Summary

This is a time-limited position that will provide the peer support apprentice with the time to learn and develop the necessary skills to perform as a peer specialist and to earn a peer specialist certification. This Peer Support Apprentice position may only be filled with a Veteran that meets statutory requirements that are detailed in the qualifications section.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement - 02/17/2026.

Basic Requirements:

• FOR PEER SUPPORT APPRENTICES - GS-102-5: As a Peer Support Apprentice hired to become a certified Peer Specialist - a Veteran must have spent a minimum of 1 year in recovery from a mental health condition (mental illness and/or substance use disorder)
• In all cases - Peer Support Apprentices must actively pursue becoming certified as required to serve as a Peer Specialist by 38 U.S.C. 7402(b)(13)(B)
• At the time of appointment - the supervisor will provide the Peer Support Apprentice with the written requirements for becoming certified - the date by which he or she must become certified - and the consequences for not becoming certified by the deadline
• Failure to become certified by the prescribed date will result in removal from this GS-102 occupation and may result in termination of employment
• IMPORTANT NOTICE: Veteran is defined as a person who served in the active military - naval - air - or space service - and who was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable
• Restricted to VETERANS - See IMPORTANT NOTICE
• Open to current - permanent employees of the VA (i.e
• T38 - T38 Hybrid - and VCS employees on excepted appts covered by an interchange agreement)
• Federal employees on a Career/Career-Conditional appt.
• Former competitive civil service employees eligible for reinstatement
• Veterans eligible under VRA - and 30% DAV
• Those eligible under the Employment Program for People with Disabilities
• and those eligible for CTAP/ICTAP
• Length of Experience in Recovery Basic Requirement: Successful recovery is exemplified by one who manages symptoms of illness and pursues a healthy lifestyle
• lives independently
• is employed or volunteers significant time approximating at least a part-time employment schedule
• has meaningful relationships with family members and friends
• and is socially involved in the community through clubs - hobby groups - church - civic organizations or Veteran organizations in which the individual provides a service to others
• NOTE: You MUST provide copies of your DD-214 with your application package
• ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY: In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) - No person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English
• You must be proficient in basic written and spoken English in order to meet the requirements of this position
• You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Problem Solving Communication Teaches Others 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
• Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week
• Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities
• Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment
• Physical Requirements: The applicant must be able to perform primarily light and sedentary duties with occasionally moderate physical demands - exercise patience - and control emotions - with reasonable accommodation if necessary - without endangering the health and safety of the applicant or others
• The work is primarily sedentary
• Typically - the employee sits to do the work
• There may be some walking - standing - bending - carrying light items (such as books - papers) - and accessing transportation
• The work may require occasional use of Department of Veteran's Affairs approved behavioral management techniques with Veterans who present a danger to self or others
• Veterans demonstrate varying levels of wellness - recovery - and symptoms
• This position must be equipped to be flexible and accept that work areas are often noisy - irregular - unpredictable - and stressful
• Work is performed in a wide range of settings - including the Medical Center - group or family homes - community-based outpatient settings - community organizations - or in transport vehicles (public or government)
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Duties

• TIME LIMITED POSITION: This time-limited position will provide the peer support apprentice with the time to learn and develop the necessary skills to perform as a peer specialist and to earn a peer specialist certification
• After successful completion of a State or VA-approved contract vendor's peer specialist certification training process - and the necessary year of specialized experience - and time-in-grade requirements - the position would be eligible for a permanent - peer specialist position
• The Peer Support Apprentice functions as an interdisciplinary team member - assisting physicians and other professional/non-professional personnel in a rehabilitation treatment program
• Peer support apprentices perform a variety of therapeutic and supportive tasks that include assisting Veterans in articulating their goals for recovery and personal wellness - learning and practicing new skills - helping them monitor their progress - assisting them in their treatment - modeling effective coping techniques and self-help strategies based on the apprentice's own recovery experience - and supporting them in advocating for themselves to obtain effective services
• The position functions as a role model - exhibiting competency in personal recovery and use of coping skills and serves as an advocate - providing information and peer support services for Veterans in outpatient - inpatient and/or community settings
• This individual must develop the ability to assist others in treatment - based on the principles of recovery - wellness - and resiliency - by promoting self-determination - personal responsibility - and the empowerment inherent in self-directed recovery
• By inspiring the hope that recovery and resiliency are achievable goals - the position can assist and empower Veterans - who are diagnosed with mental illnesses and/or co-occurring disorders - as well as other chronic illnesses or injuries - to achieve their personal recovery goals
• The position performs a wide range of tasks to assist Veterans in regaining independence within the community and mastery over their own recovery and wellness process
• As an entry level position - most duties are performed under close supervision by either a licensed independent provider (LIP) or a non-licensed provider who works under a LIP
• The purpose of the supervision is to facilitate learning and the development of skills
• The knowledge required for this position will be attained through ongoing instruction provided by the supervisor or designer (e.g. - the Local Recovery Coordinator)
• In addition - the position must complete a State or VA-approved contract vendor's certification training process - to be eligible to be hired as a peer specialist
• Duties include - but are not limited to the following: Participates in the service - training - consultation - and other professional activities of VA health care services and functions as a fully vested member of the multidisciplinary team
• Uses personal recovery experiences to model coping techniques and recovery tools to coach Veterans on relevant skills needed for self-management of their health condition(s) and pursuit of their personal wellness
• Observes behaviors that might indicate difficulty adapting or responding to treatment (e.g. - missed assessment appointments - failure to attend or maintain abstinence - risk to self or others - disruptive behavior) - completes appropriate documentation - and reports concerns to the treatment team in a timely manner
• Uses ongoing individual and group meetings to teach Veterans how to identify and combat negative self-talk and overcome fears by providing a forum that allows Veteran to share their experiences
• As necessary - handles crisis interventions for Veterans and addresses other emergent situations through immediate consultation with the supervisor or most available clinical provider
• Maintains a working knowledge of current trends and developments in holistic approaches in wellness and recovery by reading books - journals - and other relevant materials
• Performs other related duties as assigned
• Work Schedule: Full-Time - schedule dependent on needs of service Telework: This position may be authorized for telework (Ad hoc)
• Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Position Description/PD#: Peer Specialist - Apprentice/PD99318 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized