Clarification from the agency

First Consideration will be given to Current Permanent Employees of the VA West Palm Beach, followed by Agency Employees, and T38 other Federal employees. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

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The Acupuncturist shall educate patients on health lifestyle changes including nutrition, exercise, sleeping habits, stress management, mind body techniques and other matters related to acupuncture care.

Major duties and responsibilities include:

1. The L.Ac. or AP serves as a member of Chronic Pain Center of Excellence interdisciplinary team that provides acupuncture treatment as well as further coordination of care for patients referred for acupuncture services.
2. The incumbent performs safe, clinically indicated acupuncture services utilizing current clean needle technique (CNT) as identified by the Council of Colleges of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (CCAOM).
3. The incumbent reviews and triages acupuncture referrals and manages clinical workload demands, adapting clinic schedules to accommodate unusual scheduling needs, atypical workload requirements, and coverage needs.
4. The L.Ac or AP receives patient referrals for evaluation; independently analyzes medical histories and physical findings to formulate a differential diagnosis based on oriental and western medicine paradigms; develops treatment plans and modifies plans on an ongoing basis according to progress and patient preferences to better meet the short- and long­ term goals and maximize functional independence.
5. The incumbent chooses appropriate evaluation tools that are consistent with history and subjective complaints. S/he identifies signs and symptoms that substantially impact treatment and outcomes and integrates findings into a plan of care, consulting with other disciplines and referring practitioners as appropriate.

6. The L.Ac.or AP formulates an appropriate differential diagnosis and identifies intervention priorities, determines prognosis and specific further assessment needs, including the need for continuing, modifying, or discontinuing services.
7. The L.Ac. or AP performs clinical evaluations and develops management plans consistent with current and future evidence-based best practices and clinical practice guidelines.
8. The incumbent demonstrates the skill necessary for the selection and use of the appropriate acupuncture tools and supplies based on needs of the patient.
9. Demonstrates knowledge of complex issues surrounding the delivery of care as it relates to acupuncture services, including treatment sequencing; combining acupuncture as part of multidisciplinary programs; and ability to adapt acupuncture services and problem solving in multiple settings and dynamic programs. Such settings may include outpatient, inpatient, residential, and skilled nursing environments.
10.Interprets findings and educates patients and families about biomedical and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) disease process, purpose of treatment, and patients' rights and responsibility to improve compliance with treatment.
11. Demonstrates the ability to educate patients on health lifestyle changes, including nutrition, exercise, sleeping habits, stress management, mind body techniques such as tai chi or qi gong, and other matters related to acupuncture care. This includes the ability to communicate with individuals of varying backgrounds. Work Schedule: 8:00AM am to 4:30 PM, Monday-Friday. May be required to travel 25% .
Telework: Not available
Virtual: Not available
Functional Statement Title: Acupuncturist, GS-0601-09/11
Recruitment/Relocation Incentives: Will not be authorized.
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Will not be authorized.
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required
EDRP: Not available

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 Language Proficiency: Must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d).
• Education: Individual must meet one of the requirements below:(a) Master's degree in acupuncture or oriental medicine from a program accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM) OR (b) Advanced level degree in acupuncture or oriental medicine from a program accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM).
• Certification: Acupuncturists hired in the VHA must be board certified through the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM). The board certification must be current and the acupuncturist must abide by the certifying body's requirements for continuing education.
• Licensure: Current, full, active, and unrestricted license to practice acupuncture in a State, Territory or Commonwealth (i.e. Puerto Rico) of the United States, or District of Columbia.
• Experience Requirements: In additional to meeting the basic requirements as stated above, you must have the following:

• GS-09 Level: No additional experience beyond the basic requirement.
• GS-11 Level: To qualify for GS-11, individuals must meet at least one of the requirements below:
  • Experience: At least one year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-9 grade level, which is directly related to the position to be filled. Examples of experience may include but are not limited to: inserting needles to provide acupuncture treatment and identifying correct anatomical and proportional point locations based on patients' anatomy and positions, contraindications, and precautions related to treatments, such as intradermal needles, and moxibustion. Must alsobeable to demonstrate the following knowledge, skills and abilities:
    • Ability to screen referrals and direct veterans to other services as appropriate.
    • Ability to formulate an appropriate differential diagnosis.
    • Ability to formulate an acupuncture treatment plan independently or with other health care professionals.
    • Ability to educate patients on health lifestyle changes including nutrition, exercise, sleeping habits, stress management, mind body techniques and other matters related to acupuncture care. This includes the ability to communicate with individuals of varying backgrounds.
    • Skill in the selection and use of the appropriate acupuncture tools and supplies based on needs of the patient. OR
  • Education: Doctoral degree or equivalent degree from an accredited college or university in an acupuncture or oriental medicine.

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).

Physical Requirements: See VA Handbook 5019

Preferred Experience: None

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

The full performance level of this vacancy is 11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of 9 to 11.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Area of Consideration- Eligible applications will be reviewed and referred to in the following order:
1.Current permanent VA employees of the facility.
2.All other VA employees.
3.Current permanent Federal employees of other agencies.
4.All other applicants.


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.