Clarification from the agency

First Area of Consideration will be given to applicants with Veterans' Preference eligibility. Second Area of Consideration will be given to applicants who are US Citizens. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

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Serves as a subject matter expert for physical therapy evaluation and treatment of patients with lymphedema and related lymphedema conditions.
Develops competencies relevant to lymphedema management and participates in peer skill reviews including documentation.
Initiates and writes physical therapy treatment protocols or standards or work.
Develops physical therapy protocols and procedures using current accepted evidence and practice to update programming for patients.
Sustains a level of continuing education to be familiar with physical therapy standards for lymphedema practice as well as knowledge of contemporary physical therapy practice across multiple areas.
Investigates new technology and/or orthotics as it applies to lymphedema or physical therapy in general.
Communicates with Physical Therapy Supervisor on a regular basis on lymphedema services, outcomes, performance improvement, peer review, productivity, documentation, compliance, etc.
Is aware of VA Access policies and monitors workload and productivity.
Plans and carries out a wide variety of evaluation and treatment techniques for patients with diverse complex musculoskeletal or neurological problems. He/she is able to determine predict rehabilitation potential and functional outcomes for patients who have multiple co-morbidities.
Patient evaluations include a medical history and interpretation of appropriate tests and measurements performed.
Utilizes evaluation data to plan and implement comprehensive patient treatment programs. Treatment planning requires assessment of surgical precautions with special attention to cardiovascular status, limitations in motion, resisted activity, or weight bearing status.
Treatment plans may require frequent modification in response to significant changes in the condition of the patient or their age. A variety of treatment techniques may be employed regarding pain, strength, mobility, balance, transfers, and gait training to obtain the best functional outcomes.
Consults are scheduled considering priority and frequency of care. Schedules are coordinated with other members of the treatment team. Flexible attitude will be maintained to allow for unscheduled patients, mentoring, consultation, and special assignments.
Incumbent involves the patient, family, significant others, and pertinent health care staff in treatment process by ongoing communication through instruction, demonstration, team conferences, and documentation as appropriate to meet treatment goals.
Incumbent requires strong communication skills on a one-to-one basis with patient or part of a group lecture for more than patient or healthcare presenter.
Requires strong customer service skills and the ability to interface calmly with patients that have behavior deficits.


Tour Information: 0800-1630 - may include weekends and holidays.
Telework: Not eligible for Telework
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
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.
• 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 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.
• Education and experience. The individual must meet at least one of the requirements below:
  • (1) Bachelor's degree in Physical Therapy AND five (5) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist; OR
  • (2) Master's degree in Physical Therapy AND two (2) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist; OR
  • (3) Doctorate degree in physical therapy.

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). NOTE: Prior to 1995 the terminal degree for PT's was either a bachelors or master's degree. In 1995 CAPTE accredited all baccalaureate, master's, and Doctor of Physical Therapy terminal degree programs. Effective 2002, CAPTE changed its scope of accrediting activities of PT education programs to include only those programs that culminate in post-baccalaureate degrees(eliminating the baccalaureate degree). Effective 2015, professional physical therapy education programs have only offered the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree to all new students.

NOTE: Individuals must be a graduate of a Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) accredited college or university. The CAPTE is the only accreditation agency recognized by the United States Department of Education (USDE) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) to accredit entry-level physical therapy programs. Verification of accredited programs may be obtained from the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) at www.apta.org.

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 acupuncture in a State, Territory or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia.

Licensure. Individuals 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. Non-licensed PTs, who otherwise meet the basic requirements in this standard, may be given a temporary appointment as a graduate PT at the GS-11 grade level under the authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405 (a)(1)(D) for a period not-to-exceed two years from the date of employment on the condition that such PT provide care only under the supervision of a PT who is licensed. Failure to obtain licensure during that period is justification for termination of the temporary appointment.

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.

Loss of Credential. A PT who fails to maintain the required license must be removed from the occupation, which may result in termination of employment. At the discretion of the appointing official, an employee may be reassigned to another occupation, if qualified, and if a placement opportunity exists.

Grade Determinations: Physical Therapist Clinical Specialist (Lymphedema) GS-13

Experience. In addition to the basic requirements, one year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level and one of the following:

1. Evidence of a minimum of 2,000 hours of clinical practice directly in the specialty area. This time must be between the past two and five years; - OR -
2. Board Certification in the specialty area recognized by the ABPTS; - OR -
3. Completion of a fellowship program; - OR - An additional advanced degree in a related field.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience above, your resume must demonstrate all of the following Knowledge, Skills, Abilities (KSAs):

A. Knowledge of contemporary Physical therapy across multiple areas of practice,
B. Ability to provide clinical guidance in the advanced practice area to other PT practitioners.
C. Knowledge of advanced specialized evaluation, interventions and services to independently develop treatment strategies for area of specialization.
D. Skill in developing protocols and procedures for intervention programs based on current Physical therapy theory, recent research and practice.
E. Ability to provide consultation to other health care practitioners and outside groups about Physical therapy scope of practice for area of specialization.
F. Ability to implement, revise/update evidence based Physical therapy services and programming in area of specialization.
G. Ability to implement, revise/update evidence-based lymphedema physical therapy treatments and collaborate with others
H. Advanced knowledge in prosthetics/lymphedema garments and demonstrates ability to adjust devices, garments, or adaptive equipment to obtain maximum benefit.

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-13.

Physical Requirements: The United States Department of Labor Occupational Outlook Handbook relates that the physical therapy occupation can be physically demanding because therapists may have to stoop, kneel, crouch, lift, and stand for long periods. In addition, physical therapists move equipment and lift patients or help them tum, stand, or walk with appropriate assistive devices. This is representative of the work environment at the VA Long Beach and of the Physical Therapy Lymphedema Specialist.

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.