Veterans Affairs and NLN

Specialties Government

Published

I recently obtained my liscense as a LPN in the state of Ohio. I served in the USN for four years enlisted and used my GI Bill to get through school. I'd really like to gain employment at the VA so that I can continue to help those who have served. Whenever I look at job openings within the VA it states that I must have graduated from a school which is NLN accredited, I did not. It seems odd that the VA was willing to pay for my education and then turn around and say the very education they funded doesn't meet their requirements for employment. Does anyone have information regarding this ? Is this a preference or requirement ? Any information or prior experience with this situation would be appreciated.

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Yes, but the VA is big on accreditation. I have a clinical psych PhD from a program accredited by the American Psychological Association but my internship was accredited by another entity. Now the VA has decided they will only credential psychologists with APA-accredited degrees AND internships. So I'm thinking about nursing school to be a psych NP. Of course, I can practice outside the VA but I now work as a researcher for the VA and would like to have my clinical practice there too. Anyway, good luck with your situation.

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I think that is a far fetched idea - that because you chose a school / degree and utilized your GI BILL benefits that it is 'strange' the VA won't accept a non-NLN accredited program as a job pre-requisite... your school/degree choice is you investing in yourself not the VA investing in you.

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I think that is a far fetched idea - that because you chose a school / degree and utilized your GI BILL benefits that it is 'strange' the VA won't accept a non-NLN accredited program as a job pre-requisite... your school/degree choice is you investing in yourself not the VA investing in you.

I would have to disagree that it's far fetched. The school I chose was acceptable to the state and I had no problems obtaining a license on my first attempt. The GI Bill does have requirements that must be met in order for the money to be given. I believe, as I'm sure many will agree, that they shouldn't give funding for a school if they don't intend to honor that education for their own job openings.

I will be calling the recruiter at the local VA on monday to investigate this issue further. Hopefully this is just a preference but it doesn't appear so. If it's a requirement my congressman will be getting a call.

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Specializes in EMT, ER, Homehealth, OR.

Working for the VA and using the GI bill are 2 different things. When using the GI bill the school has to meet standards set by the US Education department not the VA. When it comes to working for the VA they have their own standards. What they are ensuring is that the school teaches to a certain standard. This is not to say that your school is not good, it might even better, but there is set standards that the VA has, right or wrong.

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Specializes in EMT, ER, Homehealth, OR.

Which VA did you apply to?

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Which VA did you apply to?

I'd rather not say, I don't think it matters which one as I believe they all have the same standards.

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Specializes in EMT, ER, Homehealth, OR.

True, But I did work at one that you might have applied to.

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