of any appropriate certifications, including certification
as a CPE Supervisor.

\(7\) Responses to the rating factors for Chaplain (CPE Supervisor). A
page listing these factors should be enclosed with this announcement.
Your responses may be typed on bond paper.

\(8\) Written specification of the locations and work schedules for
which you wish to be considered (a form is enclosed on which you may
indicate these preferences, or you may specify these on a separate
page.)

Forms may be obtained from the Human Resources Management Service at any
VA Medical Center, or phone the National VA Chaplain Center (757)
728-3180.

For further information on VA Chaplaincy, see our website at
[**www.va.gov/chaplain**](http://www.va.gov/chaplain)

Mail all application material to:

**BOARD OF EXCEPTED SERVICE EXAMINERS**

**DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS NATIONAL CHAPLAIN CENTER (301/110C)**

**V A MEDICAL CENTER**

**HAMPTON, VIRGINIA 23667**

**Evaluation of Applicants**:

Applicants who meet the minimum qualification requirements will be given
a numerical rating between 70 and 100 based upon their possession of the
knowledges, skills and abilities required for this occupation. Veterans
will be given preference as required by law. All applicants will be
notified of the results of the review of their qualifications by the
Board of Excepted Service Examiners. Job selections are made from among
the best qualified candidates available in accordance with federal law
and policy. Applicants may submit additional or updated information
whenever they so desire. Applicants selected for interview or employment
will be contacted by individual VA facilities. *Failure to reply to
official correspondence will result in the applicant being eliminated
from further consideration.*

The Department of Veterans Affairs is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All
applicants will be considered without regard to discriminatory factors
which are prohibited by law.

[Announcement BESE-94-CPE1 is hereby rescinded]{.underline}

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

BOARD OF EXCEPTED SERVICE EXAMINERS

RATING FACTORS FOR CHAPLAIN GS-060-12

(CPE SUPERVISOR)

Qualified candidates will be evaluated on their possession of the
factors listed below. Please describe in detail your experience,
education, training, awards, publications, and other specific
accomplishments which demonstrate your possession of each factor.
Providing this information is voluntary, however, failure to give
complete information may result in your receiving less than full credit
in the rating process. You may respond to these factors on bond paper.
Your name and social security number should be on the top of each sheet.

1\. Ability to communicate orally and in writing

Describe your highest accomplishments in written and oral communication.
Describe your use of these abilities in your professional experience in
religious instruction, pastoral care, and participation in
multi-disciplinary teams/committees. List and describe any publications.

2\. Ability to establish relationships and deal effectively with others
from various social, cultural and racial backgrounds

Describe your experience in leading or supervising others. Describe your
involvement in community and civic activities. Be sure to describe your
relationships with professional associations, interdisciplinary teams,
veterans organizations, fraternal organizations, etc.

3\. Knowledge of theology and behavioral sciences

Describe your knowledge of behavioral sciences including personality
theory, learning theory and cultural anthropology. Describe how you
integrated these knowledges into your teaching and/or pastoral
experience. List any specialized training or education you have in this
area.

4\. Integrity and emotional and spiritual maturity

Describe how you have dealt with the most difficult and sensitive
problems in your ministry and teaching experience. Give examples of how
you have advised or counseled other clergy persons who have sought your
advice in similar situations.

5\. Ability to minister to persons from various social, cultural, and
racial backgrounds

Describe your experience in relating with clergy from various faith and
value traditions. Describe any accomplishments in developing interfaith
relationships. Describe your experience in ministering to persons from a
variety of faith groups, cultural and racial backgrounds.

6\. Ability to set up and maintain a Clinical Pastoral Education Program

Describe your involvement in developing and coordinating an accredited
CPE program. Describe how you have worked with Professional Consultation
Committee(s). Describe how you have recruited and screened CPE
participants, evaluated student effectiveness, and provided quality
control for a CPE program.

**DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS**

**BOARD OF EXCEPTED SERVICE EXAMINERS**

**CHAPLAIN (Clinical Pastoral Education Supervisor)**

**LOCATION AND SCHEDULE OPTIONS DESIRED\***

(submit this form with the other material requested in announcement
BESE-CPE-A)

**JOB LOCATION(S) DESIRED** *(check as many as apply)*

( ) **Entire continental United States**

( ) **Northeast** (CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT, NJ, NY) ( ) **North Central**
(IA, MN, NE, ND, SD)

( ) **Atlantic** (DE, MD, PA, VA, WV, DC) ( ) **South Central** (AR, CO,
KS, LA, MO, OK, TX)

( ) **Southeast** (AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC, TN, PR) ( ) **Northwest**
(AK, ID, MT, OR, WA, WY)

( ) **Midwest** (IL, IN, MI, OH, WI) ( ) **Southwest** (AZ, CA, NV, NM,
UT, HI)

**WORK SCHEDULES DESIRED** *(check as many as apply)*

I wish to be considered for the following work schedules:

( ) full time (40 hours per week)

( ) part time 30 to 35 hours per week

( ) part time 24 to 29 hours per week

( ) part time 16 to 23 hours per week

( ) part time 10 to 15 hours per week

( ) intermittent (no regularly scheduled hours)

**AVAILABILITY**

If selected for employment I am available to report for work within
\_\_\_\_\_\_ days after notification; or by \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

(date)

**YOUR NAME (please print)**

**YOUR SIGNATURE DATE SIGNED**

**\*You may change these preferences whenever you desire by submitting a
new copy of this form. However, if you decline consideration three times
for position(s) which meet the options you have indicated you will
accept, your application will no longer be considered.**