VA credentialing process

[psychhell]

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Hi, I don't know if anybody is familiar with the credentialing process at the VA but, if you are, I would appreciate some clarification. I just received my psyd and was just selected for a va job (LONG and INEFFICIENT process btw).

Anyway, before the psychiatry department selected me, they want 5 reference to call. They then called these references, checked everything out and selected me. The HR Department THEN sent me a credentialing packet that wants the addresses (but not phone numbers???) of places I have worked recently... They also want the names of 3 references including my DCT (who does not like me but also never observed me do any clinical work)

Here are my qs:

1 - Why do they want the addresses of places I worked during graduate school? Is it more to verify that I am telling the truth about where I worked?A lot of these places probably have no record of me working there because these externships were through my graduate program,not through them at all.
2 - If my DCT says bad things about me but my 5 references who are my direct supervisors are exemplary, will anything adverse happen?
3 - Why can't the VA just take my transcripts as evidence where I worked and that I have a Psy.D.? Why do they need to call my school?

 

[LM02]

In a nutshell, because it's the federal government. And with the additional "Homeland Security" concerns that have emerged over the last several years, an already tedious and bureaucratic process has become 1000% worse.

I have worked for the federal government (not the VA) before, and have had to provide similar information. My understanding is that they ask for specific addresses, names of additional references, etc. to confirm that you are, indeed, being honest. After a while, you run out of people you can even provide as references - you have to dig deep after a while! 🙄

Not sure what would happen with your DCT, but my guess is that they will send the DCT a form to simply confirm that you got your degree from your program. I've actually had to fill out similar forms before (even though I'm not a DCT). Most of the time, it's really just a technicality.

 

[erg923]

Let me get his straight...your questioning why the federal government doesnt the things it does and you expect it all to make sense?

 

[psychhell]

I guess I am still lost: It says to list everyplace you have worked AFTER graduation. So if I have just graduated, I list nothing??? Most of my practica placements were done through my graduate school, and other than having supervisors at those external sites (some of whom have moved on to unknown places), there is probably NO record of me ever being there

 

[PsyDr]

In general, the concept is due diligence.

1)
a.The VA will use addresses to identify taxpayer IDs. and the appropriate phone numbers. so you are not having your friends answer their phones, pretending to be some agency or whatever.
b. yes
c. They will contact them. again, due diligence.

2) probably not. there are some very unlikely key things someone could say about you and get you not hired.

3) Transcripts can be forged. Due diligence

They really will call every single person you list.

 

[erg923]

when did you start the process? I practicumed at a large VA last year and my paper work and background, references, etc. for that took over 3 months.

 

[psychhell]

3 months???!!!

I was just selected by the chief of mental health for the position last week and now have the credentialing paper work in hand. I definitely can't afford to be jobless for that long. When I ask how long this will take, they don't give me a straight answer, so I guess I need to call them back tomorrow.

I know from reading another thread about the VA that some people on here know others convicted of crimes working at VAs, so I was very shocked that this paperwork is so picky.

When they ask for training sites, they only want the facility's address, not anything about who supervised me, etc. So I am assuming they only talk to the HR departments at those facilities. However, later on, they want to know of any individualized monitoring I received. I don't know how specific to get -- my supervisor monitored me my 4th year because he was concerned about my therapy skills, bt this was never written up formally in any HR files (I will call my graduate school tomorrow to find out) and I am not putting her as a reference, so I don't know whether to disclose this.

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

I know some people ran into issues during the hiring freeze, even with the funding approved for the position. With the new fiscal year in full swing, hopefully it will go more quickly.