Creative Arts Therapist (Art)
- VA Black Hills Health Care System
- Sturgis, South Dakota
- Full Time
Creive Arts Therapist (Art)
Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Health Administrion
Veterans Health Administrion
Summary
The Art Therapist is assigned to the Recreion Therapy Department in the Rehabilition and Extended Care (REC) service line the Black Hills Health Care System. Art Therapist provides art therapy trement interventions incorporing the four-step process of assessment, planning, implemention, and evaluion of pient trement services.
Summary
The Art Therapist is assigned to the Recreion Therapy Department in the Rehabilition and Extended Care (REC) service line the Black Hills Health Care System. Art Therapist provides art therapy trement interventions incorporing the four-step process of assessment, planning, implemention, and evaluion of pient trement services.
Overview
Help
Accepting applicions
Open & closing des
08/07/2025 to 08/14/2025
Salary
$61,111 to - $96,116 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 9 - 11
Locion
1 vacancy in the following locion:
Fort Meade, SD
1 vacancy
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
50% or less - You expected to travel locally for this position.
Relocion expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
11
Job family (Series)
0638 Recreion/Creive Arts Therapist
Supervisory stus
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determinion process
Credentialing
Suitability/Fitness
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit stus
No
Announcement number
CBSY-12777681-25-MN
Control number
842775100
This job is open to
Help
Internal to an agency
Current federal employees of the hiring agency th posted the job announcement.
Clarificion from the agency
This announcement is an INTERNAL ANNOUNCEMENT and is limited to current permanent employees of the Black Hills VA Health Care System.
Videos
Duties
Help
Major duties include, but are not limited to, the following:
The Art Therapist responsible for providing evaluion and trement for therapeutic art activity the Fort Meade/Hot Springs Medical Centers, Medical Foster Homes, inpient/outpient mental health, Veterans' home and CBOC's as needed and some travel to these locions may be required.
Evalues pients with formal and informal assessments, develops individualized art therapy trement plans and interventions with knowledge of symptoms of diagnoses in the provision of art therapy based on current literure and best practices. Identifies potential risks, modifies trement plans as needed, and develops adaptive interventions to facilite a safe therapeutic environment.
Ability to work with diverse and complex pient populions and develop approprie art therapy programs and interventions, including typical and ypical merials. Employs therapeutic objectives, which are complex because of the severe, and multiple disabilities regularly encountered. Handles difficult cases involving pients who have multiple diagnoses and/or other severe medical complicions. Schedules pients for trement and integres Creive Art Therapy activities with other trements to achieve the goals established with/for the pient.
Develops and completes documention of pient care including assessments, progress notes, encounters, consultions, care plans, and other reports with concise and clear clinical informion as needed.
Utilizes in-person, telehealth and Veteran Video Connect (VVC) avenues to complete evaluions and adjust pient trement plans and goals Fort Meade/Hot Springs Medical Centers, Medical Foster Homes, inpient/outpient mental health, Veterans' home and CBOC's as needed.
Responsible to manage the resources assigned to Recreion Therapy Department/Art Therapy program. Such resources include managing the quarterly budget (Fund Control Point), management of supplies and management of the recreion space.
Serves as Art Therapy subject mter expert and representive on interdisciplinary teams and provides educion to staff, students, pients, families and caregivers about the benefits of art therapy and trement interventions and goals.
Knowledge of the creive process and art media and their effect on the pients' cognitive, sensory, emotional, and physical stes and understanding of the symbolic expression of the art product and process.
Utilizes the Creive Art Therapy modality with individual/groups of pients having physical, emotional and social disabilities. Provides the equipment, merials, instruction, encouragement, or counseling necessary to promote a positive and therapeutic activity. Veterans with complex disorders require unusual motivion techniques to be administered. Administrion of the trement requires adapting equipment or activities to accommode disabled pients and maintain safety. Maintains proper judgment in determining approprie therapeutic art therapy and the approprie interval of trement in administering for Veterans. Uses specialized approaches in selecting trement approprie for pients who may exhibit or suffer from extreme emotional stress, muscular dysfunction, psychosocial dysfunction, or other physical, mental emotional and/or social limitions.
