Launch Your Mental Health Care Career at VA 

Looking to launch your career in mental health care? The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers a myriad of opportunities for the next generation of young professionals in the mental health field, including internships, residencies, and full-time opportunities. VA is dedicated to supporting the mental well-being of Veterans, who experience unique risk factors and challenges due to their military service. VA mental health care professionals tailor treatment to each Veteran’s unique needs using state-of-the-art technology and working as part of interdisciplinary teams to provide compassionate, evidence-based mental health care. 

Let’s take a closer look at VA mental health care opportunities for students and young professionals: 

Scholarship Programs 

VA offers robust scholarship options to aspiring health care professionals. Recipients undergo experiential learning at one of over 170 VA medical centers (VAMCs) and sites of care during their studies. Benefits can include the possibility of tuition reimbursement at a U.S. regionally accredited school, a monthly stipend to help with living expenses, and an opportunity to continue your career with VA after graduation. 

One such opportunity is the Health Professional Scholarship Program (HPSP) Vet Center (Readjustment Counseling Service) Scholarship, which supports health care professionals who are pursuing a full-time education in a behavioral health discipline. Vet Centers are community-based counseling centers that offer a wide range of social and psychological services to Veterans. Applications for the next round of this scholarship opportunity open on January 12, 2026 – learn more here. 

Residency and Training Opportunities 

Each year, VAs provides clinical experience to 75,000 medical trainees. VA is affiliated with nearly every medical school in the country and training programs are offered at 90% of VA facilities. 

To meet national mental health care workforce needs, VA’s Mental Health Education Expansion (MHEE) initiative has added more than 780 funded training slots across 11 professions over the last decade. MHEE offers opportunities for interprofessional education and team-based care. 

Find your match with a VA residency and training opportunity near you. 

Interdisciplinary Approach 

VA mental health care providers work across specialties (psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, nurses, etc.) to address Veterans’ whole health. Additionally, mental health care providers at VA work across a variety of clinical settings, including outpatient clinics, inpatient units, telehealth services, and specialized programs for trauma and addiction recovery. This interdisciplinary team approach allows for young professionals to learn and grow from their peers while gaining experience in a range of clinical settings—giving students and recent graduates the opportunity to explore different career paths while serving Veterans. 

Join Our Team 

Your career is just beginning, and there’s no better place to start than VA. Whether with a job, internship, training program, or apprenticeship, you can take the first step on your journey here.   

“Getting to work in mental health care in the VA system feels important. You feel like you are doing something important in this world,” reports Dr. Stephanie Davis, Suicide Prevention Coordinator. 

Apply today to kickstart your career by serving Veterans.