ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Va Chaplain Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

Sentara Healthcare

Chaplain

Hampton, VA · On-site

City/State Hampton, VA Work Shift First (Days) Overview: Sentara CarePlex Hospital, in Hampton, VA, is currently hiring a Chaplain. This will be a full time, day shift position with rotating weekends ...

Sentara Healthcare

Hospice Chaplain

Chesapeake, VA · On-site

City/State Chesapeake, VA Work Shift First (Days) Overview: Sentara Hospice is seeking to hire a qualified individual to join our team as a Chaplain ! Overview: The Chaplain provides spiritual ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

All JobsVa Chaplain JobsVa Chaplain Jobs in Virginia

Va Chaplain information

See Virginia salary details

$28.8K

$63K

$97.2K

How much do va chaplain jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 21, 2026, the average yearly pay for va chaplain in Virginia is $63,041.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $48,100.00 and $79,300.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some common challenges VA Chaplains face when supporting veterans and their families?

VA Chaplains often encounter the challenge of providing spiritual and emotional support to veterans from diverse backgrounds, many of whom may be coping with trauma, grief, or moral injury. Balancing the unique needs and beliefs of each individual while maintaining a respectful and inclusive environment is essential. Additionally, chaplains frequently collaborate with mental health professionals and medical staff to ensure holistic care, which requires strong communication and teamwork skills. Adapting to the emotional demands of the role and managing personal well-being are also important aspects of the job.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a VA Chaplain, and why are they important?

To thrive as a VA Chaplain, you need a master’s degree in divinity or a related field, ordination or endorsement from a recognized faith group, and experience in pastoral care. Familiarity with electronic medical record systems and knowledge of hospital protocols are often required. Compassion, strong listening skills, and cultural sensitivity are essential soft skills for supporting veterans from diverse backgrounds. These competencies are vital for providing effective spiritual care, emotional support, and ethical guidance within the unique environment of VA healthcare facilities.

What is the difference between Va Chaplain vs Va Social Worker?

AspectVa ChaplainVa Social Worker
Required CredentialsReligious ordination, chaplain certification, sometimes a master's in theology or divinityMaster's in social work (MSW), state licensure, clinical social work certification
Work EnvironmentHospitals, VA medical centers, military bases, spiritual care settingsHospitals, VA facilities, community agencies, mental health clinics
Employer & Industry UsageVeterans Affairs, religious organizations, military healthcareVeterans Affairs, healthcare providers, social service agencies

While both roles serve veterans within the VA system, Va Chaplains focus on spiritual support and religious care, requiring ordination and theological training. Va Social Workers provide mental health and social support, requiring social work degrees and licensure. Their work environments often overlap, but their primary functions differ based on training and scope of practice.

How do you become a VA chaplain?

To become a VA chaplain, candidates typically need to be endorsed by a recognized religious organization, hold a master's degree in divinity or theology, and have clinical pastoral education (CPE) training. They must also meet the specific employment requirements of the Department of Veterans Affairs, including background checks and sometimes military chaplaincy experience or certification.

Is there a high demand for Va chaplains?

The demand for VA chaplains is steady, as they provide spiritual support and counseling to veterans and active service members. Employment opportunities are often available through Veterans Affairs facilities, hospitals, and military installations, with requirements including relevant certifications and experience in pastoral care. Job growth depends on funding and veteran population needs but remains consistent within the healthcare and military support sectors.

What are popular job titles related to Va Chaplain jobs in Virginia?

For Va Chaplain jobs in Virginia, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Va Chaplain jobs in Virginia look for?

The top searched job categories for Va Chaplain jobs in Virginia are:

What cities in Virginia are hiring for Va Chaplain jobs?

Cities in Virginia with the most Va Chaplain job openings:

Va Chaplain jobs near you
Infographic showing various Va Chaplain job openings in Virginia as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 68% Full Time, 24% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 6% Contract. Highlights an 88% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $63,041 per year, or $30.3 per hour.

