Students and Trainees

Students and
Trainees

Students and Trainees at VA

Partners in the Pursuit of Excellence

For more than 60 years, we’ve 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.

We’re proud that so many of these professionals accept permanent positions on our team, after getting a glimpse into life at VA. With the number of training and educational opportunities available to accelerate your career growth, it’s easy to see why. Visit the Office of Academic Affiliations to explore all VA has to offer.

“VA encourages education.
You can take it
as far as you want.”

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“VA encourages education.
You can take it
as far as you want.”

Pathways at VA

VA Pathways is a set of three programs that aims to recruit talented students and graduates. Have a specific question about Pathways? Contact the Pathways Program Management Office (PPMO).

The Internship Program

The Internship Program offers current students the opportunity to learn about various career paths, earn a competitive salary while continuing their education, and contribute to VA’s mission in a meaningful way.

Length: Varies

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The Recent Graduates Program

The Recent Graduates Program gives recent graduates from qualifying institutions valuable training, mentorship, hands-on experience and professional development opportunities.

Length: One year

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The PMF Program

The Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) Program is a unique leadership development program that lets advanced degree candidates take charge of their own learning and advancement.

Length: Two years

Learn More

Top 10

Reasons to Work at VA

Sure, there are lots of places you could build a health care career. But VA can offer you greater challenge, opportunity, teamwork and satisfaction unlike any other. Here are just a few of the many ways a career at VA stands out from the crowd:

The mission to serve America
Nation’s largest health care system
Access to cutting-edge technology
Education support
Work/Life balance
Exceptional benefits
Team-based. Patient-focused.
Live and work anywhere
Leadership Training
The best patients—Veterans!

The mission to serve America

We are united as an organization to deliver on President Lincoln’s promise to honor and care for the brave men and women who put their lives on the line to protect our country.
VA’s culture is defined through a set of core values, which remind us and others that “I CARE”: integrity, commitment, advocacy, respect and excellence. Every day, we’re dedicated to showing how much we care for our Veterans.

Nation’s Largest Health Care System

Each year, VA serves over 9 million Veterans in 1,200+ health care facilities spread throughout all 50 states, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories.
VA is a leader in clinical innovation and surgical quality, performing about 400,000 procedures annually.
Over 7,000 training programs in affiliation with over 1,800 educational institutions means endless opportunities to grow your skills and advance your career at VA.

Access to cutting-edge technology

VA is the leader in telehealth, with over 700,000 Veterans accessing care through telehealth across 50 different specialties in 2016.
In 2017, VA introduced plans to dramatically expand telehealth—also known as “anywhere to anywhere”—health care services.
VA offers state-of-the-art tools, including speech-recognition capabilities, virtual technologies, mobile devices and renowned knowledge-based resources.

Education support

VA offers a broad range of scholarships, tuition reimbursement and loan repayment programs, and other educational opportunities to help you in your lifelong quest for learning.
VA employees with federal student loans may be eligible for the national loan forgiveness program.
VA conducts the largest medical education program in the country, in partnership with over 1,800 academic institutions.

Work/Life balance

VA employees enjoy predictable, flexible schedules with guaranteed shifts that accommodate their specific needs and lifestyles.
Some VA facilities provide on-site child care, operated by licensed providers.
Many VA facilities have fitness centers on site.
Employees receive generous vacation and personal leave, including 26 paid days off, 13 sick days and 10 paid federal holidays.

Exceptional benefits

VA employees can choose from a variety of high-quality health care and life insurance options, as well as flexible spending accounts.
Health care professionals at VA are protected by the Federal Government in cases of alleged malpractice, eliminating the need for personal liability insurance.
VA offers up to 15 days a year of military leave support for reservists and National Guard.
VA employees are covered by the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) and Thrift Savings Plan (TSP).

Team-based. Patient-focused.

Each Veteran works with a Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT), a group of medical professionals with defined roles, coordinating care to promote the total health and wellness of a patient.
VA is a leader in patient satisfaction.
VA provides mental health integration in clinical practice and clinical pharmacists embedded in primary care.

Live and work anywhere

One active, unrestricted state license allows VA employees to practice in any VA facility nationwide.
Wherever life may lead, VA employees can seek employment at a VA facility with an open position and transfer with no loss of benefits.
With VA’s integrated system, employees are free to explore new areas of career development and pursue opportunities anywhere within VA.

Leadership Training

Employees have 24/7 access to multiple web-based catalogs, filled with diverse online courses and training options to help advance their careers.
VA offers ongoing internal training opportunities to employees at all employment levels, from mandatory developmental programs to competitive opportunities.
Through VA Learning University’s many initiatives (VALU), ambitious candidates can complete customized training to become unifying leaders and innovative agents of change at VA.

The best patients—Veterans!

VA employees have the chance to give back to America’s heroes and help improve life for them and their families every day.
Every day, you have the privilege of spending time with Veterans and hearing their harrowing stories of struggle and triumph. It’s a chance to develop genuine bonds and understanding that helps you better serve their unique needs.
VA patients have experienced wide-ranging military conflicts, resulting in a broad array of ailments and wounds—that means employees regularly meet new challenges that sharpen their skills and critical thinking abilities.

Careers Ahead of the Curve

No matter your field of expertise, our culture of nonstop learning, support and innovation will unlock limitless growth for your future. Explore opportunities to maximize your career potential with VA.

The links below will open a in new browser window on USAJOBS.

Graduate Healthcare Administration Training Program (GHATP)

GHATP is a 12-month training program that prepares qualified employees, interns and recent graduates for successful health care management careers. Candidates interact closely with health care administrators in VA facilities, developing core competencies and gaining knowledge through challenging assignments and hands-on experience.

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Technical Career Field (TCF) Program

TCF internships function more like apprenticeships—they’re intensive, two-year training programs that are required for certain, specialized career paths. Experienced mentors, known as preceptors, guide trainees through an individualized development plan. Participants receive a salary, benefits, training and relocation assistance. It’s the first step to securing an engaging, one-of-a-kind career with VA.

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