Physical Therapist

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: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).
• Education: The individual must meet at least one of the requirements below:
  (1) Bachelor's degree in Physical Therapy AND five (5) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist.
  (2) Master's degree in Physical Therapy AND two (2) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist.
  (3) Doctorate degree in physical therapy.
• Licensure. Individuals 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. Non-licensed PTs, who otherwise meet the basic requirements in this standard, may be given a temporary appointment as a graduate PT at the GS-11 grade level under the authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405 (a)(1)(D) for a period not-to-exceed two years from the date of employment on the condition that such PT provide care only under the supervision of a PT who is licensed. Failure to obtain licensure during that period is justification for termination of the temporary appointment.

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).

Grade Determinations: Physical Therapist, GS-0633-12
Education, Experience and Licensure. In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level, hold a valid unrestricted state license and demonstrate all the KSAs below: Resume must include hours per week for work experience credit

Demonstrated Knowledge Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to coordinate workflow and clinical activities as well as monitor data reports.
• Ability to articulate and communicate to the clinical team the assignment, project, problem to be solved, actionable events, and objectives as well as to advise on work methods, practices, and procedures.
• Prior experience working with patients with temporal mandibular join disorders and cervical disorders.

Preferred Experience: Clinical or human subjects research setting such as a hospital or medical center that would have given them knowledge and experience performing the following duties and responsibilities with a significant degree of autonomy.

References: VA Handbook 5005/99 Part II Appendix G12, Physical Therapist, GS-0633, Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12.

Physical Requirements: Heavy lifting (45 pounds and over), moderate carrying (15-44 pounds), straight pulling, pushing, reaching above shoulder, use of fingers, both hands required, walking, standing, crawling, kneeling, repeated bending, climbing, ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously, near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4, Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other, Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/50and to 20/100 in the other, ability to distinguish basic colors, hearing (aid permitted), mental and emotional stability, far vision correctable in one to 20/50 and to 20/100 in the other. Operation of motor vehicle. (See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Services).