Home  »  Employment   »   Careers at the Department of Veteran Affairs

Careers at the Department of Veteran Affairs

careers at VA

VA Careers For Veterans

A career with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) comes loaded with comprehensive benefits, competitive pay, and other generous perks to help build a fuller, more balanced life for you and your family. VA has an unwavering commitment to support veterans, and that includes helping them build rewarding careers within the VA health care system.

VA gives Veterans—particularly those with disabilities—hiring preference for any available positions. VA values the special skills and unique perspectives Veterans bring to the table. They fully understand that by sharing your experiences you can continue a life of service, helping other veterans heal and cope with being back home.

The VA also recognizes military spouses are educated, qualified and ready to serve the nation’s veterans and their families. That is why VA partners with the Department of Defense Military Spouse Employment Partnership program to help recruit, hire, promote and retain military spouses in meaningful careers at VA.

Different Careers For Veterans Available at VA

Below are some of the health care and employment opportunities available at VA.

Nursing

Nurses are at the heart of VA’s world-class, patient-centered standard of care. Day in and day out, they go the extra mile to make a lasting difference in the lives of our Veterans and their families. As part of Patient Aligned Care Teams (PACTs), nurses play a crucial role in Veterans’ long-term, holistic health. They work collaboratively across disciplines and treatment settings with a designated medical team—and other community resources—to help coordinate the full spectrum of patient care. And they do it all with a gentle humility and patience that keeps Veterans’ spirits lifted.

Physicians Careers

As a physician at VA, you have more than a job—you serve Veterans who have borne the battle with honor. In carrying out this mission, you will discover a career with competitive pay, opportunities for growth and mobility, a wealth of benefits and rich rewards.

Mental Health Hiring

VA understands the unique challenges Veterans face when returning home and transitioning back to civilian life. The VA’s Mental Health professionals expertly tailor treatment plans that meet patients where they are, ease their symptoms and help them achieve wholeness.  Mental Health at VA focuses on recovery, coordinating care that empowers Veterans and their families to take charge of their wellbeing and pursue fuller lives. From counseling and emergency services to telemedicine and social work, VA does what it takes to help Veterans reclaim their mental and emotional freedom.

Dentistry

At VA, their dentistry professionals can pursue opportunities to conduct research either independently or in association with VA’s dental practice-based research network known as VADER (VA Dentists Engaged in Research). VADER gives you the chance to engage in clinical studies designed to answer questions faced by VA dentists in the routine care of their patients. VADER works closely with the VA Dental Education Program in the dissemination of research findings, and with the VA Oral Health Quality Group in the development of quality measures for VA dental practices. The VA Dental Education Program offers training for new, inexperienced, and/or upcoming dental chiefs, assistant dental chiefs, and lead dentists. In addition, VA dentists are well-published in nationally recognized professional journals, and many have been elected to leadership positions in national health care organizations and at VA Veterans Integrated Services Network (VISN) levels.

Pharmacists

VA is pushing beyond tradition to give pharmacists more direct influence on the course of patient care. By enabling them to apply their skills in new ways—from leading-edge research to preventative services and behavioral counseling—VA is delivering accurate, effective treatment to more Veterans in need. At VA, pharmacists are valued members of interdisciplinary care teams and are given greater autonomy to make clinical decisions on patients’ behalf. On our pharmacy team, you are sure to experience unbeatable satisfaction in a career that makes full use of your training and passion.

Administrative and Technical Professionals

When it comes to ensuring Veterans receive the best health care available, it takes all kinds of talented, dedicated professionals. VA administrative and technical teams keep the gears turning behind the scenes, in finance, human resources, IT and beyond. At VA, you can help change lives in a variety of settings, making decisions that are essential to the smooth, efficient flow of services to our patients. No matter your field of expertise, VA has dynamic career paths that bring out the best in you and transform your passion for serving Veterans into real-world impact.

Support Services

With a host of training and educational resources available, VA continually invests in the potential of all its support staff, helping them exceed their goals. It is a way to experience a more satisfying career with the added fulfillment of changing Veterans’ lives.

Students and Trainees

For more than 60 years, the VA has partnered with affiliated colleges and universities across the country to train new health care professionals and enhance Veteran health care. VA conducts the largest medical education effort in the U.S., with over 120,000 participants receiving training in 2017. The VA is proud that so many of these professionals accept permanent positions on the team, after getting a glimpse into life at VA. With the number of training and educational opportunities available to accelerate your career growth, it is easy to see why. Visit the Office of Academic Affiliations to explore all VA has to offer.

If you are a Veteran or military spouse interested in career opportunities with VA, feel free to email the Veterans Employment Services Office (VESO) for guidance. Find other helpful employment resources, including a military skills translator, resume builder and more at www.vets.gov/employment.

RELATED: