Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below. The area of consideration will be referred in the following order: 1. Current permanent VA Puget Sound facility employees. 2. Current permanent Agency (Department of Veterans Affairs) employees.

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Duties will include, but are not limited to:

1. Performs direct patient care within specialty area at least 25% of the time; Some patient care duties outside of specialty area may be assigned depending on clinical demand.
2. Advanced knowledge of evidence-based practices and clinical practice guidelines in multiple interdisciplinary areas. Conducts comprehensive examinations, treatment planning and interventions, documentation, and follow-up evaluations within multiple settings and levels of care.
3. Expected to have advanced knowledge patients served within the neurological clinical spectrum (Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's Disease, etc.), and demonstrated ability to apply this advanced knowledge to provide clinical guidance to other occupational therapists in the department.
4. Assists in the development, planning, and implementation of monitors of quality of care with respect to patients with neurologic diagnoses as part of the comprehensive health care services delivered to the patients within VA Puget Sound.
5. Uses knowledge of occupational therapy principles and techniques consistent with current clinical standards based on OT theory and evidence-based practice. Knowledge is inclusive of physical, occupational, cognitive, and psychosocial functional deficits.
6. Uses critical analysis, clinical reasoning, and creativity to independently solve complex problems related to adapting and modifying assessments, treatment plans, activities, and procedures to meet the needs of patients.
7. Documents initial evaluations, progress, and discharge planning in a timely, concise manner, per section documentation and consult management requirements.
8. Assesses the need for and patient's ability to use adaptive equipment including cognitive prosthetic devices, assistive technology, ADL aids, power wheelchairs, bathroom aids, computers and accessories, and environmental control units.
9. Initiates ordering, delivery and training in the use of patient specific adaptive equipment in a timely, efficient, and accurate manner, utilizing the processes related to the procurement of prosthetic equipment.
10. Incorporates the Whole Health model of care into all encounters- providing a comprehensive approach that addresses the individual's physical, mental and emotional well-being.
11. Collaborates and treats as assigned within all clinical areas of the RCS occupational therapy scope - to include inpatient and outpatient services.
12. Initiates, leads, and supports research projects related to clinical specialty area including but not limited: writing grants, guiding others in the process, and direct clinical participation in research.
13. Maintains current NBCOT certifications and state licensing requirements; and completes all mandatory training as required by the facility.
14. Collaborate with VISN and local facility leadership to implement and monitor nationwide strategies for enhancing OT care and services for patients with neurological disorders.

Work Schedule: Monday Thru Friday 7:30am-4:00pm.
Compressed/Flexible:May be authorized on needs of the clinic.
Telework: Not Available.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000
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 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

NOTE: THE 2-PAGE RESUME REQUIREMENT DOES NOT APPLY TO THIS OCCUPATIONAL SERIES. FOR MORE INFORMATION, REFER TO REQUIRED DOCUMENTS BELOW

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.

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: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).
• Education and/or Experience:
  • The individual must meet at least one of the following requirements below: (a)
    • Bachelor's degree in occupational therapy and two (2) years of experience as an occupational therapist; NOTE: The baccalaureate degree must be from an approved program prior to the AOTA January 1, 2005 decision that the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) would only accredit master or doctoral degree programs in occupational therapy. OR
  • Bachelor's degree in occupational therapy and two (2) full years of graduate education in a related field;
    • NOTE: The baccalaureate degree must be from an approved program prior to the AOTA January 1, 2005 decision that ACOTE would only accredit master or doctoral degree programs in occupational therapy. or
  • Master's Degree or higher in occupational therapy.
    • Individuals must be a graduate of a degree program in occupational therapy approved by the ACOTE or predecessor organizations. This is inclusive of an internship (supervised fieldwork experience required by the educational institution). ACOTE is the only accreditation agency recognized by the United States Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. Degree programs may be verified by contacting the American Occupational Therapy Association website or at their office address: American Occupational Therapy Association, P.O. Box 31220, Bethesda, MD 20824-1220.
• Foreign Graduates: Graduates of foreign occupational therapy programs meet the requirements if they have a current, full, active and unrestricted license.
• Certification: Candidates must possess a current NBCOT certification as an OT.
• State Licensure: Candidates must possess a full, current, and unrestricted state license, to practice occupational therapy in a state, territory or Commonwealth of the United States (i.e., Puerto Rico), or in the District of Columbia.
  • Loss of Credential:An employee in this occupation who fails to maintain [the required state or territorial licensure and the NBCOT certification, both current and in good standing, must be removed from the occupation, which may result in termination of employment.

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:

Occupational Therapist (Clinical Specialist), GS-13.
Education, Experience, and Licensure: Completion of one year of experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 grade level and directly related to the position being filled [and one of the following:

• A minimum of 2,000 hours of clinical practice directly in the advanced practice area. This time must be within the past five years;
• Certification in an area recognized by the AOTA;
• Completion of a fellowship/residency or advanced degree program in the advanced practice area; or (d) An additional advanced degree in a related field.

In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:

1. Knowledge of contemporary occupational therapy across multiple areas of practice.
2. Ability to provide clinical guidance in the advanced practice area to other OT practitioners.
3. Knowledge of advanced specialized evaluation, interventions and services to independently develop treatment strategies for area of specialization.
4. Skill in developing protocols and procedures for intervention programs based on current occupational therapy theory, recent research, and practice.
5. Ability to provide consultation to other health care practitioners and outside groups about occupational therapy scope of practice for area of specialization.
6. Ability to implement, revise/update evidence based occupational therapy services and programming in area of specialization.

Assignment: Clinical OT specialists at this grade level serve as subject matter experts and as consultants to occupational therapists and other medical center staff in evaluating and treating patients in the areas of occupational therapy that are beyond the general practice of occupational therapy. This individual must demonstrate skills and techniques for a specific patient population that has highly complex occupational and/or psychosocial impairments. Clinical OT specialist may initiate, lead, and support research projects related to clinical needs. This may include grant writing, guiding others in the process, and direct clinical participation in research.

Preferred Experience: 3 years of Neuro Rehab experience, preferably with MS and /or Parkinson's Disease; Specialty Certification (Examples: Certified Neuro Specialty (CNS), LSVT BIG Certification etc.), Program and/or project Development Experience.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

The grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-13.

Physical Requirements: There are no physical requirements for this occupation per OCHCO Communications email to VA Handbook 5019, updated on 4/17/2026.

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.