United States Department of Veterans Affairs
United States Department of Veterans Affairs

Portland VA Medical Center

Voluntary Service - Application Process

Application process for volunteers 18 and over
    1. Complete application forms and meet with Voluntary Service Specialist to discuss volunteer opportunities.
    2. Clear electronic fingerprint background check
    3. Complete TB skin test (PVAMC Primary Care will provide test).
    4. Complete Voluntary Service orientation
    5. Meet with worksite supervisor
    6. Get ID Badge
    7. Begin volunteering.


Note: Former inpatients must complete a 6-month waiting period before volunteering.

Without Compensation (WOC) Volunteers

Volunteers accepted in the VAVS Program are considered WOC employees. WOC precludes monetary payments, or any form of compensation by the VA not authorized by policy.


Regularly Scheduled Volunteers

Regularly scheduled volunteers are individuals who participate in the VAVS program on a regularly scheduled assignment under VA supervision. Frequency of participation is determined locally. Individuals are officially authorized to serve on a WOC as volunteers when the volunteer process had been completed.

Youth Volunteers under the age of 18

Youth volunteers are people minimum age 14-17 and must have written parental or guardian approval to participate in the VAVS Program and must have written authorization for diagnostic and emergency treatment if injured while volunteering. If a student needs to receive academic by volunteering will need to go through the PVAMC Education division.