Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below. This job is open to current permanent Department of Veteran Affairs employees, current permanent Federal employees of other agencies.

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Duties
- Receives and interprets requests or instructions from the Physical Therapist.
- Provides specialized treatment and procedures according to protocol.
- Incumbent may oversee the work of lower graded assistants to accommodate requests.
- May complete a preliminary review/examination of Veteran data (including medical history), compiles and organizes pertinent information, and develops/presents a Veteran profile to be used in assessing Veteran's status.
- Assists with or renders a course of treatment based on the assessed needs of the Veteran by the physical therapist, developing progressive types of physical therapy treatment programs. This is done in consultation with a physical therapist or physician.
- Assists physical therapist in development of a comprehensive specialized treatment plan that includes long- and short-term goals.
- Persuades and motivates Veterans and family members to participate in treatment plans and comply with indicated regimens and post-discharge activities.
- Interacts with the Veteran and family regarding performance goals.
- Assists or independently performs, highly specialized and diversified treatment procedures.
- Utilizes the full range of modalities. May fit, adjust or instruct Veterans in the use of orthotics, prosthetics, and mobility devices.
- Instructs motivates, and assists Veterans to learn activities of daily living and improve functional abilities.
- Prepares and maintains appropriate equipment and supplies required for treatments.
- Varies procedures or positions to adjust for Veterans' medical conditions.
- Modifies intervention environment, tools, materials, and activities in response to each Veteran's needs. With prior approval of the therapist, adapts the technical procedures and approaches involving new and unusual treatment and rehabilitation objectives to meet
the individual Veteran's needs.
- Modifies or adapts specialized treatment approaches within the scope of the established treatment plan to reflect the changing needs of the Veteran.
- Prepares and presents written and oral reports for the physician, nursing staff, fellow therapists and all other professionals concerned with the Veteran's care as needed.
- Participates in family and multidisciplinary team meetings to identify Veteran's needs, report on goals and progress and to assist in planning care.
- Maintains a safe work environment to include non-technical maintenance of equipment, safety checks, cleaning, stocking, etc.
- Develops safe work habits to prevent injury to Veterans, co-workers and self. Maintains competency through participation in continuing education programs. Assists with the supervision and training of student physical therapist assistants, volunteers, work
students and other healthcare practitioners.
- Performs other related duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday to Friday 8:00am to 4:30pm
Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized
Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of existing pay, higher or unique qualifications, or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade).
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)
Telework: AdHoc Telework Authorized.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: Physical Therapy Assistant
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

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.
• 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.

• 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.

Qualifications

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.
- English Language Proficiency. PTA candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).
- Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.
- 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.
(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.
(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. (a) 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).

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).

Preferred Experience:
- Experience training patients for safe use of equipment.
- Experience working with the Adult population.
- Two years of clinical Physical Therapy experience.

Grade Determinations:
Physical Therapy Assistant GS-05
Experience. None beyond the basic requirements.
Assignment. This is the entry level developmental position. PTAs receive ongoing guidance from more experienced staff members and require general clinical direction by the treating physical therapist. The treating physical therapist is available on a regularly scheduled basis to review the practice of the PTAs and support the PTAs in the performance of their services. PTAs perform preliminary chart review including medical history and contraindications for treatment. They treat patients through basic exercise, massage, gait and balance training and other therapeutic interventions. PTAs recommend changes in treatment based on changes in physical, mental and/or medical status of the patient. PTAs instruct, motivate and assist patients to learn and improve functional activities.

Physical Therapy Assistant GS-06
Experience. One year of creditable experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade (GS-5). In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills & Abilities.
1. Knowledge of evidence based physical therapy practice.
2. Ability to perform] physical therapy data collection and use of objective measures in order to carry out patient plan of care.
3. Ability to modify treatment approaches, within the scope of the established treatment plans, to reflect patients' changing needs.
4. Skill in promoting physical therapy services by providing training and interventions within the assigned areas.
Assignment. PTAs at this grade level serve in developmental positions under general direction from PTs. They receive ongoing guidance from more experienced staff members and require general clinical [direction] by the treating physical therapist. PTAs develop a broad base of practical knowledge to assist the PT in reaching pre-determined patient goals.

Physical Therapy Assistant GS-07
Experience. One year of creditable experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade (GS-6). In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs.
1. Ability to perform in depth chart review to implement treatment plans.
2. Ability to independently use objective measures to assess progress, in accordance with the plan of care for complex patient cases.
3. Knowledge of contemporary physical therapy practice.
4. Ability to consult with the PT to assess progress, modify treatment and set discharge plan.
Assignment. This is a developmental level for PTAs. PTAs receive ongoing guidance from more experienced staff members and receive general direction by the treating PT. PTAs draw upon a broad base of practical and experiential knowledge in order to assist the PT in reaching pre-determined patient goals. PTAs work independently but still under the general direction of PTs. They observe patients' ability to perform specified tasks in order to provide ongoing assessment of information on patients' physical and functional status. PTAs work with the physical therapy staff to assess progress, modify treatment and set discharge plan. They provide clinical direction for PTA students.

Physical Therapy Assistant GS-08
Experience. One year of creditable experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade (GS-7). In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs.
1. Ability to independently implement treatment plan using knowledge of techniques related to the patient's disability and needs.
2. 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.).
3. 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.
4. Ability to instruct patient on varied interventions to provide materials to enhance compliance with home programs.
5. Ability to modify treatment techniques based on the learning needs and perceptions of the patient.
6. Ability to identify critical changes (e.g. vital signs, pain, mobility and alertness) in patient conditions to determine their medical and functional status.
7. 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.
Assignment. This is considered the journey level for PTAs. PTAs at this level collaborate with the primary PT then draw upon a broad base of practical knowledge and a well-developed treatment skill set in order to reach pre-determined patient goals by independently modifying techniques within the established plan of care. They implement the plan of care for patient cases, advance the program and continually review the patient's condition to determine their medical and functional status. They provide evidenced based skilled interventions including, but not limited to, therapeutic exercise, therapeutic activities, therapeutic modalities, gait training, transfer training, manual treatment, neuromuscular re-education, self-care and management training, patient/caregiver's education and group therapy. They meet with the physical therapy staff and other healthcare team members to evaluate and discuss patient information for planning, modifying and coordinating treatment programs and discharge planning.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-08. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-05 to GS-08.

Reference and Physical Requirements located in Additional Information Section.

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 WILL 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.