Work Schedule : Monday-Friday, 7:30am-4:00pm
Telework : Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Stement # : 000000
Relocion/Recruitment Incentives : Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Stion (PCS): Not Authorized
Requirements
Help
Conditions of employment
You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
Selective Service Registrion is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
You may be required to serve a trial period.
Subject to background/security investigion.
Selected applicants required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identificion required to complete pre-employment requirements ( Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or ste-issued dentificion cards th are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identificion for employment.
Must pass pre-employment driving physical examinion.
Participion in the seasonal influenza vaccinion program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
Must have/maintain a current unrestricted valid divers license
Qualificions
Basic Requirements :
United Stes Citizenship : Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
English Language Proficiency . Must be proficient in spoken and written English, as required by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f).
Educion : The following educion requirements apply to the recreion creive arts therapist (art).
A master's degree or higher, from an accredited college or university, with a major in art therapy approved by the American Art Therapy Associion on or before 3 June 30, 2016. If the degree is received after June 30, 2016, a master's degree or higher from an accredited college or university, with a major in art therapy, must be accredited by the Council on Accredition of Art Therapy Educion: a committee of the Commission on Accredition on Allied Health Educion Program.
OR
A master's degree in a reled field, plus gradue coursework and supervised field experience in art therapy. Acceptable reled fields include: Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy, Social Work, Psychology, Addictions Counseling, Psychiric Nursing, and Psychiry, AND must possess a full, current, and unrestricted registrion as a Registered Art Therapist (ATR) approved by the Art Therapy Credentials Board. If hired under this educion, the registrion cannot be waived.
Registrion/Certificion : Creive Arts Therapy (Art). Must possess a full, current, and unrestricted registrion with the ATR. If hired under paragraph 4b(2)(b), registrion cannot be waived.
Exception . Non-registered and/or non-certified applicants, who otherwise meet the 5 eligibility requirements for registrion and/or certificion, may be given a temporary appointment as a gradue creive arts therapist, under the authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405(c)(2)(B), for a period not to exceed two years. Applicants who fail to obtain registrion and/or certificion during this temporary full-time appointment may be termined. The exception only applies to positions the GS-9 level. For grade levels or above the full performance level, the candide must be registered and/or certified.
Grandfhering Provision
May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfhering Provision as described in the VA Qualificion Standard for this occupion (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupion and meet the criteria). All persons employed in VHA as a recreion or creive arts therapist, on the effective de of this qualificion standard, are considered to have met all qualificion requirements for the title, series, and grade held, including positive educion, and registrion and/or certificion th are part of the basic requirements of the occupion. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements in this standard, but who met the qualificions applicable to the position the time they were appointed, the following provisions apply:
(1) Such employees may be reassigned, promoted up to, and including, the full performance (journeyman) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupion, but may not be promoted beyond the journeyman level, or placed in supervisory or managerial positions.
(2) Employees who were appointed on a temporary basis, prior to the effective de of the qualificion standard, may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard.
(3) Employees initially grandfhered into this occupion, who subsequently obtain additional educion and/or licensure/registrion/certificion, th meet all the basic requirements of this qualificion standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupion. 6
(4) Recreion and creive arts therapists who are converted to title 38 hybrid stus under this provision and subsequently leave the occupion lose protected stus and must meet the full VA qualificion standard requirements, in effect the time of reentry, as a recreion or creive arts therapist.
Grade Determinions-Creive Arts Therapist (Art)
GS-9
Experience/Educion . None beyond the basic requirements
Assignment . Employees this level serve in an entry level position as creive arts therapist (art). Employees have knowledge of their respective discipline and work with direct supervision and guidance from higher-level or supervisory staff. Established trement procedures are substantially adapted and applied for pients who are acutely ill. Therapists this level may be given general assignments in a program area.
GS-11
Experience . At least one year of creditable experience the next lower grade level.
and
Demonstred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities . In addition to the experience above, the candide must demonstre all of the following KSAs:
i. Ability to identify current art resources in the community the time of assessment, for discharge planning purposes.
ii. Ability to develop and implement quality improvement systems as reled to internal and external regulory requirements, including pient safety.
iii. Knowledge of diagnostic coding and symptoms of diagnoses in the provision of art therapy.
iv. Knowledge of the creive process and art media and their effect on the pients' cognitive, sensory, emotional, and physical stes.
v. Ability to demonstre and educe stakeholders on the value of the creive process as a therapeutic tool.
vi. Ability to establish and maintain a therapeutic relionship with professional boundaries th reflect a trusting, emphetic, and respectful interaction.
vii. Skill in collaboring and maintaining liaison with an interdisciplinary team and educing the trement team on theoretical framework of art therapy interventions.
