EDRP authorizes VA to provide education debt reduction reimbursements to employees with qualifying loans who are in health care professional positions providing direct-patient care services, or services incident to direct patient care such as physicians, dentists, nurses, respiratory therapists, diagnostic radiologic technologists, pharmacists, psychologists, and others.

The health professional education covered by such a loan must be for the specific education that is required to qualify the applicant for the specific position. Each individual VHA facility determines which positions are hard to recruit and retain and when EDRP is offered. EDRP is a hiring incentive and is only offered or approved for certain positions.

Additional details may be obtained through the Human Resources Department at each VHA facility and by reviewing incentives offered in each job posting.

EISP is a scholarship awarded to full- and part-time VA employees who are currently enrolled in or accepted to an accredited education program. The scholarship covers tuition costs and related expenses.

This program offers salary replacement money to VA employees who are enrolled full-time in an approved education program. VANEEP participants agree to work at their VA facility during academic breaks and, in return, receive full salary and payment for education costs, including tuition, books, and certain fees.

Because VA is a Federal Government entity, VA employees with Federal student loans may be eligible for this national loan forgiveness program. Read the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Fact Sheet and visit the program's website for more information.

NNEI is a scholarship awarded to permanent full- and part-time VA registered nurses seeking baccalaureate and advanced nursing degrees from an authorized, accredited education program. VA requires nurses to have BSN degrees to advance beyond the Nurse Level 1 position. NNEI money may also be used to pursue other advanced degrees in related fields.

This program allows nursing, pharmacy, and medical technology students who have completed their junior year in an accredited clinical program to gain experience at a VA facility. Each local medical center is responsible for academic affiliations and the recruitment of VALOR students.

This appointing authority offers Federal employment opportunities to students who are pursuing academic degrees at the high school level and beyond, and consists of two distinct components:

• Student Temporary Employment Program (STEP) — Offering temporary employment to students, STEP opportunities range from summer positions to jobs that can last throughout the student's course of study
• Student Career Experience Program (SCEP) — This is a formal work-study program for students in accredited high schools, colleges, and universities. To be eligible, the student must be pursuing a degree directly related to the position to which he or she is applying. When the student's education requirements are complete, he or she may be eligible for full-time VA employment.

Students should contact their local facility to see what SEEP opportunities are available since recruitment and hiring is completed locally. The facility must also have funding and the need for the position.

The intent of the program is to provide scholarships to individuals to fill hard to recruit positions at VA Medical Centers around the country. HPSP will provide tuition assistance, a monthly stipend, and other required education fees to over 100 students per year pursuing education leading to an appointment in a Title 38 or Hybrid Title 38 occupation. Program participants will also be obligated to a service agreement within VHA, reducing shortages in critical health care occupations. We project that scholarship applications will begin to be accepted by the Healthcare Talent Management (HTM) Office after development of VA regulations, policy, and procedures. The selection of awardees will be merit based.

Please know that the scholarship program may be awarded to those who are already in the process of completing their degree. Please follow up with HTM in January 2014 to receive further information regarding applying for the scholarship. If you have any questions please contact the Scholarship Team at HRROScholarshipTeam@va.gov or call the HTM Scholarship Team at 1-504-565-4901.

VA views leadership development as a key strategy for creating a continuum of quality leadership, engaging employees, driving results, and supporting innovation.

VA offers ongoing internal training opportunities to personnel at every level of employment. Ranging from mandatory developmental programs to competitive opportunities, these programs include, but are not limited to:

• VHA Mentor and Coach Certification Program
• HPDM Awareness and Development
• Organizational Health Initiatives
• School at Work
• VA Medical Center Leadership Institute
• New Supervisor Training
• Experienced Supervisor Training
• Network-Level Leadership Institute
• Nurse Manager Development
• Service Chief Orientation
• Executive Career Field Candidate Development Program (ECFCDP)
• Health Care Leadership Institute for candidates selected into ECFCDP
• VA Senior Executive Service Candidate Development Program
• Assistant Director Development Program
• Senior Executive Orientation
• Senior Executive Coaching Network
• Nurse Executive Mentoring
• Senior Leadership Academy
• Senior Management Conference
• Leadership VA (VA leaders can also pursue external education opportunities through EISP)

All of VA's leadership programs are based upon the High Performance Development Model (HPDM). The model aligns the organization around a set of eight core competencies that are used to develop training, select new employees, and serve as a basis for reward and recognition decisions.