Supervisory Chaplain

SD Department of Veterans Affairs

Salem, VA • On-site

$111K/yr

Full-time

Posted 10 days ago

Job description

This position serves as the Supervisory Chaplain professional performing supervisory and senior clinical assignments for the VHA. They provide religious, spiritual, and pastoral care to all persons that are commensurate with the needs, desires, and voluntary consent of the Veteran, caregiver, or staff. They address the spiritual component of health and wellness in every patient care setting to ensure that pastoral care is fully integrated into all aspects of chaplain services.
Qualifications:Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.
Basic Requirements:
  • United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
  • Education: Applicants must possess a Master of Divinity degree or equivalent educational qualifications as evidenced by a graduate-level theological degree from a college, university or theological school accredited by a member of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or Association of Theological Schools (ATS) and recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
    • NOTE: For applicants who do not possess a Master of Divinity degree or equivalent educational degree, an approved educational equivalency review from a nationally recognized board certification body for chaplains is acceptable.
  • Ecclesiastical Endorsement: In accordance with 38 C.F.R. 17.655, ecclesiastical endorsement is a condition of employment as a VA chaplain. An individual must possess and maintain a full and active ecclesiastical endorsement to be employed as a VA chaplain. Applicants must have an ecclesiastical endorsement, dated within the past 12 months. Ecclesiastical endorsements must be from the official national endorsing authority of the applicant's/employee's faith group or denomination. Ecclesiastical endorsement is a written official statement, by the official national endorsing body of the faith group or denomination, certifying that the applicant is in good standing with the applicant's faith group or denomination; and stating that the individual is, in the opinion of the endorsing body, qualified to perform the full range of ministry required in the VA pluralistic setting. Loss of endorsement will result in removal from the GS-0060 Chaplain series and may result in termination of employment. The National Chaplain Service maintains a list of approved endorsing organizations that can be found here: https://www.patientcare.va.gov/chaplain/Ecclesiastical_Endorsement.asp .
  • Board Certification: Certification. Applicants must be a Board-Certified Chaplain certified by BCCI or a U.S. certifying body that has a reciprocity agreement with BCCI . Board Certification that requires 4 units of CPE is qualifying. The National Chaplain Service maintains a list of approved certifications found on the National VA Chaplain Service SharePoint.
    • Association of Certified Christian Chaplains - https://certifiedchaplains.org/
    • Association of Professional Chaplains(APC) - www.professionalchaplains.org
    • National Association of Catholic Chaplains (NACC) - www.nacc.org
    • Neshama Association of Jewish Chaplains (NAJC) - www.najc.org
    • National Association of Veterans Affairs Chaplains (NAVAC) - https://www.navac.net/
    • Spiritual Care Association - https://www.spiritualcareassociation.org/
    • Note: Provisional or Associate or other status as a candidate for board certification does not meet the board certification requirement for the FPL GS-11 or above
  • Foreign Education: To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must be submitted to a current affiliate agency of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) at https://www.naces.org/members and be deemed at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. program
  • English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7403(f).
May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).
Grade Determinations:
Supervisory Chaplain, GS-13.
  • Experience. One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade.
  • Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
    • Knowledge of administrative, personnel, and resource management and strategic planning for chaplaincy and chaplain pastoral education programs.
    • Ability to provide the full range of supervisory duties, which include responsibility for assignment of work, performance evaluations, selection of staff and recommendation of awards, advancements and disciplinary actions.
    • Skill in interpersonal relationships, including conflict resolution and ability to work collaboratively with managers from other departments.
    • Ability to develop local policy, productivity and clinical practice standards.
    • Ability to align chaplaincy services and programming with the strategic goals and objectives of the facility, VISN, and VHA.
    • Ability to ensure compliance with chaplaincy practice, policy and accreditation standards across the continuum of health care.
    • Skill in providing consultation to facility leadership, managers and other staff on all religious expression and spiritual care.
Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-13.
Physical Requirements: This position requires the Chaplain to meaningfully engage with Veteran patients and family members by walking and moving within the healthcare setting or with the candidate using an assistive device. The Chaplain is required to speak, hear (hearing aid permitted) and work closely with othersEducation: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/.Employment Type: OTHER

Apply