Clarification from the agency

Open to ALL US Citizens - Veterans Preference WILL APPLY. All Federal Employees, Internal Applicants, Department of Veterans Affairs (Agency - VHA, VBA, NCA) Employees, and Tennessee Valley Healthcare System (Facility) Employees, should apply to Job Opportunity Announcement CBTG-12750657-25-JB. Facility Employees will have FIRST consideration.

Videos

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

Major Duties include but are not limited to:

• Responsible for comprehensive monitoring of functional and occupational roles using standardized and non-standardized measures.
• Select and provide direct physical therapy interventions and procedures with varying degrees of complexity to enhance safety, wellness, and performance in functional mobility, ROM/strength, education, work, play, leisure, and social participation.
• Demonstrate a full professional understanding of the theories of treatment in physical therapy and their proper application through the use of activity analysis, behavioral intervention, frame of references, and therapeutic procedures.
• Assigned to all program areas within VHA and provide professional, independent physical therapy services.
• Perform ancillary assignments, including program management duties on an occasional basis.
• Development of and ability to carry out a full range of physical therapy treatments using a wide variety of traditional and non-traditional treatment techniques and modalities.
• Working effectively with patients, families/caregivers, treatment team members and others as identified.
• Documenting thorough, objective, data related specifically to patient status and progress using the Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS) to record results of treatment sessions, therapy goals, treatment plan, progress notes, and discharge summaries in accordance with PM&RS policy and facility guidelines.
• Make phone contact with patients, to establish appointments for service when needed.
• Serving as a consultant to other medical center personnel in evaluating and planning physical therapy treatment for complex cases (which may include but is not limited to attendance in Interdisciplinary Treatment Conferences and Medical Ethics Case Conferences).
• Providing clinical education and direct supervision for physical therapist/assistant students during fieldwork placement.
• Communicating with students and supervisor of physical therapy any concerns to ensure that the care of Veterans is not negatively affected in the process.
• May be required to travel in a government vehicle to patient's home for completion of home evaluation and/or determination of mobility/safety needs in the home setting up to 60 minutes away.

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.
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• 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).

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.
• Education. Individuals must meet at least one of the requirements below:
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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.
    • 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).
    • Non-licensed individuals shall only provide care under the direct supervision of a licensed PTA or PT who meets all state regulatory requirements.
    • Non-licensed individuals may only be appointed at the entry level and may not be promoted/converted until licensure is obtained.
    • Temporary appointments of non-licensed PTAs may not be extended beyond two years or converted to a new temporary appointment.
    • Failure to Obtain Licensure. In all cases, non-licensed PTAs must actively pursue meeting requirements for licensure starting from the date of their appointment. At the time of appointment, the supervisor will provide the non-licensed PTA with the written requirements for licensure, including the time by which the license must be obtained and the consequences for not becoming licensed by the deadline. Failure to obtain licensure during this time period may result in termination of employment.
  • Failure to Obtain Licensure. In all cases, non-licensed PTAs must actively pursue meeting requirements for licensure starting from the date of their appointment. At the time of appointment, the supervisor will provide the non-licensed PTA with the written requirements for licensure, including the time by which the license must be obtained and the consequences for not becoming licensed by the deadline. Failure to obtain licensure during this time period may result in termination of employment.
• English Language Proficiency. PTA candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).

• Physical Therapy Assistant, GS-8
  • Experience: One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade.
  • Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. In addition to the basic requirements, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
    • Ability to independently implement treatment plan using knowledge of techniques related to the patient's disability and needs.
    • 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.).
    • 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.
    • Ability to instruct patient on varied interventions to provide materials to enhance compliance with home programs.
    • Ability to modify treatment techniques based on the learning needs and perceptions of the patient.
    • Ability to identify critical changes (e.g. vital signs, pain, mobility and alertness) in patient conditions to determine their medical and functional status.
    • 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.

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.