Clarification from the agency

This announcement is open to all U.S. Citizens. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

Videos

VA Careers - Physical Therapy: https://youtube.com/embed/Gi2hoFqIoqY

Major duties include but are not limited to:

• Full professional understanding of theories of physical therapy, aquatic therapy, and the proper application of such treatments, and directs Physical Therapy Assistants/students in performance of proper patient treatment
• Receives patient referrals for evaluation, independently utilizes evaluation data to develop treatment plans, modifies plans on an ongoing basis according to progress and patient preferences to better meet the short/long-term goals and maximize functional independence
• Chooses appropriate evaluation tools that are consistent with client diagnosis, history, and subjective complaints; identifies impairments; identifies signs and symptoms that substantially impact treatments and outcomes and integrates findings into plan of care, consulting with other disciplines and referring practitioners
• Establishes intervention priorities, determines prognosis and specific further assessment needs, the need for continuing, modifying, or discontinuing physical or aquatic therapy services, and determining specific tasks that can be delegated to the PTA
• Interprets findings and educates patients/families about disease process, purpose of treatment, and patient's rights and responsibilities to improve compliance with treatment
• Elicits patient participation in implementing physical or therapy objectives/goals in restoring or maintaining patient performance. Independently employs motivational techniques to ensure patient participation in treatment programs
• Teaches exercises and movements to prevent occurrence or to lessen impact of restrictions and deformities. Instructs patients regarding limitations of the muscle and bones following surgery or impairment to educate and clearly explain complicated concepts in simple terms.
• Evaluates patient's need for assistive devices and recommends adjustments to prosthetic/orthotic devices or makes minor adjustments on devices/equipment. Completes evaluations/fittings for custom braces and specialized equipment
• Manages within assigned settings as an independent clinician, seeking peer support to address unusual clinical situations or periods of increased workload. Works effectively with other therapists, other clinical providers, and CBOC staff, this includes clear communication, managing priorities of care and adapting treatment procedures and interventions to meet caseload needs
• Completes electronic progress notes on patients assigned, at required intervals, including observations of patients' functional status, behaviors pertinent to rehabilitation, relevant short- and long-term goals, progress towards discharge, and disposition recommendations. Compliant with all required documentation standards, including proper patient check out procedures
• Compliant with consult and scheduling guidelines
• Collaborates with the Chief of PM&RS and care team to review clinic utilization by using various reports (e.g., PM&RS Pending Consult List), to ensure that the clinic setup is closely monitored to effectively support the needs of the clinics at the organization and make any necessary adjustments
• Provides PT coverage to other clinics, CLC and CBOC
• Participates in defining performance goals for physical and aquatic therapy that are consistent with the Health Care Center goals and participates in performance improvement activities to include productivity or accountability measures, equipment and material needs, educational and in-service programs
• Contributes to the knowledge and techniques in relation to physical therapy by actively participating in the facility education programs, clinical training for PT and PTA students and other trainees. Demonstrates the ability to teach, successfully mentor and guide staff, and to effectively serve as a consultant for health care providers regarding the delivery of physical therapy services
• Understands and meets accreditation standards as presented in The Joint Commission (JC) and/or the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) manuals as the standards relate to rehabilitation disciplines
• Required to safely and proficiently maintain a safe clinical environment through routine inspection of equipment, therapy tub, and physical area and submit work orders for maintenance and/or repairs
• Follows established practices and reports to supervisor any occupational illness or injury sustained
• Demonstrates knowledge, skill, and ability to recognize and respond appropriately to emergency situations. Maintains current BLS, First Aid an Basic Water Rescue Certifications
• Serves on or chairs various committees as assigned by the Medical Center

