Clarification from the agency

Applications will be reviewed and referred in the following order: 1) Eligible applicants based on Veterans' Preference. 2) All other eligible applicants. 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 to include but not limited to:

• Performs physical therapy evaluations and treatments for patients in the location of inpatient and outpatient settings, ages ranging from adult to geriatric, having a variety of disabilities and determines the most appropriate plan of care relative to the patient's diagnosis and age.
• Serves as a clinical instructor with the VAMC San Diego Physical Therapy Internship Program with specific mentoring and oversight of assigned DPT interns from various academic institutions across the country.
• Provides clinical oversight of DPT Interns, as well as mentoring affective professional skills.
• Serves as role model for PT Residents, students, and other PMRS/physical therapy staff in clinical competency, affective skills, and professionalism.
• Employs unusual/creative motivational techniques to enlist patient participation and adapt equipment and procedures to carry out a full range of complex treatment activities and interventions.
• Evaluates patient's condition upon appropriate referral to physical therapy to determine treatment plan by referring patients to Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service, Primary Care, or other specialty providers when determined necessary.
• Performs and interprets results of tests and measurements for use in preparing for, modifying, and/or evaluating patients for treatment, and adjusts treatment based on changes in patient's condition.
• Evaluates patient's needs with respect to prescribed braces and orthotic devices and recommends necessary equipment items, or make modifications to existing items, and will provide, or assist in the application, to ensure the equipment has a proper fit and that all training requirements of such equipment are completed.
• Manages all applicable consults/referrals, coordinates scheduling, and maintains sufficient supplies and equipment from Prosthetics and Logistics departments needed for patient care.
• Establishes and maintains appropriate Quality Assurance monitoring as related to physical therapy and the Pelvic Rehab/Women's Health Physical Therapy clinic, including, but not limited to, patient outcomes, quality of care, and semi-annual documentation peer reviews.
• Reviews charts to assess appropriateness of referrals and possible contraindications for treatment, and communicates with the referring providers, as needed.
• Assists with scheduling patients for treatment, considering priority and frequency of care, and coordinating schedules with other members of the treatment team.
• Documents patient performance toward achieving treatment goals, manages time appropriately, and assures a high level of productivity and work efficiency.
• Assures all documentation is done according to VAMC San Diego policy for all patient visits and patient interactions requiring such notes.
• Provides continuing education in the form of in-services and clinical training programs to other clinicians, including physical therapists, residents, students, and other medical center staff.

Perform other related duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM; Tour may vary.
Compressed/Flexible: Not Available.
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.
• 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 identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• 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 may 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: Must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).
• Education and Experience:
  • Bachelor's degree in Physical Therapy AND five (5) 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; OR
  • Foreign Graduates: Graduates of foreign physical therapy programs meet 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.
• 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.

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).

Grandfathering Provision: All licensed PTs employed in VHA on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education and licensure that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply:

1. Employees grandfathered into the GS-0633 occupational series as PTs may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation.
2. PTs who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of this 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.
3. PTs initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration, meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard and must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation.
4. If PTs who are grandfathered under this provision leave the occupation, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation.

Grade Determinations:

GS-13 Physical Therapist (Clinical Specialist)
In addition to meeting 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
4. An additional advanced degree in a related field.

-AND-
In addition, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

1. Advanced knowledge and expert skill in a range of specialized interventions and treatment modalities used in a specialized treatment area of physical therapy.
2. Ability to serve as a consultant and subject matter expert for health care providers regarding the delivery of care within a specialized content area of physical therapy.
3. Ability to teach and mentor medical center staff in a specialized content area of physical therapy.
4. Ability to guide the work of a multi-disciplinary team in a specialized content area of physical therapy.
5. Advanced knowledge and expert skill to perform and interpret specialized procedures and tests in evaluating the treatment outcomes in the assigned specialty content area.

Preferred Experience: Possess either APTA Board Certification Pelvic and Women's Health Clinical Specialist (PWCS) or Herman & Wallace Pelvic Rehabilitation Practitioner Certification (PRPC) and maintenance of certification is required. PWCS is preferred status. PRPC is alternate/secondary status.

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

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.