Assignment . Employees this level serve as a creive arts therapist (art) the full performance level. They provide direct pient care and receive guidance from higher-level or supervisory staff members for complex pients only. They gher informal art-based assessment of pients' needs, aptitudes, interests, and abilities. The therapist also develops and implements individualized art therapy trement plans, to include the scope, durion, and frequency of trement. Trement goals may include, but are not limited to: emotional regulion, resolving traumic memories, active medition, building emphy and a sense of self-worth, and identifying potential risks and the need for adaptive interventions to facilite improved well-being. Duties may include, but are not limited to developing art therapy programs, interventions, and instructional programs, including typical and ypical merials and resources th are approprie to the needs, skills, and aptitudes of the pient. The therapist supports engagement in, and reflection of, the art process and product, through an art therapy framework where the engagement develops specific skills tained through art making th may include increased independence, focus to task, sense of self-worth, improved coping skills, 24 self-care, and social skills. They provide a safe environment for pients to understand the symbolic expression of their art product, process, and their experience with the merials as it reles to their recovery and wellness.
Reference: For more informion on this qualificion standard, please .
The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. The actual grade which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-9 to GS-11.
Physical Requirements: You asked to participe in a pre-employment examinion or evaluion as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed the time of evaluion or examinion.
Educion
IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your applicion.
Note: Only educion or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Educion from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your educion here: . If you are using foreign educion to meet qualificion requirements, you must send a Certifice of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for th educion. For further informion, : .
Additional informion
During the applicion process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your applicion for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further considerion for additional positions.
This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.
This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive stus.
VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-reled positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.
The VA Midwest Health Care Network advoces for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare th empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee opering in a Whole Health System of care, you will opere in a model with three core elements, seeking to cree a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relionships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administrion (VHA) Mission Stement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care th improves their health and well-being.
If you are unable to apply online or need an alterne method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.
Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentive job offer. For more informion about the Act and the complaint process, Human Resources and Administrion/Operions, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) The Fair Chance Act .
Expand Hide additional informion
Candides should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passione about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United Stes Constitution.
Benefits
Help
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits th are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new window Learn more about federal benefits .
Review our benefits
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more informion on the specific benefits offered.
How you evalued
You evalued for this job based on how well you meet the qualificions above.
IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your applicion, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documention verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect considerion for employment.
Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through Nional Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizions (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 th transles directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify informion provided by a candide (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candide's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.
It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those th have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.
Veterans and Transitioning Service Members : Please the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegrion support for military service members.
Benefits
Help
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits th are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new window Learn more about federal benefits .
Review our benefits
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more informion on the specific benefits offered.
Required documents
Required Documents
Help
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Applicion Package which includes:
Resume
SF-50/ Notificion of Personnel Action
Transcript
The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualificions for this position. Please ensure you have included all documents required for your applicion, such as a copy of your transcript (if using educion to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), etc.
Cover Letter
License
*Highly Recommended* Write to the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) on a separe document - KSAs are found under qualificion/grade requirements in the announcement.
Full, current, and unrestricted registrion as a Registered Art Therapist (ATR) approved by the Art Therapy Credentials Board
Performance Appraisal
Professional Certificion
Resume
SF-50/ Notificion of Personnel Action
Transcript
Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees.
If you are relying on your educion to meet qualificion requirements:
Educion must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Educion in order for it to be credited towards qualificions. Therefore, provide only the tendance and/or degrees from
schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Educion .
Failure to provide all of the required informion as sted in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible ring or may affect the overall ring.
How to Apply
Help
All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the full questionnaire and submit the documention specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete applicion package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 08/14/2025 to receive considerion. To preview the questionnaire click .
To begin, click Apply Online to cree a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupional questionnaire.
Click Submit My Answers to submit your applicion package.
NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and approprie documention is submitted prior to the closing de.
Agency contact informion
Megan Noe
Phone
...
...
