Peer Specialist Apprentice

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 vendors 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 apprentices 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 vendors 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

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• You must be a Veteran (See Statutory Requirements below)
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements ( Effective May 7 2025 drivers licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)

As a condition of employment for accepting this position you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public determining if your employment advances the public interest we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your probationary period or trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification in writing that your continued employment advances the public interest.

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 Veterans 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

Education

There is no educational substitution at this grade level.