Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below. IF YOU ARE A CURRENT AND PERMANENT VA EMPLOYEE OR A CURRENT AND PERMANENT EMPLOYEE OF ANOTHER FEDERAL AGENCY PLEACE APPLY TO VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT NUMBER: CBTB-12947020-26-BS

Videos

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

Duties include but not limited to::

• Performs in-depth chart reviews including medical history, contraindications or treatment
• Obtains appropriate subjective history and demonstrates ability to interpret information gained through subjective history
• Interprets and applies clinical practice guidelines
• Mentors other staff in advanced clinical guidelines and best practices
• Serves as a subject matter expert for healthcare providers in specialty practice areas regarding physical therapy care care
• Treats patients through exercise, massage, modalities, gait, and balance training and other therapeutic interventions
• Recommends changes in treatment based on changes in both physical and mental, and medical status of the patient. PTAs instruct, motivate and assist patients to learn and improve functional activities
• Implements physical therapy treatment program for assigned patients who may range in age from young adult through older adult
• Accurately assesses changes in physical, mental and/or medical status of the patients
• Provides physical therapy services as specified in the physical therapy plan of care
• Provides modalities, as specified in the physical therapy plan of care
• With guidance from supervising physical therapist, develops appropriate home program for patient, as needed, prior to discharge
• Delegates procedures to appropriate and qualified personnel as the situation indicates, i.e., Rehab Techs, students, etc., or other people with the appropriate expertise indicated
• Performs other duties as assigned

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 61621F
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 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

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.
• 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.
• 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 (Transcript Required) 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. (Documentation Required) OR,
3. Graduate of military physical therapy assistant programs that meet the educational requirement and have successfully passed the NPTE for PTAs. (Documentation/Transcripts Required)

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-09 Physical Therapy Assistant
(1) Experience: One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate one of the following:

• A minimum of 2000 hours of clinical practice directly in the specialty area, and completion of 60 contact hours of selected continuing education coursework. This time must be within the past five years (Documentation Required)

OR

• Advanced Practice Proficiency (APP) in the specialty area recognized by the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) (Documentation Required)

OR

• An additional academic degree related to the health care mission. (Transcript Required)

(2) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the basic requirements, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
(a) Ability to mentor other staff in advanced clinical guidelines and best practices.
(b) Ability to serve as a subject matter expert (SME) for healthcare providers in specialty practice areas regarding physical therapy care.
(c) Ability to present] advanced knowledge in the therapeutic interventions and clinical practice guidelines with the healthcare team.
(d) Ability to interpret and apply clinical practice guidelines.

(3) Assignment. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty) and variety and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. PTAs at this level apply advanced practice skills to treat complex patients. PTAs possess an advanced level of clinical competence and serve as a SME in specialty practice areas. They serve as a subject matter expert in a rehabilitation program such as, but not limited to, geriatrics, amputee, brain injury, cardiac rehabilitation, orthopedics, neurological, safe patient handing, or any other functional debilitative conditions. They possess advanced practice skills and experience with a wide range of patient complexity. They apply advanced methodologies to a vast array of functional impairments and patients. They independently recommend and apply evidence-based treatment approaches within the plan of care.

Preferred Experience: Experience in Geriatrics

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-09. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-09.

Physical Requirements: See 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.