Address
VA Black Hills Health Care System
113 Comanche Road
Fort Meade, SD 57741
US
Next steps
Once your online applicion is submitted you will receive a confirmion notificion by email. After we receive applicion packages (including all required documents) and the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applicions to ensure qualificion and eligibility requirements are met. After the review is complete, a referral certifice(s) is issued and applicants notified of their stus by email. Referred applicants notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final notificion once a selection decision has been made.
You may check the stus of your applicion any time by logging into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applicions. Informion regarding your applicion stus can be found in the USAJobs Help Center .
NOTE: Participion in the seasonal influenza program is a condition of employment and a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). It is a requirement th all HCP to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccinion or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccinion has been granted. HCP in violion of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service. HCP are individuals who, during the influenza season, work in VHA locions or who come into contact with VA pients or other HCP as part of their duties. VHA locions include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associed clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community-based outpient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and VA-leased medical facilities. HCP include all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrive, remote and onsite, paid and without compension, full- and part-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, VA contractors, researchers, volunteers and health professions trainees (HPTs) who are expected to perform any or all of their work these facilities. HPTs may be paid or unpaid and include residents, interns, fellows and students. HCP also includes VHA personnel providing home-based care to Veterans and drivers and other personnel whose duties put them in contact with pients outside VA medical facilities.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
Criminal history inquiries
Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
Financial suitability
New employee probionary period
Privacy Act
Reasonable accommodion policy
Selective Service
Signure and false stements
Social security number request
Required Documents
Help
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Applicion Package which includes:
Resume
SF-50/ Notificion of Personnel Action
Transcript
The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualificions for this position. Please ensure you have included all documents required for your applicion, such as a copy of your transcript (if using educion to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), etc.
Cover Letter
License
*Highly Recommended* Write to the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) on a separe document - KSAs are found under qualificion/grade requirements in the announcement.
Full, current, and unrestricted registrion as a Registered Art Therapist (ATR) approved by the Art Therapy Credentials Board
Performance Appraisal
Professional Certificion
Resume
SF-50/ Notificion of Personnel Action
Transcript
Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees.
If you are relying on your educion to meet qualificion requirements:
Educion must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Educion in order for it to be credited towards qualificions. Therefore, provide only the tendance and/or degrees from
schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Educion .
Failure to provide all of the required informion as sted in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible ring or may affect the overall ring.
How to Apply
Help
All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the full questionnaire and submit the documention specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete applicion package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 08/14/2025 to receive considerion. To preview the questionnaire click .
To begin, click Apply Online to cree a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupional questionnaire.
Click Submit My Answers to submit your applicion package.
NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and approprie documention is submitted prior to the closing de.
Expand Hide how to apply
Agency contact informion
Megan Noe
Phone
...
...
Address
VA Black Hills Health Care System
113 Comanche Road
Fort Meade, SD 57741
US
Next steps
Once your online applicion is submitted you will receive a confirmion notificion by email. After we receive applicion packages (including all required documents) and the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applicions to ensure qualificion and eligibility requirements are met. After the review is complete, a referral certifice(s) is issued and applicants notified of their stus by email. Referred applicants notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final notificion once a selection decision has been made.
You may check the stus of your applicion any time by logging into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applicions. Informion regarding your applicion stus can be found in the USAJobs Help Center .
NOTE: Participion in the seasonal influenza program is a condition of employment and a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). It is a requirement th all HCP to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccinion or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccinion has been granted. HCP in violion of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service. HCP are individuals who, during the influenza season, work in VHA locions or who come into contact with VA pients or other HCP as part of their duties. VHA locions include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associed clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community-based outpient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and VA-leased medical facilities. HCP include all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrive, remote and onsite, paid and without compension, full- and part-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, VA contractors, researchers, volunteers and health professions trainees (HPTs) who are expected to perform any or all of their work these facilities. HPTs may be paid or unpaid and include residents, interns, fellows and students. HCP also includes VHA personnel providing home-based care to Veterans and drivers and other personnel whose duties put them in contact with pients outside VA medical facilities.
Expand Hide next steps
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
Criminal history inquiries
Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
Financial suitability
New employee probionary period
Privacy Act
Reasonable accommodion policy
Selective Service
Signure and false stements
Social security number request
Overview Help Accepting applicions Open & closing des 08/07/2025 to 08/14/2025 Salary $61,111 to - $96,116 per year Pay...
Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Health Administrion
Veterans Health Administrion
Summary
The Art Therapist is assigned to the Recreion Therapy Department in the Rehabilition and Extended Care (REC) service line the Black Hills Health Care System. Art Therapist provides art therapy trement interventions incorporing the four-step process of assessment, planning, implemention, and evaluion of pient trement services.
Summary
The Art Therapist is assigned to the Recreion Therapy Department in the Rehabilition and Extended Care (REC) service line the Black Hills Health Care System. Art Therapist provides art therapy trement interventions incorporing the four-step process of assessment, planning, implemention, and evaluion of pient trement services.
Overview
Help
Accepting applicions
Open & closing des
08/07/2025 to 08/14/2025
Salary
$61,111 to - $96,116 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 9 - 11
Locion
1 vacancy in the following locion:
Fort Meade, SD
1 vacancy
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
50% or less - You expected to travel locally for this position.
Relocion expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
11
Job family (Series)
0638 Recreion/Creive Arts Therapist
Supervisory stus
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determinion process
Credentialing
Suitability/Fitness
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit stus
No
Announcement number
CBSY-12777681-25-MN
Control number
842775100
This job is open to
Help
Internal to an agency
Current federal employees of the hiring agency th posted the job announcement.
Clarificion from the agency
This announcement is an INTERNAL ANNOUNCEMENT and is limited to current permanent employees of the Black Hills VA Health Care System.
Videos
Duties
Help
Major duties include, but are not limited to, the following:
The Art Therapist responsible for providing evaluion and trement for therapeutic art activity the Fort Meade/Hot Springs Medical Centers, Medical Foster Homes, inpient/outpient mental health, Veterans' home and CBOC's as needed and some travel to these locions may be required.
Evalues pients with formal and informal assessments, develops individualized art therapy trement plans and interventions with knowledge of symptoms of diagnoses in the provision of art therapy based on current literure and best practices. Identifies potential risks, modifies trement plans as needed, and develops adaptive interventions to facilite a safe therapeutic environment.
Ability to work with diverse and complex pient populions and develop approprie art therapy programs and interventions, including typical and ypical merials. Employs therapeutic objectives, which are complex because of the severe, and multiple disabilities regularly encountered. Handles difficult cases involving pients who have multiple diagnoses and/or other severe medical complicions. Schedules pients for trement and integres Creive Art Therapy activities with other trements to achieve the goals established with/for the pient.
Develops and completes documention of pient care including assessments, progress notes, encounters, consultions, care plans, and other reports with concise and clear clinical informion as needed.
Utilizes in-person, telehealth and Veteran Video Connect (VVC) avenues to complete evaluions and adjust pient trement plans and goals Fort Meade/Hot Springs Medical Centers, Medical Foster Homes, inpient/outpient mental health, Veterans' home and CBOC's as needed.
Responsible to manage the resources assigned to Recreion Therapy Department/Art Therapy program. Such resources include managing the quarterly budget (Fund Control Point), management of supplies and management of the recreion space.
Serves as Art Therapy subject mter expert and representive on interdisciplinary teams and provides educion to staff, students, pients, families and caregivers about the benefits of art therapy and trement interventions and goals.
Knowledge of the creive process and art media and their effect on the pients' cognitive, sensory, emotional, and physical stes and understanding of the symbolic expression of the art product and process.
Utilizes the Creive Art Therapy modality with individual/groups of pients having physical, emotional and social disabilities. Provides the equipment, merials, instruction, encouragement, or counseling necessary to promote a positive and therapeutic activity. Veterans with complex disorders require unusual motivion techniques to be administered. Administrion of the trement requires adapting equipment or activities to accommode disabled pients and maintain safety. Maintains proper judgment in determining approprie therapeutic art therapy and the approprie interval of trement in administering for Veterans. Uses specialized approaches in selecting trement approprie for pients who may exhibit or suffer from extreme emotional stress, muscular dysfunction, psychosocial dysfunction, or other physical, mental emotional and/or social limitions.
Work Schedule : Monday-Friday, 7:30am-4:00pm
Telework : Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Stement # : 000000
Relocion/Recruitment Incentives : Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Stion (PCS): Not Authorized
Requirements
Help
Conditions of employment
You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
Selective Service Registrion is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
You may be required to serve a trial period.
