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

Major Duties include but are not limited to:

• Evaluates, plans treatment program on an individual basis for patients referred with levels of function ranging from simple to the most complex.
• Utilizes standard and non-standard methods, based on contemporary and evidenced based physical therapy (PT) practice, particularly as related to orthopedic/neurologic patients.
• Adapt and apply treatment procedures for acutely ill patents who have a combination of severe mental or physical disabilities with secondary complications.
• Employment of unusual and innovative treatment techniques to obtain the best medical/surgical outcomes.
• Flexibility of schedule must be maintained to allow for unscheduled patients and for mentoring and consultation.
• Tests are frequently complex and may need to be adapted because of multiple physical and emotional disabilities or present orthopedic/neurologic conditions.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM
Telework: Ad-Hoc as determined by the agency policy.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement: #71272-F
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 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.
• Education and/or Experience. The individual must meet at least one of the following requirements below:
  • 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 the requirements if they have a current, full, active, and unrestricted license to practice physical therapy in a State, Territory or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia.

PLEASE NOTE: Individuals must be a graduate of a Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) accredited college or university.

• Licensure - You must hold a full, current, and unrestricted license to practice physical therapy in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States, or the District of Columbia.
• English Language Proficiency: Individuals appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C. chapters 73 or 74, to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA must be proficient in written and spoken English. See Chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part.

GS-13 Grade Determinations:

Specialized Experience. In addition to meeting the basic requirements, you must have one year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level and one of the following:

• 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
• Board Certification in the specialty area recognized by the ABPTS; or
• Completion of a fellowship program; or
• An additional advanced degree in a related field. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Advanced knowledge and expert skill in a range of specialized interventions and treatment modalities used in a specialized treatment area of physical therapy.
• 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.
• Ability to teach and mentor medical center staff in a specialized content area of physical therapy.
• Ability to guide the work of a multi-disciplinary team in a specialized content area of physical therapy.
• Advanced knowledge and expert skill to perform and interpret specialized procedures and tests in evaluating the treatment outcomes in the assigned specialty content area.

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-13

Physical Requirements: Day to day work involves moderate lifting and carrying (15- 44 pounds); use of fingers; both hands required; walking (2-3 hours); standing (2-3 hours). Work may be alone and closely with others.