These competencies are flexible as strategic objectives change. HPDM facilitates career development through continuous learning, coaching/mentoring, and assessment over a career span. Progression from one tier to another in the model is based upon successfully competing for promotions using a performance-based interview system that evaluates demonstrated success in core competencies.

Read what VA employees have to say about our HPDM leadership development programs.

The Employee Education System (EES) is the VA health system's education and training organization. VA employees come to us for quality educational offerings that will improve their work performance and provide them with crucial continuing education. Our programs keep pace with the profound changes affecting work in the care of our Nation's Veterans.

To better serve our customers and clients, we have strategically established nine Employee Education Resource Centers (EERCs) across the country. These centers allow us to adopt best practices and leverage our resources and expertise to provide the best accessibility and affordability. These resource centers ensure communication is maximized, work is focused, cycle time is reduced, and products are delivered when and where they are needed.

As a VA employee, you have access to exceptional education and training resources. EES provides you numerous educational opportunities to improve your current skills and help you gain new ones.

Whether you need a refresher course on using Microsoft® Excel or you're looking for a brand new set of supervisory skills, EES provides VA staff with the most up-to-date, quality training. You can learn at your convenience since most of our offerings are available 24/7 from any computer with Internet access.

We understand that people prefer to receive their education and training in many different modalities. At VA, you can access programs in a variety of ways, including video, Live Meeting, print, web/computer based, live desktop video, and more. Plus, you'll use the VA Learning Management System to direct and oversee all of your continuing education quests.

Looking for accredited courses and programs? We have those, too. EES works with more than 12 accrediting bodies to ensure that our staff receives quality, worthwhile training.

• Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME)
• Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB)
• Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE)
• American Dental Association (ADA)
• American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
• American Psychological Association (APA)
• American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)
• California Board of Registered Nursing (CA BRN)
• Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR)
• National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC)
• American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE)
• California Board of Behavioral Sciences (CA BBS)

A career at VA allows you to enhance the skills you already have, develop new ones, and enhance your overall education. EES enables you to chart your own course for the future.

For more information, contact your VA employment representative.

VA Learning Online (VALO) puts a world of educational opportunities at your fingertips! Employees can take their pick of professional development opportunities and work-related courses offered by Government and private organizations. The VALO Web-based catalog offers more than 1,500 e-learning courses in a wide variety of topics. Log on and learn, at work or at home, 24 hours a day.

VA's Learning Management System (VA LMS) is a web-based portal through which VA employees can manage their continuing education and maintain a single, official training record. The site offers direct, convenient access to thousands of VA's learning activities, including instructor-led, satellite and Web-based training, books, and other instructional products.

In their quest for career-enhancing training, users can search the VA LMS catalog to find information on learning opportunities of interest. Online courses and VA-required training can be accessed directly from VA LMS, and completed courses are automatically recorded in each employee's official training record.

With VA LMS, training and continuing education is readily available throughout VA. Employees can access this state-of-the-art tool from any computer with Internet access, 24 hours a day.

You can further your education and sharpen your job skills in a traditional classroom setting, or through on-the-job training, or by participating in self-paced study and online programs. And you can do all this at a time and place you choose for yourself!

VA Knowledge Network, a state of the art digital satellite system, delivers learning and performance improvement opportunities wherever you are. Programming is offered on four channels, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

VA will often pay for full- or part-time college studies. As a VA employee, you can sign up for general or specialized course work from a wide variety of nearby colleges and universities. You may also elect to broaden your work experience through temporary assignments to other agencies.

Managers and executives frequently attend nationally recognized executive development courses sponsored by private sector organizations and universities.

Under the VA Student Loan Repayment Program (SLRP), employees in certain occupations may be eligible to receive up to $10,000 per year, with a lifetime maximum of $60,000, to help repay student loans. Please inquire further on the availability of the SLRP when submitting your application for employment.

• Employee Incentive Scholarship Program (EISP): Earn a scholarship to pursue a degree or training in health care disciplines in which recruitment/retention is difficult. You must work in a full-time VA position for a period of 1-3 years to qualify.
• Education Reduction Repayment Plan (ERRP): Reduce your debt qualifying school loan debt with a VHA loan reimbursement program. To qualify, EDRP must be offered by the recruiting VHA Medical Center for a vacant position that provides direct patient care services or services incident to direct patient care. This offer will be within the official vacancy announcement for the qualifying position.