Subject to background/security investigion.
Selected applicants required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identificion required to complete pre-employment requirements ( Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or ste-issued dentificion cards th are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identificion for employment.
Must pass pre-employment driving physical examinion.
Participion in the seasonal influenza vaccinion program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
Must have/maintain a current unrestricted valid divers license
Qualificions
Basic Requirements :
United Stes Citizenship : Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
English Language Proficiency . Must be proficient in spoken and written English, as required by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f).
Educion : The following educion requirements apply to the recreion creive arts therapist (art).
A master's degree or higher, from an accredited college or university, with a major in art therapy approved by the American Art Therapy Associion on or before 3 June 30, 2016. If the degree is received after June 30, 2016, a master's degree or higher from an accredited college or university, with a major in art therapy, must be accredited by the Council on Accredition of Art Therapy Educion: a committee of the Commission on Accredition on Allied Health Educion Program.
OR
A master's degree in a reled field, plus gradue coursework and supervised field experience in art therapy. Acceptable reled fields include: Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy, Social Work, Psychology, Addictions Counseling, Psychiric Nursing, and Psychiry, AND must possess a full, current, and unrestricted registrion as a Registered Art Therapist (ATR) approved by the Art Therapy Credentials Board. If hired under this educion, the registrion cannot be waived.
Registrion/Certificion : Creive Arts Therapy (Art). Must possess a full, current, and unrestricted registrion with the ATR. If hired under paragraph 4b(2)(b), registrion cannot be waived.
Exception . Non-registered and/or non-certified applicants, who otherwise meet the 5 eligibility requirements for registrion and/or certificion, may be given a temporary appointment as a gradue creive arts therapist, under the authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405(c)(2)(B), for a period not to exceed two years. Applicants who fail to obtain registrion and/or certificion during this temporary full-time appointment may be termined. The exception only applies to positions the GS-9 level. For grade levels or above the full performance level, the candide must be registered and/or certified.
Grandfhering Provision
May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfhering Provision as described in the VA Qualificion Standard for this occupion (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupion and meet the criteria). All persons employed in VHA as a recreion or creive arts therapist, on the effective de of this qualificion standard, are considered to have met all qualificion requirements for the title, series, and grade held, including positive educion, and registrion and/or certificion th are part of the basic requirements of the occupion. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements in this standard, but who met the qualificions applicable to the position the time they were appointed, the following provisions apply:
(1) Such employees may be reassigned, promoted up to, and including, the full performance (journeyman) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupion, but may not be promoted beyond the journeyman level, or placed in supervisory or managerial positions.
(2) Employees who were appointed on a temporary basis, prior to the effective de of the qualificion standard, may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard.
(3) Employees initially grandfhered into this occupion, who subsequently obtain additional educion and/or licensure/registrion/certificion, th meet all the basic requirements of this qualificion standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupion. 6
(4) Recreion and creive arts therapists who are converted to title 38 hybrid stus under this provision and subsequently leave the occupion lose protected stus and must meet the full VA qualificion standard requirements, in effect the time of reentry, as a recreion or creive arts therapist.
Grade Determinions-Creive Arts Therapist (Art)
GS-9
Experience/Educion . None beyond the basic requirements
Assignment . Employees this level serve in an entry level position as creive arts therapist (art). Employees have knowledge of their respective discipline and work with direct supervision and guidance from higher-level or supervisory staff. Established trement procedures are substantially adapted and applied for pients who are acutely ill. Therapists this level may be given general assignments in a program area.
GS-11
Experience . At least one year of creditable experience the next lower grade level.
and
Demonstred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities . In addition to the experience above, the candide must demonstre all of the following KSAs:
i. Ability to identify current art resources in the community the time of assessment, for discharge planning purposes.
ii. Ability to develop and implement quality improvement systems as reled to internal and external regulory requirements, including pient safety.
iii. Knowledge of diagnostic coding and symptoms of diagnoses in the provision of art therapy.
iv. Knowledge of the creive process and art media and their effect on the pients' cognitive, sensory, emotional, and physical stes.
v. Ability to demonstre and educe stakeholders on the value of the creive process as a therapeutic tool.
vi. Ability to establish and maintain a therapeutic relionship with professional boundaries th reflect a trusting, emphetic, and respectful interaction.
vii. Skill in collaboring and maintaining liaison with an interdisciplinary team and educing the trement team on theoretical framework of art therapy interventions.