Work Schedule: 8:00am - 4:30pm, Monday - Friday
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: Physical Therapist GS-0633-11/12
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• 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.
• English Language Proficiency: Individuals appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C. chapters 73 or 74, to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA must be proficient in written and spoken English. See Chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part.
• Education and Experience: You must meet at least one of the requirements below NOTE: Individuals must be a graduate of a Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) accredited college or university.
  • Bachelor's degree in Physical Therapy AND five years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist. OR
  • Master's degree in Physical Therapy AND two (2) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist. OR
  • Doctorate degree in physical therapy.
  • Foreign Graduates. Graduates of foreign physical therapy programs meet the requirements in subparagraph 3b if they have a full unrestricted and current license to practice physical therapy in a State, Territory or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia. The Foreign Credentialing Commission on Physical Therapy (FCCPT) is a non-profit organization created to assist the United States (U.S.) Citizenship and Immigration Services (formerly INS) and U.S. state licensing authorities by evaluating the credentials of Foreign Educated Physical Therapists (FEPTs) who wish to immigrate and work in the U.S. Although the licensing of physical therapists in the U.S. is a right and responsibility of each jurisdiction, foreign educated individuals must undergo an educational credentials assessment for substantial equivalency to the first professional degree in the US. The Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT) is committed to protect the public and to provide leadership within the field and practice of physical therapy. FSBPT's Foreign Educated Standards Committee has developed standards that represent "best practices" in evaluation services. The Credentials Evaluation Standards were developed with input from the physical therapy credentialing agencies that are licensed to use FSBPT's Coursework Tool.
• Licensure: Individuals must hold a full, current, and unrestricted license to practice physical therapy in a State, Territory or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia.

NOTE. Individuals who have or have had multiple licenses and had any such license revoked for professional misconduct, professional incompetency or substandard care, or who surrendered such license after receiving written notice of potential termination of such license by the state for professional misconduct, professional incompetence, or substandard care, are not eligible for appointment to the position unless such revoked or surrendered license is fully restored (38 U.S.C 7402(f)). Effective November 30, 1999, this is a requirement for employment. This requirement does not apply to licensed physical therapists on VA rolls as of November 30, 1999, provided the individual maintains a continuous appointment and is not disqualified for employment by any subsequent revocations or voluntary surrenders of State license, registration or certification. 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).

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:
GS-12 Physical Therapist (Full Performance Level) In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level, hold a valid unrestricted state license and demonstrate all the KSAs below:

• Ability to make autonomous clinical decisions in a Direct Access environment. This includes ability to independently evaluate and treat patients who seek physical therapy services.
• Skill in performing examinations and evaluations of individuals who have or may develop impairments, activity limitations, and participation restrictions related to conditions of the musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, cardiovascular, pulmonary, and/or integumentary systems while considering the effects attributable to unique psychosocial and environmental factors.
• Ability to interpret findings from examination and evaluation, select appropriate test and measures, and integrate findings into the physical therapy plan of care for the full range of patient populations.
• Ability to establish a diagnosis within the scope of physical therapy and identify the appropriate rehabilitation intervention, including referral to another provider for further consultation as clinically indicated.
• Ability to determine physical therapy prognosis by incorporating examination findings with the patient's preferences in order to set clinically appropriate treatment goals, optimize outcomes and maximize functional independence.
• Ability to independently provide clinical oversight of Physical Therapy Assistants as well as students on clinical affiliations who are in Doctoral PT Programs or PTA Programs.

At the full performance level, PTs are responsible for independently providing assessment and treatment interventions to inpatients and outpatients received through healthcare provider referrals and patient self-referrals. Guided by differential and movement diagnoses, perform examinations and evaluations of individuals who have or may develop impairments, activity limitations, and participation restrictions related to conditions of the musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, cardiovascular, pulmonary, and/or integumentary systems while considering the effects attributable to unique personal and environmental factors. Interpret findings from examination, diagnostic studies/medical tests and, during evaluation, select appropriate clinical tests and measures, and then integrate findings into the physical therapy plan of care for the full range of patient populations. Establish a diagnosis within the scope of physical therapy, identify the appropriate intervention to treat and/or refer to another provider for further consultation. Determine physical therapy prognosis by incorporating examination findings with the patient's preferences for meaningful level of function in order to set clinically appropriate treatment goals. Select appropriate equipment needed to substitute for loss of function or to substitute for limited function of individuals. Practice autonomously, making recommendations and referrals to other medical specialties/services during ongoing assessment of patients. Develop/provide individualized clinical training experiences for physical therapy students in facilities with established clinical experience rotations. May be given general assignments in areas where physical therapy services are deemed necessary, and/or may serve as the sole PT at a less complex facility. Individuals may perform ancillary assignments as deemed appropriate given the needs of a facility on an occasional basis, where the amount of work is not substantial (less than 25% of the duty time).

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-12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-11 to GS-12.

Physical Requirements: In Accordance With VA Directive and Handbook 5019

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.