Occupational Therapist

BASIC REQUIREMENTS

United States Citizenship: Citizen of the United States.

Education and/or Experience: The individual must meet at least one of the following requirements below(TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED).

• 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 of subparagraph [3b(2)] if they have a current, full, active and unrestricted
license referred to in subparagraph [3e] of this appendix.

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.

Exceptions for the Graduate Occupational Therapist:
(1) OT graduates from an approved occupational therapy program who otherwise meet
the minimum qualification requirements, but who do not possess NBCOT
certification and/or state licensure, may be appointed, pending certification
and/or licensure, as a graduate OT on a full-time temporary appointment not-to exceed
two years under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2).

(2) Graduate OTs may only be appointed at the GS-9 grade level and may not be
promoted/converted to the GS-11 level until licensure and/or certification is obtained.
For grades levels at or above the developmental GS-11 grade level, the OT must be
certified and licensed.

(3) A graduate OT may provide care only under the direct supervision of a licensed] OT
who meets all state regulatory requirements.

Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

English Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to
be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).

Grade Determination
Occupational Therapist, GS-9
(1) Education, Experience, or Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements.

Occupational Therapist, GS-11
(1) Education, Experience, or Licensure.
(a) Completion of one year of experience equivalent to at least the GS-9 grade level
and directly related to the position being filled;
or
(b) Three years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a degree
in occupational therapy or a directly related field;
or
(c) Doctorate in occupational therapy.

(2) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the
experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following
KSAs:
(a) Knowledge of occupational therapy practice.
(b) Ability to administer/interpret evaluation findings to develop and coordinate
intervention plans, including goals and methods of treatment.
(c) Ability to implement intervention plans directly or in collaboration with others.
(d) Skill in monitoring an individual's response to interventions and modify treatment
plans and reevaluating as indicated.
(e) Ability to communicate and or collaborate with patients, family members,
caregivers, interdisciplinary professionals and/or other individuals verbally and in
writing.
(f) Knowledge of health and safety regulations to minimize risk in the provision of
patient care and the environment of care.
(g) Knowledge of applicable regulations governing documentation, reimbursement
and workload entry in accordance with established professional practice.

Occupational Therapist, GS-12
(1) Education, Experience, and Licensure: Completion of one year of experience
equivalent to at the GS-11 grade level and directly related to the position being
filled.

(2) Demonstrated KSAs: In addition to the [experience above, the candidate] must
demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
(a) 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.
(b) Ability to collaborate and communicate orally and in writing with all internal and
external stakeholders.
(c) Ability to use 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.
(d) Skill in procuring, fabricating, adjusting, adapting, and modifying orthoses,
splints, and adaptive equipment for activities of daily living (inclusive of durable
medical equipment).
(e) Ability to conduct OT related in-service and clinical training.

Preferred Experience: Community Living Center/Skilled Nursing Experience and Wheelchair Evaluation Experience Preferred; Outpatient OT.

References: VA Handbook 5005 Part II, Appendix G14

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-9 to GS-12.

Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.