Assignment . Employees this level serve as a creive arts therapist (art) the full performance level. They provide direct pient care and receive guidance from higher-level or supervisory staff members for complex pients only. They gher informal art-based assessment of pients' needs, aptitudes, interests, and abilities. The therapist also develops and implements individualized art therapy trement plans, to include the scope, durion, and frequency of trement. Trement goals may include, but are not limited to: emotional regulion, resolving traumic memories, active medition, building emphy and a sense of self-worth, and identifying potential risks and the need for adaptive interventions to facilite improved well-being. Duties may include, but are not limited to developing art therapy programs, interventions, and instructional programs, including typical and ypical merials and resources th are approprie to the needs, skills, and aptitudes of the pient. The therapist supports engagement in, and reflection of, the art process and product, through an art therapy framework where the engagement develops specific skills tained through art making th may include increased independence, focus to task, sense of self-worth, improved coping skills, 24 self-care, and social skills. They provide a safe environment for pients to understand the symbolic expression of their art product, process, and their experience with the merials as it reles to their recovery and wellness.
Reference: For more informion on this qualificion standard, please .
The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. The actual grade which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-9 to GS-11.
Physical Requirements: You asked to participe in a pre-employment examinion or evaluion as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed the time of evaluion or examinion.
Educion
IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your applicion.
Note: Only educion or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Educion from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your educion here: . If you are using foreign educion to meet qualificion requirements, you must send a Certifice of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for th educion. For further informion, : .
Additional informion
During the applicion process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your applicion for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further considerion for additional positions.
This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.
This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive stus.
VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-reled positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.
The VA Midwest Health Care Network advoces for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare th empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee opering in a Whole Health System of care, you will opere in a model with three core elements, seeking to cree a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relionships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administrion (VHA) Mission Stement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care th improves their health and well-being.
If you are unable to apply online or need an alterne method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.
Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentive job offer. For more informion about the Act and the complaint process, Human Resources and Administrion/Operions, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) The Fair Chance Act .
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Candides should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passione about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United Stes Constitution.
Benefits
Help
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits th are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new window Learn more about federal benefits .
Review our benefits
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more informion on the specific benefits offered.
How you evalued
You evalued for this job based on how well you meet the qualificions above.
IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your applicion, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documention verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect considerion for employment.
Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through Nional Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizions (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 th transles directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify informion provided by a candide (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candide's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.
It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those th have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.
Veterans and Transitioning Service Members : Please the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegrion support for military service members.
Benefits
Help
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits th are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new window Learn more about federal benefits .
Review our benefits
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more informion on the specific benefits offered.
Required documents
Required Documents
Help
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Applicion Package which includes:
Resume
SF-50/ Notificion of Personnel Action
Transcript
The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualificions for this position. Please ensure you have included all documents required for your applicion, such as a copy of your transcript (if using educion to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), etc.
Cover Letter
License
*Highly Recommended* Write to the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) on a separe document - KSAs are found under qualificion/grade requirements in the announcement.
Full, current, and unrestricted registrion as a Registered Art Therapist (ATR) approved by the Art Therapy Credentials Board
Performance Appraisal
Professional Certificion
Resume
SF-50/ Notificion of Personnel Action
Transcript
Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees.
If you are relying on your educion to meet qualificion requirements:
Educion must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Educion in order for it to be credited towards qualificions. Therefore, provide only the tendance and/or degrees from
schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Educion .
Failure to provide all of the required informion as sted in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible ring or may affect the overall ring.
How to Apply
Help
All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the full questionnaire and submit the documention specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete applicion package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 08/14/2025 to receive considerion. To preview the questionnaire click .
To begin, click Apply Online to cree a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupional questionnaire.
Click Submit My Answers to submit your applicion package.
NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and approprie documention is submitted prior to the closing de.
Agency contact informion
Megan Noe
Phone
...
...
