Internships and fellowships | veterans affairs

Admissions will be carried out on a rolling basis however, for first considerations applications should be completed in timely fashion. Admission to the program is competitive, with a

limited number of student positions available. Attendance at an affiliated university does not guarantee placement in the program. Applicants who have not yet completed a bachelor’s degree

prior to the application deadline must submit a Letter of Conditional Eligibility from the Registrar of their University/College at least 1 month before the application deadline. These

applicants may be conditionally accepted; however, the offer of acceptance will be withdrawn in the event of a failure to obtain the degree or be eligible for the bachelors’ degree.

Applicant may resubmit for the following year once eligibility is met. Evaluation and selection of students will be made by a selection committee based on the eligibility requirements,

prerequisites, all application documents, and interview score. The selection committee consists of the Program Director, faculty, and members of the Advisory Board. After reviewing the

candidate's completed file, eligible applicants will be interview by three or more members of the selection committee and the best candidates will be selected. Notices of acceptance or

denial will be communicated by the program director to applicants at least 6 months prior to the start date of the program. ACCEPTED STUDENTS To qualify for training at the VA Healthcare

system each accepted student must provide proof of eligibility, must meet the essential functions (physical and mental) of the training program and must be immunized following current CDC

guidelines and VHA policy for healthcare workers to protect themselves, other employees and patients while working in a healthcare facility. All documentation must be received by the Program

Director. Once the required documentation is received and all criteria have been met, an accepted student is onboarded through the VA Account Provisioning and Deprovisioning System (ADPS)

process and appointed as a “Without Compensation (WOC) Health Professions Trainee (HPT) of the Veterans Healthcare Administration. Through this process, the student must submit to

fingerprinting and a federal employee criminal background check. Any findings that contraindicate admission may result in withdrawal of the appointment to the program. The student will

receive an invitation and instructions for the ADPS process which must be completed before the start of the program. Federal government regulations mandate a drug free environment. All

applicants for government positions may be randomly subject to screens for illegal drugs of abuse. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied entrance into VA training programs.

SELECTIVE SERVICE SYSTEM: All male US citizens, regardless of where they live, and male immigrants, residing in the United States, who are 18 through 25, are required to register with

Selective Service. Males for these purposes are those born male on their birth certificate regardless of current gender. If not registered, a Status Information Letter must be provided. 

Additional information may be found on the Selective Service website. https://www.sss.gov/ MEDICAL REQUIREMENT Accepted students must provide evidence of satisfactory physical condition by

obtaining a physical examination/evaluation performed in the last year and at their cost. Accepted students must provide evidence or self-certification of up-to-date vaccinations for

healthcare workers as recommended by Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and VA to include, but not limited to Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Hepatitis B, Varicella, Influenza and COVID-19.

https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines-adults/recommended-vaccines/?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/adults/rec-vac/index.html All incoming students must provide documentation of

Tuberculosis screening or testing as recommended by CDC health care personnel guidelines  https://www.cdc.gov/tb-healthcare-settings/hcp/screening-testing/ Failure to provide such proof may

result in termination from the Program. Any medical findings that contraindicate admission to the Program may result in withdrawal of the appointment. Students are strongly encouraged to

obtain personal health insurance; there is no hospital group coverage available to the student. Emergency treatment will be available to the student through the hospital’s Employee Health

Service. LIABILITY COVERAGE All VA appointed trainees are protected from personal liability while participating in training at a VA healthcare facility. Protection is provided under the

Federal Employees Liability Reform and Tort Compensation Act 28 U.S.C.2679 (b)-(d). The liability, if any, of the United States for injury or loss of property, or personal injury or death

shall be governed exclusively by the provisions of the Federal Tort Claims Act.