Summary The Pathways Internship Program allows students to join VA in career positions that emphasize long-term training and development. Assignments build on prior training and are designed to provide the opportunity to gain knowledge and work experience in the application of concepts, practices and procedures of administrative and office assistance. This opportunity is open to current Bachelor or Master's degree seeking students at a qualifying educational institution on a half-time bases or more. Responsibilities This position is being filled under the Pathways Internship Program. The program is designed to provide students enrolled in a wide variety of educational institutions, from high school to graduate level, with paid work opportunities in agencies to explore Federal careers while still in school. The Internship provides managers a ready source of student employees and potential permanent employees upon completion of the program requirements. It also provides the student with work experience directly related to the curriculum studies or career goals while offering eligibility for non-competitive conversion to permanent employment upon completion. For more information on Internship opportunities within the Department of Veterans Affairs, please visit: https://www.va.gov/EMPLOYEE/pathways-internship-program/. Duties consist of the following, but are not limited to: The selectee will report to the Orlando VA Medical Center and provide administrative support to the service assigned. Assignments build on prior training and are designed to provide the opportunity to gain first-hand knowledge and actual work experience in the application of concepts, principles, practices and procedures of administrative and office assistance student. Trainees perform a variety of clerical and administrative functions at the needs of the service assigned to, using judgment to answer simple and reoccurring questions and to resolve basic problems. The Cooperative Education Program is structured to give students the opportunity to work in positions related to their academic/career goals. Assists specialists in the preparation and presentation of data relative to programs and other administrative matters. Prepares and maintains statistical data to provide input for service reports. Independently collects, compiles, consolidates and edits report submission. Utilizes automation equipment and computer software to complete assignments. Note: A written agreement is required between the service and student. Within 120 calendar days after completing educational requirements, the employing agency may non-competitively promote and convert a student to a career/career-conditional or term appointment. Conversion is NOT guaranteed and is based on the needs of the agency. Note: To be eligible, applicants must be accepted for enrollment or currently enrolled in a Bachelor or Master's program and seeking a degree in a qualifying educational institution, on a full or half-time basis as defined by the institution in which you are enrolled. YOU MUST INCLUDE AN OFFICIAL ENROLLMENT VERIFICATION FROM YOUR SCHOOL THAT SHOWS YOUR CURRENT ENROLLMENT STATUS (FULL TIME, HALF TIME, PART TIME, ETC.) AND YOUR ANTICIPATED GRADUATION DATE. THE ENROLLMENT VERIFICATION IS REQUIRED IN ADDITION TO REQUIRED TRANSCRIPTS. Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level. Work Schedule: Multiple Schedules. The Cooperative Education Program is formally structured to give students the opportunity to work in positions related to their academic/career goals. A written agreement is required between the employing Center, school, and student. Within 120 calendar days after completing educational requirements, the employing agency may non-competitively promote and convert a student to a career/career-conditional or term appointment. The conversion is not guaranteed and is based on the needs of the agency. Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job You must be at least 16 years old (by closing date of this vacancy announcement) Selective Service Registration-required males (over 18) born after 12/31/59 Must be accepted for/currently enrolled in a qualified educational institution Subject to background/security investigation Complete at least 640 hours of work experience prior to completion of degree. Must be in good academic standing as defined by your academic institution. Enrolled at least half-time at a qualifying educational institution. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's 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 interest. In 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, 05/07/2026. Internship Program: To be eligible, applicants must be accepted for enrollment or currently enrolled and seeking a degree (diploma, certificate, etc.) in a qualifying educational institution, on a full or half-time basis as defined by the institution in which you are enrolled. In order to be eligible for an appointment under the Pathways Internship Program: You must be a student accepted for enrollment or enrolled in a degree or certificate program on a full- or half-time basis as defined by the school (certificate program means post-secondary education, in a qualifying educational institution, equivalent to at least one academic year of full-time study that is part of an accredited college-level, technical, trade, vocational, or business school curriculum) AND, Enrollment is with a qualifying educational institution such as a high school or state-approved homeschool; or accredited technical or vocational school; a 2- or 4-year college or university; a graduate or professional school (e.g., law school, medical school); or a post-secondary home school curriculum. AND, Students currently enrolled must be in good academic standing maintaining a 2.0 grade point average on a cumulative basis. You may qualify based on education and/or experience as described below: MINIMUM QUALIFICATION GS-04: General Experience: You must have one year of General experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-03 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of General experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Perform standard clerical assignments and resolving recurring problems, verifying accuracy and completeness of information, processing incoming documents, responding orally to inquiries or requests for information, follows-up on requests or complaints, and inputting data into a computer system. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the experience required. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have 2 full academic years of post-high school study or Associate's Degree. All education must be accredited by an accrediting body or organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. (Transcripts must be submitted). OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond the high school level. MINIMUM QUALIFICATION GS-05: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-04 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Perform standard clerical assignments and resolving recurring problems, verifying accuracy and completeness of information, processing incoming documents, responding orally to inquiries or requests for information, follows-up on requests or complaints, and inputting data into a computer system. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the experience required. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have completed 4 full academic years of post-high school education leading to a bachelor's degree or equivalent degree. NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond The high school Level . You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Administration and Management Communications and Media Customer Service (Clerical/Technical) Security 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. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/. Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary. Education A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. Additional Information You are excluded from health benefits coverage if you are expected to work less than 130 hours per month for at least 90 days. VA supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process. Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate 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 tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.