Address
VA Black Hills Health Care System
113 Comanche Road
Fort Meade, SD 57741
US
Next steps
Once your online applicion is submitted you will receive a confirmion notificion by email. After we receive applicion packages (including all required documents) and the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applicions to ensure qualificion and eligibility requirements are met. After the review is complete, a referral certifice(s) is issued and applicants notified of their stus by email. Referred applicants notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final notificion once a selection decision has been made.
You may check the stus of your applicion any time by logging into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applicions. Informion regarding your applicion stus can be found in the USAJobs Help Center .
NOTE: Participion in the seasonal influenza program is a condition of employment and a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). It is a requirement th all HCP to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccinion or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccinion has been granted. HCP in violion of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service. HCP are individuals who, during the influenza season, work in VHA locions or who come into contact with VA pients or other HCP as part of their duties. VHA locions include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associed clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community-based outpient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and VA-leased medical facilities. HCP include all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrive, remote and onsite, paid and without compension, full- and part-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, VA contractors, researchers, volunteers and health professions trainees (HPTs) who are expected to perform any or all of their work these facilities. HPTs may be paid or unpaid and include residents, interns, fellows and students. HCP also includes VHA personnel providing home-based care to Veterans and drivers and other personnel whose duties put them in contact with pients outside VA medical facilities.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
Criminal history inquiries
Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
Financial suitability
New employee probionary period
Privacy Act
Reasonable accommodion policy
Selective Service
Signure and false stements
Social security number request
Required Documents
Help
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Applicion Package which includes:
Resume
SF-50/ Notificion of Personnel Action
Transcript
The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualificions for this position. Please ensure you have included all documents required for your applicion, such as a copy of your transcript (if using educion to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), etc.
Cover Letter
License
*Highly Recommended* Write to the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) on a separe document - KSAs are found under qualificion/grade requirements in the announcement.
Full, current, and unrestricted registrion as a Registered Art Therapist (ATR) approved by the Art Therapy Credentials Board
Performance Appraisal
Professional Certificion
Resume
SF-50/ Notificion of Personnel Action
Transcript
Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees.
If you are relying on your educion to meet qualificion requirements:
Educion must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Educion in order for it to be credited towards qualificions. Therefore, provide only the tendance and/or degrees from
schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Educion .
Failure to provide all of the required informion as sted in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible ring or may affect the overall ring.
How to Apply
Help
All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the full questionnaire and submit the documention specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete applicion package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 08/14/2025 to receive considerion. To preview the questionnaire click .
To begin, click Apply Online to cree a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupional questionnaire.
Click Submit My Answers to submit your applicion package.
NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and approprie documention is submitted prior to the closing de.
Expand Hide how to apply
Agency contact informion
Megan Noe
Phone
...
...
Address
VA Black Hills Health Care System
113 Comanche Road
Fort Meade, SD 57741
US
Next steps
Once your online applicion is submitted you will receive a confirmion notificion by email. After we receive applicion packages (including all required documents) and the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applicions to ensure qualificion and eligibility requirements are met. After the review is complete, a referral certifice(s) is issued and applicants notified of their stus by email. Referred applicants notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final notificion once a selection decision has been made.
You may check the stus of your applicion any time by logging into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applicions. Informion regarding your applicion stus can be found in the USAJobs Help Center .
NOTE: Participion in the seasonal influenza program is a condition of employment and a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). It is a requirement th all HCP to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccinion or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccinion has been granted. HCP in violion of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service. HCP are individuals who, during the influenza season, work in VHA locions or who come into contact with VA pients or other HCP as part of their duties. VHA locions include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associed clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community-based outpient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and VA-leased medical facilities. HCP include all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrive, remote and onsite, paid and without compension, full- and part-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, VA contractors, researchers, volunteers and health professions trainees (HPTs) who are expected to perform any or all of their work these facilities. HPTs may be paid or unpaid and include residents, interns, fellows and students. HCP also includes VHA personnel providing home-based care to Veterans and drivers and other personnel whose duties put them in contact with pients outside VA medical facilities.
Expand Hide next steps
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
Criminal history inquiries
Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
Financial suitability
New employee probionary period
Privacy Act
Reasonable accommodion policy
Selective Service
Signure and false stements
Social security number request
Overview Help Accepting applicions Open & closing des 08/07/2025 to 08/14/2025 Salary $61,111 to - $96,116 per year Pay...
Job ID: 488834747
Originally Posted on: 8/9/2025
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