Clarification from the agency

Open to current permanent Department of Veteran Affairs employees and current permanent Federal employees of other agencies Area of Consideration- Eligible applications will be reviewed and referred in the following order: 1. Current permanent VA employees of the facility. 2. All other VA employees. 3. Current permanent Federal employees of other agencies. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

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Major duties include but not limited to:

• Implement treatment plans, including exercises, functional training, manual therapy, patient education, and other interventions under the supervision of a licensed Physical Therapist.
• Monitor patient progress, modify interventions within the established plan of care as necessary, and communicate changes to the supervising Physical Therapist.
• Educate patients and caregivers on therapeutic exercises, home programs, and functional activities to improve health and wellness.
• Incorporate Whole Health principles into therapy sessions, addressing aspects such as nutrition, stress management, sleep, and mental health.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams, including Health and Wellness Coaches, Integrative Health Practitioners, and Primary Care Providers.
• Document patient care in the electronic health record (EHR) in accordance with VA policies and standards.
• Participate in or lead Whole Health education sessions, group classes, and wellness initiatives (e.g., yoga, tai chi).
• Advocate for patient needs and preferences, ensuring care protocols respect patient values and holistic goals.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday; 8:00am to 4:30pm
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: GS-05 #08851F/ GS-06 #08852F/ GS-07 #08853F/ GS-08 #08854F
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.
• 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 evaluation.
• 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: PTA candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).

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.
  • (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).
  • (b) Non-licensed individuals shall only provide care under the direct supervision of a licensed PTA or PT who meets all state regulatory requirements.
  • (c) Non-licensed individuals may only be appointed at the entry level and may not be promoted/converted until licensure is obtained.
  • (d) Temporary appointments of non-licensed PTAs may not be extended beyond two years or converted to a new temporary appointment.

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).

• 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.
• 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.
• 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 Physical Therapy Assistant:
Experience:None beyond the basic requirements.

GS-06 Physical Therapy Assistant:
Experience: One year of creditable experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-05.
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: In addition to the basic requirements, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
(a) Knowledge of evidence based physical therapy practice.
(b) Ability to perform physical therapy data collection and use of objective measures in order to carry out patient plan of care.
(c) Ability to modify treatment approaches, within the scope of the established treatment plans, to reflect patients' changing needs.
(d) Skill in promoting physical therapy services by providing training and interventions within the assigned areas.

GS-07 Physical Therapy Assistant:
Experience: One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade GS-06.
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: In addition to the basic requirements, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
(a) Ability to perform in depth chart review to implement treatment plans.
(b) Ability to independently use objective measures to assess progress, in accordance with the plan of care for complex patient cases.
(c) Knowledge of contemporary physical therapy practice.
(d) Ability to consult with the PT to assess progress, modify treatment and set discharge plan.

GS-08 Physical Therapy Assistant
Experience: One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade GS-07.
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: In addition to the basic requirements, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
(a) Ability to independently implement treatment plan using knowledge of techniques related to the patient's disability and needs.
(b) 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.).
(c) 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.
(d) Ability to instruct patient on varied interventions to provide materials to enhance compliance with home programs.
(e) Ability to modify treatment techniques based on the learning needs and perceptions of the patient.
(f) Ability to identify critical changes (e.g. vital signs, pain, mobility and alertness) in patient conditions to determine their medical and functional status. (g) 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.

Preferred Experience: Comfortable leading a group, willing to complete additional training in tai chi and yoga, preferred experience with persistent pain.

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

Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements.

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.

Area of Consideration- Eligible applications will be reviewed and referred in the following order:
1. Current permanent VA employees of the facility.
2. All other VA employees.
3. Current permanent Federal employees of other agencies.