Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this occupational series. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

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Incumbent serves as a Physical Therapy Assistant (PTA) assigned to the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service (PM&RS) for the VA Boston Healthcare System (VA BHS). The primary function of this position is to participate with the supervising Physical Therapist (PT) in the planning and implementation of both simple and complex treatment programs, in the Outpatient setting, and apply physical therapy procedures under the general supervision of a PT.

Work Schedule: Tour may include evening hours, permanent weekend day, and/or weekend/holiday rotation.
- West Roxbury: Tuesday-Friday 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturdays 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Brockton: Monday -Friday 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
- Jamaica Plain: Monday-Friday 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Functional Statements:PDF02649, PDF00294, PDF00279, and PDF00295
Compressed/Flexible:Not Available
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
EDRP: Not Authorized
Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases
Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year)Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience.
Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.
Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66.
Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA.
Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)

Preferred Experience:

• At least one year of Outpatient Orthopedic PT experience.
• Demonstrate high level of of anatomy in clinical decision making, problem solve independently, and strong communication skills.
• Demonstrate ability to be self-directed, strong initiative, and high-self accountability.

NOTIFICATIONS:

• This position is in the Excepted Service.
• This position is not a Bargaining Unit position.
• The incumbent may be required to travel to other VA campuses and CBOC's.
• This position is covered by locality-based comparability pay.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

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. Individuals must meet at least one of the requirements below:

1. Associate degree from an accredited community college, junior college, college or university in a physical therapy assistant education program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education; OR
2. Graduate of foreign physical therapy assistant degree programs that meet the educational requirement and have successfully passed the National Physical Therapy Exam (NPTE) for PTAs; OR
3. Graduate of military physical therapy assistant programs that meet the educational requirement and have successfully passed the NPTE for PTAs.

• Licensure. Current, full, active and unrestricted license as a PTA in a State, Territory or Commonwealth (i.e. Puerto Rico) of the United States, or District of Columbia.

Exceptions for Non-Licensed Physical Therapy Assistant.

1. Non-licensed applicants who otherwise meet the minimum qualification requirements, but who do not possess state licensure, may be appointed, pending licensure, as a graduate PTA on a full-time temporary appointment under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7401(a)(1)(B) and not to exceed two years in accordance with the timeframe in 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2)(B).
2. Non-licensed individuals shall only provide care under the direct supervision of a licensed PTA or PT who meets all state regulatory requirements.
3. Non-licensed individuals may only be appointed at the entry level and may not be promoted/converted until licensure is obtained.
4. Temporary appointments of non-licensed PTAs may not be extended beyond two years or converted to a new temporary appointment.

• English Language Proficiency. PTA candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English.

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).

Grandfathering Provision. Please carefully review the qualification standard to determine the specific education and/or licensure/certification/ registration requirements that apply to this occupation. All individuals employed in VHA in this occupational series or in another occupational series performing the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date of the qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held, including positive education and licensure/trademark/registration/certification. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply:

1. Employees may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions.
2. Employees in an occupation requiring a licensure/certification/registration only at higher grade levels must meet the licensure/certification/registration requirement before they can be promoted to those higher-grade levels.
3. Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of this standard.
4. Employees who are converted to title 38 hybrid status under this provision and subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation.
5. Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation.

Grade Determinations:GS-05 Experience. None beyond the basic requirements.

In addition to meeting one year of creditable experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade:

GS-06 Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:(

• Knowledge of evidence based physical therapy practice.
• Ability to perform physical therapy data collection and use of objective measures in order to carry out patient plan of care.
• Ability to modify treatment approaches, within the scope of the established treatment plans, to reflect patients' changing needs.
• Skill in promoting physical therapy services by providing training and interventions within the assigned areas.

GS-07 Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to perform in depth chart review to implement treatment plans.
• Ability to independently use objective measures to assess progress, in accordance with the plan of care for complex patient cases.
• Knowledge of contemporary physical therapy practice.
• Ability to consult with the PT to assess progress, modify treatment and set discharge plan.

GS-08 Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to independently implement treatment plan using knowledge of techniques related to the patient's disability and needs.
• Ability to independently provide varied and multifaceted physical therapy interventions based on the established care plan (e.g., therapeutic exercise, balance, body mechanics, flexibility, strength, gait training, neuromotor development, physical agents, functional training, etc.)
• Knowledge of physical therapy data collection and assessment techniques in order to perform specific interventions and to monitor and capture progress of the patient/client.
• Ability to instruct patient on varied interventions to provide materials to enhance compliance with home programs.
• Ability to modify treatment techniques based on the learning needs and perceptions of the patient.
• Ability to identify critical changes (e.g. vital signs, pain, mobility and alertness) in patient conditions to determine their medical and functional status.
• Ability to work with PTs and other interdisciplinary healthcare team members to evaluate patient information for planning, modifying and coordinating treatment programs and discharge planning.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-08.

Physical Requirements: The work requires frequent standing, stooping, bending, walking, handling of wheelchairs and/or other durable medical equipment, lifting in conjunction with treatment of patients. At times, there may be undue heavy lifting due to unforeseen circumstances such as preventing a patient from falling. Dexterity and skill in safe machinery techniques are required.

Work Environment: The work involves regular and recurring exposure to moderate risks and discomforts which require special safety and health precautions, e.g., working regularly with patients and in situations where there is risk of exposure to contagious diseases, odors and/or flammable gases. The therapist is required to wear protective clothing such as gloves and a mask to prevent disease and the spread of infection.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.